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Annual toy drive underway at local chiropractors' office

By Howard B. Owens
mazurkiewicz toy drive 2023
Dr. Nick Ryan, Dr.  Tom Mazurkiewicz, Theresa Wlazlak, and Pastor Ryan Macdonald.
Photo by Howard Owens.

Chiropractors Tom Mazurkiewicz and Nick Ryan are sponsoring their annual toy drive in support of City Church's efforts to spread Christmas cheer to local children. 

Donors who bring a new, unwrapped toy will receive a complimentary adjustment during their next scheduled visit. The offer is open to new patients. The office at 184 Washington Ave., Batavia, is accepting donations through Dec. 15. 

All donations benefit families in Genesee County who may not otherwise be able to receive a gift this holiday due to economic hardship. 

The toys will be distributed by City Church at St. Anthony's on Liberty Street on Dec. 19 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Elba beats Lyndonville in season opener

By Howard B. Owens
elba girls basketball

Genesee Region Girls Basketball opened the 2023-24 season on Thursday with a matchup between Elba and Lydonville.

The Lancers beat the Tigers 55-36.

Sydney Reilly scored 17 points. Lydia Ross added 15 and Mariah Ognibene 10.

Photos by Debra Reilly.

elba girls basketball
elba girls basketball
elba girls basketball
elba girls basketball

SayDah is missing from her home on Walnut Street, Batavia

By Howard B. Owens
missing cat

SayDah might have something to say, she is, after all, Siamese, and we know how Siamese kitties like to talk. She might not be the talk of the town, though, because she is a bit shy.

She wandered from her home on Walnut Street near South Main, and her human, Rick, is concerned that she hasn't returned in a few days.  He's offering a $100 reward for her return/recovery.

To reach Rick, call 585-813-6615.

Important change to Deal of the Day, new benefit for Early Access Pass members

By Howard B. Owens

In May, we launched a program that enables our readers to help support local journalism.

It's called Early Access Pass and enables members to read selected stories before non-members.  Currently, selected stories require a membership to read during the first four hours of publication.

In order to enhance the value of an Early Access Pass membership, starting Jan. 1, members will get the first crack at buying Deals of the Day coupons.

During the first four hours of a Deal of the Day post, only Early Access Pass members will be able to purchase Deal of the Day coupons.

To ensure you don't miss out on valuable discounts, sign up for Early Access Pass today by visiting 

https://my.thebatavian.com

Use the Discount Code DOD10OR15 for either 10 percent off on the first year of an annual membership or 15 percent off each month for six months of a monthly membership.

Former BHS hoops star picks up first win as high school head coach in Alexander

By Howard B. Owens
alexander trojans basketball

The Alexander Trojans beat Geneseo 51-46 on Tuesday to open its 2023-24 campaign in Boys Basketball.

The win was the first as head coach for former Batavia High School basketball standout Jalen Smith.

Jayden Snyder notched a double-double for the Trojans, with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Kingston Woods also scored 12 points. He had seven rebounds. Trenton Woods added 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Dylan Pohl scored eight points.

Photos by Doug McFarland

alexander trojans basketball
alexander trojans basketball
alexander trojans basketball
alexander trojans basketball
alexander trojans basketball

Law and Order: Three Michigan residents arrested in alleged credit card scam at Speedway

By Howard B. Owens

Germayne D. Fifer, 19, of Inkster, Mich., Elijah A Davis, 22, of Inkster, Mich., and Tyrese I. Heard, 19, of  Ypsilanti, Mich., are charged with grand larceny 3rd and conspiracy 5th. The trio is accused of engaging in a credit card scam at Speedway in Batavia on Nov. 9 when they allegedly stole $5,000 in gift cards. Batavia patrol officers located the suspects' vehicle on Oak Street. The three suspects were arraigned in City Court and released.

Ameriquay J. Scott-Whitaker, 18, of Rochester, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property 3rd, reckless endangerment 1st, endangering the welfare of a child, possession of burglar's tools, and unlawful fleeing police in a motor vehicle 3rd. On Nov. 3, Batavia patrol officers attempted a traffic stop on Clinton Street of a vehicle that had been reported stolen in Rochester. The vehicle did not stop, which initiated a pursuit. State Police deployed spike strips to stop the vehicle on Route 33 near Route 19 in Bergen. Scott-Whitaker, along with four juveniles, were taken into custody. Scott-Whitaker was arraigned and is due in City Court and released.

Jamie S. Kraft, 38, of Bath, was arrested on Nov. 8 on a warrant. Kraft was initially arrested on Sept. 13 and charged with aggravated harassment 2nd, obstructing governmental administration 2nd and falsely reporting an incident 3rd. Kraft allegedly made numerous 911 calls in which he falsely reported that people had been struck by lightning. He then allegedly threatened to stab police. Kraft was arraigned and released on his own recognizance. 

Jimmy Ramirez, 41, of Rochester, is charged with felony DWI. Batavia patrol officers responded to a report on Nov. 4 of a possibly intoxicated driver on Lewiston Road and stopped a vehicle allegedly driven by Ramirez as a result. He was issued traffic tickets and released.

Edwin L. Bethel, 57, of Rochester, is charged with assault 3rd, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, criminal mischief 4th, of petit larceny. Bethel is accused of causing injury to another person, damaging property, and stealing car keys during a disturbance on South Main Street in Batavia on Nov. 11 while in the presence of two children. He was arraigned in City Court and released.

Kate J. Long, 39, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. It is alleged that Long sent numerous "unwanted" emails to Batavia City School District board members for "no legitimate" purpose. Long was issued an appearance ticket.

Stephanie L. Coley, 41, of Lockport, was arrested on Nov. 16 on a warrant. Coley was initially charged on Sept. 24, 2021, with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. A warrant was issued after she allegedly failed to appear in court. She was arraigned and released under supervision.

Michael J. Torres, 40, of Batavia, was arrested on Nov. 15 on a warrant. Torres was initially charged on April 12 with criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd (Intent to Sell) and obstructing governmental administration 2nd after allegedly fleeing a traffic stop on a bicycle. He was arraigned and released.  Torres is also charged with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled 7th. Torres was arrested following a traffic stop at 6:17 p.m. on Nov. 15 by Deputy Nicholas Chamoun. He was allegedly found in possession of cocaine and buprenorphine. He was held at the Genesee County Jail pending arraignment.

George J. Budzinack, 43, of Batavia, was arrested on Nov. 16 on a warrant. Budzinack was initially arrested on Sept. 27 after an investigation into the larceny of a bicycle, on East Main Street in Batavia. The warrant was issued after he allegedly failed to appear in court. Budzinack was arraigned and released.

Christine M. Caplis, 43, of Elba, is charged with criminal tampering 3rd. Caplis is accused of tampering with security cameras in an apartment building on Liberty Street on Nov. 13. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Thomas A. Griffin, 36, of Batavia, is charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs. Griffen is accused of driving while impaired on Oct. 10 and was arrested on Nov. 14. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Timothy M. Pendleton, 38, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, obstructing governmental administration 2nd, and several traffic violations. Pendleton was stopped on Nov. 2 on East Avenue by a Batavia patrol officer. He was allegedly found in possession of narcotics and then fought with police while officers attempted to take him into custody. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Dorian D. Batchelor, 56, of Williamsville, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Batchelor is accused of violating an order of protection by entering the protected party's residents on Nov. 15. He was arraigned and released.

Benjamin G. Evans, 35, of Batavia, was arrested on Nov. 9 on warrants issued by City Court. Two of the warrants were related to separate petit larceny charges. The other resulted from charges of trespass and criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. He was arraigned and released.

Jeanine D. Fuller, 37, no residence provided, was arrested on Nov. 9 on a warrant. The warrant was issued as a result of Fuller allegedly being found inside of the vacant Days Inn Motel on Oak Street on Aug. 23. She was arraigned and released.

Marcus A. King, 22, of Rochester, is charged with harassment 2nd.  King is accused of striking another person in the face at a location on Pearl street on Nov. 6. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Gregory M. Wansha, 23, of Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief 4th. Wansha is accused of slashing the tire of another person's car on Nov. 11 at an undisclosed location. Wansha was issued an appearance ticket.

Adam J. Kaczanowski, 22,  of Eden, was arrested on Nov. 17 on a warrant. Kaczanowski was originally charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle 3rd after being involved in a motor vehicle accident on Sept. 26. He was issued an appearance ticket but allegedly failed to appear in court. Kaczanowski was arraigned in City Court and released on his own recognizance. 

Terrance L. Falk, 25, of Batavia, was arrested on Nov. 6 on a warrant issued by City Court. The original charges stem from an incident on Washington Avenue where Falk allegedly threatened another person with a knife. He was arraigned and remanded to the Genesee County Jail. 

Krystal L Frye, 33, of Jamestown, was arrested on a warrant on Nov. 20. Frye was initially arrested on April 2, 2019, and charged with grand larceny 4th after an investigation into an incident where she allegedly stole a debit card. A warrant was issued after Frye allegedly failed to appear for a court appearance. She was arraigned and released on her own recognizance. 

Kenneth B. Jordan, 31, of Albion, was arrested on Nov. 13 on a warrant. Jordan was originally charged on Jan. 16 with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle 3rd, after a traffic stop on River Street. Jordan was issued an appearance ticket but allegedly failed to appear in court. He was arraigned in City Court and released. 

David Henry Kendall, 39, of North Street, Le Roy, is charged with promoting prison contrand and criminal possession 1st of a controlled substance 7th. Kendal is accused of knowingly obtaining and possessing a narcotic drug on Nov. 18 inside the Genesee County Jail.  Kendall was arraigned and remanded back to the custody of the jail. 

Anthony Leo Vanelli, Sr., 46, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal sale of a narcotic drug and promoting prison contraband. Vanelli is accused of knowingly and unlawfully introducing a narcotic into the Genesee County Jail on Nov. 18 and giving the drug to another inmate. Vanelli was arraigned and is being held without bail.

Dustin Albert Huffer, 40, of Silver Springs, is charged with felony DWI, speeding, aggravated unlicensed operation, unlicensed driver, and reckless driving. Huffer was stopped at 2:48 a.m. on Nov. 19 on Route 5 in Pembroke by Deputy Stephen Smith. Huffer was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released.

Maranda Lena Button, 30, no street address provided, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th and insufficient signal. Button was allegedly found in possession of drug paraphernalia during a traffic stop at 12:21 a.m. on Oct. 28 by Deputy Jeremiah Gechell. Button was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released.

Anthony Ross Morrow, 40, of Niagara Street, Lockport, is charged with petit larceny. Morrow is accused of stealing a crossbow from Dick's Sporting Goods at 8:02 p.m. on Nov. 24.  Morrow was transported to the Genesee County Jail for processing and released.

Samuel Robert Baudanza, 26, of Buffalo Street, Bergen, is charged with assault 3rd and criminal mischief. Baudanza was arrested following a report of a disturbance at Ralph and Rosies on Lake Avenue in Bergen at 10:04 p.m. on Nov. 25. Baudanza is accused of fighting with two people and damaging merchandise. Baudanza was held for arraignment.

Nicole M. Trapp, 21, of Buffalo, is charged with harassment 1st. Trapp was arrested by State Police on Nov. 28 in connection with an incident reported in the Town of Alabama at 10:54 a.m. on July 2. She was released on an appearance ticket. No further information was released.

Virginia A. Marks, 44, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Marks was arrested by State Police in connection with an incident reported at 11:12 a.m. on Nov. 27 in the Town of Batavia. She was released on an appearance ticket. No further information was released.

Charles A. Kohorst, 54, of Corfu, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Kohorst was arrested by State Police in connection with an incident reported at 12:56 p.m. on Nov. 27 in the Town of Pembroke. He was held in custody. No further information was released.

Heidi S. Kollarik, 51, of Oakfield, is charged with DWI. Kollarik was stopped by a Batavia patrol officer on Nov. 9 at an undisclosed time on East Main street, Batavia. She was issued traffic tickets and released.

Accident reported at Fisher and Drake in Oakfield

By Howard B. Owens

A multiple-vehicle accident is reported at Drake Street and Fisher Road, Oakfield.

One person is out of a vehicle, and another person is trapped, but it is "minor entrapment," according to a first responder.

The person in the vehicle is conscious and alert.

Oakfield Fire, with mutual aid from Elba, dispatched, along with Mercy EMS.

UPDATE 5:23 p.m.: The road is open. Oakfield assignment, back in service.

BHS Drama Club tries to determine who murdered billionaire in eight 10-minute plays

By Howard B. Owens
batavia high school drama club the alibis

For those who love murder mysteries and comedies, the Batavia High School Drama Club is staging The Alibis, a collection of eight interconnected 10-minute plays that revolve around the murder of eccentric billionaire J. Leslie Arlington.

There are plenty of suspects in the murder, and all have alibis, which none of them want to admit to because they were all committing other ridiculous crimes at the time. The suspects include disgruntled chefs, teen detectives, and vengeful divas.

Performances are at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday on the stage of the Batavia High School Auditorium, 260 State St., Batavia.

Photos by Howard Owens.

batavia high school drama club the alibis
batavia high school drama club the alibis
batavia high school drama club the alibis
batavia high school drama club the alibis
batavia high school drama club the alibis
batavia high school drama club the alibis
batavia high school drama club the alibis
batavia high school drama club the alibis

GSO ready to perform holiday favorites at GCC on Sunday

By Howard B. Owens
genesee symphony orchestra holiday rehersal 2023
Genesee Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster Julia Plato.
Photo by Howard Owens

It's that time of year when the Genesee Symphony Orchestra rosins up the bows and gets crackin' on holiday chestnuts such as “Christmas Festival,” “Sleigh Ride” and selections from “The Nutcracker.”

The annual holiday concert is at 4 p.m., Sunday, at Genesee Community College.

GSO's concertmaster, Julia Plato, is looking forward to taking the solo on another holiday favorite, the winter movement from Vivaldi's “Four Seasons.”

She's excited about it, she said, because "I think it's insanely easy to make it sound modern, even though it was written through like 300 years ago. It still has so much excitement and vigor and, yeah, personality that you would never know that it was written in the 1700s."

Plato, who is originally from the Hershey area of Pennsylvania, is in her second year as the first chair of the GSO, under the direction of conductor S. Shade Zajac.

She's been involved in orchestra performance since she was a child, participating in the youth orchestra in her hometown.

"That's kind of where I fell in love with playing music," she said.  "I went to school for music education in Ithaca and wound up teaching in Pittsford."

Through a friend, she heard about GSO during the pandemic, when the orchestra was still finding ways to perform, and that piqued her interest.

"I was so excited because I just wanted to have a group to play with, and it just lined up really well with the time that I moved to the area, and I found a good group of people to perform with," she said.

She's found it inspiring to work with Zajac.

"He has got such a great taste and repertoire," she said. "He selects very nice, well-rounded programming from all the modern works that you may not have heard to the classics that everyone hopes to hear."

genesee symphony orchestra holiday rehersal 2023
Genesee Symphony Orchestra Music Director and Conductor S. Shade Zajac
Photo by Howard Owens.
genesee symphony orchestra holiday rehersal 2023
Photo by Howard Owens.
genesee symphony orchestra holiday rehersal 2023
Photo by Howard Owens.
genesee symphony orchestra holiday rehersal 2023
Photo by Howard Owens.
genesee symphony orchestra holiday rehersal 2023
Photo by Howard Owens.
genesee symphony orchestra holiday rehersal 2023
Photo by Howard Owens.
genesee symphony orchestra holiday rehersal 2023
Photo by Howard Owens.
genesee symphony orchestra holiday rehersal 2023
Photo by Howard Owens.
genesee symphony orchestra holiday rehersal 2023
Photo by Howard Owens.

Fully involved barn fire reported on Old State Road, Pavilion

By Howard B. Owens

Pavilion Fire and mutual aid companies are on scene of a barn fire close to a residence reported on Old State Road at Moag Road.

The call came in just before 8 p.m.

The first responder on scene reported a fully involved working barn fire.

The Pavilion chief requested a second alarm. Dispatched: Batavia's FAST team, Bethany, Stafford, Le Roy, with mutual aid was requested from Livingston County and Wyoming County.

Alexander wins Red Jacket Toys for Tots tournament

By Howard B. Owens
alexander basketball

The Alexandar Trojans played in the Red Jacket Toys for Tots Tournament at Red Jacket on Saturday, winning the championship 77-27.

Scoring:

  • Alyssa Kramer, 26
  • Madison Boyce, 16
  • Emily Pietrzykawski, 16
  • Hayden Bezon, 9

Alyssa Kramer was the tournament MVP

Photos by Brennan Bezon

alexander basketball
alexander basketball
alexander basketball
alexander basketball

Oakfield Betterment Committee announces plans for two days of Christmas in the Village

By Howard B. Owens
oakfield christmas in the village 2018
File photo from 2018 by Howard Owens

Christmas in the Village returns to Oakfield on Friday and Saturday with a full slate of holiday cheer, ranging from a parade and the arrival of Santa to a Christmas ornament scavenger hunt.

The fire truck parade delivering Santa and Mrs. Claus to Triangle Park is at 5 p.m. on Friday.

There will be food and beverages available for purchase at Memorial Park from the OA Parent Teachers Organization and Santino's, and Sweet Ally's will have special hours, staying open until 6 p.m.

The grand lighting of Winter Wonderland in Memorial Park is after the parade at approximately 5:30 p.m.

The evening will also feature musical performances by the Genesee Country Church children's choir, the Olympians, as well as the O-A Central School chorus and swing choir.

The Caryville Inn will be serving holiday drink specials.

On Saturday, it's Oakfield's own Small Business Saturday with an ornament scavenger hunt that will encourage participants to visit businesses in the village. 

The first 50 participants or families receive a wreath, instructions and a stamp card. It starts at 11 a.m. at The Goose Farm Market, 33 South Main St., and runs until 2 p.m.

A festive wagon will provide transportation throughout the village during the hunt.

The winners announced at prizes award at 2 p.m. at The Goose.

Santa Returns on a fire truck to Triangle Park at noon and will hear children's Christmas wishes until 2 p.m. in the gazebo while cocoa and cookies, courties at the Oakfield-Alabama Lions Club will be served.

Additional special events.

  • Genesee Society of Model Engineers – Open House with working model trains on display. Holiday cookies will be served.
  • Zeliff Farm Market – open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with specials on meat packages available. Samples of Snack Sticks and Meatballs too.
  • Haxton Memorial Library – games, crafts, and movies
  • Rusty Rail Bar & Grill / Strikeforce Lanes – opens at noon and will have bowling

Photos: Nerds go wild in 1980s celebration at Batavia Downs

By Howard B. Owens
nerds gone wild batavia downs

It was a packed house in the Park Place Events Center at Batavia Downs on Saturday with Nerds Gone Wild rockin' that action-packed and fun 1980s vibe.

The Nerds are:

  • Eddy "Eugene" Tabone on drums and vocals
  • John "Gilbert" Gibbon, on bass, guitar, and vocals
  • Ed "Milton Wild" Wyner, lead vocals and guitar
  • Brian "Irwin" Beaudry, keyboards, keytar, vocals
  • Eric "Barney" Rovner, lead guitar and vocals.

Previously: Expect a wildly fun night at Batavia Downs when Nerds Gone Wild takes the stage

nerds gone wild batavia downs
nerds gone wild batavia downs
nerds gone wild batavia downs
nerds gone wild batavia downs
nerds gone wild batavia downs
nerds gone wild batavia downs
nerds gone wild batavia downs
nerds gone wild batavia downs
nerds gone wild batavia downs
nerds gone wild batavia downs
nerds gone wild batavia downs

Borrello, Hawley keep Christmas shopping local on Shop Small Saturday

By Howard B. Owens
borrello hawley shop stmall saturday 2023
Assemblyman Steve Hawley, Kelly Borrello, and State Sen. George Borrello at Adam Miller Toys and Bicycles during Shop Small Saturday.
Photo by Howard Owens.

State Sen. George Borrello and Assemblyman Steve Hawley, both small business owners themselves, demonstrated their support for locally-owned businesses in Batavia on Saturday -- part of the national campaign, Shop Small Saturday -- by stopping at a half-dozen local businesses.

“Independently owned businesses make our downtowns more vibrant, spur additional growth, employ our neighbors and contribute to our tax base,” Borrello said to The Batavian. “In addition, every dollar spent at a small business has a greater multiplier effect. Many local shops rely on local suppliers and services and also contribute to local charities and community organizations."

Their stops included Oliver's Candies, YNGodess Shop, Charles Men's Shop, Batavia Bootery, Valle Jewelers, and Adam Miller Toys and Bicycles.

Borrello's wife, Kelly, accompanied the two legislative representatives on their rounds.

Previously: After the feast, get ready to 'shop small' and support Small Business Saturday

borrello hawley shop stmall saturday 2023
Adam Miller's owner John Roche with Hawley and Borrello.
Photo by Howard Owens.
borrello hawley shop stmall saturday 2023
Borrello and Hawley try out a Chinese Finger Trap.
Photo by Howard Owens.

Expect a wildly fun night at Batavia Downs when Nerds Gone Wild takes the stage

By Howard B. Owens
nerds gone wild labor daze 2023
Nerds Gone Wild at Labor Daze Music and Food Festival in Oakfield in 2023.
Photo by Howard Owens.

If the raucous audience reaction at Labor Daze at the end of this summer is any indication, the kids, the parents, and even the grandparents are going to go wild for Nerds Gone Wild on Saturday at Batavia Downs.

The Nerds struck cover-band-formula gold a decade ago with a theme that falls somewhere in between the traditional bar band and the now trendy tribute band.  Call it a "concept band," though Nerds Gone Wild founder and CEO Eddy Tabone still likes "tribute band."

"I don't disagree with that (the term concept band)," Tabone said. "You're right. The reason we're an 80s tribute band is that right now tributes are so hot. I want to make sure that we don't get lost when people are searching for us, I don't want them looking for, they may be looking for an 80s tribute, so I want to make sure that word is included, so when they Google it, we show up."

Nerds Gone Wild's concept is to make the 1980s fun again -- with over-the-top-colorful costumes that play off the cartoon stereotype of nerds (think Steve Urkel, Sheldon Cooper, or to go right to a rock-and-roll source from the 1980s, Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick) and the high-energy and stagecraft of the post-New Wave era.

"Basically, it is just like a buffet, a buffet of all the 80s stuff,” said Tabone. "We have a little bit of New Wave. Top 40. We do a hair band set. We do a ladies of the 80s block. We do a dance medley."

Audience participation is a big part of the concept.  At some point in the show, kids are invited onto the stage to dance with the band.  When the Nerds play the Rick Springfield hit, "Jesse's Girl," there is usually a young woman from the audience on stage, and the lyrics of the chorus are changed to that lady's name.

Band members never stay stationary for very long -- dancing, jumping, skipping across the stage, and interacting with audience members. 

"We just try to capture, you know, like superheroes, the superhero look with a professionally done gimmick, and then, contagious fun," Tabone said. "We're playing the music to create that vibe that was in the 80s."

The concept of Nerds Gone Wild started floating around the brain of Tabone years ago, at least the idea of doing a 1980s tribute band.

"I've always been a 1980s guy," said Tabone.

For 35 years, he's led a cover band called Route 66 (that band still gigs), and then about a decade ago, a WNY band that played mostly 1980s hits called it quits.

"I heard they were breaking up, and I said to my wife. 'What a shame," said Tabone, who is retired from the beer industry and has started his own talent agency (he's looking to connect with musicians in Genesee County). "I said, 'I gotta put this 80s project together.'"

Then he took a trip to California.

"My sister-in-law turned me onto a band in Southern California, and they dress like nerds, and I said, There it is," Tabone said. "I came back to Buffalo and started asking people, and they go, 'You're crazy.' 'It's never gonna work.' It all came together, and we debuted with a lineup and had our first show in August of 2013."

Yes, the Nerds did celebrate its 10th anniversary this year, and it's progressed from a band "that's never going to work," that intended to only play a show or so a month, to a band that plays up to 95 shows a year and has been selected three times by readers of the Buffalo News as "The Best Live Band in Western New York."

With that kind of success, a band can host its own Eastern Caribbean Cruise on the Norweigan line, as they will do for the fifth time this March.

After a break for the pandemic, Tabone said, "We're back on the seas again where we do this Cruise with Nerds Gone Wild, where people from Buffalo or Rochester or wherever get to come on a cruise with us. We have a special dinner with them. We take some photos. We do a private performance for them on the ship. And then, on the last day at sea, we do a show for the cruise line."

The band's current lineup is Tabone, aka "Eugene" (his Nerd name) on drums and vocals, John "Gilbert" Gibbon, on bass, guitar, and vocals, Ed "Milton Wild" Wyner, lead vocals and guitar, Brian "Irwin" Beaudry, keyboards, keytar, vocals, and Eric "Barney" Rovner, lead guitar and vocals.

To find out more about the band and the cruise, visit nerdsgonewild.com.

The show at Batavia Downs in the Park Place Events Center is open to all ages -- kids will go wild for the engaging and interactive entertainment, but it really is an all-ages show, so kids should bring their parents and grandparents, who will be equally entertained.  Doors open at 7 p.m. The Nerds take the stage at 8 p.m.  And the best part, admission is FREE.

"After a long, long Friday and Saturday of shopping, you want to take a break and come down and close your eyes and relive the great music of the 80s," Tabone said.

nerds gone wild labor daze 2023
Nerds Gone Wild at Labor Daze Music and Food Festival in Oakfield in 2023.
Photo by Howard Owens.
nerds gone wild labor daze 2023
Nerds Gone Wild at Labor Daze Music and Food Festival in Oakfield in 2023.
Photo by Howard Owens.
nerds gone wild labor daze 2023
Nerds Gone Wild at Labor Daze Music and Food Festival in Oakfield in 2023.
Photo by Howard Owens.
nerds gone wild labor daze 2023
Nerds Gone Wild at Labor Daze Music and Food Festival in Oakfield in 2023.
Photo by Howard Owens.

Father Ivan Trujillo passes away at home in Alexander

By Howard B. Owens
Father Ivan Trujillo celebrated his final mass as a Catholic priest
Father Ivan Trujillo celebrated his final mass as a Catholic priest at Resurrection Parish in June.
File photo by Steve Ognibene.

Father Ivan Trujillo, who served for 36 years as a priest in Batavia, passed away Friday morning at his home in Alexander.

Trujillo retired from the priesthood this year and performed his last service at Resurrection Parish in June.

Father Ivan arrived in Batavia in 1986 at St. Mary's and became parish priest when St. Mary's and St. Joe's merged in 2008.

Over his nearly four decades of service to the community, Father Ivan has led a migrant ministry, and a prison ministry and served at the VA Hospital.

Trujillo was ordained in Jamestown in 1990 and became an assistant at St. Mary's in 1986. 

As a young man in Bolivia, Trujillo was inspired both to the ministry and to serve the poor. While studying philosophy in school, he was mentored by the rector, who was a Jesuit with a passion for caring for poor people.  That example led Trujillo into the ministry, the priest told The Batavian in 2013.

As a result, a good deal of Father Ivan's work in Western New York was with the poor and less fortunate. He worked with the poor and sick in his own parish, ministered to inmates at Attica and Wyoming correctional facilities, and worked with migrant workers in Genesee, Orleans and Niagara counties.

Rev. Trujillo will lie in state on Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Friday from 10 to 11 a.m. at Resurrection Parish/St. Mary's Church, 18 Ellicott Street in Batavia, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday at 11 a.m. Most Rev. Michael William Fisher, Bishop of Buffalo, will be the Principal Celebrant. The interment will be private in Grandview Cemetery in Batavia.

Arrangements are being handled by H.E. Turner. A full obituary will be posted on The Batavian's Obituary page later.

Photos: Caryville Inn Turkey Trot in Oakfield

By Howard B. Owens
logan clark winning caryville inn turkey trot 2023
Logan Clark won the 2023 Caryville Inn Turkey Trot on Thursday with an unofficial time of 17:05.
Photo by Howard Owens.

The Caryville Inn in Oakfield sponsored its annual Turkey Trot on Thursday morning.

It was a new, and for the first-time certified, course for this year's event.

heather mills, caryville inn turkey trot 2023
Heather Mills was top woman finisher in the 2023 Caryville Inn Turkey Trot. (Time not available).the 
Photo by Howard Owens
caryville inn turkey trot oakfield 2023
Photo by Howard Owens.
caryville inn turkey trot oakfield 2023
Photo by Howard Owens.
caryville inn turkey trot oakfield 2023
Photo by Howard Owens.
caryville inn turkey trot oakfield 2023
Photo by Howard Owens.
caryville inn turkey trot oakfield 2023
Photo by Howard Owens.
caryville inn turkey trot oakfield 2023
Photo by Howard Owens.

Notre Dame grads, McCulley cousins match up for first time as collegiate athletes

By Howard B. Owens
callie and amelia mcculley basketball

Hoops runs in the McCulley Family DNA, and that trait was fully on display on Tuesday in Rochester when cousins Callie and Amelia took the court against each other for the first time in their respective college careers.

Callie is in her final year, as a fifth-year senior and the University of Rochester. Amelia is just starting at William and Smith College.  Both young women helped their respective Notre Dame squads win Section V titles and both scored more than 1,000 points in their high school basketball careers.

Callie graduated in 2019 and Amelia last year.

U of R got the win on Tuesday, 83-72. Calle scored 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Amelia scored five points and had three rebounds.

Photos by Pete Welker.

callie and amelia mcculley basketball
callie and amelia mcculley basketball
callie and amelia mcculley basketball
callie and amelia mcculley basketball
callie and amelia mcculley basketball
callie and amelia mcculley basketball
callie and amelia mcculley basketball

Photos: Give Thanks Night of Music at Ri-Dans

By Howard B. Owens
rusty fisher band at ri-dans batavia

Good music was part of the Thanksgiving celebration at Ri-Dans in Batavia on Wednesday night with the Rusty Fisher Band and the Growlers Blues Band both taking the stage.

Photos by Howard Owens.

rusty fisher band at ri-dans batavia
rusty fisher band at ri-dans batavia
rusty fisher band at ri-dans batavia
rusty fisher band at ri-dans batavia
rusty fisher band at ri-dans batavia
rusty fisher band at ri-dans batavia
rusty fisher band at ri-dans batavia
rusty fisher band at ri-dans batavia

Two vehicle accident reported at Clay and Main in Le Roy

By Howard B. Owens

A two-vehicle accident is reported on Main Street at Clay Street in Le Roy.

No word on injuries.

Reported airbag deployment.

One vehicle is blocking a lane of traffic.

Le Roy Fire and Le Roy Ambulance dispatched.

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