Press release:

Join the Genesee County Master Gardeners on Feb. 6 for our first Garden Talk of the year, “A Photo Garden Tour of Chanticleer Gardens.” Get rid of the winter blues with a look at Chanticleer’s spectacular gardens, described as “America's most inspiring garden.”

Located outside of Philadelphia, Chanticleer is a colorful, contemporary garden within an historic setting. Adolph Rosengarten Jr., bequeathed the family estate for the enjoyment and education of the public following his death in 1990. The garden opened to the public in 1993 and has since been a magical place to visit.

Future topics include: a program on creating cutting gardens on March 6; a demonstration on how to make your own corsages on April 3; tips for growing great canna lilies on May 1 and on June 5 a program about a new invasive pest that has been showing up locally – jumping worms.

All Garden Talk programs run from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. Bring your lunch to the CCE office (420 E. Main St., Batavia) and join us for this free series. Registration is NOT required.

Future topics and other Master Gardener events will be posted on the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County website athttp://genesee.cce.cornell.edu/

Notice from the Genesee County Legislature:

SMRT architects, engineers and planners will present an analysis of conditions to date / interim status report on the Genesee County Jail to the Genesee County Legislature at 8 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, in the Legislature Conference Room at the Old Courthouse, 7 Main St., Batavia.

Press release:

The Town of Bethany will have a Food Link event from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24 at Bethany Community Center. It is located at 10510 Bethany Center Road, Bethany.

There are no income requirements or restrictions.

Anyone wishing to volunteer, please phone Bethany Town Supervisor Carl Hyde Jr. at 343-1399 or email him at  tob-supervisor@townofbethany.com

The Volunteers for Animals at the Genesee County Animal Shelter would like to find forever homes for three special felines. Here are their stories as written and provided by the volunteers.

Luckily, fate had another plan for Jake. Eventually, Jake went into foster to see exactly what kind of kitty he was, and it turns out he’s a pretty awesome cat.

Although not his favorite activity, Jake doesn’t mind being picked up or carried around. He is OK with a nail trim, but we didn’t notice him scratching on anything at all.

Jake is a low-flying cat -- you’re not going to find him up on your worktop or table. And he just loves a good all-over brushing, especially with his zoom-groom brush. He will purr for hours while you brush him to a high-gloss finish.

Jake lives for certain kitty treats. Once you find the right one, he can be trained to come running with the crinkle of a bag. Jake is likely to hide in his new surroundings at first, but after a week or two, he will be comfortable enough to stop hiding, especially if he has a comfy cat bed to lie on instead. After several weeks in foster, Jake was seeking out people in another room for petting and brushing. If we didn’t notice him, he would meow to say “I’m ready, where’s the brush!?!” Jake even hopped up on the bed at night for a little scratch. He certainly earned his foster mom’s seal of approval.

The generous vets at State Street Animal Hospital provided Jake with the dental work he needed in order to live in comfort, so he is all set medically. Jake’s not a young cat, but he wasn’t ready to be swept under the rug yet either -- he’s got several great years left in him.

All he wants is a warm, quiet house - a place where he can relax, and just enjoy being your pet. Jake was very tolerant of all the cats in his foster home, but he will adjust much faster if he is not in a busy home with other cats, dogs, or boisterous children.

Come in and meet him. We’ve got the zoom-groom brush waiting! It’s Jake’s turn to go on vacation now, and he’s hoping to stay there forever and never come back, too!

She has been with us a long time and really needs a home of her own.

Maddie needs a cat-savvy human that will understand her catitude!

She would do best in a home with no children or other animals.

A very nice volunteer has paid half of Maddie's adoption fee, so she is only $30.

And though it was somewhat healed, the break was so bad that even if he’d been brought in right after it happened he’d never be able to walk on it. Amputation was the only option. He was vaccinated, treated for fleas, worms, and ear mites, given a surgery date, and kept comfortable in the infirmary at the shelter.

After his amputation and neutering, Dusty went to a foster home for some T.L.C. and recovery. He was an ideal patient! He took his pain medicine easily, without complaint. He was up and walking right away.

It took him just a few days to adjust to the new weight and balance of his body. He quickly learned to hop up on and off the furniture. Keeping his balance in the litter pan was a little bit trickier but he never missed the pan or had an accident anywhere. Combing, petting and a good diet are starting to bring his coat back to a soft lustrous tan and black tabby.

Throughout all of this Dusty has been more than a perfect gentleman. Always cheerful, he is outgoing and likes people. He approaches both men and women who come into his room. He loves to be stroked and combed, and get gentle belly rubs. He is never rough with his paws.

He loves to sit on a lap, or beside a person on a couch. His favorite game is to lay on his side and play with a toy dangled on a string. And bird watching at the window would never be turned down!

Dusty would be a perfect partner for an elderly person, or couple, who want a quiet, steady companion. Perhaps a shut-in or a person with a disability would benefit from his calm confidence and "can do" attitude. Or perhaps it will be love at first sight with someone unexpected! He is an exceptional cat!

Genesee County Animal Shelter

3841 W. Main Street Road, Batavia

Hours: Sun., Mon., Tues., Fri. 1-3 p.m.

Wednesday 1-3 and 7-9 p.m.

Closed Thursdays

Saturday 11 a.m. - 1 p.m

It's not the 107-year sentence former County Court Judge Robert C. Noonan handed down to convicted child molester Sean Vickers, but Vickers will still serve many decades in prison. 

Earlier this year, the jury trial conviction of Vickers was overturned on appeal because the appeals court found he wasn't properly tried under the same counts in the original indictment against him. 

It looked like a new trial for Vickers, but in October, Vickers agreed to a plea agreement. While that means Vickers might avoid a similar 100-year sentence, it also means his victims won't be required to testify again.  

On that guilty plea, today Judge Charles Zambito sentenced Vickers to the agreed-upon 40-year prison term.

He was already serving a 20-year term on a similar conviction in Niagara County.

In a rematch of last year's Rotary Tournament finale, Notre Dame, this time, was the more dominant team, beating Cal-Mum, 43-35.

"We didn't really have an identity early in the season last year and it showed," said ND's head coach Tom McCulley. "They were a mature team and we weren't really there yet. This year I think we probably had the edge maturity."

The star of the game was Stevie Wilcox, who scored 17 points and seemed in command of her game from the start. She was named tournament MVP.

"We were ready to bring it and play as a team and work together because when we do, we're unstoppable," Wilcox said.

The Lady Irish are always tough on defense and McCulley said that's what he saw from his team again, especially in the first half, when Notre Dame held the Lady Raiders to six points. Guard Morgan Rhodes was a big part of that, he said.

"Morgan was steady all throughout," McCulley said. "She got some steals and helped us with ball pressure so we weren't allowing them to get comfortable in their sets, maybe not as quickly as they would like. I think most of the time, when I looked up, by the time Cal-Mum got in their sets there was 16 seconds off the close. I was shocked by that. That puts a lot of pressure on the offense to execute."

Margret Sutherland and Natale Thornton also had big games. Sutherland scored 10 points and Thornton scored nine. Both were a strong presence under the boards.

Callie McCulley added six points.

For Cal-Mum, Elyse Van Auken scored 12 points.

Besides Wilcox at MVP, the all-tournament team was Taylor Gadd, Attica, Ryann Stefaniak, Batavia, Elyse Van Auken, Cal-Mum, Margaret Sullivan, Notre Dame, and Callie McCulley, Notre Dame.

To purchase prints, click here.

Update: A gathering to thank Jason Molino on his service to the City of Batavia and to wish him well in his new endeavor is scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. Jan. 11 at T.F. Brown's in Batavia.

• Contract with an executive search firm.
• Offer a salary and benefits to attract top candidates.
• Seek the opinions of existing staff members.
• Don’t rush to hire someone just to fill the vacancy.

These are the primary suggestions from Batavia City Manager Jason Molino in a memo to City Council as the municipality’s governing body begins its search for a new chief executive.

The memo, dated Jan. 3, will be considered at Monday night’s City Council meeting (7 o’clock, City Centre Council Chambers).

Council also is expected to discuss another memo from Molino that recommends the appointment of Matthew Worth, Department of Public Works director, as the interim city manager, and the postponement of water and sewer projects on several city streets until 2019 and 2020.

Molino resigned his position last month, and will be starting his new job – as Tompkins County administrator – on Jan. 29. His last day in Batavia is Jan. 12.

In his city manager search memo, Molino places much stock in the benefit of an executive search firm.

“Executive search firms will most likely meet with City Council and staff to understand the culture of the organization and what type of leader you are looking for,” he wrote. “From there they would develop a recruitment profile that can be used to assist in advertising and recruiting for the position. Once the position is formally advertised, they will also have a network of existing managers and assistant managers that they know may be a good fit for Batavia.”

Molino indicated that he puts Batavia ahead of the City of Geneva, which also is seeking a new manager -- “This may be bias, but I think Batavia has much more to offer. Right now, Batavia has a great brand,” he wrote – but he also wrote that he believes Batavia’s pay scale is about $15,000 to $20,000 behind the “pay scale of comparable communities.”

He recommends that Council should form a search committee of “a few Council members, department heads and maybe a few community leaders” and to solicit feedback from the staff “that will be working closest to the city manager.”

All told, he wrote that he expects the search to cost around $20,000.

In closing, he advised Council to not hire someone just to fill the vacancy if “no candidate is appealing or appears to be a good fit … Do another search until you find the right leader for your organization.”

Increased Duties for Worth, Others

During the transition, Molino wrote that Worth has agreed to serve as interim city manager until a new leader is appointed, and also suggests additional roles for Ray Tourt, maintenance superintendent; James Ficarella, water and wastewater superintendent, and Lisa Near, deputy director of finance.

His suggestions come with $1,000 per month additional stipends for Worth, and $750 each for Tourt, Ficarella and Neary. All would be effective Jan. 13, contingent upon Council’s approval.

“Originally, the City had proposed a $2 million water line replacement for Union Street, Brooklyn Avenue and South Main Street, in addition to starting the design for a $1.5 million sanitary sewer replacement for Franklin Street, and a Maple & Mill Street sanitary sewer realignment,” Molino wrote. “While this capital work is important, it is recommended that it be pushed back to 2019 and 2020, respectively, when a new City leadership is on board.”

Molino noted that negotiations are continuing with Genesee County regarding water and sales tax agreements – calling it the “single most impactful and important issue facing the interim city manager and City Council over the next six months.”

Because Worth will be required to handle pressing issues, more responsibility will fall upon the other three department heads, particularly several capital projects representing $7 million of infrastructure investment, and the fiscal duties that accompany them.

Click here to read the entire memos on the Batavia City Council page (Organizational Meeting Agenda and Special Conference Agenda -- Jan. 8, 2018). Both meetings are open to the public.

A one-vehicle rollover accident with minor injuries is reported on the Thruway in the area of mile marker 389.3.

Town of Batavia fire with mutual aid from Le Roy fire dispatched.

UPDATE 11:37 a.m.: Chief on scene reports vehicle on its wheels in the median.

UPDATE 11:39 a.m.: Patient is walking around and no complaint of pain. Mercy EMS to continue for patient evaluation.

A two-car accident with possible injuries is reported at the Thruway overpass bridge on Lewiston Road; the address is 8169 Lewiston Road, Batavia. It is partially blocking the southbound lane. Town of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 11:02 a.m.: One patient has a minor laceration. A first responder says medics can "take it easy coming in."

A dog has been reportedly left in the cold in a Nissan parked outside Kmart in Batavia.

The caller does not believe the car is running.

A deputy is responding.

UPDATE 9:41 a.m.: Caller reports the owner has come out, got into his vehicle and left the area. Deputy's response canceled.

Gary Maha, Gordon Dibble, and John Hilchey, the three newest members of the Genesee County Legislature, along with the rest of the Legislature, took their oaths of office Wednesday night prior to the Legislature's organizational meeting at the Old Courthouse.

Robert Bausch, representing Elba, Byron, and Bergen, was chosen to chair the Legislature.

From left, Pam LaGrou, clerk to the legislators, Gary Maha, Gordon Dibble, Shelly Stein, Andrew Young, Bob Bausch, John Deleo, Marianne Clattenburg, Gregg Torrey, John Hilchey, and County Manager Jay Gsell.

Town of Batavia officials were sworn in by Town Justice Tom Williams prior to the Town's organizational meeting on Wednesday night. Pictured from left: Tom Williams, town justice; Daniel Underhill, councilperson; Greg Post, supervisor; Patti Michalak, councilperson; Thomas Lichtenthal, highway superintendent; Teressa Morasco, town clerk.  

Photo and info submitted by Chad Zambito.

We have been notified of the following closings for tomorrow due to anticipated extreme cold:

• Batavia City Schools 
• Le Roy Central School District
• Oakfield-Alabama Central School District
• Pavilion Central School District
• Notre Dame High School
• Mental Health Association
• Extended, night-lighted skate, sponsored by the Batavia Kiwanis Club, at DeWitt Recreation Area
• St. Joe’s bingo
• Genesee Christian Academy
• Haxton Memorial Library
• Genesee County Office for the Aging cancels home-delivered meals and congregate meal sites, but the office will be open for business.

Please send announcements about closings to howard@thebatavian.com.

A collision between a car and a small school bus are reported at Big Tree Road and South Street Road, Covington.

Unknown injuries.

Pavilion fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 3:42 p.m.: One injury reported. A child with a head injury, conscious and alert. Traffic at Route 246 will be shut down by fire police.

UPDATE 3:47 p.m.: A fire chief reports multiple accidents at the location.

UPDATE 3:52 p.m.: A second ambulance requested to the scene.

It will be Notre Dame and Cal-Mum facing off tonight in the championship match of the Batavia Rotary Club Girls Basketball Tournament.

After Batavia delivered an uninspired performance leading to a loss to the Red Raiders 43-40, the Lady Blue Devils will face Attica in the consolation game at 6 p.m.

NOTE: the games have been moved from Friday night to tonight because of the anticipated cold snap tomorrow.

The Lady Raiders will face a motivated Lady Irish team that had two of the squad's top players both in sync Wednesday night, with Callie McCulley scoring 22 points and Margaret Sutherland scoring 16 to help lead a dominating 64-42 win over Attica. Natalie Thornton added 13 points.

Attica was led by Taylor Gadd with 13 points and Kacey Pearce with 10.

Top scorer Wednesday night was Cal-Mum's Elyse Van Auken, who scored 24 points. Makenzie Wilson scored eight points.

For Batavia, Ryann Stefaniak scored 13 points, Bryn Wormley, eight, and Kenzie Reigle, seven.

Two Batavia players missed the game due to illness.

A newcomer to watch with Batavia is 5' 11" sophomore Emma Krolczyk, who scored six points. 

To purchase prints of pictures, click here.

There is a wind chill warning in effect starting at 8 o'clock tonight until 7 a.m. Sunday. The National Weather Service issued this urgent warning at 2:52 p.m.

Dangerously cold wind chills are expected. They are anticipated to range from 20 to 30 degrees below zero at times.

This can cause frostbite in as little as 10 minutes to exposed skin. It is a potentially dangerous situation to be outdoors. If you must be outdoors be sure to cover all exposed skin.

There is also a hazardous weather outlook in effect until 7 a.m. Sunday.

A semi-truck is reportedly stuck under the bridge on South Lake Road, Pembroke, under the Thruway overpass.

A deputy is dispatched.

UPDATE 11:23 a.m.: A deputy on scene says the roadway is completely clear and there's no sign of damage to the bridge. He's going to check Route 5.

UPDATE 11:25 a.m.: Route 5 is clear. "No semi's stuck anywhere," a deputy reports.

Police located and arrested a drug dealer yesterday who was accused of failure to appear in County Court for his sentencing and of violating an order of protection while awaiting sentencing.

Officers learned that Charles "Gusto" Williams, 38, was at a residence on Ross Street based on a citizen's tip.

Batavia PD sought the public's assistance in locating Williams after he refused to turn himself in on a warrant.

He was jailed pending his arraignment today.

He was convicted of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd, and criminal contempt, 1st.​

Nicholas G. Williams, 41, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd, and burglary, 2nd. Williams is accused of unlawfully entering a dwelling in Le Roy with the intent to commit a crime, thereby violating a court order to stay away from the resident. He was also charged with resisting arrest. He allegedly resisted officers when they attempted to place handcuffs on his wrists. He was jailed on $10,000 bail.

Christina M. Sanchez-Anderson, 29, and Kodey R. Mills, 24, both of Church Street, Le Roy, were charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. Sanchez-Anderson and Mills were arrested after Le Roy PD responded to a report of a domestic disturbance at 9:30 a.m., Sunday. During the investigation police allegedly observed a crack pipe in plain view in the living room. Mills was released on an appearance ticket. There was a warrant for the arrest of Sanchez-Anderson on an unrelated charge. She was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Lori A. Say, 50, of Roanoke Road, Stafford, is charged with petit larceny. Say is accused of shoplifting from a business on West Avenue in the Village of Le Roy.

James M. Tinker, 25, of Fowler Road, Linwood, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. Tinker is accused of punching and breaking the window of another person in the Village of Le Roy during a dispute. Tinker was treated for cuts on his hand an issued an appearance ticket.

Chazmar T. Walters, 25, of Myrtle Street, Le Roy, was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to appear. 

Brian Gilbert Keller, 22, of Sumner Road, Darien, is charged with criminal contempt, 1st, and harassment, 2nd. Keller allegedly spit in the face of another person, a violation of a refrain from offensive conduct order of protection. He was jailed on $10,000 bail, $15,000 bond.