Sarah Regina Orsini, 59, of Exchange Street, Rochester, is charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs, possession of untaxed cigarettes, unlawful possession of marijuana and driving with a broken windshield. Orsini was stopped at 11:40 a.m. Sunday on Route 77, by Deputy Joseph Corona.

Michelle M. Michael, 42, of West Seneca, is charged with petit larceny. Michael is accused of switching a price tag from a shirt to a more expensive jacket at Stan's Harley-Davidson and then paying for the mispriced jacket and leaving the store. The alleged switch was caught on surveillance video.

Gary Aton Williams, 54, of Lang Street, Rochester, was arrested on a warrant out of Gates related to a petit larceny charge. Williams was identified as a warrant suspect during a traffic stop at 7:38 p.m. Sunday on Route 262, Byron, by Deputy Joseph Graff. Williams as a passenger in the vehicle that was stopped for an alleged traffic violation.

Nelson Henry Nowicki Jr., 40, of Broadway Road, Darien, is charged with forcible touching. Nowicki allegedly forcibly touched another person.

Nicholas Ryan Donahue, 21, of Caraway Lane, Spencerport, is charged with possession of unstamped cigarettes, unlawful possession of marijuana and no front plate. Donahue was stopped at 8:08 p.m. Saturday on Judge Road, Alabama, by Deputy Joseph Corona. Donahue was allegedly in possession of 1,400 untaxed cigarettes.

Joseph R. Volasquez, 18, of Byron, is charged with criminal mischief, 3rd. The alleged incident was reported at 11:57 p.m. Sunday in Byron. Volasquez was arrested by State Police. He was ordered held on bond. No further details released.

Information and photos submitted by Nate Fix.

The Town of Batavia Fire Department had their Annual Installation of Officers Saturday night.

The 2015 lineup of officers are Chief Paul Barrett, Deputy Chief Dan Coffey, 1st Asst. Chief Nathan Fix, 2nd Asst. Chief Bob Tripp, Captain Dave Tran, and Lt. Andrew Mullen.

The Board of Directors are Bob Mullen, Chad Higgins, Dan Jacques, James Bouton, and Frank Riccobono, and President John Fitzsimmons and Vice President Gary Diegelman, Treasurer Don Koziol.

There were multiple awards given out, including the 100 Call Club. These are members who responded to more than 100 calls for the calendar year of 2014.

They are:

Stephen Diegelman, 102 calls; Frank Riccobono, 107 calls; Paul Dibble, 119 calls; Dave Tran, 118 calls; John Mullen, 119 calls; Bob Mullen, 124 calls; Cody Towner, 128 calls; Tom Garlock, 135 calls; Jason Holman, 138 calls; Gary Diegelman, 152 calls; Scott Maloy, 172 calls; Bob Tripp, 178 calls; Paul Barrett with 182 calls; Nathan Fix, 184 calls; Andrew Mullen, 191 calls; and the top responder was Stephen Kowalcyk, 222 calls.

Years of Service Awards went to:

Adam Mullen, 5 years; Dave Tran, 5 years; Ben Fisher, 5 years; James Bouton, 10 years with the Town of Batavia fire Department and 33 prior years with Alexander fire. Bouton has 43 years of volunteer fire service. Nathan Fix, 10 years and he also has six years prior with Corfu fire for a total of 16 years of volunteer fire service. Dave Morrill, 15 years of service; Steve Kegler, 20 years; John Fitzsimmons, 20 years; Paul Barrett and Dan Jacques with 30 years of service. Both were recognized with plaques and letters from Assembly Steve Hawley and Senator Mike Ranzenhofer. Bob Mullen was recognized for 50 years as a Volunteer Fire Service member and he received special recognition.

We may still be waiting for the weather to warm, but the folks at Darien Lake are certain spring will arrive some time soon and they'll be ready with two new rides come opening day May 9.

Pieces of Rolling Thunder are rolling into the park and being assembled now and work will begin soon on the new water ride, Brain Drain.

Season pass holders will be able to get a preview of Rolling Thunder during a special event May 8.

Brain Drain will open May 16.

Photos submitted by Tipping Point Media.

Press release:

The City of Batavia Democratic Committee is looking for registered Democratic voters who live in the City of Batavia and would be interested in being endorsed for the November 2015 election. 

The positions for election will include County Legislative representatives, City Council Ward positions, and County Coroner.

If Batavia city residents are interested in any of the positions, they must be a registered Democrat, and send a letter of interest to the City Committee, and be available for an interview. The letter should be addressed to the City of Batavia Democratic Committee, Attn: Chairman, 41 Verona Ave., Batavia, NY 14020 by April 25.

In addition, the City Committee is seeking to fill six positions on the City Democratic Committee. If interested in working with the City Committee, Batavia city residents must be a registered Democrat, be able to attend committee meetings, be able to carry petitions for endorsed candidates, and participate in committee activities. Please send a letter to the Committee, using the same address as above stating interest. 

The City Democratic Committee is the grassroots of the political process and citizen participation is a patriotic duty that is a tenet of our constitutional rights. Participate and protect our freedom and let your voice be heard -- your VOTE COUNTS in the election process!

More than 70 children with there families attended the fourth annual Easter Egg Hunt at Godfrey's Pond yesterday. The club put out a couple thousand Easter eggs early before the event which started at Noon and continued through 2 o'clock. Cookies, drinks were provided to all who attended. Mike Hammon, caretaker of Godfrey's Pond, said the free public event has grown consistantly over the years.

Other activities included a petting opportunity with six baby chicks.

Two contests were held; one for who collected the most eggs and a coloring contest.

Abby Lampke was the winner of the coloring contest.  

Egg hunt winners were:  

Gold -- Adrian Laird

Silver -- Connor Schrane

Bronze -- Trevor Pahl

Photo above is 7-year-old Eliana Stringham with the Easter Bunny. Craig Gillard submitted the photos from Godfrey's Pond.

Associated Press: MMA amateurs push for pro status in New York

Searchers were called out to the Genesee Community College campus this evening to look for a possible despondent Le Roy resident whose car was located in the parking lot of the campus after he went missing around 2:40 p.m.

This afternoon Le Roy PD was asked to check on a male in his 40s. 

The man was not located at his residence in LeRoy. 

The man’s cell phone was pinged and that gave his general location.

Police initiated a search for the man and his car was found a short time later at the Batavia campus, but the missing man was nowhere in sight.

According to Le Roy Detective John Condidorio, the Genesee County Sheriff's Office was then called to assist in the search.

Campus security also assisted, checking the ball fields and the school grounds.

A Sheriff's K-9 unit was brought in to assist. 

State Police dispatched its helicopter to provide aerial coverage. 

Sheriff's Sgt. Jon Szumigala said the search team was worried about approaching darkness making the search more difficult so a foot search was ordered.

Town of Batavia Fire Department responded. 

Volunteer firefighters located the man in a wooded area west of the GCC parking. He was conscious but needed medical attention.

Mercy Flight was on call but not dispatched.

Mercy EMS transported the patient at 6:30 p.m.

His identity is not being released.

The Genesee Society of Model Engineers held its biannual model railroad show at the Clarion Hotel in Batavia this weekend. There were about 100 vendors and railroad preservation societies exhibiting. Attendance was very strong. The Clarion parking lot was filled and cars were parked in the mall and the streets. Attendees came from all over the state as well as Pennsylvania and Ontario, Canada.

It’s an annual tradition that has some patrons make an hour-long trek to continue. Oliver’s Candy Store on Main Street in Batavia welcomed Spring with the arrival of the Easter Bunny earlier today. 

Genesee County’s “sweet spot” has extended business hours – from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, April 4. Oilver’s is closed only two days a year – Christmas and Easter – regular business hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Sunday.

A fund-raising gala for the Hunter’s Hope Foundation was held Friday night in Buffalo. While the event may have taken place Downtown Buffalo, the night’s spirit of hope and giving had its roots in Batavia. 

The New York-based law firm, Rosicki and Rosicki, with offices in Batavia, hosted the event. Monsignor Fran Weldgen gave the invocation for the evening. Not only is the Monsignor a Batavia native, he is also a former Chaplin for the Buffalo Bills. 

Batavia area businesses supported the cause by attending the gala and/or donating goods, including Kutter's Cheese Factory which donated a gift basket filled with Yancey’s Fancy Cheese.

Steve Hawley and Jim Kelly

Steve Hawley and Ralf Marsocci, from Bergen.

Some members of the Rosicki and Rosicki Batavia staff.

Donna Saskowski, the Executive Director of ARC.

Monsignor Fran Weldgen with Cynthia and Tom Rosicki.

Batavia business owners Renee Smart, owner of Moon Java Café, and Ed Smart, owner of Smart Design Architecture.

Who is ready to jump into a pool, hot tub or just get outside? The second annual Genesee County Chamber of Commerce Home Show, "Think Spring!", is being held at the Falleti Ice Rink, 22 Evans St., Batavia. The event kicked off Friday featuring more than 80 booths and 60 vendors.

The event continues from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Friday night's crowd hailed more than 300 visitors, according to Kelly Bermingham, chamber director of membership and special events. The home show is anticipating another couple thousand attendees throughout the weekend.

Tickets are $3 and include a chance to win $500 at your choice of vendor at the home show. Some booths are offering their own event specials.

For a detailed map of the event click here: http://www.geneseeny.com/homeshow

Batavia City Fire Department’s Engine 11 says farewell to longstanding firefighter Capt. Mark Mikolajczyk. For more than 21 years Mikolajczyk has responded to fire calls throughout the city and surrounding communities. Now, he is ready to hang up his gear to spend more time with his family.

“Being a fireman was a rewarding experience,” Mikolajczyk said. “It was nice knowing that the public trusts us enough with their loved ones.”

Mikolajczyk began his firefighting career in December 1993. Throughout the years, he earned the title of lieutenant – in 2005 – and in 2012 he became captain. Family and friends, both near and far, gathered for a farewell luncheon in his honor. 

Although the day marked Mikolajczyk’s retirement, he had one last call to make – a would-be dryer fire – that turned out to be a drill.

“The experience of teaching and working with this crew the past five years was great,” Mikolajczyk said. “I will miss the guys I’ve worked with.”

Press release:

The Board of Directors of the Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) will consider a project from Darien Lake Theme Park Resort at its March 30 board meeting.

Darien Lake Theme Park Resort is planning to add several new attractions, including a 75-foot “super loop” thrill ride and dual waterslide complex speed ride for the 2015 operating season. The projected capital investment is approximately $2.5 million. The company is seeking final approval of a sales tax exemption of $180,000.

The GCEDC Board meeting will take place at 10 a.m. and is open to the public. Meetings are held at the first-floor Innovation Zone Conference Room at MedTech Centre -- 99 MedTech Drive, Batavia, across from Genesee Community College.

Press release:

The Batavia Muckdogs today announced the start of their reading program, designed to promote reading amongst the youth of the local communities. Along with the help of NY's 529 College Savings Program, 2015 will mark the third year of the “HIT THE BOOKS with the Batavia Muckdogs” reading program. 

As part of this program, the Muckdogs have provided various schools and libraries across local counties with customized bookmarks. On the back of these bookmarks, children can have a parent, guardian, teacher, or librarian initial each time they complete a book. When a child completes 10 books, they can redeem the bookmark at the Dwyer Stadium box office for a FREE TICKET to any Sunday --Thursday Batavia Muckdogs game! In addition to the free ticket, the child will also receive a prize courtesy of NYs 529 College Savings Program. If a child reads 20 books, they will be entered into a drawing to win a backpack with school supplies, provided by NY's 529 College Savings Program; along with the opportunity to throw out a first pitch at a Muckdogs game.

In addition to the many participating schools, bookmarks will be made available to children at the following local libraries:

·         Richmond Memorial Library (Batavia)

·         Lee-Whedon Memorial Library (Medina)

·         Byron-Bergen Public Library

·         Haxton Memorial Library (Oakfield)

·         Hoag Library (Albion)

·         Pavilion Public Library

·         Corfu Free Library

·         Woodward Memorial Library (Le Roy)

·         Holley Community Free Library

Any questions about the reading program, bookmarks, or redeeming for tickets can be answered by Mike Ewing, at 585-343-5454, ext. 1005.

The craft beer business is growing in Western New York with new breweries popping up from Watertown to Buffalo, and Batavia stands at its epicenter.

Tapping into the renewed fascination with craft beer, the Batavia Business Improvement District (BID) is hosting "Beertavia" to introduce people to regional brews. Beertavia will be held from 3 to 6 p.m., May 16, in the Angotti Beverage Corp. parking lot, off School Street, between Jackson and Center.

The event will highlight Downtown Batavia, as well as recognize the city as a geographic center for beer-making. The agricultural resources within the county -- hops are grown locally -- makes Batavia a hot spot for local breweries. Additionally, local production, consumption and distribution make craft beer an attractive business venture. Plus, by-products or waste from the beer-making process can be sold to farms.

BID believes that craft breweries have great potential to benefit this community.

Beertavia is more than a beer festival. It is a community event showcasing local restaurants and acts as a host to microbreweries from all over the state. Fare from Papa Pasquale’s Italian Eatery, Sweet Pea’s Cupcakery Cafe, and Sunny’s Restaurant are on the menu thus far.

The BID is encouraging all local restaurants to participate. Breweries planning to attend are: Abandon Brewing (Penn Yan), Big Ditch Brewing Company (Buffalo), Brewery Ommegang (Cooperstown), Custom Brewcrafters (Honeoye Falls), Empire Brewing Company (Rochester & Syracuse), Keuka Brewing Company (Hammondsport), Resurgence Brewing (Buffalo), RG Brewery (Brockport), Rohrbach Brewing Company (Rochester), Rusty Nickel Brewing Company (West Seneca), Sackets Harbor Brewing Company (near Watertown), and Upstate Brewing Company (Elmira).

See BID’s Facebook page for a complete list of breweries and other updates.

Brewers can also pit their brew against others in a contest to win the title Western New York’s Brew of the Year.

Tickets are $40 per person – 800 are available for general admission – and $55 for a limited number of VIP tickets. Additionally, special tickets for designated drivers will be available. This event is for those 21 years of age or older. Music will be provided by Stone Row.

BID is currently seeking sponsorship and volunteers for the event and is excited to name The Batavian and New York Craft Malt as leading sponsors. Craft Beer Week runs in conjunction with this event. BID encourages local bars and restaurants to have a tap takeover in their establishments, by which BID will promote the brews each restaurant will be serving.

Tickets or more information can be found at: Beertavia

Photo: Laurie Oltramari, Corey Wolcott, Don Burkel and Patricia Hawley.

An Oakfield woman has been arrested by the Local Drug Task Force, accused of dealing oxycodone in the City of Batavia.

Michele L. DiFalco, 26, of Webber Avenue, Oakfield, is charged with three counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd, and three counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd.

DeFalco allegedly sold oxycodone to an agent of the task force. She was arrested Thursday at her home.

Following arraignment today, DiFalco was put in the Genesee County Jail.

We ran a Flip Ad contest these past two days.

The secret code hidden under a Flip Ad was "Vincent Maney."

The winner is Douglas Gaus, of Batavia, who was the ninth person to correctly e-mail the answer to us.

Douglas wins $25.

Brandon James Spurling, 23, of Strouts Road, Elba, is charged with criminal possession of marijuana, 5th, criminal solicitation, 5th, and conspiracy, 6th. Co-defendant, Anthony Abraham, 27, of Main Road, Akron, is charged with conspiracy, 5th, and criminal possession of marijuana, 5th. Spurling allegedly asked Abraham to take possession of marijuana and hide it from police, and Abraham allegedly cooperated with Spurling. 

Richard David Flint, 48, of Fort Hill Avenue, Canandaigua, is charged with falsely reporting an incident, 3rd, and misapplication of property. Flint allegedly reported a burglary to his residence that did not occur. The property he reported stolen belong to two different rent-to-own stores. He allegedly sold the property without the stores' permission.

Katherine Lynn Urf, 54, of Dellinger Avenue, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny and conspiracy, 6th. Also charged, Joseph Michael Franchi-Platten, 31, of Dellinger Avenue, Batavia. Urf and Franchi-Platten are accused of working together to steal merchandise from Walmart.

Press release:

Wednesday, March 25, was the Virtual Business Trade Fair at Genesee Community College. Nine high schools from the G.L.O.W. region competed with 11 businesses created entirely from scratch by students. At Notre Dame, this year-long project is incorporated into the college credit course Principles of Business or BUS 101 through collaboration with GCC’s Accelerated College Enrollment Program (ACE).

This is the first year Notre Dame participated in the event, but that did not stop the eight-member team from receiving multiple recognitions at the fair. Their teacher, Lindsay Warner, says the team has shown incredible commitment to the project since it began in September.

“They have had a contagious enthusiasm for this project that propelled them to a well-deserved victory!” Warner said.

This course is driven by student-centered projects. Each member has developed public speaking, problem-solving, and communication skills. They have learned to work together and value input of others, even if it is different from their own. They have learned that hard work pays in the end and that learning can be valuable and even fun. There are no tests and no quizzes but Drew Morabito, senior and chief financial officer, wants to clear up any confusion, saying “I have never worked harder in any class.”

Students learn because they want to succeed and suceed they did. 

Notre Dame placed in four out of five judged categories at the trade fair. The Cupcakery -- a small bake shop specializing in upscale cupcakes -- received First Place for Salesmanship and Number of Transactions. They also placed 2nd for Transaction Dollar Amount and tied with T&T from Pavilion High School for Best Booth Design.

The teams will also be judged on 20+ page business plans submitted at the event as well as product catalogs and Web sites with results expected in the next few weeks.

Notre Dame’s Bus 101 class and Cupcakery business owners are: Lindsey Bender -- chief marketing officer; Dylan Fix -- financial executive; Joseph Falkowski III -- human resource manager; Chase Hughes -- financial executive; Drew Morabito -- chief financial officer; Caleb Nellis -- human resource executive; Taylor Perzia -- chief executive officer; and Joseph Zickl -- marketing and sales executive.

ND currently offers Economics, Introduction to Careers, Personal Money Management, Accounting 1, and Accounting 101 in addition to Principles of Business. Business-minded students can graduate Notre Dame with 12 college credits, equivalent to one semester of college.

Anyone interested in learning more about this program and the other opportunities Notre Dame is providing its students should contact the school or visit during the upcoming Open House, April 19, from 2 - 4 p.m.

Total # of Deposits:
The Cupcakery                  Notre Dame                       256
Vision Vacations               Dansville                              155
Able Sports                         Elba                                        114
Oatkan Outdoors             Le Roy                                    114

Total Amount of Deposits:
Vision Vacations               Dansville                              $378,009.35
The Cupcakery                  Notre Dame                       $330,624.33
Road Trip                             Attica                                    $187,953

Booth Design:
The Cupcakery                  Notre Dame                       770
T & T Services                    Pavilion                                                770
Elite Feet                             Way-Co                                                743
Sugar Shack                        Batavia                                 730

Salesmanship:
The Cupcakery                  Notre Dame                       427
T & T Services                    Pavilion                                                407
Vision Vacations               Dansville                              395