Law and Order: Postal carrier calls in suspicious activity, leads to drug arrest
Austin Lee Wester, 23, of Pratt Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of drug paraphernalia. Police responded to the area of 21 Ross St., Batavia, at 11:13 a.m. Wednesday after a postal carrier reported observing a person who "appeared to be on something and suspicious." It was also reported that Wester walked around to the back of a residence and appeared to be casing the residence. He was jailed on $20,000 bail or $10,000 bond.
Stacey Lynne Ives, 38, of Angling Road, Pembroke, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, moving from lane unsafely, and unreasonable speed. Ives is accused of driving a vehicle that struck a parked semi-trailer in the area of 2200 Angling Road, Pembroke, at 3:06 a.m. Sunday. When deputies arrived on scene, Ives was reportedly out of the vehicle and walking around. She was treated at the scene by Mercy EMS and released with no reported injuries. The accident was investigated by Deputy Ryan Young.
James M. Rossiter, 35, of Clifton Avenue, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, failure to signal, failure to use headlights, moving from lane unsafely. Rossiter was stopped at 1:04 a.m. Sunday on North Spruce Street, Batavia, by Officer Mitchell Cowen.
Michael J. DiFalco, 29, no permanent address, is charged with petit larceny. DiFalco was arrested on a warrant for an alleged theft that occurred at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 24 at 41 S. Main St., Batavia. He was jailed on $5,000 bail or $10,000 bond.
Danielle Elizabeth Cummings, 39, of Batavia Oakfield Townline Road, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant. Cummings was taken into custody at Wayne County Jail by Batavia PD and returned to the City of Batavia for arraignment in City Court. She was jailed on $2,500 bail. No information released on the charges contained in the warrant.
Geoffrey M. Anderson Jr., 52, of Wood Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal trespass and second-degree harassment. Anderson was allegedly in a building at Batavia Middle School without authorization at 10:14 p.m. on Friday. While being escorted from the building, Anderson allegedly pulled away forcefully from a security aide and made threatening statements.
Ryan N. Bartholomew, 23, of Adams Street, Batavia, is charged with disorderly conduct. Bartholomew is accused of directing obscene language at City of Batavia residents while in a vehicle in the area of 6 Orleans Ave., Batavia, at 3:44 a.m. Wednesday.
Michael Charles Friedman, 60, of Quarry Hill Estates, Akron, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or higher, and possession of an open container in a vehicle. Friedman was stopped at 1:45 a.m., today, on Macomber Road, Alabama, by Deputy Mathew Clor.
Daniel Edward King, 41, of Alleghany Road, Pembroke, is charged with criminal trespass, 3rd, disorderly conduct, and unlawful possession of marijuana. King allegedly returned to Batavia Downs at 5:37 p.m. Saturday after being told to leave, and using obscene language causing public alarm. He was jailed on $1,000 bail or $20,000 bond.
Cindy M. Auberger, 54, of Keitel Road, Albion, is charged with felony DWI, drinking alcohol in a vehicle on a public highway, refusal to take a breath test, and unlawful of possession of marijuana. Auberger was allegedly found in a vehicle parked roadside at 12:37 a.m. Sunday on Clinton Street Road, Batavia, by Deputy Jenna Ferrando.
John A. Petronio, 35, of Long Bridge Road, Albion, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, 4th, and unlawful possession of marijuana. Petronio was allegedly found in possession of an electronic stun gun at 1:57 a.m. Friday at a location on Lake Street Road, Le Roy.
Matthew Scott Williams, 29, of Hundredmark Road, Elba, is charged with petit larceny and auto stripping. Williams is accused of stealing catalytic converters from vehicles at a residence on Hundredmark Road, Elba. He is also charged with grand larceny, 4th, and falsifying business records, 1st. He is accused of selling a vehicle for scrap when he was not the owner of the vehicle had no night to sell the vehicle. He allegedly produced documents purporting to show he was the owner of the vehicle. The alleged theft was reported Sept. 28 on Clinton Street Road, Bergen.
Minnie M. Henry, 29, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Henry was arrested by State Police for an alleged theft reported at 3:33 p.m. Aug. 22 at a location in the Town of Batavia. No further details released.
Hazardous weather outlook for today and tomorrow
The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for Genesee County covering today and tomorrow.
There is a wind advisory in effect until 2 a.m.
There is a flash flood watch in effect from 2 p.m. through Wednesday morning.
There is a 60-percent chance of rain showers on Halloween.
Today's winds are expected to remain 20 to 30 mph, from the west, with gusts up to 50 mph.
As for precipitation, the NWS is predicting heavy lake effect rainfall, though it much of it is likely to fall west of Genesee County. Runoff could create flash-flood conditions in low-lying areas. Gutters and drains clogged with leaves could increase the risk of street flooding.
Batavia PD announces Halloween hours
Press release:
The City of Batavia will celebrate Halloween on Tuesday, Oct. 31 only. Trick-or-treating activities will take place from 5 to 9 p.m.
Drivers and walkers are asked to be especially cautious during this time. Have fun and be safe.
GCCs men's soccer team wins regional title

Press release:
The No. 3 Genesee Community College men's soccer team is heading back again to the National Junior Athletic Association D-III National Tournament after blanking Cayuga Community College 3-0 Oct. 29 in the Region III District A Championship game.
The region's top-seeded Cougars have now outscored their opponents 53-1 during their current eight-game winning streak. The win also extended the team's unbeaten streak to 17 games.
Current NJCAA D-III Goalie of the Week David Ormiston recorded five saves in the win and was named the tournament's most valuable player in leading the team to its seventh-consecutive shutout and 12th of the season.
Ross White got the game winner almost 30 minutes into the contest and Ben Wattis extended the Cougars' lead to 2-0 about 10 minutes later to round out the first-half scoring.
Charlie Livesey had the lone goal of the second half about 25 minutes into the session to add some insurance to the Cougars' lead.
Cayuga outshot Genesee 11-8 in total shots and shots on net 5-3. Each team had a half dozen corner kicks and the physical game produced eight yellow cards collectively.
Also selected to the all-tournament team from Genesee were Livesey, Wattis, and Glenn Holmes, with the latter assisting on Wattis' goal. Cayuga's Mikel Abando and Santiago Ortega were also selected.
Genesee heads to the NJCAA National Tournament as one of eight teams Nov. 9-12 at Wehrum Stadium. The men's soccer D-III nationals are hosted by Herkimer College, who will join the Cougars from Region III after defeating Onondaga Community College 4-0 in the last regional title game of the night that followed the Cougars' win.
Photo: Curtis Kreutter / GCC Athletics
City fire conducting hydrant flushing today
Press release:
The City of Batavia Fire Department will be flushing fire hydrants on Monday, Oct. 30, from approximately 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the general area north of Main Street and east of Bank Street. Homes and businesses nearby will be affected.
These tests may result in a temporary discoloration of water in that area. As in the past, please do not attempt to wash any clothing if your water appears discolored. If you do experience a discoloration of your water, run cold water for about five minutes or until clear.
City Council to consider fund balance allocations for sidewalks, DPW equipment
Update -- 7 p.m.
City Manager Jason Molino’s recommendations for the allocation of $541,000 in unassigned funds to committed and restricted fund balances highlight the agenda of tonight's City Council meeting.
His recommendations are as follows:
-- $50,000 into the DPW equipment reserve, based on the current plan to replace a loader and single axle dump truck with plow over the next three years, and an expectation that close to $600,000 in equipment will need to be replaced by 2021.
-- $25,000 into the sidewalk reserve, based on plans to replace about 15 percent of the sidewalk within the City limits at a cost of $2.35 million. Sidewalk replacement targets for 2018 are Tracy and Washington avenues and Liberty Street and for 2019 are State and Bank streets and Washington and Richmond avenues. Federal grants will cover the majority of the cost.
-- $300,000 into the administrative services equipment and software reserve, which is deemed necessary to upgrade the City’s information technology software and management operation.
-- $20,000 in Bond Anticipation Note financing for capital projects, specifically to cover preparatory costs for a $2.55 million project to resurface several streets in 2018, first reported in The Batavian. Those streets include Union, Clinton, Vine, Liberty and South Liberty streets, and East Avenue. Eighty percent of the cost will be covered through federal transportation funds.
-- $146,000 for Ellicott Trail, the 4-mile pedestrian trail with off-road segments for pedestrians and bicyclists running through the Town and City of Batavia. These funds will go toward the City’s local match ($170,000) of the $1.3 million project.
Also, City Council will be asked to approve “Christmas in the City,” a four-hour yuletide celebration coordinated by the Downtown Batavia Business Improvement District. The event is set for 5-9 p.m. Dec. 1, with a parade from Jefferson Avenue to Summit Street set for 8 p.m.
Sponsored Post: Dolce Panepinto; Vote No in November
A lot is at stake this November for workers all across the state. New Yorkers will have the opportunity to vote on hosting a constitutional convention. The purpose of this convention is to write a new state constitution or revise the existing one. However, if this happens it could lead to many problems for workers and their families. Labor regulations are already under attack in Congress, and it is crucial that we keep state protections for workers. Currently our state constitution gives workers the right to fair compensation and the right to unionize. We need to ensure these rights stay ours and VOTE NO in November.
These are just some of the groups who will be voting against the convention:
- Environmental Advocates of New York
- Equality New York
- New York State AFL-CIO
- New York State Alliance for Retired Americans
- New York State Professional Fire Fighters
- New York State Rifle and Pistol Association
- Strong Economy for All Coalition
- Working Families Party
- NYSUT
- NYS Public Employees Federation (PEF)
- Western New York Area Labor Federation
- New York Professional Nurses Union (NYPNU)
- Buffalo AFL-CIO
If you have any questions or concerns about the upcoming vote please call Dolce Panepinto at 585-815-9003. We are here to fight for workers’ rights.
Photos: The 21st reading of John Gardner at the Pok-A-Dot

The 21st annual John Gardner Society gathering at the Pok-A-Dot to remember Batavia's most famous novelist at his favorite local restaurant brought people in from some distance this year. There were two people who drove in from Pennsylvania, two from Indiana, and one of Gardner's best friends, who drove up from Binghamton (playwright Jan Quackenbush). Among the travelers, a former student and a former dorm mate of Gardner's. First-timers to the reading also included a couple from Buffalo.
Reading in the top photo, Beth Buechler, who was one of Gardner's students in Binghamton and traveled to Batavia from Indiana.


Tracy Ford

Bill Kauffman

Terry Abrams, of Basom, reading, as he does every year, from "On Becoming a Novelist."

Norm Morford, a dormmate's of Gardner's while in college.

Helen Maier


Other readers included Byron Hoot, from Pennsylvania, Lucine Kauffman, Steve Lewandowski, JoNelle Toriseva, and John Maier.
Family on Thorpe Street hosts carnival for kids in the neighborhood

Dan Eberly and his wife, Sarah, hosted a carnival in their backyard yesterday for the children living on and around Thorpe Street in Batavia.
"This is a busy neighborhood and there are lots of kids and we just wanted to get to know them," Dan Eberly said.
The carnival had various games that allowed the children to earn tickets that could be redeemed for prizes. There were also hotdogs, snacks and drinks.
It was all free.
Most of the year Eberly, who is originally from Baltimore, works overseas but with an extended stay at his home in Batavia, he thought it was a good time to do something for the neighborhood kids.
"I had carnivals in my neighborhood when I was growing up and they were the highlight of my fall," he said.
The Eberlys also host Nerf gun games every Wednesday evening in their backyard. If kids show up and don't have their own Nerf guns, the Eberlys supply them.
Eberly is also mindful that Thorpe has a reputation for being a troubled neighborhood.
"We had the shooting — it was literally out my front window -- a couple of weeks ago, and we just figure this would be a good way to start changing the community by getting to know everybody," Eberly said.




Working mom from Batavia will move into restored Habitat for Humanity Home in Basom

Jenn Boyki will move into her new home on Bloomingdale Road in Basom with a new sense of opportunity and freedom thanks to Habitat for Humanity.
Volunteers started working on the house, built in 1900, before a potential Habitat owner had been identified, so by the time Boyki applied and was approved, there wasn't much time for her to complete the required 300 hours of "sweat equity" to qualify for the purchase of the property.
But she got it done, all while raising two young children and working as a supervisor at Tim Horton's in Batavia.
"This speaks to her dedication and determination to provide a safe and stable home for her family," said Lauren Casey, CEO of Habitat in Genesee County.
The work was worth it, Boyki said.
"I loved it," she said. "I absolutely loved it. It gives you more enjoyment of being a homeowner versus just moving into a house."
With a piece of property out of the city she thinks she and her kids will have more freedom for themselves.
'It's an opportunity," she said. "The kids love animals, so we will be able to own some animals. I don't have to worry about a landlord and if something breaks, them fixing it on their own time."

Mary Case presented Boyki with a quilt she made to add comfort to the new home during the dedication ceremony.

Marie Scofield presented a symbolic loaf of bread.

Alexander advances in sectionals with 42-14 win

Alexander used its crushing defense and elusive running backs Saturday to knock off Red Jacket in a Class D Section V semifinal game 42-14.
Both Indian touchdowns came in the fourth quarter after the Trojans already led 35-0.
Chris McClinic carried the ball 17 times for 255 yards and three TDs. He also had three receptions for 47 yards. Terrez Smith added another 42 yards and two touchdowns to the ground attack on 10 carries.
Dylan Busch was 10 for 18 passing for 158 yards and a TD.
Job Smith had two catches for 42 yards and Ty Woods, two catches for 29 yards and a TD.
Next up for the 9-0 Trojans in the Class D championship game is Clyde-Savannah. Alexander is seeking both its second sectional title in program history and second in a row. Clyde is the #1 ranked Class D team in the state. The game is at 6 p.m. at a location to be announced.





To purchase prints of photos, click here.
Le Roy's season stopped by Cal-Mum/Byron-Bergen

Le Roy dominated archrival Cal-Mum/Byron-Bergen in Saturday's Class C semifinal except in the one stat that mattered: Final score.
Despite holding onto the ball longer, for more plays and more yards total offense, the Oatkan Knights ended their season with a 16-7.
Cal-Mum/BB advances to the championship game against East Rochester/Gananda next Saturday at 3 p.m.
Kyler LaCarte wrapped up his season with 27 carries for 112 yards and a TD. Jake Hill was 8-18 passing for 111 yards. Reece Tresco had three catches for 63 yards. Cole Biggins, three catches for 42 yards. T.Y. Williams led the defense with five tackles.
Photos by George Henry. Top photo, Luke Stella.






BHS cheerleading squad captures Section V title

Section V Girls Championships were held yesterday Rochester Institute of Technology college. The Batavia cheerleading team won the Division 2, Small A school sectional title, which ended the nine-year drought since back in 2008.
"We had a rough start," said Co-Coach Stacy Squire. "We had to change everything the day before homecoming when unveiling the new routine. Placed second in our first two competitions but kept improving our scores and working hard.
"These kids worked so hard this season and wanted this more than anything. Justine and I couldn't be more proud and happy for them!"
Senior Elisa Swinehart, pictured below with both coaches, was chosen for the Nancy Saxton Leadership Award, which is given to a senior on the championship team.
Coach Squires spoke of how Elisa was chosen for this award. She is the definition of dedication to her team. Cheerleading is her passion, it shows in practice and performance times. She is first to be ready to start practice and the last to make sure the mats are rolled every day. She inspires her team to push themselves and get what her coaches ask of her done.
Pictured above, from left, in front row: Kelsey Verton, Natalie Clark, Bethany Ruffino, Felicity Anderson, Lydia Wahr, Taylor Smith.
Back row, from left: Coach Stacy Squire, Elisa Swinehart, Morgan Olverd, Karleigh Amthor, Julie Wetsell, Kendra Cook and Coach Justine Briggs.
Not pictured: Kristen Corp.
Story and photos submitted by Stacy Squire and Sherri Buchholz Wahr.


Batavia Blue Devils finish season with semi-finals loss

The 4th ranked Batavia Blue Devils took on the number 2 ranked Hornell Red Raiders on a rain soaked gridiron for the Sec V Class B semi-final.
As they normally do, the Blue Devils set the tone of the first half by scoring first on an across field drive.
A couple of possessions later the Red Raiders answered with a touchdown of their own and tied the game 7 to 7.
Good defensive plays and the rain ruled the rest first half. Neither offense could capitalize on good field position and passing was all but nonexistent because of the rain. At then end of the half, the score remained tied.
At the opening of the second half Hornell scored quickly changing the momentum of the game. Batavia played catch up for the entire second half. The Red Raiders consistently had better drives and good defense forcing a couple of turnovers to stop the Blue Devils.
Ray Leach only touched the ball once in the second half due to a leg injury. Perhaps the same leg injury that stopped the game last week so he could be helped off the field.
Hornell scored another touchdown and again failed to convert on the extra point.
The final score was Batavia 7 Hornell 26.
Congratulations Batavia Blue Devils on yet another winning season!









Unneeded medications dropped off in buckets for safe disposal by law enforcement

More than 100 people stopped by the prescription drug drop off location at Batavia PD today, filling up five large boxes with prescription medications that will be safely destroyed by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The annual program invites residents to drop by designation locations -- today at Batavia PD, Le Roy PD, and Pembroke Town Hall (where deputies collected medications).
There are also permanent, year-round drop-off boxes at Batavia PD, Le Roy PD, the Sheriff's Office on Park Road and the State Police Barracks on West Saile Drive.
Properly disposing of unneeded medications helps keep them out of the waste streams, waterways, or from being abused.

Photos: Fire prevention poster contest winners tour City fire

The children who were winners in the fire prevention poster contest sponsored by City of Batavia firefighters were invited to the station today for a pizza party and a tour of the fire hall.
For a list of winners, click here.


Collision with injuries reported at routes 19 and 63, Pavilion
A two-vehicle accident with injuries is reported at the intersection of routes 19 and 63. Pavilion Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.
UPDATE 1:15 p.m.: A first responder at the scene reports one patient, a pregnant female, who suffered a bump on the head and has lower back pain. Her vehicle was rear-ended.
UPDATE: The patient was transported to Wyoming County Community Hospital in Warsaw.
Motorcycle wreck reported on Galloway Road

A motorcycle accident is reported at 3246 Galloway Road, Batavia. "It appears the motorcyclist spun out, lost control, went off the roadway." Town of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. The motorcyclist is down. The location is east of Downey Road. Law enforcement is on scene. Mercy Flight is called to the scene; weather being checked to determine availability.
UPDATE 12:15 p.m.: Mercy Flight will be able to go to the accident; then will only be able to fly eastward to Rochester due to weather.
UPDATE 12:24 p.m.: The helicopter will be landing in an uncut hay field adjacent to the scene.
UPDATE 12:27 p.m.: Mercy Flight has landed.
UPDATE 12:35 p.m.: Mercy Flight #5 is airborne and heading to Rochester.
UPDATE 12:48 p.m.: The Galloway Road assignment is back in service.
UPDATE 12:51 p.m.: The motorcyclist was a female whose bike hit a wet, slick spot in the pavement, sending the bike fishtailing out of control. She suffered a leg injury and possibly other non-life-threatening injuries. She will be further evaluated at Strong Memorial Hospital. The witness to the accident was her husband, who was following her in his truck.


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