Pike Road – Route 98/Alexander Road to Wortendyke Road (In both the Town of Alexander and Town of Batavia)
On Tuesday, June 17, and Wednesday, June 18, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., shoulder work will occur on Pike Road. Traffic should expect daily closures while the road work occurs. All through traffic should seek alternative routes.
Residents/ Businesses on the listed road will be permitted access to their property but may experience minor delays.
EMERGENCY SERVICE WILL BE PERMITTED THROUGH.
This work is weather dependent, if delayed for rain the work will occur the next available day.
If there are any questions concerning this work, please contact The Town of Batavia – Highway Department at 585-343-1729 Extension 218. Thank you for your cooperation in advance.
City of Batavia Fire Department will be flushing fire hydrants on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday June 16-18, 2025 from approximately 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the general area of north of West Main Street and west of Jackson 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.
This annual testing is essential to maintain the communities Class III Insurance Services Office (ISO) public protection classification, and to assure that fire hydrants are operating efficiently for fire protection purposes.
Along with maintaining the fire rating, the test monitors the health of the city's water system, identifies weak areas in the system, and removes material that settle in the water lines. Checking each hydrant improves fire department personnel knowledge of the hydrant locations.
If you have any questions, or should notice a hydrant in need of repair, please contact the Fire Department at 585-345-6375.
Batavia-based GLOW OUT! hosted its annual Pride Day festival on Saturday, which included events in Jackson Square throughout the day and featured a parade Downtown later in the afternoon.
The event included vendors in the School Street parking lot, and in Jackson Square, Drag Queen Story Hour, and performances by the Buffalo Gay Men's Chorus and the Rochester Gay Men's Chorus.
The Just Kings Social Club hosted its annual Juneteenth Celebration in Williams Park in Batavia on Saturday.
Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, the day when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the end of slavery to the 250,000 enslaved people there, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation had legally freed them. This delayed news of freedom led to annual celebrations, making Juneteenth the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States.
All motorists, please be aware that the following streets will experience traffic delays on Monday, June 16, Tuesday, June 17, and Wednesday, June 18, between the hours of 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. for resurfacing operations:
Ellsworth Avenue
Elm Street
Grandview Terrace
Crescent Court
While work is being performed in these areas, local traffic will be permitted to and from their residence/property, but they should plan accordingly for delays.
All residents and businesses within the work area are asked not to park on the roadway during the operation. All motorists who regularly use these streets are asked to seek alternate routes while the delays are in place.
This is weather-dependent work and will continue the next business day if necessary. Contact the Bureau of Maintenance at 585-345-6400 option 1 if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for your cooperation.
As the spring high school sports season winds down and graduation nears, I want to congratulate every student who excelled in the classroom and on the field.
For our graduating seniors, you have shown your talents in ways that your teachers, families, coaches, and teammates all appreciate. As you continue as learners and leaders, I see your accomplishments are the start of a great future.
I'm especially pleased to see our first group of students who will graduate having demonstrated their skills in a new way.
We’re excited to have nine students from Pavilion High School who completed ACT WorkKeys career assessments as part of their senior or junior year accomplishments.
This was a great opportunity for local students to take advantage of what sets them apart from the competition.
The ACT WorkKeys career assessment gives students and people early in their careers an understanding of their workplace skills and to show to future employers that students are ready for success.
Hearing from Pavilion students, the ACT was a valuable assessment and demonstrated the skills they have learned in the classroom, the playing field, and in their first years of work. It rewards their real-world skills and gives value to their practical knowledge.
I’m proud to have this group succeeding, and to see each student having a clear plan for life after graduation. Some are directly entering the workforce, others have selected college programs that match their career plans.
I want that to be the case in every graduating class and in every school in Genesee County, New York, and the world!
That’s why having dozens of students participating in youth apprenticeships during high school, pre-apprenticeships after graduation, and training programs at Genesee Valley BOCES, Genesee Community College and discovering careers through the Genesee County Career Center is so important.
Whether you decide to take the four or two-year college route or are contemplating on entering the workforce, gaining awareness and value for your skills puts you a step closer to your goals For many students, the ACT WorkKeys career assessment is a step in toward those goals. And with over 100 businesses serving Genesee County recognizing the value of WorkKeys, the certifications earned through the assessment can help anyone looking to grow their career.
So, what’s next?
Our Pavilion students are the first of hundreds of more at Genesee County districts that will host ACT WorkKeys assessments in the coming years. If they are in the Class of 2026, ask your school counselor about being part of the next assessment. If they have already graduated, the Genesee County Career Center is available to host assessments.
And if you are a student, parent, teacher, or school counselor and interested in learning more about any of our workforce programs, contact me at csuozzi@gcedc.com or call me at 585-409-1301 to get connected!
Go Bills!
Chris “Coach SwazZ” Suozzi is the Executive Vice President of Business & Workforce Development at the Genesee County Economic Development Center.
Visitors to the Holland Land Office Museum on Saturday would walk a "Path Through History" and experience military life from different phases of American history.
“Path Through History Weekend: Military Timeline & Encampment” is an annual event that has evolved from local reenactors sharing the uniforms, armaments, and accoutrements from the War of 1812 to encompass both World War I and World War II, as well as the Revolutionary War.
The event highlights the region's rich military heritage and the pivotal role Western New York played in shaping U.S. history.
29 Ellicott Avenue, Batavia-City. Charming Victorian home situated on one of Batavia's oldest streets offers a spacious kitchen featuring a butcher block island, solid surface counter tops, a gas range, a refrigerator, and a new dishwasher. The first floor includes a walk-in pantry/laundry room, a formal dining room, a formal living room with a gas fireplace, a family room, and a convenient half bath. The second floor boasts 3 to 4 large bedrooms along with a full bathroom featuring a jetted tub and double sinks. Additionally, the property includes a two-car garage, a shed, and a fenced-in backyard. Sellers request 24 hours notice to show. Call Michelle Dillstoday at (585) 314-7269.
Norman Dubois was sitting on his couch, watching TV in his Middleport apartment, when Edward Dunn and Katherine Henry left the property. Hours later, he knew they had returned by the frantic pounding on his door.
On the third day of testimony in the trial of Edward A. Dunn, jurors heard from witnesses as prosecutors continued to build their case using jail phone calls, intercepted mail, and personal accounts tied to the days preceding and following the death of 59-year-old Michael Poole.
One witness called on Friday was Lieutenant Christopher Caulfield, the interim jail superintendent in Orleans County. In his testimony, Caulfield authenticated two phone calls made by Dunn from the county jail, both on April 13, 2024.
Both calls were made to Katherine Henry.
“Oh my god, remember that game of hide and seek we played where I found you?” Henry asked Dunn in the second call.
“They found it?” Dunn asked.
“Yeah,” Henry responded. “I’m not comfortable on the phone.”
In addition to the phone calls, the prosecution introduced evidence in the form of a letter intercepted from Dunn to Henry. The letter was not opened until a warrant was signed to do so, and was opened by Genesee County Investigator Kevin Forsyth.
“I was informed on April 25th of 2024 that the letter was located,” Forsyth said.
He received the letter personally on April 29, still sealed.
When he opened it, he found five double-sided pages written by Dunn, with dates written sporadically throughout, indicating that the letter had been written over an extended period.
The handwritten letter included statements about wiping fingerprints from a bag and concerns about whether phone calls had implicated Dunn.
“He had indicated that, ‘I hope the phone calls didn’t f*** me,’” Forsyth recalled regarding the contents of the letter.
Forsyth also assisted Investigator Ryan DeLong in obtaining a search warrant for Poole’s cell phone to determine its location on the date of his death. RTT data from March 17, 2024, the day Poole died, placed the device traveling from the Rochester Road residence where Dunn and Henry had been staying toward areas in northern Genesee County where Poole’s body was later discovered.
Multiple witnesses placed Dunn and Henry at the Rochester Road residence in Middleport in the days before Poole’s death. Norman Dubois, who allowed Dunn and Henry to stay with him at that address, testified that when he met Dunn, Dunn was introduced as “Mike.” Dubois also testified that, although they had agreed to do so, Henry and Dunn paid no rent or other agreed-upon expenses.
Dubois testified that on March 17, Dunn and Henry left the apartment midday.
“Doing laundry or something,” was the reason Dubois gave the court for Dunn leaving.
They were gone for a couple of hours, Dubois said. He became aware of their return when he heard Henry frantically pounding on the apartment door.
“Frantic, upset, scared” was how Dubois described Henry’s demeanor when he let her inside.
The day’s testimonies concluded with Robert Mesler, the owner of Wild Rides repair shop on Ridge Road in Medina. Mesler’s then-girlfriend, Joselyn Burner, is the stepsister of the defendant, Edward Dunn.
Between 8:00 and 9:00 p.m. on March 17, 2024, Mesler recalled a car pulling into the driveway of his shop as he and his sons were inside.
“I told my two boys, I said that’s the vehicle that was involved with the laundromat robbery in Lyndonville,” Mesler said.
When he and his sons went outside, they saw Dunn outside the vehicle, looking through the windows of the repair shop.
When Mesler asked Dunn what he wanted, Dunn said he was there to speak with Burner.
“In nice words, I’ll say that I asked him to leave, that I didn’t want him there,” Mesler said.
Dunn returned to the car and got into the rear driver’s-side seat. Mesler then approached the vehicle and tapped on the window. The face revealed when the window was rolled down was that of Norman Dubois. Mesler noted that someone else was seated in the rear passenger seat. He didn’t recognize the individual, but said they appeared to be female.
Dubois then backed out of the driveway, Mesler testified, and the vehicle headed west on Ridge Road toward Niagara County.
The first witness of the day was Sgt. James Diehl, an investigator with the Sheriff's Office.
While Diehl was involved with the case on the day Poole's body was found, much of his testimony focused on a search of the residence of Dubois on March 28, 2024.
Diehl used a bed band headboard to climb into a crawl space in the attic.
He testified that after less than a minute after looking into the attic, he spotted a knife and a shell casing. He noticed that most of the insulation in the attic was covered in dust and soot, except the area within a few feet of the ceiling opening into the attic.
He also found a rifle partially concealed in the insulation, along with a baggie containing more ammunition.
The casing looked to be .22 caliber, he said.
When he inspected the rifle closer, he said he spotted what looked like fingerprints on the receiver.
He notifed fellow investigator Joseph Loftus. While he bagged the smaller evidence, he didn't have a bag large enough for the rifle.
Asked if Loftus was wearing gloves when Diehl handed the rifle to him, Diehl responded quickly, "I wouldn't have handed it to him at the time if he wasn't (wearing gloves)."
Diehl was responsible for logging the evidence, tagging it, and storing it, and eventually transferring it to the crime lab in Monroe County.
During cross-examination, he described the rifle as "break action," meaning it opens where the barrel and receiver meet for loading. It was a single-shot rifle, he said, meaning it had to be opened and loaded for each shot it fired.
As a kid growing up in the Fifth Ward on South Jackson Street, F. Robert “Bob” Bialkowski didn’t move far for the last 53 years of his life on Union Street, where he lives with his wife, Madeline and four-legged companion Hershey, their chocolate poodle.
Point being that he is “very familiar with the district and its needs,” Bialkowski says.
And, as current City Councilman-at-large, he therefore believes that he is the better candidate for the District 9 seat on the Genesee County Legislature. He is running against fellow council member Kathy Briggs of Ward Five in the June 24 Primary.
“In all the 13 years, I've only missed two meetings, and I've served on many city committees, such as the Audit Committee. I've served on hiring committees, so I've contributed in that way. I also do a lot of research on issues, and I like to get all the background and all the data,” he said during an interview with The Batavian. “And I'm a firm believer, and I think Batavia is a great place, but the work is never done. It's that simple. Two meetings in 13 years when I was out of town is a good record, I think, better than most council members.”
How do you think your time on council has equipped you to be a good legislator for city wards 4 and 5?
“To be perfectly honest, I've followed the county legislature for many years, and I'm very familiar with the district's urban and rural agriculture, and I'm also very familiar with the challenges, like the rural face versus a city,” he said. “I know several state representatives, and I communicate with them often, like George Borrello and Steve Hawley, and I think that would be a great asset. And at the county level, I know all the individual legislators. I've worked with many of them, and I've worked with the county manager, Matt Landers. I have a lot of respect for Matt.”
His bid for a county seat was one of opportunity, since Legislator Gary Maha has decided not to run for reelection, Bialkowski said, and his ongoing interest in county government. His background includes serving in the U.S. Army and National Guard for 30 years, retiring as a chief warrant officer 4, master aviator.
He has also served on committees for solid waste removal and neighborhood improvement, Zoning Board of Appeals, has been on the county’s Republican Committee for 40 years, and is on the West Wing Committee of the Holland Land Office Museum, and has been chairman of the annual Batavia Memorial Day Parade since 2010.
Bialkowski has been accused of asking too many questions during meetings, but he does that because “you, the taxpayers, deserve the answers,” he said. And it’s a trait not likely to go away, as he promises to continue to “work hard to represent you,” while studying the issues and not fearing intimidation to ask questions or vote no when it’s “in your best interest,” he said in his campaign brochure.
What will make you the more effective candidate to represent the two city districts as a legislator?
“Not to sound nasty, but to start with, it's a Republican Primary right now that we're faced with, and I received the majority of the votes from wards four and five for the seat, the majority of the endorsements from the two wards, from the ward members on the Republican Committee. I've always been a Republican, and I don't believe in changing parties. My opponent ran as a Republican, and after a few years, she became a Democrat, and then, when that wasn't fun anymore, she became a Republican again,” he said. “I respect people from whatever party they're in, but they have to stick to their guns and stick to what their party stands for. That's my belief, and regardless of their internal disagreements, they should have stayed loyal.”
Briggs had been a registered Democrat for 17 years before filing to switch to the Republican Party in 2018, claiming it was a matter of returning to her “roots” from having been a Republican in college.
What challenges do you see ahead for the county if elected?
“First, I'd like to say I'm really frugal when it comes to spending taxpayer dollars, and I act like all the expenditures are coming from my own pocket. And, as you know, Batavia has quite a few seniors living here right now. Here's the challenge: We're facing uncertainty regarding taxes, cutbacks, grants, Medicaid funding, health care," he said. "And in our county, we face some serious water and sewer issues. People don't think about it, they just think the water keeps coming and the sewer is available and it isn’t.
And this is something that I really find irritating: the electric grid is about to reach the limit, and we need to preserve our home rule. The state took away our home rule when it comes to energy. And to me, that is just totally wrong," he said. "And the other big issue I see, we have a great Sheriff's Department, great law enforcement, and it's become very challenging and difficult, and the state Legislature is taking away many of the tools our police department has, and we need to really work to restore them.”
He and Madeline just celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary in January and have a son, Robert, who is a vice president in the finance world.
The Batavian had contacted Briggs, along with Bialkowski, Thursday, and Briggs again on Friday, for a brief Primary preview, and she did not respond.
2024 File Photo of Bergen Park Fest parade by Howard Owens.
A parade at noon is one of the highlights for the 35th annual Bergen Park Fest Saturday at 19 Hickory Park, Bergen.
The parade is to be followed by a Flag Day ceremony and celebration of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, and the day is filled with activities from 8 a.m. to live music until 10 p.m.
The line-up includes:
Steele the Court basketball tournament, registration at 8 a.m.
2024 File Photo of Jim Morasco and Sharon Burkel at the Potter's Field in Batavia Cemetery. They invite the public to a memorial ceremony to dedicate a stone monument to Morasco's long-lost family members at 11 a.m. Saturday.
In February 2024, Jim Morasco was halfway there to fulfill a goal of memorializing his long-lost relatives, Giovanna and Nicholas Morasco, with a stone at Batavia Cemetery.
The third-generation Batavia resident, pastor and author of “Dreaming A Spiritual Journey” traced his family members, who died in the 1930s, to Potter’s Field in the cemetery and vowed to give them something to mark their lives, and their importance to his.
That moment will come at 11 a.m. Saturday at the cemetery on Harvester Avenue, Batavia.
“The Morasco family and the Batavia Cemetery Association would like to invite you to the dedication of the stone for Giovanna and Nicholas Morasco, their ancestors who are buried in the Potter's Field at Batavia Cemetery,” cemetery President Sharon Burkel said.
A portion of the proceeds from the sales of his book was going towards the purchase of the monument for the Paupers' grave, used for those who had no designated grave site due to their social or financial status at the time of death.
His genealogy project morphed into a project involving well-known Batavian Catherine Roth, a staunch supporter of city and cemetery history. She had helped Morasco with research to track the whereabouts of his long-lost family members: his grandmother had died at the age of 40 with heart issues, and Nicholas was just 6 years old when he died of scarlet fever.
“When I called Catherine Roth the second time, she said ‘they’re here’; that was the a-ha moment; that’s how I found them,” Morasco said during a previous interview with The Batavian in 2024 at The Pub Hub just across from the cemetery. “When I was in Italy … I went to a church and touched the baptismal. All those people I never knew contributed to who I am.”
The dedication will also acknowledge the importance of recognizing all those who are buried there, Morasco said. Musician Bart Dentino will sing a song during the program.
Morasco is semi–retired, having worked in the field of human services, and is an ordained minister, dually certified through the American Baptist and United Church of Christ denominations. He currently serves as a part-time pastor at Morganville United Church of Christ.
“We are very grateful that last fall Jim also donated $1,000 from the sale of his book for the restoration and care of the cemetery,” Burkel said.
During that 2024 interview, Burkel had said that “every soul in the cemetery has a story,” promising that “We’ll pick a nice spot in that area for the marker.”
Standing back row left to right, scholarship winners Matthew Wittmeyer, Adam Root, Paolo Busti VP Officer Annette Labarbera, President Michelle Fuller, Greyson Fix, Rocco Sprague. Front row sitting left to right, scholarship winner Kaitlin Kratz, Outstanding Italian American Elizabeth Riter, Board Director Terry Fritts. Photo by Steve Ognibene
On Tuesday evening at Batavia Downs five students from area schools were each presented with $500 scholarships.The outstanding Italian-American was Elizabeth Riter.
Leslie Harrower and Teresa Fritts introduced Elizabeth and she spoke of Paolo Busti and his life and legacy.It was about building a community that had a cultural presence with a social presence.
"What a community we have right here in Batavia and the Genesee region ... you can become a fabric of a community by giving just a little bit," she said. "I attribute my Italian heritage to the importance of family and tradition."
Grayson Fix, a Batavia High School senior who is proud to be "one of my only siblings who looks Italian," spoke about his unique Italian experience.
"I remember being a little boy and telling my teachers that my brother and sister were Irish and I was Italian; it made my mama very happy.Traditions are very small but present in my family," he said. "My mama 'grandma' makes the sauce and remedies everything with food. Feeling under the weather I made you goulash, busy sports schedule, there is manicotti in the oven, and accompanied with a huge bowl of meatballs and sausage.Having an Italian-American upbringing has helped me mold to the person I am today."
One of the things that Kaitlyn Kratz, a Notre Dame High School senior, has appreciated over the years is family, she said. While growing up, she always heard stories of the Peca and DeFazio families.
"It wasn’t until recently that I really understood how much those old stories, traditions and values meant.I have learned about sacrifices and love.We show up for each other whether it’s a ride to the airport, a quick phone call or just sharing a meal," she said. "Some of my best memories are with my grandma making meatball cookies, pies and her famous sauce passed down through generation by generation.It’s not just about the food, it’s about the stories behind the recipes."
Being Italian for Adam Root, a Career and technical student at BOCES, means having "a sense of community within my own family," he said.
"I have seen so much kindness, love and care shown by my family at every occasion.Growing up we attended family reunions at one of my relative’s pizza shops, there are always so many people there all laughing and visiting with each other, people they have might not seen in a while," he said. "I choose culinary in school because I learned that I love food and attended the program in my junior and senior year in high school. "Cooking is something I love a lot and have always seen this with my family growing up."
Rocco Sprague, a Notre Dame High School senior, shared similar feelings about his Italian-American heritage "defining part of my life."
"I learned to work hard, help others and how to celebrate and share the culture of our ancestors by caring on the traditions that was passed down to us," he said. "My grandmother had a St. Joseph table at her house in Le Roy, every March 19th on the feast of St. Joseph, it was a family neighborhood event.It was a tradition of the table by my Grandmother Mecidi who started this table with everyone in her community in LeRoy."
BHS senior Matthew Wittmeyer has learned through family that the sauce simmers on the stove and the gossip simmers at the table.But more than the food and the fun, it’s the everyday skills that pass down through the family that brings everyone together, he said.
"I picked up a lot of personal values through my Italian family.The traditions, food, culture and size of my family are significant factors of who I have become in my family.In my family agreement is rare, gossip is practically a love language and volume control doesn’t exist," he said. "They have shown me invaluable morals, some of which has resonated with me.With an Italian family life is like the wind in a sailboat.When you point in the right direction, they will push you until where you want to go."
Wittmeyer received the founder’s scholarship and Kratz received the Vincent Gautieri Scholarship.Music entertainment was by Ross Chua, accompanied by Mark Hoerbelt.
Staff at Batavia Downs Gaming and Hotel are preparing for a packed Father’s Day weekend of events.
At 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 14, Batavia Downs will be holding their first “Lucky Loop” race on their historic ½ mile track. Attendees are invited to see how many loops they can do around the track in one hour. Awards will be given for most laps done by age category for individuals. There will also be relay teams that can compete for awards as well. Cost is $35 and attendees receive $25 in Free Play, snacks and pizza afterwards. DJ Jickster from 97 Rock will be there playing music to keep runners motivated. A portion of proceeds will benefit Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and a local Veterans Group.
“We are excited to welcome Western New York’s Running Community,” said Byron Brown, President and CEO of Batavia Downs. “The Lucky Loop kicks off a busy Father’s Day Weekend. We hope people will enjoy this new, unique event while also helping raise money for some great organizations.”
Attendees are encouraged to pre-register by visiting: https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Batavia/BataviaDownsLuckyLoop
On Sunday, Father’s Day, June 15, Batavia Downs will have both a Father’s Day Brunch Buffet and Dinner inside Fortune’s Italian Steakhouse. Brunch is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes an omelette station as well as other great items. Adults 18+ are just $29.95 while those aged 5-17 are $19.95. Those under 5 are free for the Brunch. For those wanting to treat Dad to dinner, Fortune’s will be open from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. There are several Entrees available as well as a “Dinner for Two” package for $149 that includes $35 in Free Play per person. To see the full menu check out their website https://www.bataviadownsgaming.com/fortunes/.
Reservations are highly recommended and can be made by calling 585-FORTUNE (367-8863)
Also happening on Sunday, is the Nickel City Wrestling (NCW) Father’s Day Fallout event. Starting at 3pm inside the Park Place Events Center, the Wrestlers of NCW will be putting on a show that will include a match for the NCW Heavyweight Championship, Women’s Championship, Tag Team Championships and a “falls count anywhere” contest. Tickets are available now at https://ncwrestling.booktix.com/.
An Oakfield-Alabama coach has been relieved of all coaching responsibilities over alleged inappropriate conduct with a student, according to a letter Superintendent John Fisgus sent to district parents on Thursday.
The Sheriff's Office is investigating the allegations, according to the letter.
The person has been banned from all district property and prohibited from any contact with students or staff.
"Please note that the district does not employ this coach in any capacity beyond the coaching role," Fisgus wrote.
He asked that anyone with information relevant to the investigation contact the Sheriff's Office.
"The district remains committed to fostering a safe and supportive learning environment for all students," Fisgus said.
Rochelle “Shelley” Stein’s opponent for the District 5 Genesee County legislator seat has said there is a disconnect between Stein and her Le Roy constituents, and The Batavian asked if she knew why or how she would address it.
The way Stein sees it, there was a tie at the Le Roy Republican Committee, resulting in a non-endorsement, and another non-endorsement at the county level, which means a Primary, she said. She is running against newcomer Laurie Mancuso for the District 5 seat on the Genesee County Legislature.
“And this is the democratic process, and I welcome the opportunity to confirm for folks that I'm doing the work that I was elected to do as the county legislator from Le Roy,” she said. “Some of the things that I can absolutely point to are the direct county investments in Le Roy, and that being a multi-year subsidy contract with Le Roy Ambulance so that we can lessen response time and maintain a robust EMS system here in Le Roy that also can respond in the county. We purchased equipment for Le Roy Ambulance for $185,000, and that puts life-saving equipment on those ambulances.
“We also have invested in the high-speed broadband available to all address points, and those investments improve the quality of life in Le Roy,” she said. “And just today, I know that Spectrum has been calling on folks on Thwing Road and North Road, and Griswold Road is on its way. These direct investments are incredibly important to people here in Le Roy.”
Stein said that she is a positive force working for Le Roy, and however other candidates want to campaign, “I am going to stick by what I have done, what I've brought forward of my work and my responsibilities at the county,” she said.
One bone of contention appears to be the sales tax agreement, which was discussed beginning in 2018 and approved on August 25, 2021. The deal capped sales tax distribution at $10 million for the city of Batavia, towns and villages within the county. Ever since, there have apparently been concerns and complaints by town board officials — a few of whom have spoken during county budget talks — and it was shared with Stein as “the crux” of issues with her reelection, she said.
“I’m very proud of the fact that this Legislature takes a long view on capital investments that have to be made, such as the jail and the change to the sales tax agreement that was done. The jail belongs to everybody here in the community, and this is what the county needed to do. It was a difficult decision to come to. It was difficult for legislators. It was difficult for our communities,” she said. “The county Legislature took the stance that when we could share extra, we would, as far as additional revenue distribution, and we actually did that twice. So we did what we said we were going to do.”
The deal was a way to pay off the state-mandated and unfunded $70 million new county jail, Stein said. By capping sales tax distribution, the county was able to reserve $4 million a year for the jail’s debt service.
“I don’t know how that was misconstrued, let me put it that way,” she said. “I’m the only candidate who has any sort of county experience or municipal experience, and I will continue to represent Le Roy in a positive manner.”
The sales tax agreement is for 40 years to match the jail’s debt service, she said. And it didn’t just happen.
“Conversations were had for three years ahead of this. There was a lot of conversation and explanation from the county, including the county manager and the county treasurer. However, this jail did not have any funding stream available from the state. There are no grants,” she said. “It is a requirement by the state of New York to replace this 100-plus-year-old jail, which, quite frankly, other legislatures had kicked down the road. We didn’t have any options left. So you stand up and you do the difficult tasks at hand, and you take the criticisms at the same time.”
As for Stein being elected as the county Legislature’s chairwoman, a two-year term she has consecutively served since 2020, she believes that has only bolstered her position both as a legislator and representative of Le Roy.
Although her opponent has openly questioned whether it’s a distraction from her District 5 duties, Stein said she thinks “a strength the community would want to have in their elected leader is that other legislators have tapped me to be chair … that shows that there is a trust and a value that other legislators put in me.”
She also shared how her position as chair connects her to opportunities that she in turn communicates to her district officials.
“Just this week … I have shared with both our mayor and supervisor, village clerk and town clerk about the Rochester Area Community Foundation. They are targeting grants for rural communities this year, and I have been in touch with (a key official), asking that I can host a conversation in the county, I would prefer that it would be in Le Roy, of course, or somewhere close to Le Roy, where we can have them come in and talk to us specifically about how these grants are going to work, what the application deadline is, understand the mission of the Rochester Area Foundation, why they are targeting rural towns and villages in Genesee and Orleans County, And what the grant would look like on the front end and the reporting process on the back end.
“Gov. Hochul just announced $100 million available for municipal and not-for-profit community centers. So I again sent this off to both the town clerk, village clerk, the village mayor and the town supervisor because I know that there is an interest in revamping the community pool,” she said. “Then this same week, the consolidated funding application workshop was noted and, again, sent that off, and the GCEDC hosted a meeting for a workshop … so these communications I continue to share these opportunities with both the town and village because when I get these opportunities, sharing them is the best way to keep communication going, and the opportunity for our communities to apply to these grants.”
She added that for the past two years, the county has budgeted for each town and village to obtain up to $5,000 for grant-writing services — a way to bring back our taxpayers’ dollars in the state government to work in their communities, she said, and “all very positive.”
If you were reelected, what do you feel are the needs of Le Roy, and what would be your priorities?
Completion of the 2050 Comprehensive Plan “That is really going to help us determine how we address challenges in our 10 focus areas,” she said, including the latest one of community wellness to address a lack of beds for end-of-life care; how to get communication out to seniors and sufficiently connect them to services and common tools they can use when not familiar with email and websites.
Obtain the total funding for the $150 million Phase 3 water capacity project “The impetus of that focus for myself was the fact that we lost out in Le Roy on the Great Lakes Cheese plant, which would have brought hundreds of jobs to our community, and would have been able to help grow our community,” she said. “And that was in 2022 when we lost that opportunity for that economic development project, that really kick-started the focus on getting Phase 3 water capacity, and I have been diligent, committed, laser focused.
"I have been the one who has the networks with our state and federal funding entities, our engineering folks, our water engineering folks," she said. "Tim Hens said it best: ‘this was the first time that they felt support from the Legislature to really buckle down and knuckle in on this water capacity.’ So that all started from a project that Le Roy lost.”
Initiate a land bank To help renovate dilapidated homes, get them out of bank holdings and bring them back onto the tax rolls, put those homes back into homeowners’ hands.
The role of the Legislature chair is elected by the other legislators. Stein said that she would serve again if asked to do so by the other members, adding that “there is a lot of work that is unseen.”
For example, she is or has been involved in the Genesee Regional Transportation Council, which funds some bridge projects; the Genesee Regional Finger Lakes Planning Council that works on the comprehensive plan for the village of Le Roy; and three different committees that cover environment, agriculture and resources, and intergovernmental issues.
She is on the National Association of Counties board, Ag Committee, the Rural Action Caucus, a liaison for Workforce Investment Board, Office For the Aging Advisory Board, Inter-county of Western New York, Genesee 2050 Comprehensive Plan, and GLOW Works Inc.
On a more personal note, Stein also volunteers and serves at Our Lady of Mercy as an Eucharistic Minister and Lector, has been a trustee of the Le Roy parish for 12 years, and has taught catechism doctrine classes for seven years. She was a 30-year volunteer at the Oatka Festival and was part of the Bergen and Le Roy America’s Best Communities grant program, which earned those municipalities a $25,000 economic development plan.
Her 70-year family farm has grown and raised a second generation of ownership, she said, with now its third generation “being interested, being active in agriculture, growing a farm and continuing on with farming,” Stein said. The current owners are her two children, Jerrod and Natasha, and her nephew, Nathaniel, while Stein remains involved as an employee. There have been some accusations of the relationship between her official position and Stein Farms having received grant money in the past.
“I don’t have ownership in the farm. Any grant awarded to the farm is competitive,” she said. “There is no connection to the county; nobody has that amount of reach.”
She stated that her voting record can be verified, and the only potential conflict of interest she recalled was related to a conservation easement. She left the meeting while the remaining legislators discussed the matter and took any related votes. The Batavian did not have time to review her prior voting records before publication.
Why do you believe you deserve the vote for District 5 legislator? “Because I am steadfast here in Le Roy. I have experience in local government,” Stein said. “I learned what it was like as a town supervisor for eight years and now in the Legislature, that foundation of municipal experience has brought me to a place where I am knowledgeable, I am tested, proven, and I'm trustworthy. That's why I deserve people's votes.”
Early voting for this year's Primary begins at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Arc Community Center, 38 Woodrow Road, Batavia.
That was Travis Helmer’s response when asked by the prosecution how many times he knocked on the door of the Rochester Road, Middleport residence where Edward Dunn had been staying on March 25, 2024.
Helmer is an investigator with the New York State Department of Corrections.
On the second day of testimony in the Edward Dunn murder trial, jurors heard from multiple investigators at both the county and state level, as well as from Dr. Nadia Granger, the Monroe County medical examiner. Piece by piece, a narrative of events was assembled for the jury to consider.
Dr. Granger was the first to take the stand. She testified that she performed an autopsy on Michael Poole on March 20, 2024. Poole, she explained, had suffered three gunshot wounds—two entering beside his right ear and one entering near the outer corner of his right eye.
Granger stated that the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head. All three shots were fired from within a distance of six inches, as indicated by soot patterns found in the wounds. She confirmed that Poole was alive after at least one of the shots, noting that blood had entered his airway and lungs.
“Mr. Poole’s lungs had areas of dark pooling within the lung tissue,” Granger said, adding that the red pooling she observed was consistent with blood from the airway.
When asked by the defense to review the toxicology report, Granger confirmed that Poole had evidence of cocaine and its byproducts in his system, along with two byproducts of marijuana and methamphetamine.
Following Granger’s testimony, several law enforcement officers described the March 25 arrest of Dunn on an outstanding warrant, as well as the March 28 search of the Rochester Road apartment.
Matthew Garber, an investigator with the Fugitive Investigation Unit at the New York State Department of Corrections, testified that he assisted in locating Dunn. Along with Helmer, he knocked on an apartment door, waiting for someone to answer.
“The door was locked,” Garber said. He explained that officers could not force entry because the apartment was not Dunn’s personal residence.
Eventually, Norman Dubois, the leased occupant of the apartment, came downstairs and stated that another person was still inside. That person was Katherine Henry. After Henry came downstairs, Dubois gave officers permission to enter the second-floor apartment.
Upstairs, the investigators found four rooms. In the last room they searched, they discovered a hole in the ceiling—covered by a flag—that led to a two-by-two-foot crawlspace. When they removed the flag, it became clear someone was inside.
“Whoever’s up there, can you make yourself known?” Helmer recalled saying.
It took 10 minutes for Dunn to respond, and five more for him to come down. He was cooperative once he emerged from the crawlspace.
On March 28, three separate search warrants were executed at the same property by officials from Genesee, Orleans, and Niagara counties.
“I intrusively started searching the upstairs bedroom of that apartment,” said Genesee County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Ryan DeLong.
In that bedroom, DeLong found a white pair of FILA sneakers that he recognized from surveillance footage related to a recent burglary. He believed the shoes were linked to other crimes in Genesee and nearby counties.
Outside, investigators searched through garbage located near the entrance to the upstairs apartment. They laid a tarp on the ground and emptied each trash bag onto it. In one bag, they found a spent .22 caliber casing. Another casing of the same caliber was found later. Both bore the letter “A” and were collected as evidence.
DeLong confirmed they also found used black nitrile gloves in the trash—gloves that law enforcement commonly use at crime scenes.
However, defense attorney Paul Vacca challenged the implication.
“People use nitrile gloves to cook, correct?” Vacca asked.
“Correct,” DeLong replied.
The day concluded with testimony from Investigator Brian Marsceill of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office. Marsceill became familiar with Dunn while investigating a March 13, 2024, burglary of a laundromat in Lyndonville.
Though his presence at the Rochester Road residence was related to the burglary case, Marsceill assisted during the March 28 search.
“I was present while Genesee County did their work,” he testified.
Dominic J. Dyer, 20, of Batavia, was arrested May 19 and charged with assault 2nd and endangering the welfare of a child. Dyer allegedly punched another person multiple times in the presence of a child during a fight on Liberty Street. He was also charged with strangulation 2nd and harassment 2nd in connection with a separate incident on April 20 on East Main Street, where Dyer allegedly strangled another person during a fight in the parking lot of the Mobil gas station. Dyer was arraigned in CAP Court.
Jadeyn R. Goras, 22, of Alabama, was arrested May 15 and charged with burglary 2nd, conspiracy 4th, criminal mischief 4th, and criminal facilitation 4th. Goras was charged in connection with a burglary on Hutchins Street on Jan. 12. He was arraigned in CAP Court and is due in Batavia City Court at a later date.
Anthony A. Bomasuto, 31, of Batavia, was arrested May 18 and charged with burglary 2nd and criminal contempt 2nd. Bomasuto allegedly entered the victim’s residence in violation of an order of protection. He was arraigned in CAP Court and remanded to Genesee County Jail.
Lakeisha A. Gibson, 38, of Batavia, was arrested May 19 and charged with criminal contempt 1st. Gibson allegedly violated an order of protection. She was arraigned in Batavia City Court and remanded to Genesee County Jail.
Meaghan A. Conti, 38, of Rochester, was arrested May 27 and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Conti was allegedly found in possession of narcotics while being arrested on an unrelated warrant. She was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released under supervision.
Gary A. Rhim, 64, of Albion, was arrested May 29 and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Rhim was allegedly found in possession of narcotics during a traffic stop on Aug. 12, 2024. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released.
Elise C. Maddox, 31, of Batavia, was arrested May 31 as a fugitive from justice. Maddox was located during a traffic stop and taken into custody on a warrant out of Gwinnett County, Georgia. She was arraigned and remanded to Genesee County Jail to await extradition.
Jacalyn J. Klein, 66, of Batavia, was arrested May 30 on a warrant. Klein was initially charged with harassment 2nd after an incident on East Main Street where she allegedly struck another person. The warrant was issued after she failed to appear in court. She was arraigned in CAP Court and is due in Batavia City Court at a later date.
William D. Gamble, Nefetiria L. Turner, Passiona C. McConnell, and Anthony J. Terry were arrested on May 27 and charged with disorderly conduct. The arrests followed an investigation into a fight on South Main Street. All four were issued appearance tickets and released.
Joey A. Evans, 34, of Batavia, was arrested May 29 and charged with harassment 2nd. Evans allegedly threatened another person during an altercation on Jackson Street. He was issued an appearance ticket and released.
Alicia M. Lyons, 45, of Batavia, was arrested May 26 and charged with trespass. Lyons allegedly went onto the property of a business on Jackson Street where she had previously been trespassed. She was issued an appearance ticket and released. Lyons was also arrested May 12 and charged with harassment 2nd after allegedly threatening another person during an altercation on West Main Street. She was issued an appearance ticket and released.
Justine D. Wood, 38, of Batavia, and Austin A. Heideman, 27, of Batavia, were arrested May 23 and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Wood and Heideman were charged following a traffic stop on West Main Street, where they were allegedly found in possession of narcotics. Both were issued appearance tickets and released.
Thomas J. Claffey, Lisa R. Richmond, and Carl T. Amesbury were arrested May 22 and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. The three were charged following a traffic stop and K9 deployment on River Street, where they were allegedly found in possession of narcotics. Richmond was additionally charged with criminal use of drug paraphernalia 2nd, and Amesbury was additionally charged with tampering with physical evidence. All three were issued appearance tickets and released. Claffey was also arrested May 12 and charged with DWI after allegedly being found intoxicated and sleeping at the wheel of a vehicle. He was issued several traffic tickets and is due in court May 27.
Amanda M. Garcia, 30, of Brockport, was arrested May 21 and charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs. Garcia was charged after a traffic stop on East Main Street. She was issued an appearance ticket and released.
Dennis R. Peters, 68, of Batavia, was arrested May 20 and charged with menacing 2nd. Peters allegedly threatened another person with a metal pipe during an argument on West Main Street. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released. He is due back in court June 18.
Brandon M. Kirby, 32, of Batavia, was arrested May 18 and charged with criminal mischief 4th. Kirby allegedly took a cell phone from the victim in an attempt to prevent them from calling 911 during a domestic dispute. He was arraigned in CAP Court and released.
Anthony G. Cicoria, 56, of Caledonia, was arrested May 20 and charged with petit larceny. Cicoria allegedly stole a cowboy hat from the 7-Eleven on East Main Street. He was issued an appearance ticket and released.
Benjamin A. Rachow, 42, of East Bethany, was arrested May 12 and charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Rachow allegedly had contact with the protected party of an order of protection. He was issued an appearance ticket and released.
Dawn Orlando, 55, of Batavia, was arrested and charged with offering a false instrument for filing 1st, grand larceny 4th, and welfare fraud 4th. Orlando is accused of failing to report money received from babysitting, friends, and access to cash app accounts, which allegedly resulted in her receiving $2,257.50 in public assistance benefits she was not entitled to. The charges stem from an investigation by Genesee County Social Services Investigator Sherri Sibley. Orlando was arraigned in Batavia Town Court and released on her own recognizance.
Michelle Mault, 39, of Corfu, was arrested and charged with welfare fraud 3rd, grand larceny 3rd, and two counts of offering a false instrument for filing, all felonies, as well as welfare fraud 5th, a misdemeanor. Mault allegedly failed to report income from employment, resulting in a SNAP overpayment of $3,705 and a HEAP overpayment of $441. The charges follow an investigation by Social Services Investigator Robert Riggi. Mault was arraigned in Batavia Town Court and released on her own recognizance with a return date.
Joseph M. Tornabene, 33, of Batavia, was arrested June 5 and charged with criminal contempt 1st. Tornabene allegedly violated an order of protection by calling the protected party while incarcerated at the Genesee County Jail. He was arraigned in CAP Court and is scheduled to return to Batavia Town Court at a later date.
Mary A. Virgilio, 50, of Batavia, was arrested June 5 and charged with harassment 2nd. Virgilio allegedly punched the victim in the face following a verbal altercation on State Street Road in the Town of Batavia. She was transported to Genesee County Jail and is due to appear in CAP Court on June 6.
Timothy J. Wenzel, of Batavia, was arrested June 1 and charged with four counts of forcible touching. Wenzel is accused of inappropriately touching another employee on four separate occasions at his place of employment, without the employee’s consent. He was held at Genesee County Jail pending arraignment in CAP Court.
Mary L. Seekins, 35, of Le Roy, was arrested June 8 and charged with aggravated DWI (operating a motor vehicle with a BAC of .18% or higher), DWI, moving from lane unsafely, and leaving the scene of a property damage accident. Seekins was charged following an investigation into a property damage accident on West Bergen Road in Bergen, where she allegedly drove off the road and struck several trees. She was released on traffic tickets and is scheduled to appear in Bergen Town Court on July 2 at 5 p.m..
City of Batavia, New York (Pop. 15,600) seeks an experienced professional to join the management team in the capacity of Assistant City Manager/ Director of Administrative Services. Salary: $98,642-$119,642 DOQ. Reporting to the City Manager, the Assistant City Manager/ (ACM) will oversee the functions of Assessment, City Clerk/Treasurer, and IT. This position assists in the implementation of the City’s strategic plan; annual operating budget and capital improvement program; will participate in labor negotiations; and present information to the public, advisory committees and commission, City Council, and outside agencies. In addition, as the ACM, this individual shall assist multiple committees as well as serve as a liaison to various major projects and neighborhood groups. Must have the ability to exercise considerable independent judgment in planning, implementing, overseeing, and reviewing major projects; and the ability to develop and recommend policies and projects. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Graduation from high school or possession of an appropriate equivalency diploma recognized by the New York State Department of Education, AND EITHER: A. Graduation from a regionally accredited or NYS Registered College with a Master's Degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field and two (2) years of full-time paid experience in a responsible governmental administrative position; OR: B. Graduation from a regionally accredited or NYS Registered College with a Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field and four (4) years of full-time paid experience in a responsible governmental administrative position; OR: C. Graduation from a regionally accredited or NYS Registered College with an Associate's Degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field and four (6) years of full-time paid experience in a responsible governmental administrative position; OR: D. Eight (8) years full-time paid experience in the private sector, non-profit, and/or government management sector with progressively more responsibility. OR: E. Satisfactory equivalent combination of the foregoing training and experience. To be considered, submit your cover letter, resume, and contact information, including email addresses for five work-related references to Gabrielle Kolo, Human Resources Director, One Batavia City Centre, Batavia, New York 14020 or gkolo@batavianewyork.com. First review of candidates to begin 7/3/25. Background check, personality assessment, and drug testing required. City residency is required within one year of appointment. EEO A full description and list of duties can be found at www.batavianewyork.com under the Human Resources tab.
