Skip to main content

Grand Jury: Man indicted on three violent felonies for alleged child sex abuse

By Billie Owens

Brandon M. Weig is indicted for the crime of aggravated sexual abuse in the second degree, a Class C violent felony. It is alleged that on Nov. 13, 2013, Weig, while at a residence on Bank Street in the City of Batavia, did insert his finger in the vagina of another person, causing physical injury to the person who was less than 11 years old. In count two, the Grand Jury accuses him of the crime of aggravated sexual abuse in the second degree, a Class C violent felony, for allegedly on the same day, at the same address, inserting his finger in the rectum or anus of another person causing physical injury to the person who was less than 11 years old. In count three, Weig is accused of first-degree sexual abuse, a Class D violent felony, for allegedly being 18 or older and with intent to cause physical injury to a person less that 7 years old, causing such injury to the person.

Lori J. Marchese is indicted for the crime of DWI as a Class E felony. It is alleged that on Nov. 29, 2014, Marchese drove a 2009 Chevrolet on West Main Street Road (Route 5) while her ability to do so was impaired by drugs. In addition, the DA filed Special Information with the Grand Jury, accusing her of having been convicted of DWI as a Class A misdemeanor on Aug. 25, 2005, in Batavia City Court. That conviction was within 10 years previous to the commission of the crimes alleged in the current indictment.

Cody D. Cutitta is indicted on seven counts. The first is sealed pending arrest. In count two, Cutitta is accused of the crime of criminal possession of stolen property, 4th, a Class E felony. It is alleged that on Dec. 16, 2014, in the Town of Batavia, Cutitta knowingly possessed stolen property to benefit himself or a person other than the owner or to impede the recovery by an owner. The alleged property involved was a credit or debit card. In count three, he is accused of second-degree forgery, a Class D felony. It is alleged that on the same day while at an auto parts store in the City of Batavia, Cutitta, with intent to defraud, deceive or injure another, falsely made, completed, or altered a written statement which was purported to be a commercial instrument -- a credit / debit card -- to buy $132.18 worth of auto parts without having the authority to do so. In count four, the Grand Jury accuses Cutitta of second-degree forgery, also a Class D felony, for making an unauthorized purchase of $410.54 worth of auto parts on the same day with the same card. In count five, Cutitta is accused of second-degree forgery, another Class D felony, for buying $82.31 worth of merchandise at Walmart with another person's credit / debit card, without having the authority to do so. In count six, the defendant is accused of petit larceny, a Class A misdemeanor, for using the same card to buy $36 worth of gas at Hess Mart, as well as the other aforementioned purchases. In count seven, Cutitta is accused of second-degree identity theft for allegedly knowingly and with intent to defraud, having assumed the identity of the rightful card holder to unlawfully obtain goods, property or services in an aggregate amount that exceeded $500.

Law and Order: Batavia man accused of skipping cab fare after ride from Macedon

By Howard B. Owens
spmugelmorenicholas_0.jpg
Nicholas Elmore

Nicholas J. Elmore, 26, of Batavia, is charged with theft of services, petit larceny and criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. Elmore was arrested by Macedon PD for alleged shoplifting. He hired a cab for a ride from Macedon PD's office to a hotel in Batavia. He allegedly fled through a back door of the hotel without paying his $144 cab fare. State Police were dispatched to the complaint. They located Macedon PD paperwork related to the shoplifting arrest on the back seat of the cab. Elmore had used another person's ID with the Macedon PD. That person was located by troopers and interviewed. Troopers secured a photo of Elmore and shared it with Macedon PD who confirmed Elmore was the actual suspect in the shoplifting case. Elmore was located in a local hotel and arrested. At the time of his arrest, he allegedly possessed three packages of heroin. He was jailed on $800 bail.

Matthew Lilly, 25, of Marshall Road, Lyndonville, was arrested on a warrant. Lilly allegedly failed to appear on a disorderly conduct charge from April, 2014. He was jailed on $200 bail.

Gregory Scott Snyder, 46, of Alleghany Road, Darien, is charged with assault, 3rd. Snyder allegedly punched another person in the face during an argument reported 10 p.m. Thursday on Genesee Street, Alexander. The alleged victim was transported to Warsaw Hospital for treatment.

Cory Lynn Hyde, 33, of South Main Street, Mount Morris, is charged with disorderly conduct. Hyde was arrested on a warrant out of Town of Darien Court. He was jailed on $200 bail.

John Charles Siracuse III, 31, of Pringle Avenue, Batavia, is charged with falsely reporting information about an actual incident. Siracuse is accused of providing information about a motor-vehicle accident that wasn't truthful. The accident was reported at 3:20 p.m. Thursday on Lewiston Road.

A 17-year-old resident of North Main Street, Oakfield, is charged with harassment, 2nd. The youth is accused of striking another person while in a vehicle at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in Oakfield.

Ryan Michael Bobzin, 26, of West Bergen Road, Bergen, is charged with petit larceny. Bobzin allegedly stole an Xbox Kinect with a value of $100 from a family member April 22. He was jailed on $1,500 bail or $3,000 bond.

Leslie Charles Sage, 47, of Wight Road, Basom, is charged with aggraveted unlicensed operation, 3rd, driving on a suspended registration and driving a vehicle without an inspection sticker. Sage was stopped 3:28 p.m. March 28 on Park Road, Batavia, by Deputy Joseph Corona. He was jailed on $1,000 bail or $2,000 bond.

Barbara A. Hofert, 54, of Washington Avenue, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater and obstructed license plate. Hofert was stopped at 7:54 p.m. Tuesday on Porter Avenue, Batavia, by Officer Mitchell Cowen.

Juan Pozotempan-Ahuejote, 37, of Wood Street, Batavia, is charged with menacing, 3rd. Pozotempan-Ahuejote allegedly threatened another person with a raised, clinched fist during an argument reported at 3:50 p.m., Wednesday. He was jailed on $3,000 or $6,000 bond.

TyAnna D. Green, 20 of Holland Avenue, Batavia, is charged with disorderly conduct. Green was allegedly involved in an incident in the parking lot of Dunn Tire at midnight, Thursday.

Winston A. Lockhart, 20, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with disorderly conduct and unlawful possession of marijuana. Lockhart was allegedly involved in the incident with Gree, above.

Brody A. Jorgenson, 20, of Ellicott Street, Batavia, is charged with possession of alcohol under age 21. Jorgenson was allegedly involved with an underage drinking party reported at 1:14 a.m. Sunday at 340 Ellicott St., Batavia. Also charged Joshua A. Wester, 20, of Ellicott Street, Batavia.

Leonard A. Johnson III, 22, of Holland Avenue, Batavia, is charged with assault, 3rd. Johnson was arrested as the result of an investigation into an incident reported April 29 on Holland Avenue.

Jennifer Lynne Judkins, 20, of Dodgeson Road, Alexander, is charged with petit larceny. Judkins allegedly stole $43 in clothing from Kmart.

Jason Andrew Barnhart Sr., 28, of Pratt Road, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny, criminal contempt, 2nd, and criminal trespass, 3rd. Barnhart allegedly stole two DVDs from Walmart, and in the process violated an order of protection and being restricted from the property.

Christine Aminta Soler, 37, of Phelps Road, Pembroke, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Soler allegedly struck another person during an argument at 2:41 p.m., Wednesday. 

Luke Paul Simmons, 18, of Harper Road, Corfu, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Simmons was arrested by Deputy Kevin McCarthy following an investigation into a report of a suspicous vehicle on Route 20 at 9:19 p.m., April 24.

Orentheo Jamar Flowers, is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation and unlicensed operator. Flowers was arrested on a warrant for an alleged failure to appear on the charges.

Shayne Robert Patterson, 49, of Killian Road, Corfu, is charged wit DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater and drinking in a motor vehicle. Patterson was stopped at 8:38 p.m. Monday by Deputy Joseph Corona.

Crystal L. Wojtkowiak, 19, of Attica, is charged with false reporting and obstructing governmental administration. Garry P. Pitz, 20, of Depew, is charged with false reporting, obstructing governmental administration, reckless driving and other traffic violations. Wojtkowiak allegedly claimed to be the driver of a 2004 black Chevorlet Blazer involved in a rollover accident April 12 on Bowen Road, Alexander. State Police investigated and determined Wojtkowiak wasn't in the vehicle at the time of the accident and that Pitz was the actual driver. Pitz was reportedly driving northbound no Bowen Road when he made an alleged unsafe start and lost control of the Blazer, causing it to go off the east shoulder. He then overcorrected and spun around, causing the vehicle to rollover, coming to rest in the field on the east side of the highway. No deer were involved.

John J. Haire, 67, of Chili Riga Center Road, Churchville, was charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .18 or higher. Haire was arrested following a complaint of a man urinating in the Top's Market parking lot in the Village of Le Roy.

Happy Mother's Day from The Yngodess Shop!

By Lisa Ace

A toast to all moms on this beautiful Mother's Day weekend! We can help you pick out a bottle of wine and gift wrap it for you, too! We also have gift certificates. Cheers ladies!

Two-car collision reported at routes 19 and 33, Bergen

By Billie Owens

A two-car accident with injury is reported at routes 19 and 33. (That's South Lake Road and Clinton Street Road.) Bergen fire and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 2:38 p.m.: The injury is minor.

UPDATE 2:42 p.m.: A responder on scene reports the vehicles are blocking traffic.

UPDATE 2:43 p.m.: A second minor injury is reported.

UPDATE 2:46 p.m.: Medics have arrived.

Photos: Driving back from Darien Lake

By Howard B. Owens

dodgesonroadmay82015.jpg

It's a great stretch of weather we've been enjoying. I figure after this past winter, Mother Nature owe's us this one.

First four shots along Bennett Road, Darien, then Dodgeson Road, Alexander, and bottom, a new windmill that's appeared along Bennett Road.

dodgesonroadmay82015-2.jpg

dodgesonroadmay82015-3.jpg

dodgesonroadmay82015-4.jpg

dodgesonroadmay82015-5.jpg

Photos: Darien Lake opens Rolling Thunder

By Howard B. Owens

rollingthunderopeningmay82015.jpg

The first Darien Lake Theme Park customers got to climb aboard the newest thrill ride in Western New York today -- Rolling Thunder.

The rail-car loop propels riders back-and-forth and then around the loop forward and backward.  

The park opened to season ticket holders today and to all park-goers tomorrow for the season, which runs through Sept. 27.

rollingthunderopeningmay82015-2.jpg

Chamber of Commerce President Tom Turnbull cut the ribbon for the new ride.

rollingthunderopeningmay82015-3.jpg

rollingthunderopeningmay82015b-4.jpg

rollingthunderopeningmay82015-5.jpg

rollingthunderopeningmay82015-6.jpg

rollingthunderopeningmay82015-7.jpg

rollingthunderopeningmay82015-8.jpg

rollingthunderopeningmay82015-9.jpg

General Manager Chris Thorpe shows off the next new ride for Darien Lake, Brain Drain. The ride will be completed in time for guests to take the plunge for the first time on Saturday. The water slide drops riders from platform 70-feet high at an 80-degree angle, propelling them through the looping slide at 38 feet per second.

Full press release from Darien Lake after the jump:

Darien Lake, Western New York’s largest theme park, opens tomorrow for its 52nd season of family thrills and entertainment. Major announcements this season include the addition of two new thrill rides to the park – Rolling Thunder and Brain Drain. Other exciting additions for the 2015 season include several in-park family concerts and a "dive-in" movie series.

Rolling Thunder, Darien’s latest thrill ride, opened today for season pass holders with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony lead by Darien Lake general manager Chris Thorpe. Chris was joined by Genesee County Chamber of Commerce President Tom Turnbull and Town Supervisor David Hagelberger.  The general public will have full access to the park tomorrow, May 9th.

Rolling Thunder – A dominating, compact steel loop is a unique, circular, freestanding structure towering at a lofty seven stories. The high capacity, high speed train rockets guests back and forth, quickly gaining momentum for several loops of excitement. Rolling Thunder then hangs riders upside-down, reverses direction, and starts all over again. 

Brain Drain – A skyscraping 70-foot high waterslide that offers two identically designed and simultaneously launched free-fall drops of excitement. Guests will ascend the tower, climb into the fully enclosed vertical launch capsule and wait for the floor to disappear beneath them. Upon launch, riders drop into the tunnel and are propelled at 38 feet per second, while spiraling down back-to-back compound curves and tight 360-degree loops. Finally riders are blasted into a refreshing pool of water below. This ride is scheduled to open on May 16, water park opening day.

Other great entertainment at the park this summer includes three special in-park concerts presented by TOPS Markets that are free with a Season Pass, a hotel or camping package or daily admission. The  free concerts will take place in the Ride of Steel Plaza and include performances by – Disney Channel’s Debby Ryan & The Never Ending; the social media hip-hop star Jake Miller; and Canadian singer-songwriter, Shawn Mendes. 

“With the addition of two new thrill rides and added in-park value for guests, Darien Lake’s 2015 season is going to be better than ever before,” said General Manager Chris Thorpe. “We have something here for everyone and we’re excited to welcome returning season-pass holders and new visitors to experience all the thrills and chills the park has to offer this year.”

With park admission, season pass or any hotel or camping package, guests receive unprecedented value with access to all in-park entertainment/concerts, special Dive- In water-park movies, special events and now more than 50 rides. A 2015 season pass has even greater value than ever before, paying for itself in less than two visits. Season Pass holders will have the opportunity to be the first to ride the all-new Rolling Thunder thrill ride and have unlimited access all summer long to experience Brain Drain, the latest addition to the water park.

For more information on season pass, new rides, concerts or accommodations offerings visit www.darienlake.com.

Photos: Batavia Society of Artists opens its 2015 Spring Show

By Howard B. Owens

artshowmay82015-2.jpg

Batavia Society of Artists opened its Spring Show Thursday evening at the Richmond Memorial Library.

Kathy Roblee, above, won Best of Show with her work, "Tonawanda Creek," which is an acrylic.

artshowmay82015.jpg

Linda Metcalf, First Place -- "Where's Mary," watercolor.

artshowmay82015-3.jpg

Marilynn Palotti, "Napa Valley Sunset," acrylic.

Amber Motzer (not pictured) won the Virginia Carr-Mumford GCC Art Award.

artshowmay82015-4.jpg

artshowmay82015-5.jpg

artshowmay82015-6.jpg

artshowmay82015-7.jpg

artshowmay82015-8.jpg

Photos: Prom-time DWI accident demonstrated for Elba students

By Howard B. Owens

elbadwimay72015_01.jpg

Elba High School students were shown first-hand today what it can mean to drink and drive. Elba Fire hosted its annual DWI drill at the school. The exercise involves a simulated fatal accident with a serious injury. The department is assisted by the Sheriff's Office, Mercy EMS and Mercy Flight. Officials hope students get the message that drinking and driving can have serious consequences. The event is timed to come before prom season.

Top photo submitted by Karl White, Elba Volunteer Fire Department; The rest from Lynn O'Donnell of Mercy Flight.

elbadwimay72015_02.jpg

elbadwimay72015_03.jpg

elbadwimay72015_04.jpg

elbadwimay72015_05.jpg

elbadwimay72015_06.jpg

City manager says mediator needed to resolve disputes with Mall Merchants

By Howard B. Owens

A mediator could help resolve the long-simmering dispute between the City of Batavia and the Mall Merchant's Association, City Manager Jason Molino said this morning during an on-air interview on WBTA's Main and Center.

The bickering and lawsuits and counter-lawsuits are leading nowhere, Molino suggested. They won't lead to a resolution that satisfies all parties. A mediator would have a better chance and an equitable solution.

“When litigation is filed, it is on a narrow scope of issues and if it ever goes to trial and has a determination, the determination is going to be on that narrow scope of issues, and generally, on anything, there is more to it than just those narrow scope of issues and in this case, there is a lot more to it," Molino said.

The city and the Mall Merchants Association have been locked in a dispute for several years over who is responsible for the maintenance of the roof over the mall concourse.

The merchants claim the city owns the concourse and should repair or replace the roof.

The city maintains the merchants failed to properly maintain the roof.

Molino said he would like to see the case go to a mediator.

“Can there be a mediator? Yes, absolutely," Molino said. "Is that something we’re looking to do? Yes, it is.”

So far, no mediator has been appointed.

The city owns the Mall Concourse. The stores and offices in the mall are individually owned.

Photos: Tomato spill on Walnut Street

By Howard B. Owens

tomatopastemay72015-2.jpg

Sometime around 5 p.m., a truck carrying crates of tomatoes dumped a few boxes in the curve where Walnut becomes South Main in Batavia. A witness told police, the driver stopped, gathered his empty crates and left the tomatoes in the roadway. Police responded to a report of a "dangerous condition" and requested city DPW to the scene for clean up. The tomatoes were hauled to the city's compost heap. The driver, who left the scene, could not be identified.

tomatopastemay72015-3.jpg

tomatopastemay72015.jpg

Sponsored Post: Join us this Mother's Day!

By Lisa Ace

MOTHER'S DAY 3-COURSE BREAKFAST Seatings at 9  & 11 a.m. ~ $13.95 
~ Something to Start ~  Choice of Entree ~ Something to Finish ~

  • Filet & Eggs ~ a grilled petit filet, any style eggs, home fried potatoes and Texas toast. 
  • Black Forest Waffles ~ fluffy dark chocolate waffles topped with a cherry glaze and homemade crème served with breakfast sausage. 
  • Stuffed French Toast ~ thick slices of cinnamon egg-dipped toast stuffed w/Nutella and topped with fresh strawberries and crème served with breakfast sausage. 
  • Baguette Omelet ~ farm fresh eggs, veggies and cheese baked into crusty baguette bread served with breakfast sausage and home fried potatoes. 
  • Children's menu available.

MOTHER'S DAY 3-COURSE LUNCH - Seatings at 1 & 3 p.m. ~ $16.95
~ Something to Start ~ Choice of Entree ~ Something to Finish ~

  • Tuscan Pasta ~ homemade angel hair and grilled chicken topped with a creamy Alfredo, sundried tomatoes and broccoli.
  • Greek Platter ~ marinated, grilled chicken & pork kabobs atop Greek rice, served with Greek potatoes and tzatziki sauce.
  • Steak Rolls ~ sautéed, julienned vegetables wrapped in flank steak and grilled, served on garlic mashed and topped with a balsamic glaze.
  • Lobster Rolls ~ New England-style rolls stuffed w/Maine lobster, served w/homemade cole slaw and hushpuppies.
  • Children's menu available.

MOTHER'S DAY 3-COURSE DINNER - Seatings at 4 & 6 p.m. ~ $19.95
~ Something to Start ~ Choice of Entree ~ Something to Finish ~

  • Stuffed Pork Tenderloin ~ butterflied pork stuffed with spinach, apples and wrapped in prosciutto, served w/garlic mashed and seasonal vegetable.
  • Chicken French ~ boneless, skinless breast dipped in egg and cheese, sautéed in garlic, white wine & lemon served on angel hair pasta w/artichokes.
  • Italian Trio ~ homemade lasagna, chicken parmesan and fresh made gnocchi w/our traditional red sauce.
  • Surf and Turf ~ a juicy, thick, grilled strip steak and roasted jumbo shrimp served atop parmesan risotto.
  • Children's menu available.

Click here to visit us online.

Grass fire spreading toward barn on Lyman Road, Byron

By Billie Owens

A grass fire is reportedly burning its way toward a barn at 6912 Lyman Road. Byron and South Byron fire departments are responding. The location is between Coward and Beaver Meadow roads.

UPDATE 5:09 p.m.: The dispatcher says a small building and several vehicles are now involved in the fire.

UPDATE 5:13 p.m.: The dispatcher says they are on the phone with "DEC police."

Car vs. motorcycle accident with possible serious injuries on Main Road, Corfu

By Billie Owens

pembrokemcaccmay72015-2.jpg

A possible serious-injury accident involving a car and motorcycle is reported in front of Yancey's Fancy/Kutter's Cheese Store, 857 Main Road, Corfu. Mercy Flight is in the air. Pembroke Town Hall parking lot is the landing zone. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding along with Mercy medics. Fire Police are told to shut down westbound traffic at routes 5 and 77.

UPDATE 3:49 p.m.: Confirmed serious injuries. The car involved is a Dodge Neon. Mercy Flight has a 3-minute ETA. Akron is also "assembling a crew for their end."

UPDATE 3:54 p.m.: Mercy Flight is on the ground.

UPDATE 4:07 p.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne and headed to Buffalo hospital.

UPDATE 4:28 p.m.: The motorcyclist suffered a broken arm. A state trooper at the scene told Howard this was a classic case of when looking twice could have avoided an accident. The trooper said the driver of the Neon pulled out of the parking lot of the medical facility across the street, right in front of the motorcyclist, and "never even saw him."

UPDATE 4:39 p.m.: The assignment is back in service and the roadway is being reopened.

UPDATE 4:52 p.m.: Howard at the scene interviewed accident eyewitness Christopher Macomber, who had just gotten off work from his job at Yancey's. Macomber said the accident was "very shocking" ... "The Neon came right out from the doctor's office and the motorcycle was headed east towards Batavia. He was going I'm guessing 55 miles an hour, if not 60, depends, and he just got launched in the air upon impact. He was pretty banged up. The car pulled right in front of him. It was pretty brutal. It was nasty." ... "I've been in a car accident, but I've never seen one with a motorcycle. I've heard stories about it, but that's about it." ... "The male driver of the Neon -- I honestly don't think he saw him at all, not one little bit. I honestly don't think he looked. I mean, it didn't look like he stopped at all or anything. I think he just pulled right out in front."

UPDATE: The motorcyclist is identified as Timothy Young, 52, of Hopkins Road, Batavia. The driver of the Neon is John Colosanti, 62, of Rundell Road, Alden.

pembrokemcaccmay72015-3.jpg

pembrokemcaccmay72015.jpg

BHS Class of '16 to host Food Truck Rodeo on Saturday

By Howard B. Owens

foodtruckrodeopromomay72015.jpg

The Batavia High School Class of 2016 is sponsoring a Food Truck Rodeo from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday at the high school. Participating vendors include Papa Gig's Gourmet Italian, The Brunch Box, Bento Box Asian Cuisine and Smoothies Plus. There will be live music and entertainment for children. Proceeds benefit the Class of 2016.

In the photo: Simran Rathod, Noah Dobbertin, Alexis Vasciannie and Ross Chua.

St. Joe's 'Big Mistake' is a big winner

By Howard B. Owens

17367949151_798b4b39ac_o.jpg

With their robot "Big Mistake," the robotics team at St. Joseph Catholic School took home a championship trophy at the VEX IQ Robotics Highrise Funfest, held Saturday at the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. St. Joe's recently integrated a robotics program into its curriculum for eigth-grade students. Teams from throughout WNY participated in the competition. "Big Mistake" also won the Design Award for being able to move multiple cubes at once. Photo: Maya Rademacker, Matthew Stevens and Paige Johnston.

Photo and info submitted by Lauren Humphrey.

Aspiring entrepreneurs invited to ownership series at BEST Center

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

The City of Batavia was awarded a $200,000 grant to foster the development of new and expanding small businesses that will improve the community. Per Federal grantor requirements, the City has coordinated capacity-building training in order to make grants available to entrepreneur participants and those willing to promote employment opportunities for persons of low-moderate income families.

“Knowing we have market opportunities, this grant enables the City to coordinate instructional training to help people develop their business ideas and learn what it takes to be successful from veteran business owners,” said City Manager Jason Molino. “The classroom interactions will supplement the existing services already provided by the Chamber, Small Business Development Center and SCORE.”

To meet national program objectives, the City of Batavia partnered with the BEST Center at Genesee Community College and the Batavia Development Corporation (BDC) to offer a three-part “Owning Your Own Business” series designed to inspire creativity, fine-tune skills, and find where passion and work intersect. At the end, new and expanding businesses in the City having fewer than five employees may be eligible to access grants up to $15,000.

The initial program started April 22nd as a series of one-hour sessions where participants assessed their personal readiness to own and operate a new business and explored business opportunities. The final Part I session is next week, "The Sniff Test: assessing your business idea!" In the class setting, participants will pinpoint a target audience, evaluate the idea, navigate the competitive landscape and determine next steps.

The final Part I series is Wednesday, May 13, from noon -1 p.m. in the second floor community room at Batavia City Hall. Pre-register for $5 online at http://www.genesee.edu/best/ or pay $10 at the door. Light refreshments available.

Get Underway -- Small Business Ownership Part II begins Wednesday, May 27th . This weekly evening session 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
  • June 3
  • June 10
  • June 17
  • June 24

-- Trials, tribulations & skills of a successful business leader Marketing strategies to increase sales;

-- Using financial information to guide my business Learning to “manage” a business;

-- Business plan presentation and networking costs $125 and students will receive a certificate upon successful completion.

The five-week course registration is also available online at http://www.genesee.edu/best/.

The City has offered small business loans and grants for over a decade resulting in more than $5,000,000 public-private investments. The $200,000 grant and the Small Business Ownership series is funded by the New York State Office of Community Renewal Community Development Block Grant.

Cigarette likely cause of Elba structure fire

By Howard B. Owens

bridgeroadfiremay2015.jpg

A discarded cigarette is the likely cause of a fire that left burned out three residents of 5253 Bridge Road, Elba, out of their home last night, according to Tim Yaeger, emergency management coordinator.

Two dogs, a chinchilla and five kittens born to a barn cat and living in the basement, are believed to have perished in the fire.

No people were hurt in the fire.

The 140-year-old farm house was divided into two apartments.

At least two of the residents were smokers and were known to stand out behind the house, on the back porch, smoke, and deposit their butts in a plastic canister by the back door.

That's where the fire started.

The structure is still standing and the first floor remains accessible.  

This morning Alex Beardsley and a friend were pulling out the personal belongings of Beardsley and his brother. Beardsley said excluding clothing and books and anything else easily damaged by water, about 90 percent of their personal property was saved when firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the second floor.

Beardsley and his brother had a significant investment in the game Warhammer 40,000. That collection was largely undamaged.

One of the dogs that died in the fire belonged to Beardsley and his brother. The other lived with the upstairs resident.

The likely brand of cigarette that ignited the fire is Senecas. About half-a-decade ago there was some controversy around cigarettes manufactured by tribes and their lack of fire-safe features, but in 2009, the Seneca Nation announced all of their cigarettes would be fire safe.

A fire-safe cigarette will burn out more quickly when left unattended.

An employee of Zuber Farm, where the house is located, said the structure is a total loss and will be torn down.

Previously:

bridgeroadfiremay2015-2.jpg

bridgeroadfiremay2015-3.jpg

bridgeroadfiremay2015-4.jpg

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