The Batavia Community Garden, located at 12 MacArthur Drive next to the Batavia Youth Bureau, is expanding and being reorganized as the Youth Bureau transitions to its new St. Anthony’s at City Church location on Liberty Street.

The Community Garden recently removed its south fence and added a 4,400-square-foot expansion. The extended gardening space allowed for four 4’ x 4’ and four 4’ x 8’ raised beds to be constructed and placed in the garden by volunteers during the United Way Day of Caring in May.

The addition of a 12’ x 16’ wooden pergola is underway and will be completed during the 2020 growing season. The shaded pergola will serve as a community social meeting area within the garden to supplement the existing shaded resting spot.

The Community Garden Advisory Board is also facing changes to its leadership due to vacant positions. These were created when City Manager Martin Moore learned that two volunteer advisory board members, Bob Gray and Carol Boshart, were not city residents as required by a provision in the city charter.

This resulted in the reappointment of those members as non-voting special liaisons to the board. The reassignment caused frustration among board members due to a proposed change to city municipal code that relaxes residency requirements for city employees.

At the June 24 City Council meeting, council members were welcome to a review of the charter in order to reconcile the issue with the advisory board.

“They discussed it and why they had to enforce it. It was a city charter versus a municipal code. But, I’m still here — being a master gardener is a passion,” Bob Gray said.

Gray cofounded the garden in 2011 and served as the former secretary before his Stafford residency caused him to become a non-voting liaison.

“They’ve been very supportive," Gray said of the city, despite his reappointment. "Whenever we need anything, we just shoot them an email and it gets tended to.”

The City of Batavia supports the garden through maintenance work and funding.

Jocelyn Sikorski, Youth Bureau director and Community Garden coordinator, acts as a liaison between the city and the garden. She said that the reorganization of board members has presented some challenges that the board is working to overcome.

“[The special liaisons] were part of the group that started this," Sikorski said. "So, they really are invested and they care about it overall. Those are the people that we want at the table, and I don’t have city residents banging down my door to fill those two vacant spots."

Sikorski recognized that there will be further changes for the Community Garden as the Youth Bureau relocates to its new 114 Liberty St., Batavia, home. The Youth Bureau will continue to collaborate with the garden although the Batavia City School District will occupy its former facility.

“We will probably establish a different type of Youth Garden at St. Anthony’s starting next year," Sikorski said. "We will keep bringing the kids over throughout the end of the summer and into the fall to maintain these beds once we have relocated and close our doors here.”

In the midst of these changes, the garden's community outreach continues. Throughout the season, surplus produce and cut flowers are donated to benefit individuals at Washington Towers and Crossroads House.

“A lot of cities our size don’t have community gardens," Gray said. "This is an asset.”

Photo by Lauren Leone.

Craig L. Fien Jr. and Carla L. Catalano are indicted for the crime of criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree, a Class E felony. It is alleged that in late October through early November in the Town of Le Roy that the defendants knowingly possessed stolen property consisting of one or more firearms, rifles or shotguns, in this case a Savage Arms Stevens model 320 pump shotgun. In count two, the duo is accused by the district attorney of fifth-degree conspiracy, a Class A misdemeanor, for intentionally engaging in conduct that constituted a felony.

James M. Mucci is indicted for the crime of aggravated driving while intoxicated, as a Class E felony. It is alleged that on April 21 in the Town of Batavia that Mucci drove a 2006 Chevrolet on the Thruway while he was intoxicated and while a child age 15 or less was a passenger. In count two, He is accused of aggravated DWI, per se, as a Class E felony, for having a BAC of .08 percent of more at the the time and while a child age 15 or less was a passenger. In count three, Mucci is accused of aggravated DWI, per se, as a misdemeanor, of have a BAC of .18 or more at the time. In count four, he is accused of endangering the welfare of a child, a Class A misdemeanor, for allegedly knowingly acting in a manner that day likely to be injurious to the physical, mental or moral welfare of a child less than 17.

Sharnice S. Gibson, is indicted for the crime of aggravated driving while intoxicated, as a Class E felony. It is alleged that on March 14 in the Town of Alabama that Gibson drove a 2002 Saturn on Route 63 while intoxicated and while a child age 15 or less was a passenger. In count two, she is accused of aggravated DWI, as a Class E felony, for driving while intoxicated while a second child age 15 or less was a passenger.

Kyle Allan Hawley, 29, of South Lake Street, Bergen, and Marissa A. Brennan, 26, of Townline Road, Byron, are both charged with: second-degree grand larceny, a felony; and four misdemeanors -- criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument, criminally using drug paraphernalia, and fourth-degree criminal mischief. In addition, Hawley alone is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree. They were arrested in the early morning hours of July 11. They allegedly stole a vehicle on West Main Street Road in Batavia and were later observed in the Village of Bergen but left prior to the arrival of a Genesee County Sheriff's patrol. They were allegedly found in the Village of Churchville still inside the vehicle and in possession of drugs, paraphernalia and possibly other stolen items. They also reportedly did damage to the inside of the vehicle prior to it being recovered. The investigation is ongoing. Both defendants were arraigned in Town of Batavia Court on July 12 and then put in jail. Hawley's bail was set at $15,000 cash or bond; Brennan's bail was set at $10,000 cash or bond. They are due back in Batavia Town Court on July 22. The incident was investigated by deputies Kevin McCarthy and David Moore, assisted by Deputy Richard Schildwaster, Sgt. Michael Lute; the GC Drug Task Force, Investigator Chris Parker, Chief Deputy Joseph Graff, and members of the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.

Solomon Jason Wood, 40, of North Spruce Street, Batavia, is charged with second-degree assault -- intentionally causing serious physical injury, and criminal contempt in the first degree -- violating an order of protection by having physical contact. Wood was arrested following a physical domestic altercation at 3 a.m. on July 9 on North Spruce Street. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and jailed in lieu of $10,000 cash or bond. He was due in  city court July 11. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Marc Lawrence, assisted by Officer Matthew Wojtaszczyk.

Matthew Scott Eggleston, 29, of West State Street, Albion, is charged with: felony driving while ability impaired by drugs; aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree; speeding in a 55 mph zone; and having an obstructed driver's view. At 1:38 p.m. on July 13, Eggleston was arrested on Quaker Hill Road in Elba. He was previously convicted of a DWI offense within the last 10 years. He was arraigned in Batavia Town Court and released under supervision of Genesee Justice. He is due in Elba Town Court on July 24. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Mathew Clor, assisted by Deputy Kevin Forsyth.

Jason Lee Johnson, 36, of Highland Park, Batavia, is charged with operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs, criminally using drug paraphernalia, and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree. At 12:47 a.m. on June 29, Batavia police responded to a drive-thru of a restaurant on East Main Street in Batavia where it was reported that a male was passed out at the wheel. Johnson was initially issued a traffic ticket for the DWAI-drugs charge due to his being transported to a local hospital for care. On July 3, Officer Stephen Cronmiller issued Johnson appearance tickets for the other related charges. He is due in Batavia City Court on July 17. The case was investigated by Batavia Police Officer Arick Perkins, assisted by Officer Mitchell Cowen.

Sabrena L. Randall, 43, of Maple Street, Batavia, is charged with: circumventing the required interlock device -- operating a vehicle without the device; aggravated unlicensed operation in the second degree; unsafe backing of a vehicle; operation of a motor vehicle by an unlicensed driver; and petit larceny. Randall was arrested July 11 on an arrest warrant out of City of Batavia Court. The warrant and charges are in regards to a shoplifting incident that occurred on Dec. 3 at JCPenney in the mall. She was arraigned in city court and jailed on $250 bail. She was due back in court July 8. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Nicole McGinnis, assisted by Sgt. Dan Coffey.

Wesley Thigpen, 38, of Ellicott Street, Batavia, is charged with first-degree criminal contempt. He was arrested after allegedly making numerous phone calls at 7:38 p.m. July 7 to a person on West Main Street in Batavia who has a full stay away order of protection against him. He is due in Batavia City Court on Tuesday (July 16). The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Felicia DeGroot.

Coty Ray Read, 28, of South Hillcrest Drive, Albion, is charged with criminal trespass. At 9:22 a.m. on July 14 following the investigation of a suspicious condition complaint on Mill Pond Road in Byron, Read was arrested. He is accused of allegedly unlawfully entering and remaining in a residence without the owner's permission. He was released with an appearance ticker for Aug. 5 in Byron Town Court. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Rachel Diehl.

Story by Dan McComb:

The Batavia 24U Baseball Team beat the Titans yesterday at Buffalo's Riverside Park 6-3 to remain unbeaten at 9-0. Batavia handed the Titans only their second defeat of the season (both to Batavia).

Jerry Reinhardt hit two home runs (both solo shots) and went 3 for 4 at the plate, and Zeke Lynn also hit a solo shot. Also collecting hits for Batavia were Casey Radka, Dion Rosalina, Burnie Jonis, Luke McComb, Jesse Reinhardt and AJ Marcello.

Lynn went the first five innings, striking out 11 and surrendering two runs (one earned). Radka finished off the afternoon going two innings, giving up two hits and surrendering one unearned run.

Batavia had a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Rosalina hit a double, and scored when Marcello hit a ground ball to the shortstop who threw the ball wildly past first base, scoring Rosalina and also scoring Marcello.

Batavia tacked on another run in the top of the third inning when Jonis singled and went to third base on a Reinhardt single. Jonis then scored on a sacrifice fly by Radka.

Batavia added another run in the top of the fourth on a solo home run by Lynn, and Batavia scored a run each in the top of the fifth and the top of the seventh inning on solo home runs by Reinhardt.

Batavia’s next game is tomorrow at Genesee Community College at 6 p.m. against North Town of Williamsville.

Morgenn Surabian pictured with her homemade recycling boxes (photo courtesy of Stephanee Surabian).

Morgenn Surabian, a 5-year-old girl from Batavia, wants her 6th birthday to make a meaningful impact by hosting a beach cleanup party at LaSalle Park in Buffalo.

From 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 3, Morgenn invites community members to join her in recycling items found on the shore of Lake Erie to help protect marine life and beautify the environment.

"She's calling it her 'Birthday Wish for the Fish' for her friends and family and other volunteers to come join her to help make her birthday wish come true," Morgenn's mother, Stephanee Surabian, said.

"We'll be hosting a public event, free to anyone who would like to come join us that day," Surabian said. "We're going to be cleaning up that beach and collecting information of the findings."

The event will offer snacks and music for volunteers to enjoy. The Surabians are working with the Buffalo Division of Parks and Recreation to donate the bottles and cans collected during the cleanup.

Morgenn said her birthday idea was inspired by the Disney animated movie "Finding Dory." She said the beach cleanup is important to her "to keep the water healthy" and "because we don't want the fish to be caught in the plastic."

Volunteers can register for "Birthday Wish for the Fish" online here.

The 77-acre LaSalle Park, located at 1 Porter Ave., is Buffalo’s largest waterfront park -- at the mouth of the Niagara River where it meets Lake Erie.

Monday, July 15th – VETERAN’S DAY AT THE FAIR

• 9 a.m. – 4-H Market Auction Goat Show (Main Show Ring)
• 10 a.m. – Exhibition Halls & Buildings Open
• 10 a.m. – 4-H Cloverbud Poultry Show (Merton Building)
• 10 a.m. – 4-H Dairy Fitting Clinic & Master Fitter Competition
• 10 a.m. – 4-H Goat Agility Contest (Goat Barn Show Ring)
• 10 a.m. – 4-H Market Auction Lamb Show (Main Show Ring)
• 4 p.m. – Midway Opens
• 4 p.m. – 4-H Market Auction Dairy Steer Show (Main Show Ring)
• 5 p.m. – 4-H Market Auction Beef Steer Show (Main Show Ring)
• 5 p.m. – North American Classic Six-Horse Hitch (Horse Arena)
• 7 to 9:30 p.m. – Band – BB Dang (Entertainment Tent)
• 10 p.m. – Exhibit Halls & Buildings Close

Events & times subject to change. Follow us on Facebook to keep up-to-date with changes.

A possible fire is reported in the attic of a house at 319 E. Main St. The location is between Ross and Liberty streets. The structure has been evacuated. City fire is responding.

The second platoon is called to city fire headquarters.

UPDATE 7:49 a.m.: Town of Batavia Fire Department is called to city fire headquarters as mutual aid.

UPDATE 8:13 a.m.: Mercy medics are called to the scene for firefighters' rehab.

From Anne Marie Starowitz, on the passing of Ronald J. DiSalvo:

I had the pleasure of knowing this wonderful family -- the DiSalvos. I taught three of Ron's grandchildren. His death is a loss for Batavia of a wonderful store owner and an exceptional family man. Thank you for your memories Ron DiSalvo.

************************

An excerpt from "Back In the Day, Snapshots of Local History The Way I See It":

In 1949, Charles and Dominic Cultrara started the DiSalvo Shoe Store on a second floor over 111 Main St.

Dominic was then the podiatrist and his brother Charles managed the shoe store. Ronald DiSalvo, who assisted Charles in the shop, bought out his employer’s interest and managed the shop for his partner, Dr. Cultrara.

In 1973, Mr. DiSalvo bought out Dr. Cultrara’s interest and became the sole proprietor. In 1976, DiSalvo’s shoe store relocated to the Genesee Country Mall. After many years of serving Genesee County, Batavia lost another family owned store when DiSalvo Shoe Store closed.

*************************

The picture below was given to me by Ron DiSalvo when I visited at his home in 2015.

For the full obituary of Ronald J. DiSalvo, click here.

Submitted photo and press release:

On Saturday, July 20^th, Valu Home Center will host a Community Day at the Valu Plaza location, 4152 W. Main Street Road, Batavia.

Friends of the Batavia Peace Garden will be on hand to sell hot dogs from noon to 4 p.m.

Representatives from EMS Mercy Ambulance will be present along with members of the Batavia City Fire Department. The Fire Department will be on hand to provide child car seat checks and to correctly install your car seats.

“This is our opportunity to give back to the community," said store Manager Paul MacEwan. "This will become an annual event and hopefully will grow larger in years to come.” 

We look forward to having the community join in and meet our staff.

Milton Smith II had another hit Saturday. He has now hit in 21 of 23 games this season for Batavia.

Submitted photo and press release:

The Batavia Muckdogs have played 19 games in 19 days, and the long road trip from Batavia to Vermont may have caught up with the hitters. The Muckdogs (17-11) fell to the Vermont Lake Monsters, 2-0 Saturday night on a game where both teams combined for five hits, the Muckdogs picking up three of them.

Jackson Rose picked up the hard-luck loss, throwing five innings of two-hit ball, giving up a solo home run to Kevin Richards. The only other hit was an infield single.

Eli Villalobos had one of the best outings of his short professional career, throwing three perfect innings in relief, striking out four. Villalobos, a 2018 14th-round Miami Marlins draft pick out of Long Beach State in California, has started three games but has excelled for Manager Tom Lawless out of the pen. He now has 25 strikeouts in 22 innings and a save.

Sean Reynolds had one of the three hits for the Muckdogs and also walked, putting his average at an even .500 as he has hit in all four games with Batavia since joining the team on July 10 (seven hits).

Milton Smith II, the 21-year-old leadoff hitter for the Muckdogs and had a 12-game hitting streak earlier this season, had another hit and is now hitting .405 this season. Smith II, a 22nd-round pick of the Marlins in 2018, is ahead of Gilberto Jimenez, of Lowell, Mass., who is hitting .376 (Muckdog J.D. Orr was second in average but is just short on enough official at bats to qualify).

How amazing has this season been for Smith II? He now has hit in 21 of 23 games he has played.During his 12-game hit streak, his lone at bat was an extra inning walk-off single to win a game for the Muckdogs.

Dalvy Rosario also had a hit for Batavia.

The Muckdogs are at Vermont Sunday and Monday for 7:05 p.m. starts and after a travel day return home for two games to host the Auburn Doubledays, both at 7:05 p.m.

Tickets to the games on Wednesday, July 17 and Thursday, July 18 against the Auburn Doubledays (or home games July 20, 21 and 22 against Mahoning Valley) are available at muckdogs.com or stop by the Dwyer Stadium Ticket office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the week. The number is 585-483-3647.

• 10 a.m. – 4-H Beef Show (Main Show Ring)
• 10 a.m. – Exhibition Halls & Buildings Open
• 11 a.m. -- Skyhunters Birds of Prey (until 2 pm)
• Noon – Open Class Beef Show (Main Show Ring)
• Noon – 4-H Club Exhibits must be in place
• Noon – Midway Opens
• 3 p.m. – Six Horse Hitch Classes (Horse Arena)
• 4 p.m. – 4-H Rabbit Show (Merton Building)
• 4 p.m. – 4-H Market Auction Lamb Final Weigh In
• 7 to 10 p.m. -- Band – TBD (Entertainment Tent)
• 10 p.m. – Exhibit Halls & Buildings Close

Events & times subject to change. Follow us on Facebook to keep up-to-date with changes.

Mike and Kayleigh Meyers recently moved to Darien Center so their husky, Kiya ("Ki-ya"), is unfamiliar with the area.

Tonight, about 8 o'clock, Kiya managed to get out of the house.

Kayleigh said she and Mike were inside feeding their baby and the door must have been open a crack.

"Most likely, she went after an animal," Kayleigh said.

Kiya is friendly and food motivated so if you see her, try calling her by her name and bribing her with food, Kayleigh recommends.

The Meyers live in the area of Country Cottage and My Saloon, around Harper Road and Route 20.  

If found, call or text Kayleigh at (585) 813-4385.

UPDATE Sunday: Kiya came home on her own early this morning.

Press release:

A day after a “Close the Camps” coalition shut down traffic in Downtown Buffalo, vigils for those held in detention camps were held in several locations across Western New York.

More than 100 citizens gathered in Batavia for a peaceful rally and vigil Friday evening near the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to protest the inhumane treatment of children in migrant detention centers at the Southern border.

Organized by a team of concerned women, this event was part of a nationwide movement, Lights for Liberty: A Vigil to End Human Detention Camps. This movement has partnered with more than 150 international, national, regional and local communities and organizations, including religious groups, refugee relief services, and immigration activists.

The event included a rally with several speakers and a performance by the Rochester Raging Grannies, followed by a vigil. Rev. Jim Renfew, who spoke at the rally, commented, “Eugene Debs once said, ‘While there is a soul in prison, I am not free.’ This quote underscores the horror of child incarceration at the present time and is why I am here. It is wrong, very wrong, and even wronger than we can imagine given some of the reporting from inside of these facilities.”

Co-organizer Nikki Calhoun said, “I refuse to be desensitized to the suffering of others because they may not look like me. To do so, especially with children, opens the door for worse atrocities. This is why myself and thousands of those with a conscience across the country are taking a stand.”

Monica Elderkin traveled from Cheektowaga to the vigil in Batavia, and said, “I thought it was important to attend a vigil at an ICE facility where there are actually immigrants being held to send a message that the mistreatment of children or any of those being detained is not OK.”

While there are no children immigrants held at the Batavia facility and conditions there are known to be reasonable in comparison to facilities at the border, organizers believed holding the vigil at this location would be more effective symbolically.

More than 500 Lights for Liberty vigils were held across the United States on Friday including local events in Buffalo, Williamsville and Rochester, as well as international ones in Germany, Canada, and as far away as Japan and Senegal.

Photo: By Rachel Doktor. Doktor said when the vigil was almost over a group from the vigil lined against the gates beyond where security personnel were standing. She wrote, "We sang songs of peace, love and caring for the children of the world. A small group of people approached the gates after a while, standing close. Everyone got a little tense and watched them, but didn't stop singing. The stand off began, and they stayed until everyone else that attended was gone. They were the closest group to the gates in front of immigration."

Here's some of the action from the Alexander FD Tractor Pull last night. The pulls resume at 7 p.m.

An accident with unknown injuries is reported on the eastbound Thruway at mile marker 386.6. Town of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 12:03 p.m.: No word on injuries. A first responder calls for "a Trooper and a tow."

Above, some of the options for composting containers are shown above, from left a Rubbermaid composter, a garage can composter, and a red worm composter.​

East Bethany – The GLOW Region Solid Waste Management Committee and Genesee County Parks are proud to announce the rehab of the Backyard Composting Demonstration Site at Genesee County Park and Forest!

The site is made up of a variety of homemade and manufactured composters of various shapes and sizes, along with the printed information for each type of composter. Visitors can see for themselves the types of composters available and decide which composter might work best for them.

Backyard composting has been a focus of GLOW’s since its formation in 1987. It has been estimated that up to 30 percent of residential waste is organic material. This includes leaves, brush, tree limbs, and kitchen scraps.

Backyard composting can significantly reduce reliance on landfilling and incineration by taking these organics out of the waste stream.

Composting speeds up the natural decomposition process by creating a perfect environment for the microorganisms that do the composting. This ideal environment is one that is warm, with plenty of nutrients, moisture, and oxygen. Finished compost (humus) puts nutrients back into the soil and aids in the retention of moisture in soil.

The compost demonstration site was initially built in 1994. When the Interpretive Nature Center was completed in 1997, the compost site was moved behind the center.

In 2000 a complete reconstruction and relocation of the site (to the front of the building) was completed, which features a kiosk area and walkway made of pavers.

The 2019 revamping of the site features new signage, a "take one" box containing GLOW’s four panel composting brochure, and a rearrangement of the composters.

Paul Osborn, Deputy Highway superintendent, sums up the benefits of the composting demonstration site.

“The opportunity for the park visitors to see and touch the various types of composters fits right into our goal of experiential learning and environmental education at the Genesee County Park & Forest Interpretive Nature Center," Osborn said.

"Composting puts nutrients back into soils and provides beneficial food for plants and insects. We are excited to have been a part of providing a new makeover to the compost siteand the continued partnership with GLOW Solid Waste!”

To find out more about the GLOW RegionSolid Waste Committee, contact the GLOW office at 800/836-1154, 344-2580, ext. 5463, or emailglow@co.genesee.ny.us.

You may also visit their website at https://www.glowsolidwaste.org/.

To learn how to compost at home, visit the Genesee County Park & Forest Interpretive Nature Center or the GLOW website at https://www.glowsolidwaste.org/.

For more information visit our website at http://www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/parks/, or contact Shannon Lyaski at Shannon.Lyaski@co.genesee.ny.us or (585) 344-1122.

Below, Backyard Composting Demonstration Site, showing the cycle of composting and different methods of at-home composting.