A caller reports an explosion with smoke now visible in the area of Route 63 and East Bethany Le Roy Road, East Bethany.
Bethany fire and one engine from Stafford requested to the scene.
Law enforcement also in route.
UPDATE 3:46 a.m.: Law enforcement in the area reports "fire can disregard."
Genesee Cancer Assistance hosted its annual fundraiser and festival at Batavia Downs, the Festival of Hope, which included a cross-fit competition.
Volunteers who help keep the Batavia Community Garden going, located behind the Youth Bureau off of State Street, held an open house this morning.
Pictured are Dave Graney, Louis Leone, Debbie Rosenbeck and Bob Gray.
There are only nine plots left for this growing season.
Lease prices range from $15 to $25, depending on the size of the plot.
For more information and an application form, visit the Youth Bureau.
Jeanna Marie Hattaway, 29, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with two counts of petit larceny. On May 31, at 8:30 p.m. Hattaway was arrested after allegedly stealing various items from two separate neighbors' yards in the area. She was issued an appearance ticket for Town of Batavia Court at 1 p.m. on July 7. The case was handled by Sheriff's Deputy Michael Lute.
Joseph Alexander Mazuera-Cortes, 27, of Blackburn Lane, Mount Hope, Ontario, Canada, is charged with driving while intoxicated, and operation of a motor vehicle with a BAC of .08 percent or 1 percent or more. At 12:55 a.m. today, the subject was allegedly driving a motor vehicle in an area that was restricted to pedestrians at the Darien Lake Campgrounds, 9993 Alleghany Road, Darien. When questioned by Darien Lake security, he allegedly attempted to flee the area, driving erratically through the campground. He allegedly drove down a restricted lane into a heavilty wooded area before stopping. He was taken into custody by security officers. He was allegedly found to be intoxicated and arrested for DWI. The case was handled by Sheriff's Sgt. John Baiocco.
Dakota David Swimline, 19, of Trumbull Parkway, Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Following an investigation of a liquor law violation complaint on Farnsworth Avenue in the Village of Oakfield, Swimline was arrested at 1:13 a.m. today after allegedly being found in possession of a small amount of marijuana hash oil in the front pocket of his pants. He was issued an appearance ticket of Town of Oakfield Court and is to appear there June 27. The case was handled by Sheriff's Deputy Eric Meyer, assisted by Deputy Andrew Hale.
Sterna Gettel Grunwald, 31, of McNamara Road, Spring Valley, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. The defendant was stopped following the observation of vehicle and traffic violations on Route 63 in the Town of Batavia at 11:15 p.m. on May 30. An odor of marijuana was allegedly detected emanating from the vehicle and Grunwald was allegedly found in possession of marijuana. Grunwald was issued an appearance ticket for Town of Batavia Court at a later date. The case was handled by Sheriff's Deputy Ryan DeLong, assisted by Deputy Eric Meyer.
A deputy is responding to 7673 Bank Street Road, Town of Batavia, for a report of an eagle on the front lawn.
UPDATE 10:58 a.m.: The animal control officer returned to the shelter. No word on the eagle.
John Kennedy School hosted its annual Sons and Mothers Mud Run yesterday, with new obstacles, a DJ and a visit by the city fire department.
The Pembroke, Indian Falls, Corfu and East Pembroke volunteer fire departments came together yesterday to stage a DWI accident drill for the seniors of Pembroke High School in advance of their annual prom.
The drill simulates a fatal accident caused by a drunken driver.
Also participating were the Sheriff's Office, Coroner Karen Long, Mercy EMS, Mercy Flight and C.B. Beach Funeral Home.
To find out more about volunteering with your local fire department, visit ReadyGenesee.com.
To purchase prints, click here.
The Batavia Business and Professional Women’s Club (BBPW) 2016 Scholarship Committee awarded scholarships Thursday to five Genesee County high school, two Genesee Valley Educational Partnership (GVEP) and one Genesee Community College students. They were presented at the club's June Banquet at Batavia Country Club.
The 2016 Scholarship Award winners pictured from left above are: Jennifer Yuhnke (GVEP), Heidi Young (GCC), Emily Sherman (Notre Dame HS), Alyssa Wilson (GVEP), Noelle Bartz (Batavia HS), Luca Zambito (Notre Dame HS), Jordan D’Alba (Oakfield HS). Also pictured are Vicki Wolak (president of BBPW) and Brenda Chapell (chairwoman of BBPW Scholarship Committee. Recipient Emma Patterson (Pembroke HS) is not pictured.
The high school students each received a $750 check to support their educational and career goals. These scholarships are open to Genesee County high schools seniors (male or female). Each student maintained a grade-point average of 85 percent or higher, completed a one-page BPW application with a letter of recommendation from a school staff member, and submitted a personal essay discussing their achievements and future goals, as well as an essay from a parent. The finalists were interviewed by the BBPW Scholarship Committee in May and were notified by one of the scholarship committee members.
The Genesee Community College (GCC) adult student received a $500 scholarship award. The selection process for the GCC award is completed by the Genesee Community College Foundation.
The Genesee Valley Educational Partnership (GVEP) students each received a $250 scholarship award. These students were selected through the GVEP, Student Services Committee.
Additionally, BBPW club members voted at their May Meeting on the Service Awards to be distributed and this year. Four $300 checks were awarded. Pictured from left are: President Wolak, Luann Henry (chairwoman of BBPW Service Award Committee), Patricia Arnold (Genesee Cancer Assistance), Anne Barone (Crossroads House), Ed Spence (Operation Injured Soldiers), Jim Duval (Bethany Volunteer Fire Department). To be considered for the service award, a letter written on appropriate letterhead had to be sent to the BBPW requesting consideration.
To find out more about BBPW scholarships and service awards visit this web page: http://bataviabpw.wordpress.com/scholarship
The next fundraising event is Oct. 15 -- the Basket & Live Auction and Dinner being held at the Ascension Parish Hall on Sumner Street in Batavia. Doors open at 5 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6. Basket drawings and live auction to follow. The theme is Mexican Fiesta. Tickets are on sale now for $20 or two for $35. All proceeds from this event benefit Genesee County scholarships and the service organizations.
To purchase tickets or donate to the auction, please contact Michelle at 585-297-0779 or send an e-mail to bataviabpw@gmail.com.
A male was bitten in the eye by a snapping turtle and is now in the clubhouse at the Chestnut Hill Country Club awaiting evaluation by medics. It is located at 1330 Broadway Road in Darien Center. Darien ambulance is responding.
A grant to pay for a historic marker for the boyhood home of Civil War-era Major General Emory Upton was approved, and the news was relayed to the Human Service Committee when it met Tuesday at County Building #2.
The Syracuse-based William G. Pomeroy Foundation agreed to provide $1,000 for a standard historical marker, mounting pole and shipping costs. Since 2006, the foundation's Historic Roadside Marker Grant Program has funded more than 282 markers in 46 New York counties.
The home at 9244 Upton Road in the Town of Batavia was built in 1823 by Emory's parents, Daniel and Electa Upton. The date has not been set, but there will be an unveiling ceremony/dedication after the marker is installed, attended by veterans groups, according to County Historian Michael Eula.
He has overseen the installation of three other markers during his tenure; there is a total of 19 in the county so far, one of which is in storage (for Rolling Hills Asylum in East Bethany).
The historian went on to outline what's happening in his department.
"I'm excited and optimistic about this department," he told the committee.
An average of eight visitors a month spend time in the History Department. Requests for information are up 2 percent; the only resulting uptick in revenue comes from copying fees.
But the reputation of the Genesee County History Department is widening, Eula said, garnering attention outside the region, even outside the state.
The one area of concern that keeps the historian up at night, in fact that gives him nightmares, is the very real prospect of running out of shelf space for documents and records.
"Worst-case scenario is three years of shelving left," Eula said, "best case, four maybe five years."
He is tasked with storing documents from the Probation Department, the District Attorney's Office, the Public Defender's Office, and more.
But he has no idea in any given year how many documents will need to be archived.
It is only with the aid of a part-time microfilm clerk that he is "able to stay afloat."
"The more backup we have, the better I sleep at night," Eula said.
To that end, he applied for a grant last year to pay for more clerk hours to transfer documents onto microfilm. It was declined.
"I have to resubmit it," Eula said. "There is a learning curve on my part."
The specialized language of grant writing for record management is something he's still finessing, he admitted, noting that it is more challenging -- nuanced differently -- than that required for purely historical matters.
If he succeeds in getting grant money for more clerking assistance, he said he would like to retain the person now doing the job and already familiar with the department. Besides, he worries about confidentiality.
"Bringing in an outsider, a third party, raises confidentiality issues," Eula said.
After the meeting, Eula gave the Human Service Committee a tour of the History Department and County Building #2. With fans blowing and walls stripped of baseboards in many places, there was residual evidence of the flooding with occurred on a bitterly cold winter night when a frozen pipe burst and water damaged the building. It would have been much worse, but an employee happened to stop by over the weekend and caught the flooding early.
A contractor is working to paint and retile and make other repairs and the county's insurer is paying for it.
Press release:
Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) has announced that the overwhelming success of its "Medicaid 101" introductory seminars in May, and public demand for more, has prompted the Agency to hold additional sessions, monthly, from June to October.
Once again, the general public is invited to attend any of the FREE hour-long seminars on the benefits, requirements and application procedures for health care assistance for low-income individuals from New York State Medicaid.
The classes will take place from 2 to 3 p.m., on the first Tuesday of the month at ILGR’s office, 113 Main St., Suite 5, Batavia, starting June 7th.
Those interested can receive more information, get a Resource Packet with Medicaid materials, and sign up for the seminars by calling David Dodge at (585) 815-8501, ext. 415. But please be sure to RSVP if you are interested! If no one signs up for a particular month’s seminar in advance, it will be cancelled!
The instructor, ILGR facilitated enroller David Dodge, has described the seminars: “Medicaid 101 will be a presentation designed to help the community better understand Medicaid and the benefits that come with Medicaid coverage. In addition, our Medicaid Application Assistance Program (MAAP) will be discussed, so participants can be informed about the option to have someone assist them with their application should they choose to apply.
“This would also be an opportunity for folks to schedule an appointment with me. However, we would not be providing actual Medicaid application assistance at this event, due to its public nature and our HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) government-mandated privacy obligations.”
Free Sunglasses when you rent your prom tuxedo at Charles Men's Shop - Downtown Batavia. Click here to visit our Facebook page.
A TV monitor that scrolls a continuous loop of ads for local businesses and things of interest in the county will soon be found in the Batavia DMV Office.
On Wednesday, the Ways and Means Committee approved County Clerk Michael Cianfrini's request for permission to install an AdMonitor on a wall inside the DMV, at no cost to the county, other than the electricity used to run it.
"I'm really interested in advertising the motor vehicle office, to (encourage people to) renew locally," Cianfrini said. "We found that a lot of people have no idea that if you go online and do your transactions, that the county gets nothing. They assume it's the same whether you do it in an office or out of office. So it's a good way to get the word out."
The system is prerecorded, with the information provided to AdMonitor, which supplies the equipment, services it and replaces it if need be.
The monitor will feature advertising for local businesses and the county will have five ad spots to call attention to whatever they'd like to call attention to -- from reporting welfare fraud and notifying the public of upcoming immunization clinics, to Youth Bureau activities or happenings at the fairgrounds or the county Park & Forest.
"They also intersperse trivia and other little things to keep people entertained while they wait," Cianfrini said.
Wait? What wait?
"The times I've been in your office, I didn't have to wait," said Committee Chairman Bob Bausch. "I think you move us through pretty doggone quick!"
Whatever is displayed can be switched up and changed from time to time, of course.
"I've seen this in several restaurants. It does grab your attention. Because I like to play trivia, it's kind of cool," Committee Member Ray Cianfrini. "But you may have a captive audience, like the Department of Social Services, where you have a waiting-room situation, and it soothes the crowd."
Committee Member Rochelle Stein asked if there is any opportunity to make money with it.
No, the county clerk said, but by calling attention to specific activities or promotions, there's the potential to increase foot traffic and participation .
More AdMonitors are possible down the road, the clerk and committee members said, possibly at the DSS and the Office of the Aging on Bank Street.
Press release:
The Genesee Community College Center for the Arts will welcome Beaver Alley Studios, Inc., and the Western New York Film, Art and Music Event (FAME) from Friday, Aug. 12, until Sunday, Aug. 14, for a three-day festival that will include local and international films, performances, art displays, educational workshops, vendors and networking.
As filmmakers, FAME understands the burden of high festival fees and the frustration of low audience turn out. The group keeps fees low and has created an event with mass appeal. The festival treats film makers, musicians and artists like celebrities with an audience Q&A or panel discussion and encourages active audience participation by allowing attendees to choose some of the awards. Festivalgoers can also take a break to get food, browse vendors, sit in on workshops, or join in the music festival fun.
The mid-August festival at GCC has already received nearly 300 film, music and photography entries from all over the world. The deadline for submissions is June 15. The organization is also seeking workshop presenters, sponsors and vendors. Vendor tables cost $100 for three days, but are discounted to $75 if booked by June 30th.
Tickets for the event are available on a per-block or workshop basis all the way to full VIP all-access. Tickets range from $10 – $60 and more information can be found on the festival Facebook page and the Film Freeway website: http://www.facebook.com/WNYAFAME/; http://filmfreeway.com/festival/WNYFilmArtandMusicEventFame. The contact phone number is 585-798-2815 or e-mail: rhonda@beaveralleystudios.com
The festival schedule is as follows (subject to change):
Friday, Aug. 12 -- Fright Night -- Scary and Bloody Films:
• 4:00 -- Vendors Open- Opening Band TBD
• 4:15 -- Dmon Productions (Zombie Face painting)
• 4:30 -- Documentary Block
• 5:00 -- Movie Block 1
• 6:30 -- Band - Kamp Crystal Lake
• 7:00 -- Movie Block 2
• 9:00- After Party – at TBD
Saturday, Aug. 13 -- "Girl Power" A focus on films by female writer/directors or strong female leads:
• 11:00 -- Vendors open
• 11:30 -- Workshop -- Shawn Essler -- Becoming a Filmmaker.
• 12:00 -- Movie Block 3
• 1:00 -- Band -- Creative Spirit
• 1:30 -- Workshop B
• 2:00 -- Movie Block 4
• 3:00 -- Band -- Jim Candytree
• 3:30 -- Workshop C
• 4:00 -- Movie Block 5
• 5:00 -- Band -- Anonymous Willpower
• 5:30 -- Documentary Block in Classroom
• 6:00 -- Movie Block 6
• 8:00 -- After Party at TBD Band "The Lonely Ones"
Sunday, Aug. 14 -- WNY films and Family Friendly Films:
• 11:00 -- Vendors open
• 11:15 -- Cosplay Trivia Contest
• 11:30 -- Workshop D
• 12:00 -- Movie Block 7
• 12:15 -- Dmon Productions (Face painting)
• 1:00 -- Band -- The Nigh
• 1:30 -- Workshop E
• 2:00 -- Movie Block 8
• 3:00 -- Band -- Genesee Johnny
• 4:00 -- Movie Block 9 and Awards and Raffles/ Costume Contest
• 6:00 -- Movie Block 10 -- Beaver Alley Studios, Inc., Film "Lonely Bananas"
Beaver Alley Studios, Inc., is a nonprofit organization established for the purpose of facilitating the production, promotion, distribution, exhibition and celebration of independent art in all forms, especially art from a female perspective. The organization offers services such as screenwriting and script consultation, cinematography, editing, film reviews, film school, and packages for events, commercial use, music videos and short films.
Beaver Alley Studios, Inc., was founded by Rhonda L. Parker, a recent GCC graduate who earned degrees in Communications and Media Arts and as well as Paralegal Studies. She graduated with President's List Honors earning a GPA of 3.75 or higher. A resident of Albion, Parker is an active filmmaker and produced the full length movie, "Friends Don't Let Friends - Date Friends" in 2014. She has also written and produced the feature films "Lonely Bananas," "Message in a Bottle," a number of short films, and appeared as a "Walmart mom" in a television commercial.
"We are very excited about hosting an event like no other," Parker said. "Three days of regional and international films, performances from local singers and songwriters, art displays, educational workshops-and of course, the all-important networking giving all attendees the opportunity to explore, exchange and share ideas and inspiring artists to continue their work."
Anyone under the age of 18 will not be admitted without an adult and children must be supervised at all times.
The Genesee County Local Drug Enforcement Task Force, comprised of officers from the Sheriff's Office, Batavia Police NET, and the Le Roy Villege Police Department, along with Genesee County Sheriff's deputies, arrested at Florida man on June 1 who had active warrants our of Oseola County, Fla., and East Aurora.
Charles D. Macey, 35, of Finwick Court, Kissimmee, Fla., had three felony warrants for trafficking methamphetamine, sale of meth and heroin, and sale of a controlled substance. He also had an active warrant in New York (East Aurora) for criminal possession of stolen property, 5th.
He was turned over the the East Aurora Police Department.
Press release:
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) announced Thursday that he has signed on as a cosponsor of new legislation, coined the Charitable Gaming Act of 2016, which would allow charitable organizations and raffle holders to accept credit and legal tender for raffles as well as advertise and sell tickets online.
Hawley has also introduced his own legislation, A.10516, to remedy New York’s archaic and detrimental gaming laws.
“I am eager to see this bill come to the floor for a vote,” Hawley said. “It is scheduled to pass through committee today, and being authored by a Majority member gives it that much more potential to move through the legislative process.
"As I’ve said before, this is an issue that affects communities and benevolent organizations all across the state. Our statutes need to catch up with technology before more damage is done, and that is exactly what this legislation aims to do.”
Submitted photo and press release:
Eugene Jankowski Jr. has advanced from 3-Gun Nation Semi-Pro to the 3-Gun Nation Pro Series Event 8 to be held at Virginia International Raceway, Alton, Va., the end of this month.
A total of eight Pro events are held and each event comprises one, half-hour episode of 3-Gun Nation television airing sometime in July. This will be Jankowski’s first event as a 3-Gun Nation Professional Competition shooter.
The 3-Gun Nation Pro Series is the first of its kind, featuring the top shooters in the sport of 3-Gun. Each shooter competes in the same division, Practical, in a heads-up race to qualify for the season-ending finale. The final match features the top qualified shooters from the Pro Series, who compete in a seeded bracket to determine the final winner of the $50,000 grand prize.
To compete on the Pro Series, each year a qualifier is held – and the top 16 competitors earn a slot. To earn an invitation to the qualifier match, competitors must be signed up as a Semi-Pro in the previous year, compete in at least one 3GN Regional event and place within the top 25 in the Semi-Pro standings for the season.
Jankowski finished 18th in the 2015 semi-pro season and earned this year’s Pro Series slot at the October national qualifier. Jankowski is currently ranked 14th midway through the 2016 semi-pro season.
Press release:
Bataiva High School Coach Buddy Brasky will hold a basketball camp at Batavia City schools this summer. This basketball camp will be held from July 5 through Aug. 12. (Location(s) to be announced later.)
This six-week program will emphasize offensive skill development. The program is open to anyone, male or female, from grades seven to college.
Cost is $375. For an application, call Coach Brasky at 356-4050 or e-mail him at: mbrasky@bataviacsd.org
Brasky will be joined by:
There will be two sessions:
1) Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon for boys in grades nine to college;
2) Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon for boys in grades seven and eight, and girls in grades seven to college.
You have until 1:30 p.m. today to make a difference in the annual Fill the Boot drive to raise funds to fight muscular dystrophy.
Batavia City firefighters from IAFF Local 896 are ready to take your money at Main Street and Court Street and at Ellicott Street and Court Street.
In 2015, they raised $7,523 for the MDA. This year, they hope to top the $10,000 mark.
A black female dog with white markings was found astray without tags or a collar on Hilltop Drive in Le Roy about 20 minutes ago. A Le Roy police officer met or is meeting with an animal control officer in Stafford to hand off the pooch for transport to the Genesee County Animal Shelter.
So, if you know this dog, that's where you can find it, 3841 W. Main Street Road, Town of Batavia.
Copyright © 2008-2022 The Batavian. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
