Stories from

Flower City Union, a professional soccer team in Rochester playing its inaugural season, is coming to Batavia on May at 7:30 p.m. for a game against California United Strikers.

The teams are part of the National Independent Soccer Association, a third division professional soccer league.  The team is partly fan-owned.

"This is very cool to have this game in Batavia," said Michael Bromley, athletic director for Batavia City Schools.

The game will be played at Van Detta Stadium.

The price of the game is $10. Tickets can be purchased at tickets.flowercityunion.com.

Garlyn Maurice Gause, 42, of Brookhaven Terrace, Rochester, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd, tampering with physical evidence, aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd, and insufficient turn signal. Gause was stopped for an alleged traffic violation at 10:20 p.m., April 24, on Swan Street, Batavia, but Deputy Nicholas Charmoun.  Deputy James Stack and K-9 "Rayzor" responded to the stop. Rayzor reportedly alerted on the vehicle. Upon a search of the vehicle, the deputies allegedly located narcotics in the vehicle.  Gause is accused of possession of narcotics with the intent to sell the drugs. Gause is accused of attempting to conceal evidence after he was in custody. He was arraigned in City Court and ordered held without bail. 

Lourdes M. Castaneda, 33, of Le Roy, is charged with DWI. Castaneda was stopped by State Police on Transit Road, Lancaster, and troopers reportedly determined that she exhibit signs of impairment.  Castaneda is accused of failing a field sobriety test.  She was processed at SP Clarence where she allegedly registered at .13 BAC on a breath test. She was released on an appearance ticket.

The community spread risk factor for SARS-2-CoV in Genesee County has been raised to medium by the CDC after a seven-day period in which 278 new positive COVID-19 tests were reported.

There were 212 lab-confirmed positive tests during the week and 66 self-reported positive tests from home test kits. There is no way of knowing how many people tested positive with a home test kit and didn't report the results to the health department.

This fifth straight week of increasing positive tests in the county.  

No additional deaths from COVID-19-related illnesses were reported.

The total number of COVID-19-related hospitalizations are no longer reported but UMMC does report being at 70 percent capacity with ICU also being at 70 percent capacity.

If you test positive with a home test kit, you can report the results to the health department through this link.

Le Roy Central School District is planning to increase the tax levy by $66,000 after calculating how much state aid the district can expect to help cover its $27,708,988 spending plan.

The good news for residents of Stafford, who this year reportedly saw a substantial increase in their property assessments, is that if the numbers hold, their property tax rate for public education will go down about $2.37 per $1,000 of assessed value. The anticipated rate is $19.80. That's 13 cents more than it would have been had the Board of Education decided to balance the budget with reserves rather than increase the levy.

Property owners in the district in Pavilion, Bergen, and Caledonia are also looking at a projected tax rate of $19.

However, property owners in the Town of Le Roy pay the same rate they did this year, $24.14. 

State law requires that all property owners in a district share the burden of education equally so a formula will be applied to Le Roy's tax rate to make it equitable.  

Business Administrator Brian Foeller presented anticipated revenue numbers to board members at a Monday afternoon meeting and then all members of the board participated in a discussion about the tax levy before reaching a consensus decision (no motion nor vote was required) to raise the levy by $66,000.

These are all estimates because final assessment numbers will not be available until July, which will affect the total tax levy.

The tax levy is the total amount of revenue raised through property taxes.  The tax rate is the amount per thousand of assessed value that property owners are billed to pay into the levy.

Board President Jacalyn Whiting (top photo) said she was confused by the Town's decision to forego assessment adjustments this year given the state's required equalization rate and that the town must eventually get assessments up to 100 percent of fair market value.

"How is this going to make things better?" Whiting said.

The spending plan is covered by $16,135,963 in state aid, $10,663,025 tax levy, and $910,000 in local revenues.

Local revenues are:

• Fund Balance carried forward
• PILOTS
• Late taxpayer penalties
• Out of district tuition paid by other schools
• Interest earnings of investments
• Medicaid
• BOCES Refund

Budget increases include:

• Professional support and staff salaries, $364,963
• Special Education out-of-district tuition, $282,000
• Staff health insurance, $150,721 (a 12.5 percent increase)
• Grounds/facilities equipment, $81,000
• Debt payment on existing loans, $56,611

The district is adding one full-time equivalent position, replacing a part-time BOCES employee due to an increase in BOCES attendance. 

A part-time BOCES speech therapist position is being eliminated. There is also a reduction in spending on COVID-19 supplies and several retirements, with not all positions being replaced.

"We've done our part to try and keep this in mind with rising costs," said Superintendent Merritt Holly. "It's tough. These are not easy decisions."

 Whiting agreed, saying the district has done the best it can to control costs.

"This is hard, because I feel we've done a really good job, even adding $66,000 to the levy to bring it to $2 lower per $1,000," Whiting said. "But the assessment part is out of our control. By the same token, you know, we have to balance out here, too."

One thing helping the district this year is the state increased the amount of state aid, a portion called Foundation Aid, to offset shortages to the district in previous years. The increase is only temporary and the district cannot count on it in the future.

Trustee Jason Karcher expressed concern that without a levy increase, the district will face a steeper hill to climb at some point.

"That's gonna be a shock to the system when, and we don't necessarily know when, that would happen," he said. "That's lovely."

Trustee William MacKenzie agreed.

"Eventually the Foundation Aid is going to go away," he said. "It's going to happen."

Trustee Denise Duthe said she believes the district has a history of being responsible for taxpayers' money.

"I think has always done a good job of keeping things basically straight or just a little bit up, not these kinds of wild gyrations," Duthe said. "Everything costs a little bit more. Keep in mind that we want to be as fiscally responsible as we can but we also don't want to do a giant jump next year."

The budget public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, May 10 at 6 p.m. in Memorial Auditorium.

The vote on the budget and candidates for trustees will be on May 17.

There are four candidates for three open seats.  There are two three-year terms and one two-year term open.  The candidates are  Peter W. Loftus (Incumbent), Randa Williams, Jason Karcher, and Rachael Greene.

Photos by Howard Owens

Lisa Marie Bautista, 37, of East Main Street, Le Roy, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Bautista was arrested on a warrant by Le Roy PD on April 21 in connection with an incident reported at 8:28 p.m., Nov. 19. She was released on an appearance ticket. Bautista is also charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. She was arrested in connection with an incident reported at 5:36 p.m., April 25 on East Main Street, Le Roy.  No further details released.

Jeremy Munn, 40, of Lincoln Avenue, Le Roy, was arrested on two warrants on charges of menacing 2nd and criminal mischief 4th following a traffic stop by State Police. He was arraigned in Town of Le Roy Court and released on his own recognizance. 

Kyle Thomas Purdy, 26, of West Main Street, Le Roy, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Purdy is accused of violating an order of protection at 3:30 p.m., April 24, at a location on West Main Street, Le Roy. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Michael Zachery Vigrillo, 24, of Smith Street, Buffalo, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Vigrillo is accused of violating a stay-away order of protection by contacting the protected party at 11:48 p.m., pril 25, at a location on State Street Road, Batavia. He was arraigned in Batavia Town Court and ordered to reappear on May 24.

Strong winds that brought down power lines in the Sandpit Road area of Alexander on Monday was actually a category EF-0 tornado, according to the National Weather Service.

The twister brought down several trees and caused damage to historic gravestones in the Alexander Cemetery, according to Kate Goodman, cemetery association president. 

The cemetery which was established in 1813 is a not-for-profit organization and was not insured for the damages, Goodman said.

The cemetery is asking the community for any donations they can provide to help defray the costs of removing the trees and repairing the stones.  Donations can be sent to the Alexander Cemetery Association at 4201 Broadway Road, Alexander, NY 14005. 

Photos submitted by Kate Goodman.

Charlene Schultz is used to hearing helicopters over her house on Edgerton Road in Elba.  She seems to live in a flight path for both the military and Mercy Flight. So she knows what a helicopter passing overhead sounds like when all is all right.

Shortly before 1 p.m. today, she knew she heard a helicopter that was in trouble.

"The motor sounded weird," Schultz said. "You know when you start your car and it goes woo-woo? That's what it sounds like to me twice. Like it won't start. Then it went out completely. Then it came back on and I heard the Big Bang."

She speculated the pilot managed to get the motor started again as the helicopter was heading down but it was too late.

She went outside expecting to see smoke but there was no smoke.  She got in her car and drove to the scene.

"Three men stopped me and I was from here to your car (less than 50 yards) and saw what I didn't want to see. So I turned around and came back home."

Major Eugene Staniszewski, State Police, confirmed this afternoon that two crew members aboard the flight died in the crash. Their names have not yet been released.

The cause of the accident is under investigation. Investigators from both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have been dispatched to the scene.

"We will be here for quite a while," Staniszewski said. "This could be into tomorrow while we're still on scene and then after that, it usually takes quite a while, it could be months until they come up with a final determination (as to the cause of the crash)."

The helicopter was on a training mission, Staniszewski confirmed, and it was flying out of the Mercy base at the Genesee County Airport. 

The major said there is at least one person who saw the helicopter go down and several who heard the helicopter in the area.

One neighbor said she saw a Mercy Flight helicopter circle the area before she and her husband went to Walmart.  They only learned of the crash while at the store and returned home immediately.  Schultz, however, said she believes the helicopter that circled the scene showed up after the crash.  She said when she first saw it, she hoped it was a sign that the crew survived but then the Mercy Flight helicopter left without landing.

"We are interviewing several witnesses and local neighbors that live on this road," Staniszewski said. "We'll be working with Mercy Flight and NTSB and FAA to come up with a reason for this crash."

UPDATE:  The pilot was James E. Sauer, 60 of Churchville. The second person was a Bell Helicopter employee and pilot, Stewart M. Dietrick, 60 of Prosper, Texas. They were flying a Bell 429 that was based in Batavia. They were pronounced dead at the scene and taken to the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office.

An unidentified helicopter circled the scene an hour or so after the accident.

Power lines were cut because lines had fallen dangerously close to the helicopter, impeding the investigation.

File photo of a Mercy Flight helicopter taken April 24 at GCC following a serious injury accident at Clinton Street Road and Seven Springs Road. Photos by Howard Owens.

Stephen Cronmiller, who joined the Batavia City Police Department in 2014, was sworn in as detective during Batavia City Council's conference meeting Monday at City Hall.  He is to begin his new duties immediately.

Ciro S. Matarazzo was honored by Batavia City Council on Monday night for his 29 years of service to the community.

Matarazzo began his career with the city while he was still in college as a laborer in the Bureau of Maintenance. He was employed in that position from 1997 to 1999 and became a heavy equipment operator for the City of Batavia in 1999, a position he held until his retirement this year. He's also worked in the same department since 2015.

Photo by Howard Owens.

Bill Davis, retired superintendent of water and wastewater for the City of Batavia, was honored Monday night by City Council for his 36 years of service to the community.

He began his career in 1986 as a water and wastewater maintenance worker.  In recognition of his technical skills and work ethic, he was promoted to a senior position in 1996. As his leadership and supervisory skills developed, he earned a promotion to supervisor in 2013, a position he held until 2019 when he was promoted to superintendent.

His career spanned the construction of the Wastewater Treatment Plant and Wastewater Pump Station replacement in the1990s and the replacement of the 12-inch water main on Main Street in the 2000s.

Photo by Howard Owens

Roy Tourt was honored by the Batavia City Council at the start of Monday's meeting for his 23 years of service to local residents.

Tourt retired as superintendent of the Bureau of Maintenance after previously serving as an assistant city engineer. He also served a year in 2020 as interim director of Public Works.  In 2017, he won the Douglas Zefting Award from the Genesee Valley branch of the American Public Works Association.  

Photo by Howard Owens.

Steve Tufts submitted this photo of a massive cloud rumbling through Batavia during the thunderstorm that passed through the city at about 7 p.m.

Tufts said, "Good thing there was no rotation in that wall cloud -- it was heading straight for the Cornell Cooperative Extension!"

About 95 National Grid customers are without power in the area north of Route 20 and east of Route 98 in Alexander after two utility poles came down during the wind storm that passed through the area.

Alexander fire responded to the report of powerlines down at about 6:50 p.m. in the area of Railroad Avenue and Sandpit Road.

The fire department has since cleared the scene, reporting to dispatchers that village crews have erected barriers to block traffic to those roads and that National Grid is on scene saying it will take hours to complete repairs.

National Grid reports that it expects three complete repairs at about 9:30 p.m.

Rufus Garrett Johnson, 28, of Park Way, Chili, is charged with petit larceny.  Johnson is accused of stealing multiple items from Walmart at 9:36 a.m. on April 24. Johnson was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released on an appearance ticket.

Cameron J. Sokolowski, 29, of Batavia, he's charged with harassment 2nd, menacing 2nd, unlawful imprisonment 2nd and criminal mischief 4th.  Sokolowski allegedly threatened a woman with a knife and threatened to kill her. He's also accused of damaging property and not allowing the woman to leave the room. Sokolowski was arraigned in city court and released under supervision. CLARIFICATION: Sokolowski was originally arraigned on April 8st and held on  $20,000 bail, $40,000 bond and $80,000 partially secured bail.  He was then arraigned on April 21st on four separate misdemeanors and one violation in City Court and held on bail of $100 bail each on two separate commitments. He was not released under supervision. (Source, Jail Superintendent William Zipfel).

Tonya M. Weber, 38, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Weber is accused of stealing from a business on East Main Street, Batavia. Weber was issued an appearance ticket.

Lakeisha A. Gibson, 35, of Albion, is charged with assault 3rd, menacing 2nd, criminal possession of a weapon 3rd, endangering the welfare of a child. Gibson is accused of hitting another person in the face, causing an injury, and threatening to stab that person with a pair of scissors. Gibson was arraigned and City Court and released under supervision.

Robie Dersham, 53, of Batavia, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Dershamwas stopped by State Police at 12:38 a.m., April 24, at a location in the Town of Bethany. Dersham was issued an appearance ticket and released.

Anthony J. Gonzales, 30, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Gonzales was arrested by State Police in connection with an incident reported at 7:33 PM, April 22. Gonzales was issued an appearance ticket. No further information released. 

Le Roy Little League opened its 70th season on Saturday.

Board President Jeremy Warner said Le Roy is the last league in GLOW still affiliated with Little League based in Williamsport, Pa.

Photos by Ed Henry.

Vehicle is reportedly on its roof in a ditch in the area 4036 Hunn Road, Alexander.

unknown injuries.

Alexander Fire and Mercy EMS responding.

Oakfield Fire responded to a report of a basement fire at 12 Coe Avenue at 9:36 p.m., Saturday,

One occupant of the house was trapped in the basement area and extricated by responding fire crews, which included the City of Batavia's Fast Team. The occupant was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital by Mercy EMS for smoke inhalation. Her condition is unknown at this time.

There were several pets in the residence. Two cats died due to the fire.

The cause of the fires is under investigation. The investigation is being conducted by the Sheriff's Office and emergency management. Assisting is Oakfield Fire Alabama Fire Elba Fire and City Fire. 

Photos by Alicia Kaus/Video New Service

A two-vehicle accident is reported at 8334 East Main Road, Le Roy

Unknown injuries. Traffic is blocked.

Le Roy fire and Le Roy Ambulance dispatch.

The Bethany Fire Department hosted the annual Fire Department day this Saturday. Some of the members, shown here, arrived early to prepare food and get out the trucks.

Jessica arrived with her family to try out a career path, or just to have fun seeing what the fire department is all about. EMT Vicki Wolak explains what the ambulance does and how they help people.

The Fire Department and Ambulance crew are always looking for volunteers. Monday evenings are always a good time to see what jobs are available and how you might be able to help your town.

Photos and information submitted by Glenn Adams, Bethany Fire Department.

Northgate Free Methodist Church held a Kids Color Run today in Batavia.

Photos by Allison Lang.