Stories from

At long last, the Android version of the mobile app for The Batavian is now available in the Google Play Store.

This is essentially the same version as the iOS version (available here) though we changed the subscription scheme a bit, making it three tier. There are no additional benefits to the higher tiers. It's just a matter of how much you're willing to contribute to help support local news. Stories are free for the first six hours after publication (these are changes that will be included in the next update of the iOS version).

If you have issues or want to provide feedback after you download the app, email me at howard@thebatavian.com.

There is not a vendor product. It's not a generic, open-source project. It's homegrown. I wrote the code for this myself and will continue to add onto it and hopefully improve it as time permits.

The app is suitable for Android-powered smartphones and tablets with an operating system of 5.0 or later.

Download the Android version of The Batavian app by clicking here.

Davon St. John, 19, of Oak Street, Batavia, is charged with five counts of second-degree burglary. St. John is accused of five residential burglaries at five locations on Ellicott Avenue, Montclair Avenue, and Union Street, Batavia. One house was burglarized three times and the other two, once each. St. John was jailed on $50,000 bail, $100,000 bond. The burglaries were investigated by Det. Thad Mart, Det. Matt Wojtaszczyk, Det. Eric Hill, Det. Rich Schauff, Det. Kevin Czora, Officer Jason Davis, Officer Kevin DeFelice, Officer Mitchell Cowen.

Cody A. Eaton, 28, of Otis Street, Batavia, is charged with strangulation, 2nd. Eaton is accused of strangling another person at 4:23 a.m. Sunday at a location on Otis Street, Batavia. He was jailed without bail.

Natalie M. Cervone, 23, of Clinton Street, Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Cervone was a passenger in a vehicle stopped for an alleged traffic violation at 8:30 p.m. Nov. 22 on Clinton Street by Officer Chad Richards.

Brandon J. Micucci, 18, of Main Street, Alexander, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Micucci was allegedly found in possession of marijuana at 9:15 p.m. Nov. 20 at DeWitt Recreation Area by Officer Stephen Cronmiller.

D'andre J. Cramer, 18, of Maple Street, Batavia, is charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, petit larceny, and criminal possession of stolen property, 5th. Cramer was arrested in connection with a report of a vehicle theft reported Sept. 4 from a location on Columbia Avenue. There was also an alleged theft from the vehicle. He was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Jason Scott Hall, 28, of Rochester Road, Gasport, is charged with DWI, driving while impaired by drugs, and unlawful possession of marijuana. Hall was arrested by Deputy Howard Wilson following a DEC license check on Feeder Road, Alabama, at 11 a.m. on Friday.

Jake T. Flick, 23, of Oakfield, is charged with unlawful imprisonment, 2nd, harassment 2nd, and acting in a manner injurious to a child under age 17. Flick was arrested in connection with an incident reported at 2:54 a.m. Saturday by State Police. No further information released.

Tomorrow (Monday) is the final day of voting in the Dreamvention invention contest sponsored by FritoLay with a $250,000 grand prize.

Andrew Young Jr., a 14-year-old high school student from Alexander, is one of five finalists.

Click here to vote for his invention, the Toaster Shooter.

You can vote once each day (so today and tomorrow) from each of the devices you own -- computer, smartphone, tablet, etc. The contestant with the most votes wins.

These four baby fainting goats (myotonic goats) have been missing since yesterday from a residence on Kelsey Road, Batavia, near the church.

If you locate them, call Kim Schildwaster at (585) 813-3935.

UPDATE 1:53 p.m.: The goats are found and are safe.

Kathy Ferrara, with her husband, Dan, children Marygrace, Daniel, Ashley, and grandson Brently, celebrated her purchase of Batavia's Original earlier this week.

After thanking the community, employees, and her family for their support, there was a ribbon cutting outside.

Previously: Batavia's Original, formerly Pontillo's, returns to local ownership

Note about the ribbon-cutting pictures. I messed up and forgot to change my camera settings when we shifted from inside to outside, so my ribbon-cutting photo was overexposed. Below there is a picture from the Kelly Birmingham of the Chamber of Commerce, and my photo in black and white.

Sue Schultz checks out, with the help of Michael Mugler, her purchases at Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle this afternoon on Shop Small Saturday, a day promoted nationally to encourage shopping at locally owned businesses.

Locally owned retail businesses are critical to healthy local communities. Small business owners provide the support communities need to thrive and more of the money spent at a locally owned business stays in the local community to help the local economy grow.

For more:

• Grow Your Own (PDF) by the Kansas City Federal Reserve (A guide for local communities on promoting support for small, local businesses)
• The Shop Local Ripple Effect, by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance

For a directory of locally owned businesses, visit ShopLocal.TheBatavian.com.

Andrea Karas and Kasey Woodhouse shopping at Pollyanna and Dot and The Hidden Door.

Gerald Diskin shopping for shoes at Batavia Bootery with Kevin Stone.

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported on the Thruway in the westbound lane in the area of mile marker 382.5.

Le Roy fire and Le Roy ambulance initially dispatched.

A Le Roy chief on scene reports three patients, all still in the vehicle.

Bergen dispatched mutual aid with extrication equipment.

UPDATE 11:14 a.m.: Mercy Flight requested to the scene.

UPDATE 11:16 a.m.: Mercy Flight out of Batavia is unavailable. Mercy Flight out of Buffalo is 20 minutes away. A chief says, "too far away." Mercy Flight is canceled.

UPDATE 11:18 a.m.: Patients have been extricated.

UPDATE 11:29 a.m.: A third ambulance requested to the scene, emergency mode.

A bicyclist suffered minor injuries about 1:30 p.m. today after being struck by a pickup truck at the intersection of Main and Bank streets, Batavia.

The rider had a complaint of ankle pain and was transported to UMMC for evaluation.

Photo: Courtesy our news partner, WBTA.

A 19-year-old Batavia woman died this morning after her 2004 Dodge Neon struck a tractor-trailer on Pearl Street Road at Wilkinson Road, Batavia.

Tori Nigro was pronounced dead at the scene by Coroner Karen Lang.

Investigators believe Nigro, who was northbound on Wilkinson Road, failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection.

Her car struck the truck's passenger-side wheels. Her vehicle came to rest in the eastbound lane of Route 33 and the truck came to a controlled stop just east of the intersection.

No charges have been filed.

An investigation by the Crash Management Team is ongoing. Assisting in the investigation are Deputies Kevin McCarthy, Andrew Hale, Eric Andre, and Investigator Chris Parker. 

Assisting at the scene were the East Pembroke Fire Department, Corfu fire, Town of Batavia fire, and the Fire Coordinator's Office.

(Initial Report)

An accident with injuries and possible shots fired reported on Galloway Road, between Downey Road and Kelsey Road, Batavia.

The report is that a driver swerved to miss a deer and a hunter fired at the deer.

Town of Batavia fire dispatched but to stage at Fire Hall.

Mercy EMS dispatched.

Deputies are responding.

UPDATE 11:05 a.m.: Per a deputy on scene, Town of Batavia fire assignment is back in service.

UPDATE 4:06 p.m.: Per the Chief Deputy Gordon Dibble, reports of hunters firing rounds in the area were not substantiated. Initial investigation indicates a driver was eastbound on Galloway Road when two deer ran in front of the vehicle from the north, causing the driver to swerve. The driver struck a fire hydrant, shearing it off, in the area of 3321 Galloway. There were no injuries.

Janet L. Gatley, 48, of Niagara Falls Boulevard, North Tonawanda, is charged with falsifying business records, 1st, criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, petit larceny, and violation of public health. Gatley is accused of stealing numerous controlled substances from UMMC, where she was employed. The alleged thefts were investigated by Batavia PD and the State Attorney General's Office.

Jordan J. Schunk, 18, of Alexander Road, of Alexander, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Schunk was allegedly found in possession of marijuana while in DeWitt Recreation Area after hours, at 8:58 p.m. Monday.

Jammie Lee Brown, 26, of Gates-Greece Townline Road, Rochester, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Brown is accused of grabbing and pushing another person while at a gas station on Route 19, Town of Le Roy, at 4:31 p.m. Thursday. Brown was jailed on $250 bail.

Kenneth Carl Niles, 26, of Route 88 North, Newark, is charged with petit larceny. Niles is accused of shoplifting from Walmart. Also charged, Scott James Gunkel, 38, of North Main Street, Newark.

Collin Wickings, 24, of Bergen, is charged with first-degree sex abuse. Wickings is accused of sexual contact with a child less than 11 years old. Wickings was arrested as a result of an investigation by State Police. No further information released. The investigation is pending.

Today, Vic Marchese, owner of Main St. Pizza Company, presented a $3,309 donation to Genesee Cancer Assistance. The funds were raised in October through the sale of large pizzas -- delivered in a pink pizza box -- with $1 from each large pizza sold going to the charity.

Pictured, Fred Hamilton, Lori Kurek, Sue Underwood, Nickie Fazio, and Vic Marchese.

Batavia High School's Drama Club performs "Sally Cotter and the Censored Stone," a parody by Dean O'Carroll, next weekend.

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m., Dec. 1 and 2, and 2 p.m. on Dec. 3.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for students and seniors. Tickets are available at the door.

The cast:

• Sally Cotter, Eryn Dunn
• Sally's Mother, Tanner Kolb
• Reubenon Ryebread, Cameron Bontrager
• 1st Censor, Madeline Keenan
• 2nd Censor, Alicia Scroger
• Dave, Pierce Corbelli
• Harmonica, Elise Hoerbelt
• Ursa Malaise, Parise Ricks
• Ed Molar, James Weatherbee
• Professor Athena McDonaldsa, Tanner Kolb
• Professor Shiftia Shape, Aubrey Towner
• Professor Albatross Underdrawers, Evan Bellavia
• Aaron A. Ardvarkovich, Gavin Tucker
• Shea'mon Canavan, AT Thatcher
• Navel Longfellow, Samuel Rigerman
• Polly Pixie, Emily Kilner
• Poppy Pixie, Riley MacDonough
• London Liverwurst, Lillian Whiting
• Val Crabby, Courtney Lougheed
• Gerry Boyle, Oliver Havens
• Freesia Chestnut, Jordyn Mott
• Kitty Ball, Macayla Burke
• Chloe Crane, Claire Griffith-Sarkis
• Patty Petronia, Laura Lepkowski
• Hedgerow the Owl, Phoebe Fryer

Genesee Community College's Forum Players will perform "Strong Kids" Children's Theatre at 7 p.m., Dec. 1, at the Stuart Steiner Theater. 

The musical celebrates confidence and believing in one's self while simultaneously addressing bullying, peer pressure, and rejection often faced by children today. It is a musical compilation of poems, new and original monologues, and some classic favorites from "Hairspray," "The King and I," "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," "Wicked," and "The Lion King."

The cast of "Strong Kids" are all GCC students and includes singers, dancers and soloists. 

The cast:

• Abanoor Abdi, Vocal Ensemble, Rochester
• Celeste Brownell, president of Forum Players 2017-2018, Vocal Soloist, Vocal Ensemble, Dance Ensemble, Bergen
• Chrisjon Canty, Vocal Soloist, Vocal Ensemble, Rochester
• Marissa Carbonell, Vocal Soloist, Vocal Ensemble, Dance Ensemble, Batavia
• Emily Carey, Vocal Ensemble, Medina
• Joseph Cartwright II, Dance Ensemble, Hunt
• Jamie Crawford, Dance Ensemble, Mount Morris
• Jack Diskin, Vocal Soloist, Le Roy
• Kayla Lander, Dance Ensemble, Dance Soloist, Mayfield
• Troy McCrorey, Vocal Ensemble, Chester, S.C.
• Liliam Montilla, Vocal Soloist, Vocal Ensemble, New York City
• Rebecca Naber, Dance Ensemble, Hamburg
• Erin Phillips, Vocal Soloist, Batavia
• Cameron Sanzo, Dance Ensemble, Batavia
• Jennifer Schreiber, Dance Ensemble, Rochester
• Cody Taylor, Vocal Soloist, Dance Ensemble, Vocal Ensemble, Medina
• Taylor Wilson, Vocal Soloist, Vocal Ensemble, Dance Ensemble, Cheektowaga
• Maki Ishikawa, Vocal Soloist, Vocal Ensemble, Japan
• Sayaka Miura, Vocal Soloist, Chiryu City, Japan
• Natsumi Sasabe, Dance Ensemble, Vocal Soloist, Japan
• Akane Hagiwara, Dance Ensemble, Japan

"Strong Kids" is directed by Maryanne Arena.

Tickets to see "Strong Kids" are available now and are $8 for adults, $5 for seniors (55+) and GCC faculty/staff. Students and children pay $3, and GCC alumni with ID will receive a $2 discount on an adult ticket. To reserve seats, contact the GCC box office at boxoffice@genesee.edu or (585) 345-6814.

       Joseph James

Joseph B. James, 36, of Central Avenue, Batavia, is charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd, and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd.

James is accused of selling crack cocaine to an agent of the Local Drug Task Force on two occasions last month. 

Task Force members arrested James at the County Courts Facility while he was being sentenced in an unrelated case.

He was jailed without bail.

His arrest comes following an investigation into the sale, transportation and possession of crack cocaine in the City of Batavia.

The District Attorney's Office assisted in the investigation.

       Adante Davis

The final defendant in a four-man team involved in a home invasion of a residence on Central Avenue in October 2016 entered a guilty plea to attempted burglary in the second degree in Court today with an agreement to serve five years in prison.

That's the sentence his compatriots received after their guilty pleas earlier this year.

Adante Davis will be sentenced at 1:45 p.m., Dec. 21.

Davis managed to evade capture for a year while Daniel Gilbert, Marquis Saddler and Oliver Thomas all agreed to guilty pleas and are now serving five-year prison terms.

The attack occurred at about 11 p.m. Oct. 28 last year. The four men entered the apartment and, according to witness statements obtained by The Batavian, several family members and a friend were at the residence when they heard a knock on the door. 

When one of the residents answered the door, four men rushed in and started hitting one of the men in the home. A resident chased them off with a baseball bat and then there was a confrontation in the street before all four men fled the scene.

A caller from Insurance Auto Auctions, at 7149 Apple Tree Ave., Bergen, says a bullet hit their building about an hour ago.

A deputy is dispatched.