Stories from

At Stan's Harley-Davidson on Wednesday, members of Genesee County ABATE, along with representatives of veterans organizations in Genesee County, presented a $3,000 donation to Doug Titus, treasurer of the Disabled American Veterans van program.

The money was raised by ABATE in early June on a ride, which required a donation to join, that took members from the posts of VFWs and American Legions in the region, where they picked up donations. There was also a 50/50 raffle and the ABATE kicked in the last few dollars to round the donation up to $3,000.

The Muckdogs battled at home on Tuesday night but in the end just couldn't put up enough runs to beat Geneva, dropping the final game of a homestand 3-2.

The team is in Niagara tonight and will play Elmira at home tomorrow.  

The losing pitcher Tuesday was George Osborne, a junior at Alcorn State University. Osborne, with an ERA of 2.34, put in six solid innings, fanning 10, but picked up his first loss (no wins) in three starts.  

Tyler Prospero, from Batavia, struck out two in a scoreless inning of work.

Cameron Conley, who will be attending Pepperdine University, raised his average to .281 with two hits. Conley has appeared in nine games, getting a hit in all but two of those games.

To view or purchase photos, click here.

Photos by Steve Ognibene Photography.

Kathy Owen dedicated a portion of the last years of her life to ensuring the stone pillars that act as markers to the opening of Redfield Parkway in Batavia were saved and restored.

It was a lot of work convincing city officials that it was actually the city that owned the pillars, that the city had a responsibility to maintain the pillars, and to finally invest in restoring the pillars.

It took eight years.

More than a year ago, Owen died.  

Yesterday evening, more than 50 Redfield Parkway residents, along with other community members, gathered in the driveway of her brother, Jim Owen, to dedicate a marker commemorating Kathy Owen and her tireless efforts on behalf of the Redfield Parkway community.

Owen was known as the "Queen of Redfield Parkway" (Jim is the "Mayor of Redfield Parkway"), and was responsible for carrying on the Redfield traditions of flags, flowers, and Christmas trees but even in her absence, her spirit remains as her friends and neighbors keep these traditions alive.

"The plaque says Kathy was an advocate of Redfield Parkway," said City Council President Eugene Jankowski. "All of you are advocates of Redfield Parkway and you make the City look even better.”

Jim got a bit emotional when thanking all who turned out to remember his sister.

"She would be very proud," Owen said. "As you know, it is her birthday today and she’s looking down saying, ‘Thank you. Thank you very much.’ ”

The shovels went into the ground at Oakfield-Alabama as soon as the summer break started on a $15.3 million capital improvement project at both the high school/middle school and the elementary school and yesterday Superintendent John Fisgus and a group of contractors gave members of the school board a tour of the work followed by an official groundbreaking ceremony.

The project includes reconstruction of the entry, parking lot, passenger pick-up, and bus lanes at the elementary school. The elementary school is also getting a remodeled cafeteria and kitchen, new main office, nurse's suite, and main entrance. There will also be a new teachers' lounge, remodeled gym with new bleachers.

The schools are also getting new, brightly colored -- blue and gold -- tennis courts.

The HS/MS is getting a remodeled auditorium.

In the fall of 2022, all of the windows of the HS/MS will be replaced and the school will get a new entrance, new atrium, and new main office.

A 23-year-old Batavia woman is in guarded condition at Strong Memorial Hospital following a car vs. pedestrian accident at 8:30 a.m. at East Main Street and Swan Street.

According to Batavia PD, Angel Kemp had the right of way in the crosswalk northbound across East Main Street when she was struck by a Jeep driven by Jean Monroe, 73, of Batavia, who was making a left-hand turn from southbound Ross Street.  

Police say Monroe failed to yield the right of way to Kemp.

Monroe was issued traffic citations for alleged failure to yield right of way to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, speed not reasonable and prudent, failure to exercise due care, improper left turn, driver's view obstructed, and uninspected motor vehicle.

Kemp was transported by Mercy EMS to the Mercy Flight hangar at the Genesee County Airport and then airlifted to Strong. Her injuries are believed to be serious. 

City fire also assisted at the scene.

Press release from AAA: 

Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $3.13, up 3 cents in the past week. One year ago, the price was $2.18. The New York State average is $3.18 – up 3 cents from last week. A year ago, the NYS average was $2.25. AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:

• Batavia -- $3.14 (up 4 cents since last Monday)
• Buffalo -- $3.12 (up 5 cents since last Monday)
• Ithaca -- $3.18 (up 7 cents since last Monday)
• Rochester -- $3.16 (up 6 cents since last Monday)
• Rome -- $3.24 (up 2 cents since last Monday)
• Syracuse -- $3.16 (up 2 cents since last Monday)
• Watertown -- $3.21 (up 3 cents since last Monday)

Crude oil prices have significantly increased in the last seven months. Following the Independence Day holiday weekend, AAA expects crude oil prices, and in turn gas prices, to increase and stay expensive through the end of summer.

The market has supported increasing crude oil prices in reaction to these variables:

• Confidence in worldwide vaccination rollout;
• Global oil demand spikes;
• Easing of travel restrictions and optimism for leisure travel.

Crude oil accounts for more than half of the price at the pump. As it increases, so does the price consumers pay.

Press release from GasBuddy:

"Gasoline demand over the holiday weekend certainly did not disappoint as millions of Americans flooded the roads for the long weekend, guzzling down gasoline at a clip not seen in years, and in the process, we could have set new all-time records for consumption," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy.

"As OPEC+ met over the weekend and saw a heated disagreement about raising oil production, WTI crude oil surged in Monday evening electronic trading to nearly $77 per barrel on higher demand and a lack of additional supply from OPEC amidst a mountain of disagreement on how to respond to the market.

"For now, with imbalances in supply and demand continuing, motorists will continue digging deeper to pay for gasoline as prices are likely headed no where but up until global supply starts to catch up with the continued surge in demand."

An accident with injuries that is blocking traffic is reported on Route 20 and Main Road in Alexander.

Alexander fire and ambulance responding.

UPDATE 9:24 p.m.: Only one minor injury. Mercy EMS can cancel.

A fire inside a box truck carrying fireworks was "roaring pretty good" on South Lake Road in Pembroke when firefighters arrived on scene, said Indian Falls Assistant Chief Ed Mileham.

The call initially came in as a firework striking a vehicle and starting a fire but as it turned out the fire started inside a truck that was returning to Genesee County from a fireworks show last night in Akron.

The driver is unsure how the fire started, Mileham said.

The truck was loaded with launch canisters stacked in the front of the truck and unused fireworks in the back of the truck.

Exploding fireworks lit up the neighborhood and blew out the passenger side panel of the truck, the back roll-up door, and the roof. The cab was undamaged, probably because of the stacked canisters in the box stacked between the fireworks and the cab, Mileham said.

The driver was rolling on Route 5 through Pembroke when he spotted some sparks in his rearview mirror. He stopped to inspect, heard some bangs, and thought "I need to get out of here," Mileham said. He started yelling for residents to call 9-1-1.

Pembroke fire was first on scene with a truck that had a deck gun, which allowed firefighters to spray water on the fire from a distance.  

"The flames just roaring out of the back of the truck, almost hitting the power lines in the area," Mileham said.

National Grid was called to the scene and the power lines and a transformer about 20 feet away appeared to be undamaged.

"It was not a normal truck fire or car fire where you go up, put some water on it, put it out, and that's hit," Mileham said.

There was smoking debris up and down the roadway for dozens of feet, Mileham said, as well as in residential yards. No secondary fire was started by the fireworks, however.

Pembroke and Indian Falls were assisted at the scene by Corfu, the Genesee County Sheriff's Office, and Dadswell, which towed the truck and cleaned up the debris.

Video taken with a home security camera submitted by a reader.

UPDATE: Here's another video from James Garrett.

A vehicle fire is reported in the area of 8783 S. Lake Road, Pembroke.

A firework reportedly hit the vehicle.

Pembroke fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 11:56 p.m.: Corfu Fire Police requested to shut off traffic at Cohocton on South Lake. A responding unit is standing back because "it's still exploding." National Grid requested to the scene.

UPDATE 11:57 p.m.: A neighbor told a chief that the vehicle was full of fireworks. "Until about 60 seconds ago it was still exploding," the chief informs dispatchers. (If any Pembroke residents took photos or video, please email to howard@thebatavian.com)

UPDATE 12:38 a.m.: A box truck is apparently involved. It will require "massive cleanup."

UPDATE 1:30 a.m.: Pembroke, Indian Falls, Corfu, back in service.

A mailbox is reportedly on fire in the area of 5976 Clinton Street Road, Stafford.

The caller was a passerby and said the location was between Westbrook Road and Mill Road.

Stafford fire is dispatched.

UPDATE 11:10 p.m.: A second caller reports the location is at former Oderkirk Farm. A chief just arriving on scene confirms a mailbox on fire.

UPDATE 11:13 p.m.: The fire is out.

Among the highlights of Elba's graduation, this past weekend were four fathers from the Class of 1991 (that's 30 years ago for those of you counting) who shared in watching their daughters graduate with the rest of the Class of 2021.

Michael Augello, school board president, handed a diploma to his daughter Taylor.

Pictured from left: Madison Harrington and her father Aaron. Miah Werth and her father Steve. Leah Bezon and her dad Steven, and Taylor Augello and her dad Michael.

Photo by Laura Luft.

An Amazon van and another vehicle are reportedly involved in a collision at Griswold Road and Caswell Road in Stafford.

One person is complaining of head pain.

The vehicles are not blocking traffic. One is in a ditch.

Stafford fire and Mercy EMS responding.

Brenda Good, elected to a City Schools Board of Trustees seat in May would rather be a candidate for an administrator's position in the district than a member of the board, according to a letter of resignation she sent to Superintendent Anibal Soler on June 14.

The board voted unanimously to accept her resignation last night.

Good's resignation comes after last month's resignation by Peter Cecere, so there are now two vacant positions on the board. 

In her resignation email to Soler, Good acknowledged a prior phone call and said, "After much thought, I have decided to resign my anticipated seat on the Batavia City School Board. I am very invested in the youth and community of Batavia as my goal is to help all of our students become successful adults. With that said, I'm highly interested in becoming an administrator within the Batavia City School District. I'd like to be given the opportunity to interview for anticipated openings."

It will be up to the remaining trustees to fill the vacancies and the district has posted a call for candidates.

John Reigle, who won re-election in May, and Jennifer Lendvay, elected to her first term, took their oaths of office last night.

Eighteen months into his tenure as Batavia City School District superintendent, Anibal Soler informed city schools staff this morning that he is the final candidate to become superintendent of schools in Schenectady.

"Once I am officially appointed, I will be working with the Board of Education on a transition plan to ensure the district is supported and ready to reopen in the Fall, Batavia Strong," Soler said in his letter.

In an interview this morning, Soler said it's bittersweet leaving Batavia where he thinks the district has moved forward during his time here but the opportunity in Schenectady fits his career aspirations. 

"It's a larger district in a larger community," Soler said. 

It also offers some significant challenges for an ambitious superintendent. The graduation rate there is 68 to 70 percent, much lower than Batavia's 90 to 94 percent, and Schenectady has a couple of schools in receivership, which are "persistently struggling" schools.

"It wasn't an easy decision," Soler said. "I thought about it a long time and this fits my aspirations to do good things for more students."

There are 9,750 students in the Schenectady district. There are 2,283 students in Batavia.

Soler will step into a district roiled by controversy and facing a $7.8 million lawsuit by its former superintendent, Larry Spring.  

The claim alleges Spring was "coerced" to resign a year ago based on what he insists were false sexual harassment and workplace retaliation allegations made by a female employee, and that the district subsequently breached a confidentiality agreement by allegedly sharing materials concerning the claims against Spring with the media.

Soler said he was aware of the situation but knew no more about it than what has been reported in news sources. He then shifted the discussion to the bigger challenge of the academic issues in the district.

Soler has not officially resigned. He informed the school board and the staff of his position as the finalist in Schenectady because his potential appointment is being made public in that community today. Once the Schenectady board approves his appointment -- the vote is Wednesday -- Soler will formally resign from Batavia City Schools and begin working with the board and staff on a transition.

The Batavia City School District Board of Trustees recently approved a contractually scheduled 2-percent raise for Soler along with a one-year contract extension, extending the agreement to 2024. Soler was expected to make $164,800 in 2021-22.

After more than eight years with the Schenectady district, Spring was earning $205,000 a year at the time of his resignation.

Letter:

Good morning Batavia Staff, 

I hope your summer recess has kicked off to an amazing start and you are finding time to rest, rejuvenate and recharge. I am writing to let you know that today it will be announced that I have been selected as the next permanent candidate for Superintendent of Schools in the Schenectady City School District in Schenectady, NY. 

This was not an easy decision given all that we have endured and achieved in my short tenure. I want to first thank the Batavia Board of Education for their continuous support and understanding. Once I am officially appointed I will be working with the Board of Education on a transition plan to ensure the district is supported and ready to reopen in the Fall, Batavia Strong. 

It has truly been my honor and privilege to serve the children and families of Batavia for the past year and a half. I thank the many parents, community members and countless committed educators and staff members, who have offered their unwavering encouragement, resources, and expertise on behalf of children. What we accomplished during a pandemic is commendable and will never be something I will forget. In addition, working with the dedicated individuals on the leadership team and staff who also comprise the Batavia School Board has been equally rewarding. 

Most importantly, I thank the students of Batavia, for demonstrating their talents, resilience, persistence, and skills to all of us during what has been a difficult time. The work we accomplished across the district includes experiences that I will take with me as I embark on this new opportunity.

I am extremely proud of the work we accomplished together during my time in Batavia City Schools. Behind each of these accomplishments lies the hard work and dedication of the exceptional Leadership Team in the district. 

These are but a few of those achievements and highlights:

• Developed a strong Reopening Plan in the Fall of 2020.
  • No layoffs or mid-year cuts in staff during pandemic despite ongoing threat from Governor’s Office regarding a 20% reduction.
  • Stayed open five days a week throughout the majority of 2020-21 school year for our English Language Learners, Special Education, and at-risk students.
  • Reopened schools for the last 10 weeks to 5 days of in-person learning.
  • All of our student-athletes were able to have a sports season this year.
• 2019-20 Budget: Closed $2 million deficit & 0% Tax Increase - 63% Community Approval.
• 2020-21 Budget: Adopted with 0% Tax Increase and no impact on staff/ programs - 82% Community Approval.
• The 2020-21 Budget includes fully funded appropriated & unappropriated reserve funds.
• Graduation rate for 2016-20 Cohort 93% (June) Cohort 94% (August) - 2% point growth from the previous cohort.  Estimated to be higher for 2017-21 Cohort.
• Served 500,000 meals to our community since March 2020.
• Opened the new Family and Community Engagement Center at Robert Morris.
• Launched a Community Schools Initiative that focuses on equity, opportunity and family.
• Implemented a Strategic Planning Process - that will help guide the district forward for years to come.
• Adopted Policy 8140, Equity, Inclusivity, and Diversity in Education - which will create systemic structures and practices to ensure ALL kids are supported.
• District-wide Equity Journey.
• Grants Awarded:
  • My Brother’s Keeper Family & Community Engagement Grant - $500,000 (4 year Grant).
  • Extended School Day/ School Violence Prevention Grant - $1.75 million (5 year Grant).
• Built a new state of the art playground at Jackson Primary School.
• Assisted in adding an eSports Program at BHS in partnership with Daemen College.
• Successfully Negotiated contracts for the Batavia Custodial Department, Batavia Administrative Association and IT Department. 
• Energy Performance Contract Initiated that will bring operational savings to the district.
• Completed an updated Building Condition Survey of all district facilities. 
• Implemented new website management and communication platform - Thrillshare by Apptegy.
• Added a new critical executive position to the organization overseeing Human Resources, labor relations and personnel matters. 

I wish much-continued success for Batavia and the Batavia City School District. Batavia will always hold a special place in my heart as the district of my first Superintendency. I will, at the pleasure of the Board, spend my remaining time ensuring and assisting in a smooth transition in order to maintain the positive momentum that has begun. 

Enjoy your holiday weekend.

A power outage affecting more than 4,600 National Grid customers is reported in the northeast section of Batavia into Byron, Stafford and East Bethany.

A crew has yet to be assigned. There is not yet an ETA for repairs.

A dispatcher informed Batavia PD that several traffic lights are not functioning in the area.

UPDATE 11:08 a.m.: Dispatch has received calls from people concerned about the light being out at Route 33 and Batavia Stafford Townline Road. The concern is that people "coming over the hill" will not see the lights are out. A trooper is advised but the dispatcher said callers have been advised multiple lights are out in the area and law enforcement may not be available for that specific intersection.

UPDATE 11:21 a.m.: Statement from Batavia PD: "There is currently a power outage affecting some areas of the City. Remember that if you approach a traffic signal that is not functioning to treat it as a 4-way stop."

UPDATE 11:30 a.m.: The estimated power restoration time for the Batavia-to-Byron outage is 1:15 p.m. For the outage to the east, the restoration time estimate is 12:45 p.m.

UPDATE Noon: Statement from National Grid -- "Earlier today a faulty piece of equipment at a substation resulted in the loss of electricity service for around 4,800 customers in the Batavia area. Our crews are making repairs and they should all be restored at around 1 p.m."

UPDATE 1:41 p.m.: It appears power has been restored to both areas.

A Batavia man who has been arrested multiple times since 2019 but has remained out of jail apparently because of the state's bail reform law was admonished by Judge Charle Zambito today that he is "walking a fine" line while his cases are pending.

Zambito was shown a photograph provided by Genesee Justice that apparently showed Devon Wright, 19, received a traffic ticket for alleged aggravated unauthorized operation. The ticket, Zambito said, indicated that Wright was outside of his residence at night in violation of his terms of release.

It was expected that Wright would enter a guilty plea today in relation to his multiple charges but his attorney, Nathan Pace, said he needed more time to explain the charges and plea to his client. After much haggling over a date -- finding a time that fits into both Pace's calendar and the court calendar -- the parties agree to be back in court at 11:45 a.m., July 19.

After the appearance date was set, District Attorney Lawrence Friedman raised the issue of the email from Genesee Justice with the attached photo.

Friedman noted that at Wright's last court appearance -- after Wright was arrested on a weapon's charge -- he asked that Wright's bail be revoked. He renewed that request today.

Zambito read to Friedman the language of the current bail statute. The law would require Zambito to conduct a bail hearing, at which time Wright could challenge the evidence against him and present his own evidence, and even after the hearing, if Zambito determined new bail requirements were required, Zambito could only set the minimum bail necessary to assure Wright's appearance at future hearings.

"The one thing Mr. Wright has done," Zambito said, "is appear in court when he's told to appear. He may be out committing crimes but he's been here when he needs to be here. I can't change the law. I don't like it myself."

At Wright's May 24 hearing, Zambito also expressed frustration with bail reform law.

"It's impossible under the current bail reform laws," Zambito said then. "It seems Wright is a clear and present danger to the community as long as he is out and he continues to get arrested." 

But, Zambito added, "the law doesn't allow a judge to consider community safety when setting bail. I'm frustrated. I think every judge in New York State is frustrated."

In the past 21 months, Batavia PD has reported the following arrests:

• In Nov. 2019, Wright was accused of violating an order of protection and charged with criminal contempt.
• Later that month, Wright was charged with larceny, harassment, and endangering the welfare of a child for allegedly stealing money from a person less than 17 years old while in City Centre.
• In March 2020, Wright allegedly caused a disturbance at the Sunoco Gas Station on West Main Street in Batavia and was charged with burglary, assault, and criminal mischief.
• The next month, Wright was accused of running down a person on Highland Park in Batavia while driving a silver sedan. He then allegedly fled the scene on foot. When taken into custody, he allegedly resisted arrest and damaged property at the police station. He was charged with attempted assault, 1st; resisting arrest; obstructing governmental administration, 2nd; criminal mischief, 4th; criminal nuisance, 2nd; and harassment, 2nd. Wright answered to the charges in City Court and bail was set at $10,000 cash, $20,000 bond, or $50,000 partially secured bond. It's unclear if he posted bond or bail but he was released from custody.
• In May 2020, Wright was accused of sexual conduct with a person less than 15 years old and charged with two counts of criminal sexual act in the second degree and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
• In July 2020, Wright was arrested on a pair of warrants, one for alleged failure to pay a fine, the other for an alleged failure to appear in court.
• Wright's most recent arrest came earlier this month. Wright was arrested on a Batavia City Court Warrant and charged with second-degree menacing, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, and second-degree harassment. He allegedly threatened several individuals in a vehicle with a weapon.

After reminding Friedman of the constraints of the law, Zambito asked if Friedman wanted a hearing on this latest apparent violation of the terms of Wright's release and Friedman said no. 

In speaking to Wright, Zambito noted that the picture couldn't be authenticated and that may be a factor in why Friedman wasn't requesting a hearing because "if he could confirm when the picture was taken he would not only be asking that your bail be pulled but he would be asking for new charges."

He then told Wright, "You're on curfew. You need to be home at 9 p.m., not 10 after nine and you can't be out driving. Your privilege has been revoked."

Photo by Virgil Cain.

What may have started as a porch fire early Monday morning at 4225 Gilhooly Road, and was dispatched as a porch fire, turned out to be a fully involved house fire, said Alexander Fire Chief Marshall Merle.

The house was a total loss.

All occupants, at least four and maybe five people, Merle said, were out of the house and safe by the time fire crews arrived on scene.

There was no mention of any pets in the residence, Merle said.

No firefighters were injured during the incident. 

Merle said the fire started in the porch area. It's unclear if it started outside or inside the residence but investigators are leaning toward thinking it started inside, he said.  The cause is currently undetermined.

The American Red Cross is assisting the family. The Salvation Army responded to provide refreshments to the firefighters. Bethany's auxiliary also responded.

The biggest challenge in fighting the fire was water supply. Merle requested several tankers to the scene. Once on scene, firefighters were able to locate a pond on the property, which the fire department did not previously know about, and two engines were employed to pump water for fire suppression.

Responding to the fire were Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Darien, East Pembroke, Stafford, and Pavilion. The City's Fast Team also responded. A crew from the Wyoming Correctional Facility assisted with scene cleanup.

Photos Courtesy Todd Rapp.