Press release:

United Memorial Medical Center is pleased to congratulate Gregory and Odilia Rebeca Coffta on the birth of their daughter, Emilia Noemi, the first baby to be born in Genesee County in 2016. Emilia was born at 8:03 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 1. She weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces and was 19 ¾ inches in length. Emilia is the couple’s first child. She was delivered by certified midwife, Kim Danser, CNM, of the Women’s Care Center at United Memorial.

Emilia’s parents recently purchased a new family home in the City of Batavia where they are residing. Mr. Coffta is a teacher of English as a New Language (ESL) in the Williamsville Central School District. Mrs. Coffta is the statewide data coordinator for Migrant Education.

Emilia is the first grandchild for Jim and Christine Coffta. of Oakfield, and the first granddaughter for Hector and Lety Recinos, of Guatemala City, Guatemala.

The happy parents stated that their birth experience at United Memorial was, “Just fantastic. We want to thank the nurses Bonnie, Natalie, Janet, -- really everyone. We received so much support throughout everything, especially with breastfeeding.”

“As a new mother, it’s nice to know we can trust our care providers,” continued Mrs. Coffta.

As the New Year’s baby, Emilia and her parents received a $200 gift card from United Memorial.

A one-car accident is reported in the area of 2224 Lewiston Road, Alabama.

A person reportedly suffered a back injury.

Alabama Fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 11:03 a.m.: Alabama is back in service.

A fire is reported at an unoccupied house (People live there, but they aren't home.) at 1137 Molasses Hill Road at the corner of Chaddock Road. Flames are showing. It has gone to a second alarm. Alexander Fire Department is responding, along with mutual aid from the Town of Batavia, Town of Batavia's FAST Team, Bethany, Darien and Pavilion. Darien is also asked to fill in at Alexander's fire hall.

UPDATE 6:23 p.m.: A first responder on scene reports the location is probably in Bethany's fire district.

UPDATE 6:26 p.m.: Attica is also called to respond. A propane tank is exposed to the fire.

UPDATE 6:37 p.m.: Stafford is asked to fill in at Bethany's fire hall. Command says the flames have gone through the second floor of the structure.

UPDATE 6:40 p.m.: All tankers responding are told to come to the scene via Silver Road. That's Silver Road to Chaddock.

UPDATE 7:33 p.m.: Fire is out. Overhauling. Wyoming Correctional Facility requested to provide inmates for assistance. Mercy medics on scene in case needed.

UPDATE 7:43 p.m.: The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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UPDATE: Two additional photos submitted by Glenn Adams.

Up until recently it has not felt at all like winter. It has just seemed like an extended fall season. But as you know, shortly after Christmas the cold and snow returned.

Well it is now officially winter, by the calendar, by the feel of the ice and snow and by the return of the snowy owls to the Genesee County Airport. The owls have not been seen here this season until the last couple days. Their arrival is two months later than last year's visit. One can assume that they also did not feel winter was upon us until recently either.

Pictured below, a female snowy owl. 

A 29-year-old parolee in Le Roy was hospitalized early Saturday morning after being stabbed, according to Le Roy PD.

No arrest has been made in the case and it's currently under investigation.

The stabbing was reported at 1:19 a.m. on Lake Street in the Village.

Investigators are trying to determine the circumstances of the stabbing.

The parolee suffered a stab wound to his or her abdomen.

No further information is available at this time.

A one-vehicle rollover accident is reported at 10764 East Road, Bethany. There are believed to be no injuries, but a person is trapped on the passenger side. Bethany fire and medics are responding.

UPDATE 2:01 p.m.: The patient was a sign off. The assignment is back in service.

Darien Fire Department is called to respond to the possible rekindle of the trailer fire at 9590 Simonds Road, on the Miller dairy farm.

Most viewed posts for 2015:

• 'I just got lucky': Byron man bags 500-pound black bear, by Ray Coniglio
• Person reportedly shot at residence in Town of Le Roy
• DEVELOPING: Feds raid residence on Batavia-Oakfield Townline Road
• Skunk loitering at front door of business on Liberty Street
• Driver in fatal accident in Bethany charged with manslaughter
• A father loses his best friend
• Batavia prom queen gives her crown to a special classmate, by Traci Turner​
• Victim of accident in Bethany succumbs to injuries
• Liberty Street resident accused of murdering infant

The bear story also became the most viewed story in the history of The Batavian.

We served up 9.4 million page views in 2015 across 5.86 million user sessions (site visits). 

News and feature photos from 2015. To purchase prints, click here.

Sports photos from 2015. To purchase prints, click here.

Arts and Entertainment photos from 2015. To purchase prints, click here.

Photo from last night's fireworks show in Le Roy submitted by Dylan Brew.

Woodward Memorial Library clerks Samantha Bortle, left, and Trisha Riggi, center, are pictured at the circulation desk with Children and Teen Librarian Betsy Halvorsen.

If you have an overdue library book or DVD, then Woodward Memorial Library has a deal for you.

The Le Roy library will begin the new year with back-to-back fine forgiveness weeks.

During the first week — from Monday through this Saturday, Jan. 9 — patrons will not be fined for returning overdue Woodward Library materials.

The library cannot waive fines on books from other libraries, or outstanding fines on previously returned books.

But anyone with an existing fine on their account, should be patient — because the library will trade “Food for Fines” during the second week of January. The library will forgive $1 in previously existing fines for every nonperishable food item donated to the library from Jan. 11-16.

The library will trade up to $20 in fines per account.

Patrons are advised to bring donated food to the library circulation desk, rather than the outdoor drop-off box, to receive credit.

Of course, food donations are welcome even if no fines are owed. All the donated food will be given to the Le Roy Food Pantry.

This is the second year the library has offered a fine-forgiveness week.

Betsy Halvorsen, children and teen librarian, said she’s not sure exactly how many long-overdue library items have worked their way into private collections over the years.

“But it’s a lot,” Halvorsen said. “There are things that have been gone so long they’re assumed lost.”

When that happens, usually after three months, the replacement cost is charged to the patron’s account.

“It’s easy for stuff to get mixed into your own collection, especially DVDs,” said Samantha Bortle, library clerk. “Then there’s this mindset, ‘It would cost me as much to buy it, as it would to return it.’ ”

So beginning Monday, getting back in the library’s good graces will make good financial sense.

Woodward Memorial Library, 7 Wolcott St., is open from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays; and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. For information call (585) 768-8300.

A two-car accident with injuries is reported at Oak Orchard Road and North Byron Road, Elba.

Elba fire, Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 4:03 p.m.: Extrication is required.

UPDATE 4:25 p.m.: A second ambulance is requested to the scene.

An 11-year-old child apparently suffered a broken leg in a snowmobile accident in the area of Smithley Road, Darien.

Darien fire and ambulance responding. Alexander fire requested mutual aid with its Gator.

UPDATE 2:44 p.m.: A landing zone has been established for Mercy Flight.

UPDATE 3:10 p.m.: Mercy Flight in route to Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo.

The new year kicked off with something that looked a bit like winter this morning as Batavia got hit by a mild lake effect snowstorm.

A two-car, head-on collision, is reported at Lewiston and Galloway roads. Injuries are minor. Town of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. (This was originally dispatched as being at Lewiston and Fisher roads, Oakfield.)

UPDATE 5:30 p.m.: The accident report has been released. Vehicle 1 was driving by James Carl Malone, 18, of Varysburg. Vehicle 2 was driving by Andrew K. Hollfelder, 18, of Oakfield. Malone was southbound and lost control of vehicle 1, a 2005 Chevy sedan, and spun in his lane of traffic. Vehicle 2, a 2011 chevy sedan, hit vehicle 1 head on. Both vehicles are owned by Malone. Stacy Hollfelder, 18, was injured in the crash and transported to UMMC. Malone was cited for alleged speed not reasonable and prudent. Andrew Hollfelder was cited for allegedly following too closely.

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported on Lockport Road just west of Route 98. Elba Fire Department is responding along with Mercy medic #3. A Sheriff's deputy is on scene.

Bill Cosby was the public face of Jell-O for many years.

And while his ties to Le Roy’s Jell-O Museum were never strong, they're almost nonexistent now.

Cosby visited the museum for about an hour in 2004, to help open an exhibit commemorating his 30 years as Jell-O’s spokesman. To mark the occasion, a pair of commemorative bricks were added to the “Jell-O Brick Road” that leads pedestrians from Main Street to the museum.

Last year, when sexual-assault allegations against the comedian were brought to wide public attention, the bricks were discreetly removed and placed in storage.

“We just thought it was inappropriate (to keep them there),” said Lynne Belluscio, the museum director. “We also worried a little about vandalism.”

At the time, Belluscio also worried the museum would get some unwelcome media attention.

That never happened.

And it didn’t happen on Wednesday, when a felony charge was filed against Cosby in Pennsylvania.

“We kind of braced ourselves, and we got nothing,” Belluscio said Thursday. 

“I was expecting a lot more,” she added. “In fact, I came in this morning to see if there was anything in the e-mail — and we got nothing.”

A collection of Jell-O TV commercials featuring Cosby used to be part of the museum exhibit, but isn’t anymore. Cosby’s photograph is included with advertising displays — along with other famous Jell-O spokesmen, including Jack Benny.

So when Belluscio is asked about Cosby, she points out that he’s not the reason for the museum.

“Our kind of pat answer is, we don’t have an affiliation with the Jell-O company and that we really focus on the history of Jell-O in Le Roy,” Belluscio said. 

That history begins in 1897— when Pearle Wait invented the gelatin dessert  — and ends with General Foods’ 1964 decision to close its Le Roy factory and move Jell-O production to Delaware.

The Jell-O Museum draws more than 10,000 visitors a year. That number reflects the enduring popularity of the dessert — not Cosby.

Even in 2004, Belluscio said, his role as pitchman was already “old hat.”

“Which to me, is indicative that the brand has moved beyond him — and had, for a long time,” she said. “In today’s advertising market, that’s the way it is.”

Multiple callers in the area of Cook Road and Creek Road, Alexander, have called dispatch to complain of a man in a maroon minivan going door-to-door selling vacuum cleaners.

He's reportedly pushy.

On New Year's Eve.

A deputy is dispatched to investigate.

A team coached by Buddy Brasky plays defense, but lockdown all you want, you've still got to score to win games.

The Blue Devils didn't do that very effectively Wednesday night in the Lions Tournament finale at Genesee Community College against University Prep.

The final score, 57-45 in U-Prep's favor.

"They're scoring 80 points a game and we held them in the 50s and we score 40 something," Brasky said. "You're not going to beat good teams scoring 40 something points."

There's no doubt, U-Prep is a good team. The Griffins' feature a 6'4" post player in Jeenathan Williams and an athletic guard in Isaiah Brinkley, and even with schemes designed to limit their scoring opportunities, Williams notched 23 points and Brinkley had 18.

Williams scored 14 points in the second half.

"We tried to lock him up," Brasky said. "Then Brinkley hit a couple of threes against the zone. That was another part of the game plan: Always know where he is, and close out hard on him, and make him put the ball on the ground. But you can't always find him."

For most of the first half, the game looked like it might be all Batavia.

The half ended with the Blue Devils up 12-4. Brasky thought the margin should have been bigger.

"We got that seven-nothing lead and then we missed three little easy chippies inside," Brasky said. "It could have been 15-4 or 18 to 4, so I thought that was a key part of the game right away."

The Griffins' rang up a surprising number of offensive fouls in the first quarter, which kept putting the ball back in Batavia's hands.

"That's one thing we take pride in," Brasky said. "We do take a lot of charges. But specifically for this game, yes, they look to put their head down and attack the paint. We really emphasize stepping in and taking charge and we did. We were hoping that would make them more tentative. I think it did that in the first quarter."

Brasky said he would need to review the game tape to see what changed either in the defense or U-Prep's offensive scheme to see why things turned around so dramatically in the second quarter when the Griffins' outscored Batavia 22-10.

Batavia's offense came primarily from Malachi Chenault, 13, Ryan Hogan, 10, Tee Sean Ayala, eight.

U-Prep's game plan seem to be to deny in the paint and let the Blue Devils fire away from beyond the arc. Batavia has gunners who can hit from that distance, but too few balls dropped in the bucket.

"I think the real story of the game is, we couldn't shoot," Brasky said. "Let's call a spade a spade. I mean, they packed the zone. They know Malachi and Jake are our two biggest weapons and they packed it in and didn't give us many looks. They gave us any shot we wanted on the perimeter and we couldn't hit many of them."

Batavia actually had five three-pointers compared to only two for U-Prep, but it wasn't enough.

In the paint, Chenault once again showed how much his grown since last season as a low post player, good footwork, fighting for position and attacking the glass. Several of his points came on offensive putbacks.

"He's a senior now," Brasky said. "That's number one. He's a three-year starter, and (Jeff) Redband's not here anymore and we need a go-to guy, so, yes, he's stepping up like a senior should. We talked about that in the off-season. He really worked hard on his game and he's really producing for us."

Batavia is now 7-1 and U-Prep is 7-3. Both are Class A2 teams, so a sectional meeting come postseason isn't out of the question. Brasky likes his team's chances against the Giffins if they work out the kinks with their shooting.

"We can play with them," Brasky said. "If we make some improvements, I think we can compete with them and I think we can beat them."

All-Tournament Team honors went to Tyler Prospero, Notre Dame, Tommy Mattison, Albion, Chenault, Batavia, Ayala, Batavia, and Brinkley, U-Prep. Williams, U-Prep, was named most valuable player.

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A fully involved trailer fire that is next to a barn is reported at 9590 Simonds Road, Darien. That's the Miller farm. A person was injured jumping out of a window because of the fire. Darien Fire Department is responding, along with mutual aid from Corfu and Alexander. Mercy medic #4 is called to the scene.

UPDATE 12:15 p.m.: A first responder on scene reports half the trailer is burned. Everyone is out of the structure, which is adjacent to a large barn. The patient has lacerations to his right hand and arm and is inside the residence at the farm.

UPDATE 12:19 p.m.: A crew from East Pembroke is requested to fill in at Corfu's fire hall.

UPDATE 1:09 p.m.: An employee at the dairy farm, Jamie Mitman, said an employee was sleeping inside the trailer and told her that "he woke up, smelled smoke, panicked and jumped out the window. ... Cut up his hand pretty good -- (to the extent) where he'd need stitches." Jeff Lucker, Darien's first assistant chief, said when he arrived the mobile home was 50-percent involved with flames showing in half the structure. The man who jumped out the window was not seriously injured, Lucker said, and he was transported by private vehicle to a hospital for treatment of cuts and abrasions to his arms, legs and hands. Alden Fire Department filled in at Darien's hall. Fighting this type of fire typically requires a low volume of water and is straightforward, which was the case here, Lucker said, adding that "It's probably fortunate that today is New Year's Eve so that a lot of people are at home and not at work and so we got a quick response."

UPDATE 1:56 p.m.: Fire is out. All units are clearing the scene.

UPDATE 3:27 p.m.: A Darien crew is asked to assemble to deal with a small rekindle of the fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation.