Todd Crossett spent 22 years with the Batavia Police Department, most recently as assistant Chief of Police. He's retiring and taking a job at the VA Center. We spoke with him briefly at his retirement party today.
Press release:
Nate McMurray, Democratic candidate for Congress, blasted the National Republican Congressional Caucus (NRCC) for launching a childish smear campaign just hours before he was unanimously endorsed for the upcoming special election.
“I grew up in Western New York and I know the people here a lot better than a bunch of out-of-touch Washington insiders who only care about lining their own pockets at the taxpayers' expense," McMurray said. "I know how hard folks here work, and frankly we are all sick and tired of being pawns in a partisan political game that seeks power for the sake of power.
"These same enablers who supported an indicted criminal just to keep NY-27 red are brazen to believe they have any credibility with the good people here."
The National Republican Congressional Caucus (NRCC), which is supporting McMurray's opponent, issued a statement yesterday calling McMurray a “deranged socialist loser."
“With money from corporate PACs, Washington lobbyists and billionaires, they insult the people of our region with this behavior," McMurray said. "They do not represent us and we cannot afford to continue to go without sensible and ethical leadership here. I reject the NRCC’s reprehensible behavior, and I call on my opponent Chris Jacobs to denounce it as well so that we can debate the issues like adults, draw contrasts between our resumes, and let the voters of NY-27 pick the best candidate for the job.
"Is that the best they can do? Immature, mean-spirited insults? Instead of talking about jobs in one of the worst job markets in the country, health care when countless Americans are going bankrupt over medical bills, they have the audacity to perpetuate hateful rhetoric that is representative of the extremely divisive state of politics today.”
In Thursday's lone match in the Scholastic Bowl, Le Roy scored 240 points to beat out Pembroke, 210, and Notre Dame, 190.
In Wednesday's first match, Attica outscored Batavia 280 to 270. Pavilion scored 20 points.
In Wednesday's second match, Alexander beat Oakfield-Alabama 300 to 220.
Local Democrats were pleased, elated, really, with the turnout Thursday night at Moon Java for a Meet the Candidates event.
Nate McMurray, running for the NY-27 in the anticipated April 29 special election, and three candidates vying for the nomination for the 61st State Senate District in the June Democratic primary were on hand for the event.
Moon Java was filled to capacity to hear from the candidates.
Micheal Plitt, chairman of the Genesee County Democratic Committee, said local Democrats have a record number of volunteers signed up for this campaign season.
"I think the blue wave will continue," Plitt said.
Police are in pursuit of a vehicle on Clinton Street Road, Batavia, heading into the City.
The vehicle left the roadway in the area of Terry Hills. Several mailboxes were knocked down, according to the dispatcher.
An officer reported that it stopped near East Main but then it apparently took off again.
UPDATE 6:46 p.m.: An officer reports the driver is passed out behind the wheel at Clinton Street Road and Terry Hills Drive. Mercy EMS is dispatched for a possible overdose.
Daniel Jon Lewis got his get-out-of-jail-free card on Dec. 6 after pleading guilty to criminal possession of stolen property.
Judge Charles Zambito reasoned that Lewis would be eligible for release Jan. 1 under terms of New York's bail reform law and that Lewis apparently could live with his father in North Chili while awaiting sentencing on his felony conviction, that Lewis should be released from custody that day.
Today, Lewis was arrested on a charge of robbery in the first degree and menacing for allegedly using a knife to steal property from a person on Bank Street, Batavia, on New Year's Day.
Lewis was arrested Jan. 23 and charged with grand larceny for allegedly stealing a vehicle Jan. 3 in the Town of Batavia.
Following that arrest, he was released on appearance ticket in accordance with New York's new law.
Chief of Police Shawn Heubusch confirmed this evening that Lewis is also a person of interest in the theft of a Spectrum work truck. The suspect in that case fled after being spotted in the truck.
When Lewis was arrested Jan. 23, his listed address was on Genesee Street in Lima. In the arrest announced today, he is listed as having "no permanent address."
He is currently being held in the Genesee County Jail on the robbery charge. Robbery is a qualifying offense, under the new state rules, for bail.
The Jan. 1 robbery was investigated by Officer Stephen Cronmiller and Det. Jason Ivison.
Two Monroe County residents who fled from police after an attempted traffic stop Thursday night, who are now facing multiple felonies, including a weapons charge, were released on an appearance ticket per New York's bail reform law shortly after they were apprehended.
Denzell A. Johnson, 27, of Orange Street, Rochester, and Shafatiah H. Miller, 26, of Lake Avenue, Rochester, were reportedly in a vehicle on Ellicott Street when Deputy Ryan DeLong and Investigator Pete Welker, working as part of a coordinated enforcement detail, tried to initiate a traffic stop for an alleged traffic violation at 8:16 p.m.
The vehicle reportedly turned south onto Otis Street in an attempt to evade police and drove through a yard in the area of 255 S. Swan St. where the occupants jumped from the moving vehicle and ran. The suspects ran in different directions and officers engaged in a foot chase, with one of the suspects running across Jackson School property. Both suspects were located and taken into custody. The vehicle came to rest without incident.
Johnson allegedly had a handgun and a quantity of a controlled substance on him at the time of his capture.
He is charged with:
Miller is charged with:
Both suspects are expected in City Court at 1 p.m., Feb. 18.
Additional charges are pending further investigation.
Participating in the coordinated enforcement effort on Thursday were the Local Drug Task Force, Sheriff's Office, Batavia PD, Le Roy PD, the Department of Environmental Conservation, NYS Probation, NYS Parole.
Patrick Mandia grew up in a family of restaurateurs -- the Pok-A-Dot, Sunny's, the Red Carpet, Pontillo's -- and after 15 years of working as a DJ at the former Billy Goat's he thought it might be time for him to own his own tavern.
At first, his wife, Carrie Mandia, thought it a rather risky idea. But as they talked, she realized she trusted her husband and trusted her own business background.
"You only live once," she said.
The couple has completely revamped the former Billy Goat's location and turned it into a county-themed bar, Copperhead Creek.
A man facing a pair of felony indictments will likely serve seven and a half years in prison under terms of a plea deal he agreed to in Genesee County Court today.
Darius Jones, 27, of Rochester, entered a guilty plea to the lesser included offense of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 5th. (He was originally charged with the same crime in the third degree.) He faces two-and-a-half years in prison for that conviction. He admitted in court that he possessd a controlled substance in the City of Batavia on Feb. 22 with the intent to sell it.
Jones also faced a weapons charge stemming from a traffic stop where a pistol was found under the seat of the car he was sitting in.
To a charge of attempted criminal possession of a weapon, 2nd, Jones entered a guilty plea on an Alford basis, which means Jones told Judge Charles Zambito that he couldn't admit to the facts of the crime as charged but he realizes that based on the evidence presented by the prosecution, he would likely be convicted at trial. The Alford plea affords Jones the opportunity to accept a plea deal without admitting to the crime in order to receive the benefits of a plea offer.
On the weapons charge, Jones will likely be sentenced to five years in prison.
The two terms will run consecutively.
Jones also admitted to being a second felony offender and a second violent felony offender. He was convicted of grand larceny in Monroe County in 2014 and of criminal possession of a weapon in Monroe County in 2010.
Pending sentencing, Jones was released from jail on his own recognizance, with no objection from District Attorney Lawrence Friedman. Sentencing is set for 9:30 a.m., April 6.
Submitted photo and press release:
Jacqualine Berger, a labor activist, and current Town Board member and Deputy Supervisor in the Town of Amherst, formally enters the race for the 61st Senate District.
Berger was first elected to the Amherst Town Board in 2017 and was the top vote-getter that year. In 2020, she was appointed Amherst Deputy Supervisor.
Berger is no stranger to serving the community. She’s spent her career as an educator, currently teaching at SUNY Empire State College, and a labor leader, locally and nationally, through her work with New York State United Teachers and American Federation of Teachers. Berger has a master’s degree in Early Childhood and Special Education from Tulane University. She’s a lifelong advocate for individuals with special needs, running a local Challenger Baseball program for children and adults with disabilities since 1991. In 2019, Empire State College awarded Berger the Altes Prize for Exemplary Community Service.
Berger believes she has the qualifications and ability to bring representation to the 61st Senate seat that encompasses parts of Erie, Monroe, and Genesee counties. She promises to utilize her position in the Democratic Senate majority to bring attention and State resources to the district and work with local municipalities to assess their needs. She cites the need for updated resources in school districts and improvements to aging infrastructure throughout the district as major proponents of her campaign.
“It is extremely important to the Town of Amherst that we have a State Senator who shares our values and understands our community. As an Amherst Town Council member and Deputy Town Supervisor, Jacqui Berger possesses the knowledge of our area and the skills to be an excellent and effective Senator in the 61st District,” said Assemblymember Karen McMahon.
In her role as Town Boardmember, Berger works directly with New York State to secure funding for projects throughout Amherst. Recently, she aided efforts to secure $783,000 for the Sattler Dellwood Park Green Infrastructure and Storm Water Project. Amherst will use the funds from this Green Innovation Grant Program to construct a bio-retention area, porous roller hockey rink and a porous parking lot.
Town of Amherst Supervisor Brian Kulpa stated his support for Berger, “As an educator, Jacqui is a champion for students, and as Deputy Supervisor, she is a champion for Amherst residents. She takes taken bold actions to improve Amherst, and I’m confident that her values will make her a champion for this Senate district. I am proud to support her.”
Berger is a resident of Amherst, where she’s lived with her family for the past 32 years. In addition to her work in the town and with labor, she serves as liaison to Nature View Park Advisory Committee, Planning Board, Youth Board, Recreation Commission, and Zoning Board of Appeals.
In 30 years as an emergency dispatcher, Steve Robinson has probably handled every imaginable kind of call, first with the City of Batavia and later with the Sheriff's Office -- lost cats, petit larcenies, fires, train derailments, overdoses, homicides, and everything in between.
It's a tough job but on the night of his final shift, he said he is glad he chose the job he did as a young man.
"It's been an amazing career," Robinson said. "I've made a lot of friends -- with other dispatchers, judges, DAs, police officers, EMS, fire -- everybody involved in the whole process. I couldn't have asked for a better career for 30 years. It's not pretty sometimes. We deal with a lot of unpleasant stuff, but we get through it and I appreciate everybody I've worked with, and I've gotten a lot of help over the years."
To be a good dispatcher, Robinson said, you have to be able to multitask. You can find yourself dealing with a police officer on the radio about one call while taking an emergency call from an unrelated incident on 9-1-1.
"There is a lot of activity in the room and you can't rely on somebody else to answer your phone for you," Robinson said.
And because you're sometimes dealing with people in duress, at the worse time of their lives, or who are angry, you have to have good people skills to be a good dispatcher. You have to be able to stay calm, talk people through their situations and ensure first responders are kept safe.
"The people I work with, not just the dispatchers, but the first responders, we have a bond because nobody else understands what we do," Robinson said. "In this job, unless you do it, you can't understand what we deal with and that is what bonds us."
In retirement, Robinson will still be around, and not far from the career he's loved. He will continue to work part time for Batavia PD as a desk clerk.
"I'll keep a hand in the business," Robinson said. "I'm not totally walking away."
Press release:
National Grid has approved an economic development grant totaling $127,000 to offset costs related to an upgrade to three-phase electricity power at McCormick Family Dairy Farm in Alexander.
As part of an upgrade, the owners of the farm are planning to install new equipment that will keep their 2,500 cows healthy, save the company money and add power to run fans, motors and improve product quality.
“We frequently work with small businesses and agribusiness customers that are looking to grow but may be limited due to lack of three-phase power at their site,” said National Grid Regional Director Ken Kujawa.
“McCormick Family Farms had examined other potential alternatives to meet their new and growing electricity needs. By working with them, it was determined that three-phase power is the appropriate solution to meet the farm’s electric load.”
The grant was made through National Grid’s Three-Phase Power Incentive program, which provides grants to fund the extension of three-phase electricity service to eligible National Grid customers.
More information about National Grid’s economic development programs is available at www.shovelready.com.
Even though Pittsford-Sutherland had a size advantage down low, the Blue Devils kept their home game Wednesday night close until the third quarter.
Then Pittsford-Sutherland's guards started dropping threes like gumdrops in a five-and-dime.
Drew Kull, Jalyn Moorehead and Owen Flisnik combined for seven makes beyond the arc and sealed the deal of a 58-42 win for the Knights.
For Batavia, the only player in double digits scoring was Alex Hale with 11 points. Zach Gilebarto scored nine, Caeden White, eight, and Camden White scored seven.
The Blue Devils are now 7-6 on the season.
A family in Pavilion would like to get their 2003 Chevy Silverado back.
It was stolen at 5:20 this morning.
It's dark gray/black with a light bar, and a plow mount (the plow was not attached at the time it was stolen). The passenger side door handle is broken. There are glow lights under the truck and the front license plate is on the driver's side grill. There is a plastic toolbox across the bed of the truck.
Whoever stole the truck apparently headed north on Roanoke Road because there was sheet steel in the bed of the truck that fell out.
State Police took the stolen vehicle report. The State Police can be reached at (585) 344-6200. A friend of the owner, Jessica Wolcott, can be reached at (585) 815-3625.
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A woman who was driving an SUV struck head-on on Route 5 in East Pembroke yesterday morning has died, according to the Genesee County Sheriff's Office.
Patricia L. Dzienciol, 50, of Akron, succumbed to her injuries at the Erie County Medical Center.
Dzienciol was driving a 2015 Nissan Rogue westbound in the area of 2700 Main Road at 7:14 a.m. when 1997 Mercury sedan crossed over from the eastbound lane and struck her vehicle. The Rogue traveled off the north shoulder and overturned in a roadside ditch.
The driver of the Mercury, Kathleen Swanekamp, 84, of Roswell Avenue, Tonawanda, was cited for allegedly driving at a speed that was not safe nor prudent and for failure to stay in the right lane.
At the time of the accident, snow was falling and roadways were wet and slushy. East Pembroke Chief Don Newton said the conditions made it difficult for volunteers to respond to the scene both quickly and cautiously.
UPDATE: Audio on the video (finally) fixed.
One of the drivers involved in a serious injury accident at 7:14 a.m. on Route 5 in East Pembroke was cited for two alleged traffic violations following an investigation into the collision.
Kathleen A. Swanekamp, 84, of Roswell Avenue, Tonawanda, was cited for allegedly driving faster than was safe or prudent for the conditions and for failure to stay in the right lane of traffic.
According to the accident report prepared by Deputy Nicholas Chamoun, Swanekemp was eastbound on Main Road east of Barrett Road when her 1997 Mercury sedan crossed into the westbound lane.
The car collided head-on with a 2015 Nissan SUV driven by Patricia Dzienciol, 50, of Golden Pond Estates, Akron. Dzienciol's vehicle overturned in a ditch on the north shoulder and East Pembroke Chief Don Newton said it was a lengthy process to extricate her from the vehicle.
Swanekamp had two passengers: William J. Danek, 26, and Daniel Cordner, 42. A passenger in the rear seat of Swanekamp's sedan also required extrication.
All four patients were taken to the trauma center at ECMC.
CORRECTION: Earlier we listed the registered owner of the SUV, not the driver. The driver was Patricia Dzienciol.
UPDATE: Audio corrected on the video.
As part of Catholic Schools Week on Sunday, St. Joe's held it's third annual "Slime Off."
Press release:
New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, a key member of President Trump’s impeachment defense team and a rising conservative star, endorsed Chris Jacobs today for Congress in New York’s 27th District.
“In 2016 Republican and Conservative Party leaders turned to Chris Jacobs to reclaim a critical seat in the state senate that helped maintain control of the chamber and ensured a check on Governor Andrew Cuomo,” Stefanik said. “Now we’re turning to Chris again to win another tough election because he’s a proven conservative leader we can count on to stand with President Trump to defeat the socialist agenda of Washington Democrats, defend the Second Amendment, stop illegal immigration and put America first. I’m proud to endorse Chris Jacobs for Congress.”
Jacobs was nominated Saturday by Republican leaders as their nominee for the 27th District special election.
Jacobs is a conservative reformer, small businessman and New York State Senator representing Erie County in Western New York. First elected to the Senate in 2016 and re-elected in November of 2018, Chris has been a strong voice for Western New York, fighting against policies driven by New York City political interests that are harmful to the region.
Prior to his election to the Senate, Jacobs was the first Republican Clerk elected in Erie County in 40 years. As County Clerk, Jacobs drove dramatic efficiencies without increasing the number of employees and ran the county’s Pistol Permit Division, where he gained recognition for his strong defense of 2nd Amendment rights during the passage of the New York SAFE Act.
Jacobs is the founder and owner of Avalon Development. Founded in 2002, Avalon has redeveloped many vacant and historic buildings in Western New York.
In 1994, Jacobs founded the BISON Scholarship Fund, a charity that has provided scholarships for more than 20,000 children throughout Western New York.
Jacobs and his wife, Martina, have a daughter, Anna.
In an overtime game Saturday night, Oakfield-Alabama beat Warsaw 74-70.
Kaden Cusmano scored 18 points for the Hornets. Gaige Armbrewster scored 12, and Kam Cusmano scored 10.
Photos by Kristen Smith. For more photos, click here.
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