Skip to main content

November 2023 election results

By Joanne Beck

The Democratic Party won a few seats in Tuesday’s election, all three local propositions on the ballot got a thumbs up from voters, Republicans held onto a number of incumbent seats, and a City Council newcomer received his first 158 votes for office during Tuesday’s general election in Genesee County.

Candidates Michelle Krzemien came out on top with a combined total of 334 votes for Darien town justice against  Republican candidate Jennifer Nunnery, with 258 votes, and, at the time of this article being published, Candace Hensel, running on the Democratic and Republican tickets, was winning with a total 168 to incumbent Peter Yasses’ 97 for Byron town supervisor. Byron's results were not completely in by the time this was published, according to the county's Board of Elections website. 

Genesee County Democratic Committee Chairman Michael Plitt said the committee spoke to several people about also running for City Council, but “it was just not the right time to devote themselves to running in an election,” he said.

“However, the next election starts now, and the Genesee County Democrats would love to talk with anyone who might consider running next time,” he said after unofficial results were posted Tuesday night. “Regardless if you want to run, we encourage people to attend local government meetings.”

Batavia resident Derek Geib received 158 total votes for Ward 3 on City Council, and he will take his seat on council on Jan. 1 to fill the spot to be vacated by incumbent John Canale, who opted not to run. All positions on the council were unopposed, as were all Genesee County legislator positions.

Other races:

Voters kept Thomas Sanfratello, with 234, and Gerald Krupa Jr., with 216, in Alexander Town Council seat, while Sarah Kohl had 132 votes.

Voters gave Joel Pocock the Bergen highway superintendent seat with 547 votes versus 198 for Chad Roggow, and Teresa Robinson 461 votes for town clerk versus 278 for Marcy Vanderstow. 

Republican candidates Alfred Klycek and Nathan Knickerbocker garnered votes of 179 and 167, respectively, for Byron town council, and Sarah Stockwell had 108.

Michael Grant came out on top with 432 votes for Darien town council, with Timothy Benton in second with 399 and Benjamin Kohlhagen in third with 191 votes. 

Pembroke Town Council candidate Kathleen Manne received 451 votes, Thomas Dix 350, Helen Trowbridge Haines received 239, and there were write-in votes of 118.

There were three candidates for Stafford Town Council, and Terry Young, with 253, and Robert Pacer, with 201, took the two seats, with Cathy Worthington receiving 150 votes.

Plitt thanked the poll workers and “folks who stepped up to run this year to give voters a choice.” The Batavian asked what he thought about this year’s voter turnout, which by early voting, seemed to be on the low side.

“Voter turnout is always lower in local election years, although an individual vote could change the results in the local election,” he said. 

Voters approved all three propositions on the ballot, which were: Prop. 1 to allow for the removal of small city school districts from special constitutional debt limits, 3,153 yes to 2,460 no; Prop. 2 to extend sewage project debt exclusions from the debt limit, 3,265 yes to 2,337 no; and Prop. 3 to establish an annual tax in the amount of $0.55/$1,000 (fifty-five cents per one thousand dollars) of assessed value in order to support the operation of the Byron-Bergen Public Library, to begin Jan. 1, 2024, 545 yes to 467 no.

Election results are unofficial.

Genesee County Republican Committee Chairman Scott German was not available for comment Tuesday night. 

Batavia Players present three one-act plays Friday to Sunday

By Howard B. Owens
Mr. Icky cast batavia players
The cast of the one-act play, Mr. Icky by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Photo by Howard Owens.

This month's night (or afternoon) of theater at Main St. 56 Theater at Batavia City Centre consists of three one-act plays performed by members of Batavia Players. 

The plays are:

  • "The Bear," by Anton Chekov
  • "Mr. Icky," by F. Scott Fitzgerald
  • "Verbatim," by Albi Gorn

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $16 for adults and $14 for students and seniors.

The Mr. Icky Cast:

  • Mr. Icky, Seth Coburn
  • Divine, Maia Zerillo
  • Peter, Deacon Smith
  • Ulsa, Sophie Crandall
  • Charles, Lilah Mordell

Other characters played by:

  • Joel Coburn
  • Leigh LeFevre
  • Jeriko Suzette
  • Shakeem Walcott
  • Jazz Wessell
Mr. Icky Batavia Players
Scene from Mr. Icky.
Photo by Howard Owens
Mr. Icky Batavia Players
Scene from Mr. Icky.
Photo by Howard Owens
Mr. Icky Batavia Players
Scene from Mr. Icky.
Photo by Howard Owens
The Bear Batavia Players
Scene from The Bear
Photo by Howard Owens

The cast of The Bear:

  • Anthony Haitz as Grigory Stepanovitch Smirnov
  • Angelina Celej as Elena Ivanovna Popova
  • James Barcomb as Luka
The Bear Batavia Players
Scene from The Bear
Photo by Howard Owens
Verbatim Batavia Players
Scene from Verbatim
Photo by Howard Owens

The cast of Verbatim:

  • Marlene, Teressa Hirsch
  • Reese, Steve Coburn
  • Andy, Dorothy Gerhart
Verbatim Batavia Players
Scene from Verbatim
Photo by Howard Owens

Alexander presents 'Beauty and The Beast' this weekend

By Howard B. Owens
alexander beauty and the beast

This Friday and Saturday, the students of Alexander Central Schools present the musical "Beauty and the Beast" in the high school auditorium.

The cast:

  • Belle, Aubrey Hamm
  • Beast, Carter Edmonds
  • Gaston, Owen Dunbar 
  • Lumiere, Morgan Burns
  • Mrs. Potts, Riley Wall
  • Cogsworth, Drake Orr

A total of 37 students, grades six through 12, are participating in the production, which is directed by Alexander High School graduate Hunter Doran. 

Show times:

  • 7 p.m. Friday
  • 2 p.m. Saturday
  • 7 p.m. Saturday

Admission is free.

Photos by Howard Owens.

alexander beauty and the beast
alexander beauty and the beast
alexander beauty and the beast
alexander beauty and the beast
alexander beauty and the beast
alexander beauty and the beast
alexander beauty and the beast

Person ejected from vehicle that strikes tree in Stafford

By Howard B. Owens

A person was reportedly ejected from a vehicle after it struck a tree at Roanoke and Transit roads in Stafford.

The person is reportedly awake and breathing. 

Dispatchers 

Mercy Flight has been dispatched.

Roanoke at Route 237 is being shut down.

Stafford Fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 9:47 p.m.: Mercy Flight is on the ground.

UPDATE 20:27 p.m.: Assignment back in service.

'Stuff the Cruiser' set for Nov. 18 in Batavia

By Press Release
stuff_cruiser.jpg
Deputy Jordan Alejandro with the cruiser; and passing out lists of needed items to shoppers from the 2022 event. 
Photo by Howard Owens.

Press Release:

As the holiday season approaches, a collaborative effort is underway to bring joy and support to underprivileged children and teenagers in Genesee County. 

On Nov. 18, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., "Stuff the Cruiser" will take place in Batavia, featuring the active involvement of many local law enforcement and social welfare agencies including the Genesee County Probation Department, the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Batavia Police Department, the New York State Police, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Genesee County Department of Social Services.

Residents and community members are encouraged to visit the Batavia Towne Center parking lot on Veterans Memorial Drive, where police cruisers from these agencies will be stationed. There is no need to avoid the area due to these vehicles; instead, we invite everyone to join this heartwarming event. 

The focus of "Stuff the Cruiser" is to collect gifts and essentials for children and teenagers aged eighteen and under throughout Genesee County. We seek your support in making this holiday season brighter for those in need. Donated items such as new toys, new clothing, small denomination gift cards, personal care gift sets, hats, gloves, accessories, and non-perishable food items are highly appreciated. 

All contributions will remain within Genesee County, ensuring they reach children and families who can benefit from these gifts during the holiday season. 

For further information, please contact Jason Mindler, Probation Supervisor at the Genesee County Probation Department, at 585-344-2550 ext. 2254 or Jason.Mindler@co.genesee.ny.us. 

GC Chamber of Commerce hosting annual membership meeting Nov. 16

By Press Release

Press Release:

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce Annual will be hosting its Annual Membership Meeting on Nov. 16 at Terry Hills Golf Course & Banquet Facility, 5122 Clinton Street, Batavia. Registration begins at 11:30 am, and Buffet Lunch begins promptly at Noon, cost is $25 per person.

The Agenda for the Meeting will be a review of 2023, a look ahead into 2024 & Election of 2024 Chamber Board Members. To register directly online visit the Chamber’s Website www.geneseeny.com or call Kelly B. at 585-343-7440, ext. 1026. Deadline for registration is Nov. 10.

Celebrate Agriculture dinner tickets going on sale Dec. 4

By Press Release

Press Release:

Plans are already underway for the 20th Annual Celebrate Agriculture Dinner which will take place on Saturday, March 16 at 6 p.m. at the Alexander Fire Hall. This annual event is a celebration of Genesee County’s #1 Industry, Agriculture!

The highlight of the night is a delicious meal using locally produced foods prepared by the Culinary Arts Students from the Batavia Career and Technical Education Center. Let by Chef Alberto Santos and Denise Kaus, Culinary Arts teacher aide, this will be the third year of this perfect collaboration between the Chamber’s Agricultural Committee & Culinary Arts Program. The dinner is open to the public.

Tickets go on sale Dec. 4 at the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, 8276 Park Road, Batavia. Tickets are $30 each or a table of 10 can be purchased for $275.

Sponsorships are also available which help support agriculture educational events in Genesee County. Only 400 tickets will be sold. Tickets must be purchased by February 24, 2024. For more information or to download the registration flyer visit the
Chamber’s Website www.geneseeny.com.

The Celebrate Ag Dinner is coordinated by the following partners: Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County, Genesee County Soil & Water Conservation District and Genesee County Farm Bureau. 

Sponsors of the 2023 celebration included: Alleghany Farm Services, Arctic Refrigeration, Baskin Livestock, Inc., Batavia Muckdogs, Carolina Eastern Crocker, CPL, Farm Credit East. ACA, Farm Family Insurance, Fieldstone Private Wealth, Freed Maxick CPA, Junction Motor Freight, L&M Specialty Fabrications, LLC, Lamb Farms, LandPro Equipment, Lawley, L-Brooke Farms, LLC, Monroe Tractor, My-T Acres, National Grid, OXBO International, Perry Veterinary Clinic, Sackett Farms, Torrey Farms, Western New York Energy, LLC, Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. William Kent, Inc. and Windy Acres
Farm. 

Farms and businesses that donated locally grown food for the 2023 dinner included: Dorman Farms, Farm Fresh First, Inc/Nortera Foods, Fenton’s Produce, Harrington’s Produce, SJ Starowitz Farms, Torrey Farms, Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc., Kreher Family Farms, Daves Ice Cream, Doug & Peggy Torrey, Yancey’s Fancy. 

For ticket information or questions contact the Kelly B. at The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, 585-343-7440 or kbermingham@geneseeny.com.

Police seeking public's help in locating missing teen

By Press Release
missing lockhart

Press release:

The Batavia Police Department is seeking public assistance in locating a 14-year-old girl. Kamela Lockhart was last seen on Nov. 6 in Batavia. 

She was wearing a thin black sweatshirt, a red t-shirt, red pants, and multi-colored crocs. 

Kamela is about 5'04" and 180 pounds with black hair and hazel eyes. 

Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the Batavia Police Department at 585-345-6350 or the NYS Missing Persons Clearinghouse at 1-800-346-3543. Tips can also be submitted by clicking the "submit a tip" button at the bottom of this post on bataviapolice.org.

Batavia Society of Artists to feature Julie Lambert Nov. 14

By Press Release
julie-1.jpg

Press Release:

The Batavia Society of Artists is hosting artist Julie Lambert on Tuesday, Nov. 14 starting at 7 p.m. at Go Art!/Seymour Place, 201 E. Main St., Batavia. She will be demonstrating papermaking art. 

Non-members are welcome with a $5 fee. Light refreshments will be provided.  The Tavern 2.o.1. will be open for cash purchases.

Submitted photos of Julie Lambert's artwork.

julie-2.jpg
julie-3.jpg

Tuesday's general election has contested races, three propositions -- updated

By Joanne Beck

Tuesday is the general election, and here are the updated contested seats, two universal propositions and one specific proposition to the towns of Byron and Bergen. A prior article did not include all of the contested races.

The contested races are:

Town of Alexander Sarah Kohl is running for one of two seats on the Town Council on the Democratic ticket against Thomas Sanfratello, Republican, and Gerald Krupa Jr., on the Republican and Alexander People lines.

Town Supervisor incumbent David Miller apparently has a challenger with an unofficial call for write-in candidate Brian Farnsworth. The Batavian was contacted by a town council candidate and provided with the incorrect information about the town supervisor race. Brian Farnsworth is running for town highway superintendent.

Town of Bergen has a town clerk position with Teresa Robinson of the Republican Party versus Marcy Vanderstow of the Marcy for Town Clerk ticket; and Joel Pocock, Republican and Working 4 You party lines, is running for town highway superintendent against Chad Roggow, of the Conservative Party.

Town of Byron Supervisor position is pitting Democratic candidate Candace Hensel, who is also on the Republican ticket, is running against Peter Yasses of the Conservative ticket.

Sara Stockwell is running for Town Council as a Democratic candidate for one of two seats against Republican candidates Alfred Klycek and Nathan Knickerbocker.

Town of Darien Justice seat also has two candidates: Michelle Krzemien on the Democratic and Conservative, Common Ground party lines versus Jennifer Nunnery on the Republican ticket.

Benjamin Kohlhagen is running on the Democratic and Common Ground lines for one of two seats against Michael Grant, a Republican, and Timothy Benton, also a Republican candidate.

Town of Pembroke has three candidates for two seats on Town Council, with Helen Trowbridge Haines, a Democratic candidate, and two Republican candidates of Kathleen Manne and Thomas Dix, while Deborah Conti, Republican, is running unopposed for an unexpired term.  

Propositions are:

Proposal One: Removal of Small City School District from Special Constitutional Debt Limitation.

The proposed amendment to Article 8, section 4 of the Constitution removes the special constitutional debt limitation now placed on small city school districts, so they will be treated the same as all other school districts. Shall the proposed amendment be approved? Yes or No.

Proposal Two is to extend sewage project debt exclusion from the debt limit. The proposed amendment to Article 8, section 5 of the Constitution extends for 10 years the authority of counties, cities, towns, and villages to remove from their constitutional debt limits debt for the construction of sewage facilities. Shall the proposed amendment be approved? Yes or No. 

Proposal Three is for voters in the towns of Byron and Bergen only: Shall the Town of Bergen  (Town of Byron) establish an annual tax in the amount of $0.55/$1,000 (fifty-five cents per one thousand dollars) of assessed value in order to support the operation of the Byron-Bergen Public Library, commencing in the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2024. Yes or No.

To view the entire Gensee County ballot and obtain voting information, go to Board of Elections.

City Council Ward 3 candidate: 'I just want to be involved and do what I can'

By Joanne Beck
Derek Geib
Derek Geib in a file photo taken shortly after he opened The Coffee Press on Jackson Street in Batavia.
Photo by Howard Owens.

Editor’s Note: In an article that ran on Oct. 24, (City, Genesee County races uncontested but one newcomer and three propositions), The Batavian inadvertently took an off-the-cuff remark made by Derek Geib as his response and published it, which was not the case. The Batavian regrets the misunderstanding, and Geib agreed to an interview just in time for the City Council election, which is Tuesday.

Who: Batavia resident and successful business owner Derek Geib. A 2001 Batavia High School graduate, he was barely out of Genesee Community College with his associate’s degree before his first business venture -- opening Main Street Coffee in 2002. He clearly remembers the opening day on Christmas in the City because it was followed by a blizzard that Sunday. 

Geib was also working at Matty’s, eventually buying into the pizza business from 2006 to 2010 until it closed. He then opened Bourbon and Burger in May 2011, followed by Coffee Press in 2019 and Roman’s in 2020, which made for another distinct memory.  They opened to the public on Friday the 13th in March of 2020, just as the state governor was about the announce a life-altering pandemic. 

In between all of that, Geib has been a landlord for multiple units for the last nine years or so. The 40-year-old has served on the downtown Business Improvement District Board for three years, including the last year as president; has been on the Batavia Development Corporation board the last couple of years; and the Genesee County Planning Board and the city’s Planning and Development Committee for about a year.

What: He’s running to fill the vacant seat for Ward 3 on City Council

When: The City Council election is on Tuesday, and Geib and each of his fellow council members will be running unopposed, including Paul Viele, Ward 1; David Twichell, Ward 2; Al McGinnis, Ward 4; Kathy Briggs, Ward 5; and Tammy Schmidt, Ward 6. 

Where: Ward 3 goes from Oak Street east to Bank Street and from Main Street over to the Thruway. Geib, his wife Jennifer and family, including the chihuahua Cedrick, live on Prospect Avenue, which has brought the entrepreneur back to where he first began as a kid growing up, he says.

Why have you gotten so involved in these boards, aside from the fact that you’re a business owner?
“Right from the onset of looking in it, it probably looks like there's a lot of self-interest involved because, obviously, we are completely invested in downtown. But I think being a business downtown, it made me realize that I should be involved in the goings-on, you know, not so we could have control over things, but just to help it be stronger downtown,” he said. “I’m not not saying my addition makes things that much better, but it's, you know, I think I have a pretty good view of what's going on being downtown every day. It's kind of, ‘what I can bring to the table.’”

What’s your interest in being on City Council?
“I think, really, I just want to be involved and do what I can to make Batavia as good as I possibly can. I mean, I think everyone should be involved as much as they can be, as much of their lives allow. Volunteering and participating in politics and government, and in local government, is the most important form of government because it's the one that actually makes a difference in your direct daily life,” he said. “And most people just overlook it and feel like they only need to vote for the president, when it's like, City Council is pretty in charge of everything that's going on right here. So, I think that's that.”

How do you feel things are going in the city? What would you say are the top three main issues in the city?
“I think things are going great. I believe there's the most construction improvement going on for as far back as I can remember, which is always a good sign. It shows investment,” he said. “I believe we need to work on housing. I think that would be probably one of the main focuses, which I know the city is already directly working on.”

What type of housing do you think is needed?
“Top to bottom. It's tough because I really don't want to speak out of turn because I'm not on City Council. So to talk about the goings-on of the city and what Council’s already working on, I don’t want to talk out of turn,” he said. “Infrastructure is also a big deal. And the city has been working on that as much as they can, sidewalks, streets. There’s just a lot going on. And it’s all for the benefit of the city and the people of it, as far as I can tell.”

There’s often the conversation about bringing more business to downtown. What would you like to see?
“I think the best way to increase business downtown is to increase downtown housing, and we need people living downtown, and we need to be creating as much downtown living space as we can. Because those are the people who will frequent the businesses the most. It's tough to continue to try and bring business downtown without first bringing people downtown. It kind of goes hand in hand,” he said. “I think we've done as good a job as we can realistically to fill all the empty spaces downtown. I mean, obviously, there are some that have been empty for a while that are projects that are being worked on, but if you drive around, there really aren't that many empty storefronts, on Main Street, on the side streets. So it's tough to open businesses without buildings to put them in. So we need more construction and more living spaces.”

How did you build your own business acumen, especially since you didn’t go to school for business? Did you have a mentor, or did you study somewhere on your own? Was it learned on the go?
“Realistically, we just opened and hoped for the best. And I learned a lot over the past 20 years, and I'm sure I'm still not even close to doing things the right way, but I'm doing them the way that I know best,” he said. “And, you know, it's working for now. But I had no business background whatsoever.”

So what will Derek Geib bring to the City Council table?
“From the outside looking in … the city is realistically just a business. You've got a budget and an HR and departments. And so it's just a business on a much bigger scale. And so, having now a business background, I think I can bring that to the table to help with budgets,” he said. “And I think, really, that's probably the most important thing that City Council does is setting the budget and keeping taxes where they need to be and making sure everything's paid for and fixed and working. And that's no different than the restaurant: the money comes in, and you have to figure out how to make everything work with what you've got. So that's really, that's my background.”

Some council members in the past have had coffee klatches in their wards to talk and get to know one another. Do you have any plans like that, since you're not knocking on doors or anything like that with this unopposed race?  Do you have any plans to meet with your ward residents to get to know their concerns?
“I’d like to get out eventually and talk to people and find out what their concerns are in the ward and see if we can figure out how to make everyone happy,” he said.

He does know at least two of their concerns now, he said: broken sidewalks and motorists that speed down Prospect Avenue. 

What do you think is the secret for a council to work?
“Does it not work?” he said. “Obviously, working in any group is difficult. But as long as everybody has a common goal, and they can put their egos and their personal goals aside, it's very easy to work in a group.”

Batavia man accused of dealing crack cocaine following six-month investigation

By Howard B. Owens
philip chin
Philip Chin

A six-month investigation into the possession, transportation, and sale of crack cocaine in and around Genesee County has led to the rest of a 36-year-old Batavia resident.

Philp R. Chin, of McKinley Avenue, is charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, and one count of tampering with physical evidence.

Chin was taken into custody on a sealed indictment warrant issued by Genesee County Court on Thursday evening following a traffic stop in the Village of Le Roy initiated by members of the Local Drug Task Force. 

He is accused of selling crack cocaine to an agent of the task force in Batavia on two separate occasions.

During the traffic stop, Chin was allegedly found in possession of crack cocaine and attempted to conceal it from arresting officers.

Following arraignment in County Court, Chin was released on his own recognizance in accordance with current New York State bail laws.

The task force was assisted by uniformed deputies, Le Roy patrol officers, and the District Attorney's Office.

Quartet of Batavia residence facing weapons and drug charges following raid

By Howard B. Owens

Four people are facing weapons and drug charges following the execution of a search warrant by members of the Local Drug Task Force on Oct. 28 at 14 South Spruce St., Batavia.

The arrests were the result of a months-long investigation, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Taken into custody were:

larnder mug
Haley Larnder
torres mug
Michael Torres

Michael J. Torres, 40, Batavia, no street residence provided, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon 2nd for allegedly possessing a loaded firearm, a Class C felony, criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd, a Class B felony, and criminal possession of a weapon 3rd, a Class D felony.

Haley M. Larnder, 24, Batavia, no street residence provided, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon 2nd for allegedly possessing a loaded firearm, a Class C felony, criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd, a Class B felony, and criminal possession of a weapon 3rd, a Class A misdemeanor.

Dawn M. Morford, 60, Batavia, no street residence provided, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd, a Class B felony, and criminal possession of a weapon 3rd, a Class D felony.

freeman mug
Jason Freeman
morford mug
Dawn Morford

Jason H. Freeman, 42, Batavia, no street residence provided, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd, a Class B felony, and criminal possession of a weapon 3rd, a Class D felony.

The Sheriff's Office did not provide details on the weapons nor narcotics allegedly recovered at the scene.

All four defendants were held pending arraignment.

The task force was assisted by the Batavia Emergency Response Team, uniformed officers, Batavia PD, and the District Attorney's Office.

Water to be shut off in Jackson Street area on Tuesday

By Press Release

Press Release:

The City of Batavia Water Department will need to temporarily turn off water in the Jackson Street area on Tuesday, November 7th, for the duration of the day to replace a valve. The following streets will be without water: 

Chestnut Street, Kibbe Avenue, Elmwood Avenue, South Jackson Street, from Jackson Street to Liberty Street, and Jackson Street, from Central Avenue to South Jackson Street.

Surrounding streets may be affected as well.

As always, when the water is restored, it may be discolored. Please refrain from doing any laundry until the water runs clear.

We apologize for any inconvenience, and the public’s patience is greatly appreciated.

Law and Order: Batavia man accused of threatening two people with a knife

By Howard B. Owens
falk mug
Terrance L. Falk

Terrance L. Falk, 25, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon 3rd and menacing 2nd. Falk is accused of threatening two people with a knife during an altercation on Washington Avenue at an undisclosed time on Oct. 24. He was arraigned and ordered back to court at a later date.

Victor M. V. Diaz, 22, of Canisteo, is charged with gang assault 2nd. Dias is accused of causing serious physical injury to another person during an altercation on Law Street on May 30, 2022. Dias was arrested on Oct. 19 and arraigned in City Court and released under supervision.

victor diaz mug
Victor Diaz

Jennifer K. Freeman, 39, of Batavia, is charged with assault 2nd. Freeman is accused of striking another person in the head with a blunt object on Oct. 17 at an undisclosed time and location, causing injury. Freeman was arraigned and released.

Keith M. Lewandowski, 32, of Albion, is charged with robbery 3rd, criminal possession of a weapon 3rd, menacing 2nd, and harassment 2nd. Lewandowski is accused of being involved in a disturbance on Oct. 14 at an undisclosed time and undisclosed location where Lewandowski allegedly struck another person, threatened that person with a knife, and stole the victim's mobile phone. Lewandowski was arraigned and ordered to reappear at a later date.

jennifer freeman mug
Jennifer Freeman
keith lewindowski
Keith Lewandowski

Christopher H Monfort, 51, of Webster, was arrested on a warrant on Oct. 17. Monfort was initially charged on Feb. 18 with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle 2nd, and switched license plates. He was released on appearance tickets and is accused of failure to appear in court. Monfort was arraigned and held on nominal bail. 

Amber L. Turner, 30, of Batavia, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant on Oct. 16. Turner was initially charged with making graffiti on July 28 after allegedly spray painting the sidewalk on South Main Street. The warrant was issued after Turner allegedly failed to appear in court. She was arraigned in City Court and released. 

Malik I Ayala, 32, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Ayala is accused of stealing merchandise from Kwik Fill on Jackson Street on Sept .19. He was issued an appearance ticket and released.

Sarah E. Hill, of Corning, is charged with harassment 2nd. Hill is accused of striking another person at a location on West Main Street, Batavia, on Oct. 3. She was issued an appearance ticket and released.

Benjamin G. Evans, 35, of Batavia, was arrested on a warrant on Oct. 13. Evans was initially arrested on July 9 and charged with petit larceny after allegedly stealing a package from the front porch of a residence. The warrant was issued on Oct. 11 after he allegedly failed to appear in court. He was arraigned and released. 

Michael A Sweet, 37, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property 4th, identity theft 3rd, and petit larceny. Sweet is accused of possessing a stolen debit card and using it to purchase items from a local store.  He was arrested on Oct. 22 and issued an appearance ticket.

Shante C. Johnson, 26, of Batavia, is charged with burglary 2nd and criminal mischief 4th. Johnson is accused of entering a residence on Thorpe Street, Batavia, and damaging property inside on Sept. 26. Johnson was arrested on Oct. 16 and arraigned and released pending further court proceedings.

Corey A. Brown, 37, of Batavia, was arrested on Oct. 15 on two arrest warrants. Each warrant charges Brown with sex offender failure to notify change of address and Level 3 sex offender failure to verify address. He was arraigned and ordered to reappear at a later date.

Joseph M Tornabene, 32, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 1st. Tornabene is accused of making unwanted physical contact with a person covered by a protective order. Tornabene was arrested on Oct. 19 and arraigned and ordered to reappear in court at a later date.

Gage A. Dieterle, 22, of Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief 4th. Dieterle is accused of damaging property that belonged to another person during an altercation on Lincoln Avenue. He was arrested on Oct. 24 and arraigned in City Court, and ordered to reappear at a later date.

James E. Murray, 24, undisclosed residence, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Murrary is accused of having contact with a person covered by a protective order. He was arrested on Oct. 23, arraigned in City Court and jailed.

Hailee N. Callicutt, 33, of Batavia, was arrested on Oct. 23 on a warrant issued by City Court. Callicutt was initially arrested on Jan. 1, 2022, and charged with obstructing governmental administration 2nd, resisting arrest and several vehicle and traffic violations. She was issued appearance tickets and released. Callicutt allegedly failed to appear in court, and a warrant was issued on Sept. 20, 2022. Callicutt was arrested on that warrant on Aug. 29. She was released and was scheduled to appear in court at a later date. She allegedly failed to appear again, and another warrant was issued on Oct. 16. Callicutt was located on a traffic stop in Batavia and arrested. She was arraigned is scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

Peter L. Jackson, 57, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Jackson is accused of violating an order of protection. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Ted E. Kingsley, 51, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Kingsley is accused of stealing merchandise from Family Dollar on East Main Street, Batavia on Oct. 21. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Jeslene Daniell Beach, 35, of Morrow Road, Pavilion, is charged with grand larceny 4th and five counts of petit larceny. Beach is accused of stealing five checks from one person and then cashing those checks via mobile deposit. The total of the five checks cashed exceeded $1,000.

Paul Everett Cooper, 47, of Swamp Road, Bergen, is charged with 12 counts of falsifying business records 1st. Cooper is accused of making multiple false entries in his Federal Firearms License Acquisition and Disposition Log Book in an alleged attempt to conceal the crime of criminal possession of a weapon by another person. Cooper was issued an appearance ticket.

Larry Francis Dillon, 62, of Covington Street, Perry, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, failure to keep right. Dillon was arrested by Deputy Mason Schultz following an investigation into a motor vehicle accident reported at 9:21 p.m. on Oct. 12 on Big Tree Road, Pavilion. Dillon was transported to the Genesee County Jail for processing and released.

Todd James Strong, 52, of Rochester (no street provided), is charged with felony DWI, aggravated unlicensed operation 1st, consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle, and parking on the highway. Strong was reportedly located at 3:22 a.m. on Oct. 19 asleep in his vehicle at Route 33 and Wortendyke Road, Batavia, by Deputy Jeremiah Gechell. Strong allegedly has two prior DWI convictions within the past 10 years. He was held pending arraignment.

Raven Madison Spikes, 21, of Porter Avenue, Batavia, and Jaliyah Shontel McClinic, 20, of Dellinger Avenue, Batavia, are both charged with petit larceny and endangering the welfare of a child. Spike and McClinic are accused of stealing items from Target in Batavia at 5 p.m. on Oct. 20 while accompanied by two children. Both were issued appearance tickets.

Ronald James Murray, Jr., 29, of Wood Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Deputies were dispatched to a location on Bethany Center Road, Bethany, at 4:03 p.m. on Oct. 22 to investigate a report of a male passed out behind the wheel of a vehicle. Deputies allegedly found Murray in possession of a white rock-like substance in his lab, which was later identified as crack cocaine. He was arrested and taken to the Genesee County Jail for processing before being released on an appearance ticket. 

Tyler Joseph Burns, 19, no residence provided, is charged with criminal mischief (no degree of the charges listed). At 4 a.m. on Oct. 22, Deputies were dispatched to the parking lot of Batavia Downs for a report of a man going through cars. At the scene, deputies spoke with Burns. It's unclear if this happened before or after the interview, but Burns reportedly fell asleep in a bathroom at Batavia Downs, and when awoken by security, he reportedly became irate and destroyed the baby changing station.  He was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released on an appearance ticket.

Jonathan Michael Falk, 25, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with conspiracy 6th. Also charged was Trace G. Brewer, 23, of Montclaire Avenue, Batavia, who is also charged with petit larceny. Falk and Brewer are accused of stealing from Kohl's Department Store at 4:32 p.m. on Oct. 16. They allegedly stole a $40 pair of children's Nike shoes and fled the store. Once located, the pair was taken into custody and transported to the Genesee County Jail for processing and released on an appearance ticket.

Jeremey Gene English, 21, of Ellis Drive, Brockport, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, failure to keep right, and driving with an obstructed view. English was reportedly involved in a head-on collision at 12:07 a.m. on Oct. 29 on Route 33 in Pembroke. English was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released on an appearance ticket.

Casey Thomas Vaughn, 34, of Prestige Xing, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Vaughn is accused of violating a complete stay-away order at 8:21 p.m. on Oct. 26 by allowing the protected party into his residence. He was helped pending arraignment.

Marando Lena Button, 30, of Batavia (no street address provided), is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th and insufficient signal. Button was allegedly found in possession of drug paraphernalia following a traffic stop by Deputy Jeremiah Gechell at 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 28 on Lewiston Road and Park Road, Batavia. Button was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released on an appearance ticket.

Miguel Esquivel Alvarez, Jr., 28, of Main Road, Corfu, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, unlicensed driver, and inadequate lights. Alvarez was stopped at 1:30 a.m. on Nov. 1 on Clinton Street Road, Batavia, by Deputy Zachary Hoy. He was issued tickets and released.

Ronald Walter Sibs, 58, of Stonebriar Lane, Rochester, is charged with criminal trespass 3rd. Sibs is accused of being inside Batavia Downs at 6:27 a.m., Oct. 28, after being previously barred from the property. He was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released on an appearance ticket.

Trevvohn Sherreff Parker, 32, of West Avenue, Medina, is charged with petit larceny. Parker is accused of stealing fuel from the TP Deli on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation at 1:34 p.m. on Oct. 7. He was arrested on Nov. 5 and issued an appearance ticket.

Jason J. Meyer, 46, of Elba is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Meyer was stopped by State Police in the Town of Oakfield at 6:26 p.m. on Nov. 3. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Robert O. Taft, 49, of Alexander, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Taft was arrested in connection with an incident reported 7:35 p.m. on Nov. 1 in the Town of Alexander. Taft was released on his own recognizance. 

Heather N. Holbrook, 38, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd, criminal possession of a controlled substance 5th, and criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. During an arrest on an unrelated warrant on Oct. 24, Holbrook was allegedly found in possession of narcotics. She was arraigned and ordered held.

Jeffrey D. Bald, 41, of Le Roy, is charged with burglary 2nd and petit larceny. Bald is accused of entering a residence on East Main Street, Batavia, and stole property. Bald was arraigned in City Court and jailed.

Robert D. Griffin, 45, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 1st and assault 2nd. Griffin is accused of sending multiple harassing text messages and leaving voicemails to a protected party. While in custody, Griffin allegedly kicked a door, which hit and injured an officer. Griffin was arraigned and ordered held without bail.

Martin J. Rodgers, 39, of Batavia, is charged with assault 3rd, and Wayne D. Potter, 40, of Batavia, is charged with attempted assault 3rd. Both men were arrested on Oct. 27 following an investigation into a fight on Oct. 14 at a location on West Main Street, Batavia. Both men were issued appearance tickets.

Timothy J. Stump, 51, of Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief 4th. Stump is accused of damaging property inside a residence on Highland Park on Oct. 28. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Haley M. Larnder, 24, of Batavia, was arrested on Oct. 29 on a warrant issued by City Court. Larnder was initially arrested on March 19 and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. She was issued an appearance ticket and was to appear in court at a later date. She allegedly failed to appear, and a warrant was issued on April 11. She was arrested on the warrant on April 21. She was arraigned in City Court and released on her own recognizance. Larnder again allegedly failed to appear in court, and another warrant was issued on June 22. She was arrested on that warrant on Aug. 2. She was arraigned and released. She again allegedly failed to appear in court, and a third warrant was issued on Aug. 21. She was located and arrested on Oct. 29. She was arraigned and was released on her own recognizance. 

Lawrence J. Sharpstene, 44, of Batavia, was arrested on Oct. 28 on a warrant issued by City Court. Sharpstene was initially charged on Aug. 28 on charges of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle 3rd and expired inspection following a traffic stop on East Avenue. Sharpstene was issued traffic tickets. The warrant was issued after he allegedly failed to appear in court. Sharpstene was arraigned in City Court and released. 

James J. Richardson, 45, of Sweden, is charged with harassment 2nd. Richardson allegedly struck another person in the face while at T.F. Brown's on Oct. 27. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Two men reportedly steal coats from Dick's, flee on bicycles

By Howard B. Owens

Deputies have been dispatched to Veterans Memorial Drive following the report of two men stealing coats from Dick's Sporting Goods.

The men reportedly fled on bicycles.

They are described as white, one wearing a black sweater, baseball cap, and jeans and the other in blue jeans and gray sweater. 

They were last seen headed toward Walmart.

UPDATE 2:45 p.m.: One suspect in custody.

Genesee County 4-H announces project area awards winners

By Press Release

Press Release:

Congratulations to the Genesee County 4-H members who were selected to receive an award for their excellent work during the 2022–2023 4-H Club Year.

Project Area Awards are a form of recognition for 4-H members who have excelled in a certain project area. 4-H members must be nominated in order to receive this award. 

Award criteria include the 4-H member’s accomplishments in the project area, the length of time the 4-H member has worked in the project area, and the 4-H member’s leadership.

Project Area Awards Recipients:

  • Arts & Crafts: Kasey Pagels
  • Beef Cattle: Cody Carlson, Makayla Sugg
  • Cavy: Layla Baker, Evan Winspear
  • Citizenship: Amelia Brewer, Justin Hart, Maggie Winspear, Evan Winspear
  • Dairy Cattle: Rachel Best, Amelia Brewer
  • Gardening: Brook Pagels
  • Goat: Ellie Hudson, Liam Baker
  • Livestock: Madison Lowe, Maggie Winspear, Bing Zuber, Chase Zuber
  • Poultry: Mildred Kendall, Clare Mathes, Kasey Pagels, Brook Pagels, Alyssa Pimm, Raelyn Pimm
  • Rabbit: Layla Baker, Amelia Brewer, Nico Faulks, Mae Grimes, Maura Grimes, Brook Pagels
  • Sheep: Katelynn Rumsey, Colten Sugg
  • Swine: Jillian Weaver
  • Waterfowl: Brook Pagels, Kasey Pagels

The Genesee County 4-H Program is a youth development program for youth ages 5-18. New 4-H youth members, adult volunteers, and clubs are always welcome to join.  For information about how to join the Genesee County 4-H Program, please contact the 4-H Office at genesee4h@cornell.edu or (585) 343-3040 ext. 101. Enrollment information is also available on our website at http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu

Top Items on Batavia's List

The Batavia Housing Authority is seeking a positive, hardworking teammate to perform a variety of outdoor landscaping tasks, primarily mowing, with some trimming and cleanup work. The Groundskeeper is independently responsible for outdoor landscaping tasks on a weekly basis with some flexibility. This job may require some weekend hours when necessary. Part-time position Pay Range: $19.00/hr - $22.00/hr Anticipated start date: May 2024 Application deadline: April 29, 2024 See full job description at: https://www.co.genesee.ny.us/Groundskeeper.pdf Complete Civil Service Application at: https://cms1files.revize.com/geneseecountynew/CivilServiceApplication2022Revision-09.22.22.pdf Contact Information Nathan Varland Executive Director Batavia Housing Authority 400 East Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020 (585) 344-1888 nvarland@bataviahousing.org Location: Batavia
Tags: Jobs offered
Seasonal cook at Stafford Country Club. Immediate start, great work environment, competitive pay! Please send resumes to: HR@Staffordcc.com
Tags: Jobs offered
For Rent - Lower 1 Bedroom Apartment Private country setting, lower one bedroom apartment with all appliances and parking. Sunroom with gas fireplace and patio. Includes water and heat. NEW LOWER PRICE! $1000/Month plus electric. No pets, no smoking. References and security deposit required. Available June 1st, 2024. Call 585-344-3141.
Tags: Rentals

Authentically Local