Three-year-old Matthew helps his father, Tom Cunningham, shovel snow on Kibbe Avenue.
Kathy Ferrara clears the sidewalk outside her business on East Main, Batavia's Original Pizzeria.
Dave Graney shoveling snow on Ellicott Avenue.
Elmwood Cemetery
Kibbe Park
Ellicott Street at Liberty Street
East Main Street
Snowman on Ganson Avenue
Medal of Honor recipient David G. Bellavia is being honored by the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley in Kansas as part of the Big Red One Year of Honor Opening Day events.
The event includes a street dedication in the name of Bellavia, with a street on the base becoming Bellavia Way. Three other streets will be renamed in honor of three other Medal of Honor winners this year.
Throughout the year, the 1st Infantry Division will celebrate the Big Red One Year of Honor, a yearlong tribute to the 37 Big Red One soldiers who have been awarded the nation’s highest honor.
Bellavia served in 3rd Platoon, Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division.
A winter storm warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for Genesee County starting at 7 p.m. and going to 1 p.m. tomorrow.
Heavy snow is expected with from seven to 14 inches of accumulation is possible.
The storm is expected to sweep through all of Western New York with some areas receiving heavier snowfall.
Travel could be difficult to impossible. There will be areas of blowing snow and hazardous conditions will impact commute traffic sometime Tuesday morning.
The Byron-Bergen/Le Roy girls swim team won the Genesee Regional Championship over the weekend, placing first out of seven teams at the meet.
The team scored 492 points. Notre Dame/Batavia finished second with 419 points.
Swim Coach Sara Stockwell said it has been 10 years since Byron-Bergen won the league championship meet.
Senior Alaura Rehwaldt won the 100-meter butterfly and broke her own school record with a time of 1:03.59.
Alaura Rehwaldt, Jorie Strzelecki, Peyton Koukides and Natalee Shepard won the 200-meter freestyle relay and also broke their own school record with a time of 1:46.36.
Information and photo submitted by Sara Stockwell.
Press release from AAA:
Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $2.51, up 4 cents from last week. One year ago, the price was $2.44. The New York State average is $2.60 – up 4 cents from last week. A year ago, the NYS average was $2.62.
AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:
- Batavia -- $2.52 (up 8 cents since last week, 7 cents less than last year)
- Buffalo -- $2.52 (up 5 cents since last week, 4 cents less than last year)
- Ithaca -- $2.56 (up 6 cents since last week, 7 cents less than last year)
- Rochester -- $2.55 (up 5 cents since last week, 2 cents less than last year)
- Rome -- $2.63 (up 5 cents since last week, 1 penny more than last year)
- Syracuse -- $2.54 (up 6 cents since last week, 5 cents more than last year)
- Watertown -- $2.63 (up 4 cents since last week, same price as last year)
Pump prices continue to increase again this week. In many areas across the country, gas prices have surpassed last year’s level. In Central New York, Watertown is on par with last year while Syracuse and Rome prices are slightly higher than one year ago. Other areas have not reached last year’s level as noted in the above list.
Increasing pump prices have been supported by higher crude oil prices and gas demand, which grew slightly last week though it remains lower than pre-pandemic levels, according to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Based on current trends, drivers will likely see pump prices continue to increase ahead of spring.
Last week, on Wednesday, crude prices reached the highest daily settlement price since January 2020. Crude and pump prices are likely to continue to move higher as crude inventories continue to drop and refinery utilization increases.
From GasBuddy:
"It's not surprising that gasoline prices continue to follow oil prices higher, as the national average now stands at its highest level since January 2020 as Pay with GasBuddy data shows U.S. gasoline demand rose over 2 percent last week," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy.
"The rise in gas prices continues to be driven by improving demand in the United States, and has nothing to do with who sits in the White House, but rather how many motorists are filing their tanks on a daily basis, and from that data, it's no guess, but prices will continue to trend higher.
"This situation will last as long as OPEC continues to restrain their oil production, creating the situation we're in where demand is recovering faster than demand. The situation won't get better, just wait until spring, it's likely the national average will rise another 10 to as much as 50 cents per gallon if oil production doesn't respond to the continued recovery in demand."
A snowmobile accident is reported 50 feet off the railroad tracks in the area of Ellinwood, near Genesee Street, in Corfu.
Corfu fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.
UPDATE 5:36 p.m.: Mercy Flight is being placed on standby.
UPDATE 5:42 p.m.: A male patient, conscious and alert. CSX has been notified of the incident.
UPDATE 5:47 p.m.: Mercy Flight #7 dispatched. The landing zone is on Ellinwood. Fifteen-minute ETA.
UPDATE 6:26 p.m.: Corfu assignment back in service.
UPDATE 6:40 p.m.: Patient being transported by Mercy Flight to ECMC.
A two-car motor vehicle accident is reported at East Main and Lawrence Avenue, Corfu.
One person reportedly has a head injury.
Corfu fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.
The Lady Hornets beat Kendall on Friday 37-22.
For Oakfield-Alabama, Caitlin Ryan scored 14 points.
In other girls basketball:
Photos by Kristin Smith. For more photos from the game, click here.
Le Roy won its season opening-boys basketball game Friday night at home beating Haverling 53-51.
Andrew Loftus scored 19 points and had 13 rebounds. Cody Lytle scored 16 points and Mitchel Hockey scored 12 points.
Also in boys basketball on Friday, Batavia beat Honeoye Falls 62-57.
Photos and game information for Le Roy submitted by Tim McArdle.
Oakfield-Alabama senior Ryan Schildwaster won two Class D sectional titles in swimming yesterday. He took first place in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:10.44. He also won the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 57 seconds.
In addition to the titles, the coaches selected Schildwaster as Swimmer of the Meet.
"This is a well-deserved honor for a very dedicated young man and an exceptionally talented athlete," said Coach Patricia Buczek. "Congratulations Ryan on a swim well done."
Photo and information submitted by Patricia Buczek.
The annual Polar Plunge at Lake Ontario was canceled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, but staff at Batavia Middle School didn't want to see Special Olympics lose out on such a vital part of their annual fundraising campaign.
So they came together today, at the prompting of Eric and Krista Knapp, who organized everything, for their own polar plunge with the help of City fire and Batavia PD.
A two-car accident with injuries is reported at 8250 Park Road, Batavia.
Town of Batavia fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.
Traffic is blocked.
Oakfield-Alabama beat Kendall on Thursday 70-35, with Gaige Armbruster scoring 16 points and Kadon Cusmano scoring 12.
Jordon Schlagenhauf scorred 11.
In other games in boys basketball:
In girls basketball, Honeoye Falls beat Batavia 64-50.
Photos by Kristin Smith. For more photos from the O-A game, click here.
Press release:
Assemblyman Steve Hawley visited the New York State Veterans Home in Batavia to drop off valentines that were made by first-grade students from Jackson Primary School as part of the Assemblyman’s “Valentines for Vets” program.
A veteran himself, and a member of the Assembly Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Hawley remained outside of the facility as he left the valentines due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“In what has been a challenging and isolating year for us all, it was my pleasure to facilitate the delivery of these valentines to let our veterans know how much their service is appreciated by the young people of our community,” Hawley said.
“The messages written by the children for our veterans were heartwarming and an encouraging sign for our future, and I am proud of these young patriots for what they’ve done to show our veterans how much their service means to them.”
Interview with Steve Hyde, CEO of GCEDC. We'll talk about the state of economic development in Genesee County, touching on the ag park, Downtown Batavia, and STAMP. We're scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
Chief Shawn Heubusch has issued Batavia PD's first annual report in a number of years -- hard to say how many -- and it includes statistics on crime in Batavia and a vision for the future.
"(An annual report has) been on my agenda since 2013," Heubusch said. "I haven’t had the time or staff to do it." ("Still don’t have the time or staff, but I did it anyway!")
The department responded to 20,662 calls for service in 2020. Officers processed 423 criminal arrests. They also conducted 2,772 traffic stops and issued 1,190 citations. There were 417 traffic accidents reported, including 64 personal injury accidents and one fatality.
Among the calls for service were 480 domestic complaints. There were 248 victims in Batavia of domestic violence, up from 237 in 2019 and 209 in 2018.
Officers also responded to 277 alarm calls and 343 9-1-1 hang-up calls.
The highest number of criminal complaints were for simple assault at 291. There were 287 larceny complaints. There were 139 complaints for criminal mischief (property damage).
A total of 32 drivers were stopped for operating under the influence of either drugs or alcohol.
In violent crime, 39 aggravated assaults were reported, 13 rapes, and 12 robberies.
There were no murders in Batavia in 2020.
There were 45 burglaries and 14 vehicle thefts reported.
Twenty-seven people were arrested for possession of a controlled substance.
A highlight of the year was initiating the return of a K-9 patrol to the city with Officer Steve Quider beginning handler duties.
The department also participated in a police reform and reinvention program mandated by an executive order that led to seven meetings with community members for a review of police produces and community relations.
Strategic priorities for the department include a new police facility, the department becoming a NY State accredited agency, implementing the city's deer management plan, and reviewing the comprehensive emergency management plan in conjunction with City Fire.
Goals for the year include updating field training, initiating a new traffic safety program with an emphasis on pedestrian and bike safety, and enhancing community engagement.
To read the full report, click here (pdf).
Sparked by 33 points from Mark Sanders, Notre Dame opened a COVID-shortened basketball season against Oakfield-Alabama with a 65-62 win at home.
For the Fighting Irish, Jordan Welker was the only other player to hit double digits, scoring 10 points. Ryan Fitzpatrick had six and Jimmy Fanara had six.
Travis Wiedrich led the Hornets with 31 points. Gaige Armbrewster scored 18 and Kaden Cusmano scored 14.
Also on opening night for boys basketball:
In girls basketball, Elba beat Albion 63-22.
Photos by Kristin Smith. For more, click here.
With little fanfare, the Batavia City School District staff has taken on a strategy to help families in need as part of an overall effort to care for the whole child and to become a greater asset to the community.
A former kindergarten room at Robert Morris School has been converted into a community center where children and parents can get assistance not just with school work but with many life needs -- from doing the laundry to ensuring everybody has appropriate clothing.
Julie Wasilewski, a district social worker, and Julia Rogers, Batavia High School assistant principal, have spearheaded the effort. They presented the community center idea to the Board of Education during Monday's meeting as part of a presentation of the new Batavia Community Schools Initiative.
The initiative is described as a reform strategy "to promote child well-being, student success, and educational equality."
(NOTE: The school board meeting was held via Zoom and Wasilewski and Rogers were on a shared device and it was impossible to see who was talking when and so quotes are generically attributed to "she said.")
"Community schools are for student education and development," she said. "They are a place where we fundamentally pay special attention to and ensure students' physical, medical, safety, their social-emotional needs are met. When we meet these needs, families can then fully engage in the opportunities afforded by public school education."
A great school is one that cares for the whole town, they said. It involves working with residents throughout the community to support learning. It includes not just educating children but educating parents.
"We're powered by strong relationships with agencies, businesses, health care providers, clubs and organizations," she said. "Every family and community member can be leveraged as an asset to children's lives. So far, we have 82 of these arrangements with community leaders who are willing to extend the power of their organizations."
The new engagement center is one part of the plan, but so far it's the most concrete effort to serve the community.
"When a family enters the family community engagement center, they are treated with the utmost respect and compassion, regardless of whether they are making optimal life decisions or maintaining a sober lifestyle," she said. "Four hundred and 16 donations have been made to children ... clothing, school supplies, hygiene products, toys, books, housewares, bedding, and food. The closet contains appropriate clothing so an individual can be successful and feel a sense of belonging and acceptance, both in school and in the community."
"There is no Batavia community member who has to skip an interview or a day of work because they don't have appropriate clothing," she said.
Shoes are available to children so they always have something appropriate to wear on the playground or walking outside.
A recent example of how the engagement center assisted community members outside of a school environment was when Tammy Hathaway from United Way contacted the center looking for 30 winter coats. The coats were donated to GCASA because people who are waiting for their methadone treatment are required, because of COVID-19, to wait outside.
The initiative comes at a time when schools are already required to adjust to meet student needs.
"Amid the hardships of COVID-19, community schools have readily adapted to changing conditions and needs, devising innovative mechanisms to deliver food, technology, health care, and other essential services to support student learning and well-being," she said.
Superintendent Anibal Soler Jr. called it a "win-win" for the community.
"Batavia is one of those communities where you grow up here, you live here, everyone knows everyone, and everyone wants to support everyone, but we don't always have the conduit to do it," Soler said. "So the hope is the school becomes the hub for the conduit. The school becomes the hub for the community."
A car has reportedly hit a tree in the area of 6209 Knowlsville Road, Alabama.
Injuries are reported.
Alabama fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.
UPDATE 2:58 p.m.: There is one occupant, with an arm injury.
UPDATE 2:59 p.m.: Oakfield fire also responding.
UPDATE 3:02 p.m.: Traffic is not blocked. The patient also has complaints of pain in his neck and back.
The doors at John Kennedy School are getting extra checks on a daily basis to ensure they're closing completely after a door that was left ajar was used by an unauthorized individual to gain entry and pull a fire alarm.
The man's name has not yet been released by Batavia PD. He is apparently undergoing treatment and will be charged once he has been released from care.
Det. Eric Hill confirmed the incident took place and that charges are pending.
The incident on Jan. 28 was discussed by the Batavia City School District Board of Education during its meeting Monday night, following a school review presentation by Principal Brian Sutton.
"The first door he pulled on, it was open," Sutton said. "He entered the building. He was in the building for about less than a minute, 55, 56 seconds. He stopped, looked at a bulletin board, and on his way, walking out of the loading docks, he pulled the fire alarm. We then had a fire drill where we accounted for all the students, all the individuals.
"Mr. Smith, our head custodian, and I went and checked out the alarm and could see it had been pulled. As soon as it was deemed safe, we had a headcount on everyone, we re-entered the building. Mr. Dehm, our security aide, pulled the camera up and we got an image of the individual and contacted our SRO Officer Davis, and they then apprehended the man down the street quite a bit, a few moments later."
Superintendent Anibal Soler Jr. told the board a man matching the description of the subject at John Kennedy had been seen earlier around Batavia Middle School and police were already in the area looking for him when the call came in from JK.
"He happened to pull on a door that happened to work for him," Soler said. "It was definitely an unfortunate situation. No one was obviously impacted. And we did communicate immediately with families that day of the event."
Sutton said as a result of the incident, the school's custodian is now checking on the doors more frequently each day to ensure the doors are closing after people pass through them.
'It's one of those things where it's a good reminder to make sure we check in multiple times," Soler said. "Now we have an alarm set on them. If they don't close all the way, they'll hear an alarm go off in the main office."
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