Adam Miller Toy & Bicycles, 8 Center St., Batavia, NY: Feel like a kid in a toy store again, or treat your kids to the greatest toy store they will ever see. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

Main St. Pizza Company, 206 E. Main St., Batavia, NY: Pizza, wings, subs and even hamburgers and hot dogs, Main St. Pizza makes everything deliciously. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

Present Tense Books and Gifts, 101 Washington Ave., Batavia, NY: Whether your taste runs to local authors, the finest in fiction or nonfiction or you're looking for a unique and special gift, this charming store in a cozy Victorian house on the edge of downtown is a great place to stop and shop. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

Settler's Restaurant, 353 W. Main St., Batavia, NY: Settler's has a 25-year history of serving great, affordable breakfasts, lunches and dinners to Batavians. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Matty's Pizzeria, 4152 W. Main St., Batavia, NY: Matty's is another Batavia favorite for pizza and wings. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Delavan's Restaurant and Tavern, 107 Evans St., Batavia, NY: To me, Delavan's is one of those restaurants where you want to eat frequently until you try everything on the menu. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

NOTE: If you've never bought Deal of the Day before, or are otherwise unfamiliar with the rules and process, click here.

SOLD OUT

Local Republicans want nothing to do with Tim Paine's release of a Rose Mary Christian e-mail in which Christian tells fellow council members about her termination from Wal-Mart 20 months ago.

Joe Gerace, chairman of the City Republicans, called this morning and was adamant that The Batavian publish a statement from him saying that neither City nor County Republicans had anything to do with Paine's decision to release the e-mail.

"It's personal," Gerace said. "This is between Rose Mary and Tim Paine and we have nothing to do with it."

"I don't like her philosophy, but Rose Mary and I are good friends," Gerace said. "Why would I get involved in a thing like this?"

Gerace said he doesn't like mudslinging and doesn't like to see local Republicans involved with such tactics.

"I don't condone dirty politics, dirty tricks," Gerace said.

When contacted this morning, Christian's Republican opponent Bob Radley was unaware yet of the issue. He said he had heard rumors, but it really wasn't something he was interested in pursuing.

"I'm not into talking about people's personal lives," Radley said. "That's not the way I want win an election. I want to win an election on the issues, not based on what my opponent has done."

Tim Paine, who lost a Ward 4 council race to Bob Bialkowski two years ago, thinks Rose Mary Christian is personally responsible for him not being part of the Democratic slate this year.

He blames Christian for bringing candidate Julie Wallace into the fold and promoting her to other committee members, thereby costing him a chance to win a council seat. He believes he would've gotten more votes than Wallace, and more than the Republican with the fewest votes, too.

"I honestly feel I might have been the top of the ticket," Paine said, "and as hard as I work, I think I could have grabbed that third spot."

So tonight, he made no bones about seeking some payback and released to The Batavian and the Daily News a 20-month-old e-mail written by Christian and sent to her fellow City Council members. The Feb. 16, 2008 missive explained why she was fired from Wal-Mart.

The gist of it is that she and two other workers ate pieces of coffee cake from a damaged box that was going to wind up in the trash.

Christian was accused of violating store policy by opening the coffee cake package for another employee and then eating a small portion of it along with that employee and another worker.

When confronted by a store manager, Christian refused to give up the names of the other employees involved and she was terminated on the spot.

Here's the e-mail Rose Mary sent to all eight of her council colleagues, as well as City Attorney George Van Nest:

I want you to know that I was terminated by Wal-Mart for the following reason. I with two other girls ate a piece of coffee cake that was damaged. I opened the side of it and pulled it out. The girl who also ate some of it told on me. Almost a week later, my boss was told about it. When confronted, I would not tell who the other girls were. I was guilty of eating a piece of it, and was terminated. In case you hear it from someone else, I did it. Ro

(This e-mail was edited for typos only.)

For his part, Paine says flatly, releasing the e-mail "is personal. This is strictly a personal thing."

He takes umbrage with those who might minimize the importance of the issue.

"I can't tell you how much it pisses me off when people say, 'it was just a piece of coffee cake,'" Paine said. "How much will it be next time? Well, it was big enough that Wal-Mart fired her."

Large national retailers routinely terminate employees for even the most petty of infractions. There's no opportunity for appeal and no explanation will suffice. It's simply a zero-tolerance policy.

As the e-mail above indicates, Christian has no problem admitting she broke a rule -- though she says she was unaware of the policy at the time.

She said a girl who worked at the store came in to start her shift and said she was hungry, and Christian told her, "there's a damaged coffee cake over there." The girl started to stick her finger into the package and Christian said, "Don't do it like that. You don't know who's fingers have been in there." Christian then opened the package for her. At that point, they each took a small piece of the coffee cake as did a third employee.

Christian (electronically) scanned the package so the coffee cake would be reported as damaged inventory before it was thrown away.

Christian is the Democratic candidate for the District 7 County Legislature seat, running against Republican Bob Radley. She has represented Ward 6 for 18 years, and remains -- by all accounts very popular in her ward. We are told her nickname in that neighborhood is "Mayor of Ward 6."

Political observers we've spoken to suspect that in Ward 6, her unwillingness to "rat out" her co-workers will play well with voters. But in the more conservative Ward 1, the idea that she stole anything whatsoever may be all voters remember at the polls.

Christian said she doesn't want to be seen as a hero for not telling managers the names of the two other employees. She broke policy and was terminated. That's that.

She did say, however, that when Wal-Mart tried to fight her eligibility for unemployment, a judge ruled that she had been unfairly terminated and awarded her unemployment benefits, which she did receive for a time. She plans to make a letter confirming that decision public as soon as she obtains a copy.

Christian was taken aback to learn that Paine had a personal issue with her. She said she had no idea until this came up today that Paine was mad at her. She said although she introduced Wallace to the Democrat Committee, she had nothing to do with Wallace getting the nod over Paine.

"This is a figment of his imagination," Christian said.

She also noted that Paine dropped out of contention on his own, which Paine confirms.

Two weeks ago, Paine re-registered as a Republican.

Christian accused City Council President Charlie Mallow and Paine of conspiring to leak her old e-mail to the media -- even though she admits she had no expectation that it would remain private when she sent it. She said Paine must have gotten the e-mail from Mallow.

It's unclear how Paine obtained the e-mail. He initially said he got it from Mallow, but later denied it and said -- and Mallow concurs -- that the e-mail was shared with all City Democrat Committee members and discussed extensively at the time by the committee.

"We were trying to decide what we should do about it," Mallow said.

He said earlier that he wants nothing to do with the spat between Paine and Christian, calling them both friends.

"It's personal and it's why I don't want to have anything to do with politics," Mallow said. "It's one person against another person and they both happen to be my friends. It's like watching two friends fight in a schoolyard. What are you supposed to do?"

New York is appealing last month's decision by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to deny disaster assistance to five counties, including Genesee.

The state's formal appeal asks President Obama to overturn FEMA's denial and provide aid to Genesee, Columbia, Delaware, Rensselaer and Sullivan counties for damages suffered from storms that occurred from July 25 through Aug.16.
 
Damage, debris and response costs in the five counties exceed $7 million, according to a press release from Tim Yaeger, coordinator of Genesee County Emergency Services.

“The...counties are reeling from this summer’s flooding and storms, which have caused severe damage and hardship,” Gov. Paterson said. “The repetitive nature of these events has strained local governments’ ability to implement the recovery process and placed a severe fiscal burden upon the state and its local communities.” 

FEMA maintains that Genesee and the four other counties sustained infrastructure damage that was "not of the severity and magnitude" to warrant a separate disaster declaration (from a storm system that hit Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chenago, Cortland and Erie counties).

But the state argues that New York had the wettest summer in 138 years and the third wettest in recorded history. The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration reported rainfall greater than 200 percent above normal for July.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture calculated soil-moisture content in excess of 500 percent above normal range in the five counties named in the appeal. This super-saturation of the soil resulted in "immediate significant rises in creeks and streams for even minor rainfall amounts."

“A failure to provide this desperately needed support to some of our most impoverished counties will leave them vulnerable to increased damage from even moderate future flooding events," Patterson said.

Corfu's damage assessment was found to be $246 per capita for Genesee County. That's well in excess of the per-capita threshold for aid established by federal law and cited in FEMA’s own preliminary damage assessment.

Damage and debris/response costs for all 10 counties affected by the summer storms is estimated at more than $60 million.

Members of the Batavia City Fire Department brought Ladder 15 over to the parking lot of Richmond Library this morning where a group of pre-schoolers were able to meet firemen, get a look at all the truck's equipment  and slide onto the driver's seat.

UPDATE: We've received a couple of e-mails: This event was sponsored by the Genesee Region Insurance Professionals.

Kenardo Roshay Fields, 19, of 7 Watson St., Batavia, is charged with trespass. Fields was reportedly banned from College Village and was found there yesterday at 11:38 p.m. hiding under a bed.

Arnold D. Jock, of Hogansberg, is charged with trespass, obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct/fighting. Jock was arrested by State Police at the Holiday Inn on Park Road, Town of Batavia, at 6:12 p.m. yesterday. No further details are available.

Joshua L. Baltz, 33, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Baltz was arrested by State Police in the Town of Batavia at 10:33 a.m. on Oct. 15. No further details available.

Jesse P. Boop, 20, of Avon, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Boop was arrested by State Police yesterday at 10:15 a.m. in the Town of Bethany. No further details are available.

Gary J. Dempsey, 42, of Le Roy, is charged with criminal contempt and disorderly conduct. Dempsey was arrested by State Police in Le Roy at 11:11 a.m. yesterday. No further details are available.

The businesses who support The Batavian are local businesses who also support the community in many other ways, from contributions to various community organizations, to owners and managers serving on community boards, to involvement in service clubs. Local businesses are an important part of any community. Please consider eating at a locally owned restaurant or buying from a locally owned retailer first.

Also, we would like to thank the candidates from both parties for county and city offices for putting their faith in The Batavian to help get their message out. Please be sure to vote on Nov. 3.

Here's our sponsors. Please patronize these businesses and let them know you appreciate their support of your favorite local news Web site.

3 D Wine & Liquor
Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle
Affordable Floor Covering
Alex's Place
Amelia's Antiques and Collectibles
Anglican Community Church
Barrett's Batavia Marine and Sporting Supplies
Batavia Cycle Center
Batavia Downs Casino
Blue Pearl Yoga
Bonarigo & McCutcheon
Bontrager's Auction
Carlson's Studio
Castilone Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep
Cedar St. Sales and Rentals
Center of Attention Auto Spa
Center Street Smokehouse
Charles Men's Shop
Classic Home Improvements
Clor's Meat Market
The Color Salon
Crazy Cheap Cars
D&R Depot Restaurant
D'n'R Fireplaces and Stoves
Delavan's Restaurant and Tavern
The Enchanted Florist
Fastec Automotive
Genesee Dental Group
Genesee Feeds
Great Kutz
Herbly Wonderful
Holland Land Office Museum
House of K
The Insurance Center
Jackson St. Grill/Belladessa's
Kravings Kafe
Lamb Family Medicine
Lewis and Lewis
Main St. Pizza Company
The Mane Attraction
The Manor House
Mark Lewis Agency
Matteo & Mullen, CPA
Matty's Pizzeria
Max Pies
Movies in Motion
O'Lacy's Irish Pub
Oliver's Candies
Optique
Pauly's Pizza
Pellegrino Auto Sales
Present Tense Books
Pudgie's Lawn and Garden Center
Reeb Family Moving
Roxy's Music Store
Select Collision
Settler's Family Restaurant
Small World Realty
South Main Country Store
Southside Deli
Suzanne Interiors
T.F. Brown's
Total Image Hair Salon
T-Shirts Etc.
Valle Jewelers
Vintage & Vogue Inspirations

Maybe a little late in the month to be doing this, but I couldn't get to it sooner -- here's the most viewed posts for September:

• Couple caught in full embrace in Oakfield parking lot
• Council to vote on wage increase for City Manager
• Mystery boom on Southside
• Boortz on Education and Obama's Speech to Students, by Peter O'Brien
• Stabbing at Darien Lake concert
• Gay marriage controversy is reason Oakfield cans community worship service, by Billie Owens
• Molino gets raise on 7-1 council vote
• Byron man killed in motorcycle accident on Thruway
• Top Five Health Care Reform Lies, by Bea McManis
• The Apology That Wasn't - Joe Wilson, by Bea McManis

Delavan's Restaurant and Tavern, 107 Evans St., Batavia, NY: To me, Delavan's is one of those restaurants where you want to eat frequently until you try everything on the menu. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Great Kutz, in the Valu Plaza, 4152 W. Main St. Road, Batavia, NY: Men, enjoy a $5 haircut again with this offer exclusive to The Batavian. (gift card can be applied toward other services, but not products).

Settler's Restaurant, 353 W. Main St., Batavia, NY: Settler's has a 25-year history of serving great, affordable breakfasts, lunches and dinners to Batavians. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Matty's Pizzeria, 4152 W. Main St., Batavia, NY: Matty's is another Batavia favorite for pizza and wings. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Herbly Wonderful, 3701 Pearl St., Batavia, NY: Winter teas, spices and fall colors for your home in stunning floral arrangements and seasonal wreaths are now available at Herbly Wonderful. We have a $25 gift certificate for $11.

South Main Country Gifts, 3356 Main St. Road, Batavia, NY: Handcrafted items, gifts with a regional flair, candles, teas and spices -- South Main has a wide selection to please most any interest. We have a $20 gift certificate for $9.

NOTE: If you've never bought Deal of the Day before, or are otherwise unfamiliar with the rules and process, click here.

sold out

When people get ready to walk across a public road, they usually look both ways first to see if any motor vehicles are coming. Unfortunately, this isn't the case with animals, including certain large ones.

Too often, the result is a motorist's nightmare: a collision with a deer, moose or elk. The animal usually comes out second-best in this type of close encounter, but the toll on vehicles and their occupants can also be substantial.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, more than 150 people die in animal-vehicle collisions each year. The Insurance Information Institute estimates some 1.5 million such collisions cause about over $1 billion in damage annually.

While animal-vehicle collisions can happen any time of year, fall is the peak season for deer-car crashes. That's mainly because autumn is both mating season and hunting season, so deer are more active and more likely to roam beyond their normal territory.

No foolproof way has been found to keep deer, moose and elk off highways and away from vehicles. Deer whistles have their advocates, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says there's no scientific evidence to support claims they work as intended. Some studies suggest roadside reflectors - designed to reflect light from vehicle headlamps and cause deer to "freeze" rather than cross the road - reducing crash frequency to some extent.

There are ways you can lessen an unplanned meeting with a deer, moose or elk. Here's how:

• Be aware of your surroundings. Pay attention to "deer crossing" signs. Look well down the road and far off to each side. At night, use your high beams if possible to illuminate the road's edges. Be especially watchful in areas near woods and water. If you see one deer, there may be several others nearby.
• Be particularly alert at dusk and dawn, when these animals venture out to feed.
• If you see a deer, moose or elk on or near the roadway and think you have time to avoid hitting it, reduce your speed, tap your brakes to warn other drivers and sound your horn. Deer tend to fixate on headlights, so flashing them may cause the animal to move. If there's no vehicle close behind you, brake hard.
• If a collision seems inevitable, don't swerve to avoid the animal; your risk of injury may be greater if you do. Hit it, but control the vehicle. Report the crash to the police.
• Always obey the speed limit and wear safety belts.
• Being alert at all times while driving is your best defense against any type of accident.

I just got back from walking Daisy, our new dog. We got her about a week ago from the Batavia Animal Shelter (who were fantastic, by the way). Anyway, our walk took us down Ellicott to Liberty to Main St down to Chambers, then we turned around.

We're working on walking Daisy, and socializing her, so I figured a 2pm walk would mean that we would run into a bunch of different people in different circumstances. And, we did meet some people, but not more than 10. Daisy barks at most men, wagging her tail and sniffing the whole time, but I think she's just intimidated by them, so I'd like her to be socialized with both people and dogs. Are there places and times in Batavia that would provide a nice environment for Daisy to get to know people?

The last suspect captured is the final defendant to plead guilty.

Matthew J. Wells, 24, of Buffalo faces five to 15 years in state prison after admitting this morning to his role in the June 18 stick up of the M&T Bank branch in Elba.

The guilty plea came on a morning when Wells was schedule to appear on a pre-trial hearing to determine if his statement following the robbery could be used against him in a trial.

Attorney Thomas Burns said after the guilty plea that his client took into account the substantial risk of going to trial, in which a conviction could mean 25 years in prison.

District Attorney Lawrence Friedman said the plea bargain accepted by Wells today was made back in June.

Wells didn't give up easily the morning and afternoon of the robbery, either. He led more than 100 law enforcement personnel on a five-hour manhunt through the woods and fields of Batavia and Oakfield before finally surrendering. His co-defendants, Dennis M. Abrams, Jr., 26, and Demone D. Dillon, 25, were captured within an hour of the robbery.

Both previously pled guilty to charges stemming from the hold up. Abrams, the apparent mastermind of the scheme, was looking at up to 25 years in prison, and Dillon, who apparently served as a somewhat reluctant look out, facing three-and-a-half to 10 years.

Wells was the only one of the three to make any real attempt to challenge the state's case, with his attorney filing motions to suppress his statements and for a change of venue. The latter motion was eventually denied.

The case has left many in the criminal justice community shaking their heads. None of the three suspects had any prior adult criminal record, and only Dillon had a youthful offender conviction. All three had jobs and wives or girlfriends. All three men are fathers.

Abrams reportedly sent a text message to his wife before he was captured that read simply, "I messed up."

Friedman's job, of course, isn't to get wrapped up in sympathy for three men who made a bad decision. He's spoken to the victims.

"I spent hours talking with the victims of this crime," Friedman said. "I feel the impact that it has had on these women. With almost 28 years in this office, I've been surprised by the depth of emotion expressed by these women over what they went through in the bank. It was very traumatic. I had one of these women tell me she thought she was about to die. I have no idea what that must feel like."

As for the defendant's lack of prior criminal history, Friedman said, "that's what the pre-sentencing investigation is about."

"My job is to either secure a conviction or get an appropriate plea," Friedman said. "I  think in this case, I've given the court sufficient latitude in light of these crimes and in light of the defendants."

Six Halloween decorations have been stolen from the yard of Thelma Hall, on Watson Street, and she's disheartened that somebody would take from something she and her husband do for kids' enjoyment.

Hall called us this morning hoping that we would publicize the thefts and the person or persons who took the items would return them, "no questions asked."

The Batavian ran a picture of the Hall's yard on Oct. 1.

Six items, including two headstones, were stolen, Hall said.

"Please return what was taken," Hall said. "We wouldn't want to stop (decorating the yard). It's a lot of fun, but we can't keep doing it if our stuff is going to get stolen."

The Halls moved to Batavia from Indiana five years ago and have had Halloween and Christmas displays each year since.

"There's nothing in this town for the kids to do, that's why we do it," said Hall.

"I'm just heartbroken," Hall added. "We just try to be nice."

She said she and her husband are now afraid to put up their annual Christmas display, fearing more thefts.

Anthonly J. Spearance, 24, of 107 Washington Ave., Batavia, is charged with disorderly conduct and reckless endangerment. Spearance allegedly punched his pregnant girlfriend in the stomach. He was jailed on $1,500 bail.

James T. Moore, 50, of 115 Summit St., Batavia, and Patricia L. Brinkman, 48, of the same address, are both charged with assault in the third degree. Both were allegedly involved in a physical altercation during a domestic dispute. Both were jailed on $500 bail each.

Christopher C. Say, 18, of 514 E. Main St., Batavia, is charged with menacing. Say allegedly brandished a large knife and threatened another person with it during a fight. He was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Jeremy A. Weatherbee, 40, of 65 Roosevelt Ave., Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt. Weatherbee allegedly sent text messages to a person he was barred by court order from contacting.

Amanda L. Spring, 26, of 34 Walnut St., Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, refusal to take breath test and unsafe turn without signal. Spring was stopped on Walnut Street at 3:03 a.m. on Sunday.

Kara M. Marquez-Davidson, 24, of Tonawanda, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Marquez-Davidson was stopped by State Police on Route 77 in Darien at 9:42 p.m. on Friday.

Mark S. Wells, 44, of Oakfield, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Wells was stopped by State Police on Route 5 in Pembroke at 2 a.m. on Thursday.

A 15-year-old from Oakfield has been arrested by State Police and charged with sexual abuse of a person under 14 and endangering the welfare of a child. The alleged incident was reported Oct. 10. The teen was taken into custody at 6:04 p.m. Friday. No further details were released.

More than 400 people showed up for a party on Saturday evening at 700 Ellicott St., world headquarters of Chapin International, a growing Batavia-based manufacturer that employs 175 people and has been run by the same family since its founding in Oakfield 125 years ago.

Now that's something to celebrate.

Chapin International is a rarity in the business world. It's been family owned through four generations (and heading toward a sixth), which puts it among 2 percent of all U.S.-based businesses. Plus, it's been located in Western New York 1884, which puts it among an elite 1 percent of businesses statewide.

"I’m sure that my father, grandfather and great-grandfather would be amazed at what we have here today,"  Chairwoman of the Board Andris Chapin told the crowd to open the party.

"They would be amazed that there would be a tent and music and beverages and ice sculptures and just all of the wonderful things that have been put together for us today to help us celebrate."

The party featured dignitaries such as Congressman Chris Lee, Assemblyman Steve Hawley and State Senator Mike Ranzenhofer, but more emphasis was put on the importance of Chapin employees. Lee and Hawley both noted that the company's survival is a testament to how well its employees are treated.

Hawley told a story of how he first met Andris's father, Ralph Chapin, who befriended him as a college student. Hawley described him as an intelligent, kind, caring man, and that's why so many people have stuck with the company for so long. Chapin has third-generation employees, and people who have worked for the company for 30, 35 and even 45 years.

"It’s impossible to thank the thousands of people that have gone through our doors as employees, to thank them enough, but all I can say is I speak with such joy and sincere gratitude to all those people that have worked for us over the years," Andris said during a short interview. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."

In 1884, Ralph E. Chapin and his brother-in-law, Frank Harris, were selling kerosene at their hardware store in Oakfield, when Chapin noticed that the containers his customers used were not well made. They leaked. So Ralph started making his own cans in the back of the store and selling them to his customers. Soon, the cans were so popular, that Chapin sold the hardware store and opened up a factory in Batavia.

By the turn of the century, Chapin Industries was manufacturing air and hand sprayers for spraying a variety of liquids, from pesticides to cleaning solutions.

Chapin is still known best for its cans and sprayers, but CEO Jim Campell said in recent years the company has been growing by acquiring other firms, such as a company that makes bird feeders and bird-feeding supplies. That company, Campbell said, has doubled in size since Chapin bought it.

"It’s a great honor to be the person who is tending the business at this point, at 125 years," Campbell said. "I intend to leave it in better shape than when I got here."

He seems to have Chapin heading in a positive direction. Campbell, who became CEO in 2004, said the company has grown at a record pace each of the past five years.

And in an interview, when asked about what makes Batavia a good place for Chapin, he again talked about Chapin's workforce.

"Batavia is a great place to be," Campbell said. "Genesee County is still agriculturally based, and when you get people from agriculturally based communities, they come in with a really great work ethic. I’ve run businesses in very large cities and have actually been involved in manufacturing in China and Germany and the work force in Batavia is really second to none. People are extremely diligent. They show up for work, which is a big thing that you sometimes find is a problem, and they are very conscientious."

Andris Chapin said she's well aware of the pressure companies face when they stay in Western New York, but she said Chapin is committed to Batavia.

"My father and my aunts were all born here, in Batavia, and we have supported this community by providing employment for all this time and I just feel strongly that as long as it’s truly feasible we need to continue to support Batavia, Genesee County," Chapin said. "It works two ways. We have third-generation employees in the company. If we don’t take care of them, they can’t take care of us. We’re helping each other. Part of the viability of the company is just to hunker down, yes, and believe in Batavia, believe in Genesee County, believe in Western New York. If everybody went away, there would be nothing. So, so far we can do it, and that’s part of our resilience. But, yeah, it’s hard. New York State, Western New York, it’s tough."

Joe Lawrence is on a roll. Last year he closed out the deer season with a monster whitetail scoring 144 on the Boone & Crockett scoring system and placing him high in the New York State Big Buck Club’s muzzleloader division. (The Batavian, Dec. 20, 2008 – Father & Son Memories). On Saturday, the opening day of archery season in New York’s southern zone, the elder Lawrence did it again. He began his fortieth bow season by taking another massive whitetail that is all but certain to make the NYS record book. The big buck sported ten points and weighed a whopping 202 lbs. field dressed.

It was late afternoon when the buck appeared, already displaying rutting tendencies by chasing after four does.  “I used a grunt to call to turn him, and he stopped and looked in my direction,” Joe said. “I hit the grunt call again and he came right to me.” He made the shot from a tree stand at a distance of fifteen yards. 

Award plaques on display at the Blue Devil Hall of Fame Banquet.

Hall of Fame Inductees include from left to right bottom row;  Joe Fiannaca, Nancy Platt, Ed Dawson.  Top row left to right;  Paul Sherwood, Tom Briggs, Tony Miceli, Pat Woodring.

In attendance were the Bosseler brothers, Bill and George who were selected to the first Blue Devils Hall of Fame induction in 2002.

Also on hand to celebrate the inductees selection was this contingent of 1960's Notre Dame Fighting Irish; left to right, Ron Francis, Bill Sutherland, Jim Fanara, and Bayne Johnson.