batavia

Two people from Rochester were arrested in the City of Batavia on suspicion of selling crack cocaine, powder cocaine, fentanyl, suboxone, and amphetamines.

Germayne D."Case" Session, 27, of Carl Street, is charged with six counts criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd, three counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance 3rd, two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance 5th, and two counts of criminally using drug paraphernalia 2nd.

Sylvia Perez, 60, of Carl Street, is charged with four counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd, criminal sale of a controlled substance 3rd, two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance 5th, criminal possession of a weapon 3rd, and two counts of criminally using drug paraphernalia 2nd.

Members of the Local Drug Task Force made controlled purchases of suspected narcotics from Session and Perez. As a result, a search warrant was obtained and executed yesterday at a location not disclosed by the Sheriff's Office.  

Besides the drugs, investigators also reportedly found a digital scale and packaging material.  Perez was also allegedly found in possession of a stun gun.

The defendants were arraigned in City Court on the charges.  Bail was set for Session of $10,000 cash or $20,000 bond.  Session was also held in the Genesee County Jail on a parole warrant.  Perez was released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

The Task Force was assisted by Batavia PD, Sheriff's deputies, NYS Parole, and the District Attorney's Office.

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Bryan Lewis Fitts, 32, of Chestnut Ridge, Gasport, is charged with criminal possession of narcotics with intent to sell and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell. Fitts was allegedly found in possession of a sufficient amount of narcotics and controlled substances to suggest he intended to sell the illicit drugs after being ejected from the Luke Bryan concert at Darien Lake at 9:23 p.m., Saturday.  Deputy Jeremy McClellan reportedly spotted baggies of drugs hanging out of his socks.  He was arraigned in Town of Pembroke Court and released.

Aaron J. McFollins, 42, of North Spruce Street, Batavia, is charged with assault 3rd. At 1:18 a.m., June 4, McFollins is accused of throwing a chair at a woman causing an injury.  He was arraigned in City Court and released on his own recognizance.

Aaron J. McFollins, 42, of North Spruce Street, Batavia, is charged with grand larceny 4th, identity left 3rd, and petit larceny. McFollins is accused of taking and using another person's credit card.  McFollins was arraigned in City Court and released on his own recognizance. 

Larry Kennedy, 43, of Eastbrooke Lane, Greece, is charged with felony DWI, unlicensed operation, driving outside restrictions, driving without an ignition interlock device, and aggravated unlicensed operation. Kennedy was arrested by Batavia PD following an investigation into a suspicious condition at an undisclosed location on Aug. 8. He was released on his own recognizance.

Matthew Oppel, 34, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with driving while impaired by drugs, driving while using a portable electronic device, running a red light, and failure to keep right. Oppel on July 31 for an alleged incident at 7:37 p.m., March 20. Oppel was reportedly involved in a property damage accident on Main Street, Batavia. Following an investigation, Oppel was accused of driving while under the influence of drugs at the time of the accident.  He was issued an appearance ticket.

Laura R. Mroz, 32, of Chandler Avenue, Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Mroz is accused of pushing another person on Aug. 7 at an undisclosed location.  Morz was issued an appearance ticket.

John K. Hobbs, 33, of Clinton Street Road, Batavia, is charged with menacing 3rd.  Hobbs allegedly threatened a woman and put her in fear of physical injury during an incident reported at 6 a.m., Aug. 13.  Hobbs was released on his own recognizance.

William G. Horner, 70, of Batavia, is charged with assault with intent to cause physical injury with a weapon, and Wendy L. Henry, 36, of Batavia, is charged with assault 2nd/injuring victim 65 or older.  Horner and Henry were arrested by State Police in connection with an incident reported at 8:39 a.m., Aug. 11, in the Town of Batavia. No further information was released. Horner was ordered held in jail and Henry was released on her own recognizance.

Jessica R. Parker-Sharkey, 28, of Rochester, is charged with criminal impersonation, criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, and driving with a suspended registration. Parker-Sharkey was arrested by a trooper in connection with an incident at 3:20 p.m., Aug. 12.  No further information was released.  She was released on an appearance ticket.

Tyler J. Gasiorek, 27, of Cheektowaga, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Gasiorek was stopped at 3:47 p.m., Saturday, in Bergen by a state trooper. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Patrick J. Reiner, 49, of Corfu, is charged with felony DWI and felony driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Reiner was stopped by a trooper at 12:01, Sunday, in the Town of Pembroke. He was released on an appearance ticket.

David B. Kenjockety, 44, of Lockport, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Kenjockety was stopped by a trooper at 8:50 p.m., Aug. 13, in the Town of Darien. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Deborah M. Kreienberg, 62, of Pittsford, is charged with felony DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Kreienberg was stopped by a trooper at 2:19 p.m., Aug. 13, in the Town of Bergen. She was released on an appearance ticket.

Sue Chiddy was honored Saturday as the 2020 Friend of the Year by the Friends of the Richmond Memorial Library and Jerianne Barnes was honored for 2021 in a COVID-delayed celebration at the library.

Chiddy moved to Batavia in 1982 and learned about the Richmond Library by taking her five children there. A retired teacher, she has worked at GCC and has been involved in the planning and organizing of "The Tale of Three Counties," is on the Books Sandwiched in committee, helping bring in speakers, and she is part of the library reading group. She is also a member of the Richmond reads program. She enjoys gardening and has helped in the upkeep of the Library garden.

"I have enjoyed all of the opportunities the library has afforded us. It's been my pleasure to bring books and exciting new programs to the community of Batavia."

Barnes got her first paid library job at Prendergast Public Library in Jamestown, NY in 1956.  Jerianne and her husband Larry along with their young daughter arrived in Batavia in 1968.   In 1975, she received a Masters in Library Science from the University at Buffalo. She served as a school librarian and media specialist. Her volunteer work at Richmond has focused on reference, local history, and genealogy.  She also delivers books for the Library Visits program.

"Working here is a labor of love," Barnes says. "This is the icing on the cake, it's sweet and I am grateful."

Photos and information by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service.

Group photo: Jessica Ecock Rotundo/VP Board of Directors, Bob Conrad/Library Director, Sue Chiddy, Jerianne Barnes, and Kathy Zipkin/Pres. Friends of the Richmond Library

Genesee County ABATE members held a fundraising drive today to benefit the fallen officers memorial at the Genesee County Sheriff's Office on Park Road in Batavia.

The group's goal is to raise money for a more substantial memorial rather than the metal signs currently commemorating officers who died in the line of duty.

About fifty riders participated in the run.

Photos by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service.

Top photo: Frank Gallo VP/ABATE, Tim Johnson.Pres./ABATE, John Peck, and Sheriff William Sheron.

Anyone 60  years or older and income-eligible can receive a Famers Market coupon booklet from the Office for the Aging.

The booklets are available at 2 BAnk St., Batavia, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Income guidelines:

• One person in the household, $1,986 monthly
• Two people, $2,686 monthly
• Three people, $3,386 monthly

The Niagara County Sheriff's Office said this morning that John Kindig, 63, of Batavia, has succumbed to injuries he sustained in a single-vehicle accident at 11:47 p.m. on Chestnut Ridge Road in Lockport.

Kindig's car struck at the residence with three people inside the home.  None of the residents were injured but a deputy did need to extricate one person from a bedroom.

Previously: Batavia man seriously injured in accident in Lockport

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A 63-year-old Batavia resident was seriously injured in a single-vehicle accident at 11:47 p.m., Thursday, in Lockport.

John Kindig was found unresponsive in his vehicle after it struck a house at 7098 Chestnut Ridge Road, according to a release from the Niagara County Sheriff's Office.  He was extricated from the vehicle and transported by Mercy Flight to ECMC.

Three people were in the residence at the time and none were injured. Deputy Jacob Kenny assisted one resident who was trapped in a bedroom.

The accident is being investigated by the NCSO's Accident Investigation Unit.

Lockport's code enforcement officer Brian Belson declared the residence a total loss and ordered the residence demolished immediately. 

Responding volunteer fire departments: Wright's Corners, Terry's Corners, South Lockport, along with Niagara County's Technical Rescue Team.

Pamela Lynn Palaszynski, 35, of Bank Street Road, Elba, is charged with felony DWI, driving with a felony BAC of .08 or greater, moving from lane unsafely, and speed not reasonable and prudent.  Palaszynski was arrested by Deputy Trevor Sherwood following a car-into-house complaint at 11:59 p.m., Aug. 7.  Palaszynski was released on an appearance ticket.

Teresa Marie Stephenson, 31, of Cedar Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Stephenson was arrested by Deputy Trevor Sherwood at 2:54 a.m., Aug. 6, on Bethany Center Road, Bethany, for allegedly driving drunk.  She was released on an appearance ticket.

Keith Alan Stevens, 63, of Forest Edge Drive, Batavia, is charged with failure to report a change of address within 10 days as a registered sex offender. Stevens was released on an appearance ticket.

Lyndsay Taylor Young, 38, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Young is accused of stealing $206.03 in merchandise from Walmart at 4:04 p.m., Thursday.  She was released on an appearance ticket.

Ray Spencer-Lindquist Saile, 19, of Judge Road, Tonawanda Indian Reservation, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Saile is accused of violating a stay-away order after being found with the protected party at the protected party's house.  Saile was arraigned in Town of Alabama Court and ordered held on $2,500 cash bail.

A Utility Terrain Vehicle was spotted by a Sheriff's patrol at 1:34 a.m., July 31, on Route 33, in the area of Seven Springs Road, in the Town of Batavia and when the deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the driver failed to stop.

According to the Sheriff's Office, the drive took the UTV into harvestable crops causing significant damage to the crops and to fencing in the area.

The Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's assistance in identifying and locating the UTV.

The UTV is described as white in color and affixed with lights that change colors while in operation.

Anyone with information that may assist in the case can call Investigator Ryan DeLong at (585) 345-3000 ext. 3572 or Deputy Jordan Alejandro at (585) 345-3000 ext. 3257.

Press release:

The Batavia High School Class of 1965 will gather for their 55 Plus 1 Reunion on August 27-28. The highlight of the celebration will be dinner on Saturday, August 28 at Terry Hills Golf Club. with a 4 p.m. Social Hour followed by a 6 p.m. dinner. Any classmate who has not made reservations should do so by sending a check for $45 ($25 for just the Social Hour) to BHS Class of 65 c/o Steve Hawley, 50 Main St., Batavia, NY 14020.

On Friday, August 27 classmates are invited to meet at 6 p.m. at TF Browns, where a Party Room will be open to the Class of 1965 to order from the menu. A cash bar will be available. Those planning to attend
are asked to notify Bill Hyatt at hyhat@hotmail.com. Since 1992, the BHS Class of 1965 has annually awarded a scholarship, the Freedom Award, to a graduating senior from Batavia High School. To date, the group has donated nearly $40,000.

Batavia PD received an anonymous tip that led to the recovery of some of the decorated stones and shells that were stolen from the Batavia Peace Garden a couple of weeks ago, according to Chief Shawn Heubusch.

The officers who recovered the stones and shells returned them to the Peace Garden.

Peace Garden founder and director Paula Savage confirmed that the stones and shells returned were from the Peace Garden.

Previously: Two-month art project at the Peace Garden, painted stones and shells, destroyed by vandals

Video by Pixel Pro Video

City Church, at its St. Anthony's facility on Liberty Street, was the site Tuesday of the Batavia Police Community Night Out event.

The evening, which includes games, demonstrations, displays, vendors, and food for the whole community, is designed primarily to give community members and local law enforcement to intact in a fun, casual atmosphere. 

Press release:

The City of Batavia has been awarded a Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) 2021 State Economic & Infrastructure Development (SEID) grant.  

The City’s Bank Street water project was awarded $334,000. The NBRC received 156 applications this year for the SEID grant cycle, requesting more than $81M in funding.  This was a 16% increase in requests over 2020. Across the four states, 44 applications from this very competitive field were selected including the City of Batavia.

“The much-needed upgrades to infrastructure will support both public and private development along Bank Street including the progress being made at the City Centre Campus redevelopment and Healthy Living Campus. The new 8” water main will also allow for an additional number of residential and commercial units to be developed in the corridor as planned in the downtown revitalization strategy,” said Eugene Jankowski, Jr. City Council President.

The current Bank street waterline will be updated to an 8” line.  Over 950 linear feet of 8-inch diameter water main will be installed and replace the current 4” and 6” lines that are undersized and aging, 90+-year-old water lines.  The estimated cost of the project is $410,000 and the City will provide a local match to the grant of 20% ($82,000).  

The waterline project is needed to improve water pressure and fire suppression capabilities on Bank Street, as well as enable future development on the City Centre Campus, and the Alva Place parking lot for the Police Station,” said Rachael J. Tabelski, City Manager.  

This project aligns with the strategies laid out by the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) Investment Plan and New York State Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) as well as being in a federally designated Opportunity Zone. It is also part of a larger corridor plan in which the City is seeking Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) grant funds, as well for roadwork and streetscape on Bank Street.  

Currently, there is over $50M in public/private development in downtown Batavia, at various stages of planning, permitting, and construction.  This will be a welcomed investment that helps City as a whole, as well as the local business community, community institutions, and quality of life.