After a two-year hiatus, the annual Batavia Kiwanis Easter Egg Hunt returned this morning to Centennial Park in Batavia. Despite damp and cold conditions a couple of hundred children turned out to hunt for hundreds of eggs, including golden eggs that contained a slip that awarded the finder a giant chocolate bunny from Oliver's Candies.
Local law enforcement have two people in custody after a larceny incident at a store on Veteran's Memorial Drive on Saturday afternoon.
A black Honda Odessey minivan was attempting to evade police as it left the area of Veteran's Memorial Drive. This led to a short pursuit through the City of Batavia.
The pursuit ended at Porter Avenue and West Main Street when the minivan became stuck at the intersection due to the traffic on West Main.
According to local law enforcement, the driver of the minivan then fled on foot from the van and was later apprehended on Washington Avenue by Batavia patrol officers.
A female passenger remained inside the minivan.
Both are in custody.
The minivan was towed from the scene.
Story and photos by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service.
Lucine Kauffman, right, reacts to a generous tip she received during Friday night's celebrity bartender challenge at GO Art! in Batavia.
Lucine, former supervisor for the Town of Elba, was up against her husband, local author Bill Kauffman.
The winner on Friday was Lucine, who earned $65.32 in tips to $62.01 for Bill.
All the tips are donations to GO Art!
Willow Amherein dances in her rehearsal for a green screen video production during the final day, today, of GO Art!'s spring week-long art camp for children.
GO Art! offers art camps during school breaks -- winter and spring -- to expose children to as much art as possible.
Many of the classes during the camp were taught by guest artists. The artists included:
The students also painted and made 3D mosaics.
At the end of an interview, Mary Jo Whitman, education/SCR director for GO Art! as a group working at paintings on a nearby table, "What is art?" and Kashmarae Wissinger spoke up immediately: "It's everything!"
"That's right," Whitman said. "It's everything and that's the goal of our program."
Photos by Howard Owens
Jodi Fisher working with students on their green screen video projects.
Mary Jo Whitman mixing paint for a student.
Thera Sanchez helping a student with her art project.
In a service conducted by pastors Roula Alkhouri, Batavia First Presbyterian Church, and Jim Renfrew, Byron Presbyterian Church, first responders, and health care workers received a Good Friday blessing outside City Hall.
There were representatives from Batavia PD, City Fire, UMMC, and the Genesee County Health Department at the service.
Both Alkhouri and Renfrew reminded those in attendance of the example set by serving others first.
As part of the service, the agencies received certificates of appreciation as well as a basket of sweets.
A 29-year-old man in Basom has been charged with attempted murder.
Jarrett C. Coniglio, of Bloomingdale Road, Tonawanda Indian Reservation, is charged with three other felonies and two misdemeanors.
He was arrested after deputies responded to a residence on Sandhill Road on the reservation for a reported assault.
He is accused of attacking a male victim with a knife causing serious physical injury.
Coniglio was arraigned in Town of Alabama Court and ordered held without bail.
In addition to attempted murder 2nd, a Class B felony, Coniglio is charged with:
The incident was investigated by Erik Andre, assisted by Sgt. James Diehl, Investigator Kevin Forsyth, Investigator Ryan DeLong, Investigator Howard Carlson, Investigator Chad Minuto, Investigator Joseph Loftus, Sgt. Mathew Clor, Deputy James Stack, Deputy Aryton Blankenburg, Deputy Ryan Mullen, and Deputy NicholasChamoun.
She graduated from Byron-Bergen High School in 1973 and Oswego State in 1977. Diane worked at the New York State Credit Union Association in Albany.
Diane is survived by Robert Frawley, her husband of 43 years, son Joseph Frawley, of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, daughter Pamela (Jason) Rathbun, of Waterford, NY, brother Daniel vonBergen (Cathie), sister Sherri (Paul) Nilsen, and her parents.
After retiring, Diane and Bob spent part of the year at the Villages in Florida where they own a home. Many happy hours were spent on the golf courses with friends. Diane enjoyed trying new recipes, reading, exercise, and her family. She will be greatly missed by her family and those who knew her well.
Arrangements are being made by the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Diane's name by made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, Mass. 002284
Kristopher Robert Almeter, 34, of Union Hill Drive, Spencerport, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, moving from lane unsafely, and drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle. Almeter was arrested following an investigation into a motor vehicle accident reported at 9:01 p.m., April 11, in the area of 7405 Reuben Road, Tonawanda Indian Reservation. The accident was investigated by Deputy Zachary Hoy. Almeter was released on appearance tickets.
Jordan Alexander Brown, 20, no address provided, is charged with criminal mischief. Brown is accused of damaging the property of another person. The damage was reported at 4:59 p.m., April 13, at a location on Lewiston Road, Alabama. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Beth Ann Jeffres, 40, of Pavilion Warsaw Road, Covington, is charged with filing false instrument 2nd. Jeffres is accused of providing a false supporting deposition on March 21 at a location on School Street, Batavia. She allegedly provided another supporting deposition on April 7 recanting her original statement. She was released on an appearance ticket.
James Joshua Preedom, 37, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Preedom is accused of harassing a person at 6 a.m., April 8, at a location on West Main Street, Batavia. He was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court and released on his own recognizance.
Zachary S. Natale is indicated on a count of burglary in the second degree, a Class C violent felony, and two counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree, a Class E felony. Natale is accused of entering a dwelling on Elm Street in the City of Batavia on May 7, 2017, with the intent of committing a crime in the dwelling. He is accused of stealing firearms, including a Savage Arms A17 bolt action, Savage Arms Axis .223, Kel-Tec .556, and a Marlin Firearms 3030 lever action. He's accused of stealing property with a value in excess of $1,000.
Kenrey D. Benjamin is indicted on two counts of burglary in the first degree, a Class B violent felony, a count of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, a Class D felony, and attempted assault in the first degree, Class C violent felony. Benjamin is accused of knowingly entering a dwelling, an apartment on Lake Street in Le Roy, without permission and remaining in it on Oct 17, with the intent of committing a crime in the dwelling and of causing physical injury to an occupant of the dwelling. He is accused of using a knife against another person. He is accused of attempting is permanently disfigure another person.
Marcus T. Hill is indicted on counts of aggravated unlicensed operation in the first degree, a Class E felony. Hill is accused of driving a 2006 Hummer HU3 on Clinton Street in the City of Batavia when he knew or should have known that his privilege to drive had been suspended or revoked on at least ten separate dates.
Jaequele M. Tomlin is indicted on counts of criminal mischief in the third degree, a Class E felony, and harassment in the second degree. Tomlin is accused of damaging the property of another person, a television and television stand, on Nov. 4, at a location in the City of Batavia. Tomlin is accused of having physical contact, or threatening to do so, with another person in an attempt to harass, annoy, or alarm the other person.
Thomas J. Wolcott is indicted on a count of criminal contempt in the first degree, a Class E felony. Wolcott is accused of violating a stay-away order of protection while on Central Avenue, City of Batavia, on Oct. 28.
Raven M. Spikes, 20, of Batavia, is charged with unlawful dissemination of intimate images. Spikes allegedly posted a video of sexual conduct on social media at 5 p.m., March 20. She was issued an appearance ticket.
James R. Tillery, 49, of Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief 4th. Tillery is accused of damaging property at a restaurant on East Main Street, Batavia, at 8:25 p.m., March 28. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Gary Philip Castronova, Jr., 36, of Dewitt Road, Webster, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, unlicensed driver, aggravated unlicensed driver 3rd., and insufficient turn signal. Castronova was stopped at 8:05 p.m., April 8, on East Main Street, Batavia, by Deputy Ayrton Blankenberg. He was issued an appearance ticket. Also charged, Heather Nicole Holbrook, 36, of East Main Street, Batavia. She is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and driving with no seat belt.
Justin Michael Conner, 29, of Franklin Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, speeding, and failure to yield for an emergency vehicle. Conner was stopped at 12:46 a.m., April 9, on Clinton Street Road, Batavia, by Deputy Morgan Ewert. He was released on appearance tickets.
Carrie L. Hensley, 44, of Batavia, is charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Hensley allegedly refused to return a vehicle to its owner after borrowing it on April 2. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Jacob L. Hernandez, 27, of Batavia, is charged with obscenity 3rd. Hernandez allegedly sent lewd images of himself to another person at 8:20 a.m., March 31. He was arrested by Batavia PD on the charge after a Sheriff's deputy tried to arrest him on a bench warrant and Hernandez allegedly fled on foot into a wooded area where he was later detained. He then turned himself over to Batavia PD. He was ordered held on bail on the new charge as the charge related to the warrant.
Marie I. Frye, 57, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd and endangering the welfare of a child. Frye is accused of punching another person at 8:03 p.m., March 26, while a child was in the room. Frye was arraigned in City Court and released.
Joseph W. Freeman, 37, of Batavia, is charged with failure to stop at a stop sign and obstructing governmental administration. Freeman allegedly fled from police on his bicycle at 4:44 p.m., April 3, during an attempted traffic stop. He was released on an appearance ticket.
Dean C. Siminski, 32, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 1st. Siminski is accused of contacting a person at 3:20 p.m., March 29, he was ordered by a court not to contact. He was arraigned in City Court and ordered held on $10,000 bail, $20,000 bond, or $40,000 partially secured bond.
Gina M. Olszewski, 29, of Batavia, is charged with DWI. Olszewski was arrested by a Batavia patrol officer following an investigation initiated at 8:28 p.m., March 28, into a possible criminal mischief at a local business. Olszewski was released on traffic tickets.
Nancy L. Lawrence, 69, of Batavia, is charged with soliciting alms on a public street. Lawrence was arrested following a complaint of a person begging for money on Alva Place, Batavia, at 11:30 a.m., March 29. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Matthew W. Kurtz, 52, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Kurtz allegedly had a third-party contact a person he was prohibited from contacting by an order of protection. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Jolene Y. Stevens, 33, of resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration 2nd. Stevens is accused of fighting with police when officers attempted to arrest her ona warrant at 12:03 p.m., March 4. Stevens was arraigned in City Court and released.
Robert J. Ritchey, 58, of Oakfield, is charged with two counts of criminal sex act with a child less than 11 years old 1st, three counts of forcible touching, three counts of sex abuse 1st, and three counts of acting in a manner injurious to a child. Ritchey was charged following an investigation by State Police after a report was made at 1:17 p.m., April 5. He was ordered held in jail. No further information was released.
Lori A. Green, 59, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Green is accused of stealing something in the Town of Batavia at 2:21 p.m., April 9. She was issued an appearance ticket. No further information was released by State Police.
Jared C. Kostrewa, 28, of North Tonawanda, is charged with felony DWI and felony driving with a BAC of.08 or greater. Kostrewa was stopped by State Police at 2:23 a.m., April 8, in the Town of Darien. She was released on an appearance ticket.
A 58-year-old Oakfield resident is being accused of driving a pickup truck while drunk that struck a power pole in the area of 7797 Lewiston Road, Batavia, at 9:06 p.m., Monday, causing traffic to be blocked because of wires down.
Daniel J. Arnold is charged with DWI following an investigation by Deputy David Moore.
Arnold was reportedly driving a black 2019 Chevrolet pickup truck northwest on Route 63 when the vehicle left the east shoulder of the roadway and struck a National Grid pole. The truck then re-entered the roadway and continued north toward the Village of Oakfield.
The vehicle was located a short time later by Moore.
Arnold is also accused of leaving the scene of a property damage accident.
Previously: Lewiston Road blocked by wires down following an accident
While the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 carries with it less risk of a serious sickness, it still is a dangerous and sometimes deadly disease, and children should be protected from it, said Dr. Steven Schulz, RRH pediatrician and medical director of RRH Pediatrics in Monroe County.
The same appears to hold true, so far, for the B2 variant of omicron.
Rochester Regional Health via Zoom hosted a press conference today for reporters from throughout the region. It was pegged to a recent study published by the American Medical Association that found that the omicron variant is six to eight times more likely to lead to infections for children less than five years old but resulted, percentage-wise, in fewer hospitalizations.
Still, with nearly two percent of infected children dying as a result of an omicron-variant COVID infection, the disease remains far more deadly than the flu.
Schultz said that based on the most recent CDC numbers he's seen, 1,300 children in the U.S. have died from COVID over the past two years.
"If we divide that in half, that's still way, way worse than any flu season we've had in recent history," Schultz said. "You hate to ever think that your child would be the one who would have the severe complication or the severe outcome, but it does happen and kids have died and do die from COVID."
Because omicron -- and so far B2 -- is more contagious, more children under age five are getting sick but because the variants do not seem to cause as many severe outcomes, area hospitals are not seeing many young children in the hospital.
"Kids were less likely to need to go to the ER, to be hospitalized, end up in ICU, or on mechanical ventilation in this zero to five group compared to the delta," Schultz said. "That's certainly reassuring but it also doesn't mean that it's risk-free to get omicron, especially in this age group. We definitely know that we saw kids throughout that time ending up in the hospital, even though the odds might have been a little bit less compared to delta, because more kids were getting infected, we definitely still saw lots of kids in the hospitals."
It's not just immune-compromised kids, or children with other health issues, who are getting hospitalized and dying from COVID, Schultz said. Healthy children are at risk, too.
The good news, Schultz said, is that we have a safe and effective vaccine -- the Phizer vaccine -- available to children over the age of five.
"We know that vaccination is still the most effective way to keep children safe," Schultz said. "The COVID vaccine is safe. It's effective. It significantly reduces the chances of ending up in the hospital. So anybody who has children five years of age and up, I definitely encourage getting the COVID vaccine right now."
Since children under age five cannot be vaccinated, the best way to protect them, Schultz said, is for everybody in a household over age five to get vaccinated.
"You're protecting the younger child as well," Schultz said. "The other thing that we know, with all of this, of course, is still that masking and social distancing works. And it's not a coincidence that, since the mask mandate has been removed in early March, we're suddenly seeing increasing rates of COVID as well as influenza. There's, there's no question about it."
He noted that the positivity rate for COVID tests in the region has jumped from a recent low of three percent to 10 percent. That's no coincidence, he said, and tied directly to the lifting of mask mandates.
Schultz has a young son who wears a mask to school every day. Not only does it provide an extra layer of defense for him, Schultz said, it also helps other children in the school. There are children in his class who have moderate to severe immunosuppression.
"I completely agree that it's a greater good for the community as a whole to wear masks," Schultz said.
He disagrees with those who say masks harm children's interpersonal development.
"There have been lots of studies that actually show that it's not the case, that kids are still able to read facial expressions, that kids are still learning those interactions," Schultz said.
The other way to protect children, and others,, Schultz noted, is for parents of symptomatic young ones is to keep them home.
"There's not really any way to tell COVID from any other viral illness, based on symptoms alone," Schultz said. "A runny nose, congestion, cough, fever, even GI symptoms, they can happen with a variety of viral illnesses. Sometimes we can test to name those viruses, whether it's COVID, whether it's flu, but sometimes it's one of the other of hundreds of viruses that are out there. So if there's a suspicion or a question, especially if you have a child going to school, or daycare, or a large family gathering coming up, where there's a higher risk of transmission between people, it's really important to have your child seen and evaluated by a healthcare provider to make sure that it's not COVID In those situations."
A pickup truck and a semi-truck have collided on the Thruway in the area of mile marker 400.7, in Pembroke.
There are possibly two injuries, a head injury and an arm injury.
The pickup truck came to rest in the woods. The semi-truck is off the roadway.
Traffic is not blocked.
Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments responding along with Mercy EMS.
UPDATE 4:39 p.m.: Two ambulances required. One injury is minor. There is a person in the pickup truck being evaluated.
UPDATE 5:47 p.m.: Pembroke and Indian Falls back in service.
A black pickup truck reportedly hit a utility pole in the area of 7790 Lewiston Road, just north of Galloway Road, Batavia, and then fled north on Route 63 at a high rate of speed.
Wires are down in the roadway and the roadway is completely blocked.
Town of Batavia and Mercy EMS dispatched but Mercy is going back in service.
UPDATE 9:15 p.m.: Lewiston is being closed to thru-traffic at Veterans Memorial Drive.
UPDATE 9:19 p.m.: Oakfield Fire requested to shut down traffic at Batavia Oakfield Townline Road and Route 63.
UPDATE 9:45 p.m.: Three Town of Batavia engines going back into service.
UPDATE 9:48 p.m.: National Grid is arriving on scene.
A rollover accident with injuries is reported just south of 888 Bloomingdale Road in Basom.
Alabama Fire and Mercy EMS responding.
UPDATE 9:10 p.m.: The driver self-extricated and is walking around.
UPDATE 9:16 p.m.: One of Alabama's responding engine's can stand down.
UPDATE 10:06 p.m.: Alabama Fire back in service.
Three members of Boy Scout Troop 6006 in Batavia became Eagle Scouts today in a ceremony at First United Methodist Church.
Luke Geiger: Eagle Scout project was a one-mile prayer trail behind Northgate Methodist Church Batavia, that included a 12 ft wooden cross, birdhouses, and gardens on the ground with sundial, and benches. The monetary value of the project is $18,000 with 500-man hours invested. He gave his mentor pins to each of his Cub and Boy Scout leaders Tracy and Nick Grover. Also, a mentor pin to Steve Ognibene.
Nicholas Grover: Eagle Scout project was in the Town of Batavia at Galloway Park on Galloway Road. He designed and built a trail through a wooded area that is 8-feet wide, adding one new bench and refurbishing another bench. He also made trail markers to mark the path. He gave his mentor pin to Steve Ognibene.
Aidan Clark: Eagle Scout project was at St. Joseph Cemetery. He refurbished seven pillars made of concrete He also cleaned, repaired, and painted the front-facing raw black iron fence on Harvester Avenue. He gave his mentor pin to adult leader Dan Geiger and Steve Ognibene
Congressman Chris Jacobs presented congressional awards to each of the boys during the ceremony. Assemblyman Steve Hawley was absent due to a state budget session and will present his awards at a later date.
Top photo: Luke Geiger, Nicholas Grover, Aidan Clark, take the Eagle Scout oath, administered by Eagle Scout Thomas Ognibene.
Photos by Howard Owens except bottom photo.
Photo by Steve Ognibene. Jess Markel former scout executive, Ron Bernard Scoutmaster of Troop 6, newly Eagle Scouts Nicholas Grover, Aidan Clark, Luke Geiger, Ron Schmidt troop commissioner and Erik Volk, Eagle board of review panel.
Bergen held its annual Easter Egg hunt today.
Brielle, 3, and Everly, 5, with their Easter Egg finds at today's hunt at Batavia First Presbyterian Church.
Jaydence Dayka, 3, seemed fascinated by the riding mowers so Guy Clark, owner of Cedar Street Sales and Rentals, let him climb aboard one with the help of his mother, Kaylee Dayka, of Bergen during the annual Chamber of Commerce Home Show on Friday at the David McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena in Batavia.
The show runs through Sunday, open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.
A man missing from the Village of Oakfield has been located in a wooded area off a field in the Town of Oakfield after a massive search by first responders from Oakfield Fire, Elba Fire and the Sheriff's Office.
The man is conscious, alert, and breathing but weak. He is diabetic.
First responders are working on getting to a safe location so he can be evaluated by Mercy EMS.
The elderly man walked away from his home on North Pearl Street at around 4 p.m.
Alecia Kaus/Video News Service contributed to this story.
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