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No Thanksgiving at community center, but water on the way, Bethany supervisor says

By Joanne Beck
Tanker at Bethany
A tanker filled with 6,700 gallons of water arrives early Wednesday morning in Bethany. 
Photo submitted by Carl Hyde

All things considered, Bethany Town Supervisor Carl Hyde was in fairly good spirits Tuesday evening after making phone calls to Bethany residents for three hours to, as he put it, serve as an early Grinch and rob them of their holiday. 

Those people had been planning on celebrating Thanksgiving at the town’s Community Center because they didn’t have water in their own homes. On Tuesday morning, the Community Center went dry as well. 

Bethany residents will have opportunity to fill water totes Saturday

By Joanne Beck

Bethany Town Supervisor Carl Hyde Jr. would like all town of Bethany residents to know that there will be a first come-first served opportunity for them to fill up their 250 and 500-gallon totes from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

You are asked to only use the Bethany Center

Bethany town residents with dry wells asked to contact town hall

By Press Release

Press Release:

Today we received a tanker of water from the NY State Office of Emergency Management to temporarily provide water to our residents experiencing dry wells.

For those residents affected, please call 585-343-1399, Ext. 202, and leave your full name, address and phone number. You will then be contacted

Getting their fill: Few residents show to first-time call to fill water totes, more dates set

By Joanne Beck
bethany water tanker nov. 2023
Bethany Town Board member Timothy Embt helps out at the water tanker on Saturday at the town hall parking lot.
Photo by Howard Owens

Jerry Kujawski had no trouble with Saturday’s rule of first-come, first-served to fill up his 300-gallon water tote. In fact, he made a return trip to fill it up a second time to help out a neighbor, and he was only the third or fourth person who had been at Bethany Town Hall to do so for the two-hour fill-up period.

When it seemed as though there would have been dozens of people clamoring for a go at the pump connected to a tanker of water to shore up their dried-up wells, the parking lot was empty most of the time. 

Town Supervisor Carl Hyde Jr. had put out the notice that anyone with no water could get their totes filled between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday at the town hall, and he and members of the Bethany town board and fire department stood at the tanker ready and waiting.

Paper plates and plasticware: modern day life without running water

By Joanne Beck

One’s lifestyle most definitely changes without running water, he said. You microwave your meals, eat on paper plates and use plastic cutlery. Showers are taken at obliging family members’ homes, and dirty clothes are taken care of at a laundromat.

There’s no turning on the tap, hopping in the shower or taking anything for granted when it comes to a steady stream of that liquid gold labeled H2O.

Police Beat: Attica man accused of sending threatening messages on Facebook

By Howard B. Owens

Joshua John King, 21, of 42 Genesee St., Attica, is charged with harassment, 2nd. King is accused of using his account on Facebook to send threatening messages to another Facebook member.

William D. Hirsch III, 23, of 11025 Buckman Road, Bethany, is charged with burglary, 2nd, criminal contempt

187-year-old home in Stafford destroyed by fire

By Howard B. Owens

In 1823, James Monroe was president, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison were still alive, and it would be more than six decades before Thomas Edison would start the first electric company.

It was also the year a brick house was built at 9418 Roanoke Road.

Today, electricity sparked a fire

Two-story house fire on Route 20 in Alexander

By Billie Owens

A two-story house fire is reported in Alexander at 3971 Broadway Road -- Route 20.

The location is between Brown's Mill and Telephone roads.

Alexander Fire Department is responding, along with a ladder truck and tanker from the Town of Batavia.

East Pembroke and Darien will also be helping or

Catherine "Kay" Hull

By Joshua Smith

Batavia - Mrs. Catherine "Kay" Hull, 89, of Batavia, died Thursday, (July 8, 2010)at the Eastside Nursing Home, in Warsaw. 

Mrs. Hull was born November 16, 1920 in Wethersfield, N.Y., a daughter of the late Ernest V. and Helen (Hackett) Squire.

She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Resurrection Parish - St. Joseph's Church and its Sodality and also worked at the former E.N. Rowell Box Factory in Batavia. Mrs. Hull enjoyed knitting, crocheting and spending time with her grandchildren.

Survivors include a daughter, Linda (Lynn) Tedford of Attica; three grandchildren, Robert (Stephanie) Tedford of East Bethany, William Tedford of Batavia and Katherine Tedford of Attica; two brothers, Vincent (Irma) Squire of Batavia and Lt. Colonel William (Mitzi) Squire, Retired of Fayetteville, N.C.; two sisters, Norrine Keem of Cowlesville and Florence DiMatteo of Oakfield; two sisters-in-law, Theresa Squires of Warsaw and Doris (Alan) Hansen of Stafford; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

She is the wife of the late Elmer Hull and sister of the late Edwin Squires.

Calling hours are Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Bohm-Calarco-Smith Funeral Home, 308 East Main Street, Batavia. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9:30 a.m. Monday at Resurrection Parish - St. Joseph's Church, 303 East Main Street, Batavia. Burial will be in Grandview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Attica Fire Department, 11 Water Street, Attica, New York 14011 or Grandview Cemetery, P.O. Box 581, Batavia, New York 14021.Condolences may be made at www.bataviafuneralhomes.com.

 

Presentation offers lessons, urges residents to test homes for radon

By Joanne Beck
Sherri Bensley and Allysa Pascoe
Sherri Bensley, left, and Allysa Pascoe, of Genesee and Orleans Health Department, give a presentation about radon during this week's City Council meeting at City Hall. Free test kits are available at the health department to find out your home's level for this odorless, tasteless radioactive gas.
Photo by Howard Owens.

If you were asked to name the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, it may surprise you that the answer is not second hand smoke, often portrayed as perhaps the most dangerous substance to lungs for those exposed to the fumes of others.

Unsolved, Part 2: Separate drowning cases continue to bedevil investigator

By Howard B. Owens

Annie Lee and Eddie Freson probably never met. One lived in Batavia, the other in Brockport. One died in 1997, the other in 2000.

But when media coverage turns to unsolved deaths in Genesee County, Lee and Freson are inseparably linked.

Both deaths are officially listed as accidental drownings, but

Veronica Kornowski Wojtas

By Ronald Konieczny

Veronica (nee, Marciniak) Kornowski Wojtas, formerly of Batavia, died Wednesday (July 21, 2010)  in Covington, LA.  She was born in Buffalo on June 20, 1912 a daughter of the late Francis and Mary Anna Majerowicz Marciniak.

She is the wife of the late Walter Kornowski and is survived by their children: Walter Kownowski Jr. (Nilly Levine) of Bethany, WV, Gail Kornowski (Ron) Case) of Covington, LA and Claudia Kornowski (William) Bearman of Eden Praire, MN.

She was also married to the late Wlater Wojtas who is survived by Dolores Wojtas (Al) Parkhurst of Batavia.   Nine grandchildren:  Lincoln (Heather Barranger) Case, Tyler (Joanna Brandt) Case, Adam Case, Nicole Bearman Parks, Jennifer Bearman Heiken, Bob (Wilamina) Parkhursst, Cheryl Parkhurst (Charles) Andre, Debra Kornowski (late Michael) Giblin and Dorine Kornowski (Peter) Laack.  Ten great grandchildren: Maggy, Lilly, Helen and Julia Case, Chuck, Christina and Matthew Andre, Skylar Giblin and Aidyn Laack. 

While living in Batavia, Veronica was an active member of Sacred Heart Church, the Altar and Rosary Society,  Polish Falconettes and the Polish National Alliance.  I

Visitation will be Thursday(July 29th) at Ascension Parish (Sacred Heart) from 9-10am where a Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10am.  Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in the form of Mass Offerings or to a charity of the donors preference.

Expressions of condolence may be made at: www.mcandrewfuneralhomes.net or www.ejfieldingfh.com

Arrangements were entrusted to the J. Leonard McAndrew Funeral Home, 2 Bogue Ave., Batavia.  Ronald P. Konieczny, director & veteran

Trust fund set up for woman who lost her house in Bethany this morning

By Howard B. Owens

Friends of a BOCES teacher who lost her home in East Bethany to a fire this morning have set up a trust fund to help her. She lost all of her possessions and three pets.

Cassandra Carlsen, who works at East Bethany Presbyterian Church, notified us this afternoon that a

Mrs. Marguerite James Breckenridge

By Joshua Smith
Breckenridge

Marguerite James Breckenridge, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend and neighbor passed from this life on Saturday, November 11, 2023 at the age of 97.

She was born on December 7, 1925 to the late Thomas S. James and Lucille James of Batavia.

Marguerite was married to Robert J. Breckenridge of Bethany, NY, where they had a dairy farm. After retirement, the couple moved to Sarasota, FL and raised beef cattle. Later they located to Wylie, TX and then Keller, TX, then finally relocated back to Bethany.

She is predeceased by her husband, Robert J, Breckenridge, sons, Thomas R. Breckenridge and Robert W. Breckenridge and a granddaughter, Heather D. Smith.

As always, Marguerite was a loving companion and devoted wife through their marriage of 63 years. She was a caring, guiding and adoring mother to Lynda (Mauro) Gaetano of Austin, TX and Stephen (Joanne) Breckenridge of Bethany. She leaves four granddaughters, Jennifer (Shawn) Covert of LeRoy,NY, Bernadette (Larry) DeLaGarza of Austin, TX, Kristen (Joseph) Magyar of Newburgh,NY, Kimberly (Timothy) D'Amico of Batavia, NY, and a step-grandson, David (Katrinia) Gaetano of Atlanta, GA. She is survived by nine great grandchildren, Michael and Matthew Covert, Santiago and Gabriella DeLaGarza, Isabella, Lukas and Vivian Magyar, Macey D'Amico and Adriana Gaetano, who all made her proud.

In her younger years, she was employed by the First National Bank in Batavia, CL Carr's, Chapin Manufacturing and a Nurse's Aide at St. Jerome's Hospital following World War II as a Gray Lady, which was an extension of the American Red Cross. She was active in the Batavia Business & Professional Women's Club, and an active member for many years in the Cerebral Palsy of NYS organization as well as Home Bureau. She also was a member of the First Baptist Church of Batavia.

Marguerite was a strong, resilient and thoughtful person who was a talented homemaker, cook and baker. As the wife of a farmer, she would attend cattle auctions and purchase cows for the dairy herd, help with milking or delivering calves later in the day. During the Blizzard of '77 she opened her home providing meals and lodging to stranded motorists on Route 20.

Marguerite leaves a great void in the hearts of those close to her. She will be dearly missed though memories and the love she shared will live on among family, friends and those whose life she touched. Her family would like to extend a sincere thank you to her nurse, Patti Cunningham, and health care aides, Shirley Farley, Mary Merle, and Linda Jackett, as well as friends, Diane Hall, Darleen Peters, Linda Sanders, Kris Kujawski, and Sunshine.

At Marguerite's request, there will be no calling hours. Private services will be held at the convenience of the family. She will be laid to rest in West Bethany Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials in her name to West Bethany Baptist Church, 10333 West Bethany Road, East Bethany, New York 14054 or Bethany Volunteer Fire Department, 5253 Old Telephone Road, East Bethany, New York 14054. To leave a condolence, share a story or light a candle in her memory, please visit www.bataviafuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the H.E. Turner & Co. Funeral Home, 403 East Main Street, Batavia.

Mrs. Marguerie James Breckenridge

By Joshua Smith
Breckenridge

Marguerite James Breckenridge, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend and neighbor passed from this life on Saturday, November 11, 2023 at the age of 97.

She was born on December 7, 1925 to the late Thomas S. James and Lucille James of Batavia.

Marguerite was married to Robert J. Breckenridge

Landmark Society announces annual preservation awards

By Howard B. Owens

Five Genesee County homeowners and their architecturally significant homes will be honored Saturday by the Landmark Society with a dinner at St. James Episcopal Church in Batavia.

The awards range from praise for restoration work to just doing a good job of maintaining a beautiful, older house.

“Looking around Genesee

Police Beat: Traffic stop leads to drug and weapons charges

By Howard B. Owens

Douglas Grant Goodwin Jr., 19, of Bank Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, criminal possession of a weapon, 4th, and unlawful possession of marijuana. Goodwin was stopped at 1:30 p.m., Monday, on Sheppard Road, Batavia, for allegedly pulling a trailer without registration or

EDWARD BUCZEK SR.

By Joshua Smith

Batavia - Mr. Edward Buczek Sr., 86, longtime resident of Elba and former machinist at Black & Decker in Brockport, died Monday, November 15, 2010 at the Genesee County Nursing Home.

Mr. Buczek was born October 25, 1924 in Perry, a son of the late Michael and Mary Ann Buczek.
 
Mr. Buczek was also a cash crop farmer for many years.
 
His wife, Betty L. Buczek died in 2006.
 
He is survived by five sons, Edward (Sharon) Buczek, Jr. of Elba, Anthony (Michelle) Buczek of East Bethany, Walter Buczek of Batavia, James (Donna) Buczek of Elba, and David Buczek of Elba; a brother, Stanley Buczek of Batavia; seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
 
There are no prior calling hours. Memorial services will be held on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Burdett & Sanford Funeral Home, 11 Maple Avenue, Oakfield. Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, Western New York Chapter, 2805 Wehrle Drive, Suite 6, Williamsville, New York 14221-7380.
 
Condolences may be made at www.burdettandsanford.com.

Donald A. Dundon

By T.J. Woodward

 

Donald A. Dundon, 79 of Batavia, NY, died September 19, 2010 at United Memorial Medical Center. Born February 14, 1931 in Buffalo, New York son of the late Walter (Jeanette Leney) Dundon. Mr. Dundon was retired from the Niagara Mohawk where he worked for 39 years. He served eight years in the Army National Guard, was a member of Terry Hills Golf Course. He was an avid bowler. Mr. Dundon is preceded in death by his wife Joyce (Aubert) Dundon on November 10, 2002 & a son, Robert Dundon, Sr. in 2003.
 
 He is survived by his sons Kevin Dundon of Lancaster, Donald Dundon of Alden, William Dundon of Texas, a daughter Lynette Dundon of Georgia and a step son Rick Flowers of Bethany, NY. One sister Joyce Brown of Cheektowaga and a brother Raymond Dundon of Maryland survive along with 7 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. 
 
There will be no prior calling hours. Friends are invited to attend a funeral service on Thursday, September 23rd at 1:00 p.m. at Gilmartin Funeral Home & Cremation Company, Inc., 329-333 West Main St., Batavia. Interment will take place in Grand View Cemetery. 
 
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the American Cancer Society – 101 John James Audubon Pkwy., Amherst, NY 14228.    For more information or to sign the online guest registry please visit www.gilmartinfuneralhome.com or call (343-8260). Arrangements completed by Gilmartin Funeral Home & Cremation Company, Inc. 329-333 W. Main St. Batavia, NY 14020.
 

Law and Order: Batavia man accused of threatening two people with a knife

By Howard B. Owens
falk mug
Terrance L. Falk

Terrance L. Falk, 25, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon 3rd and menacing 2nd. Falk is accused of threatening two people with a knife during an altercation on Washington Avenue at an undisclosed time on Oct. 24. He was arraigned and ordered back to court at a later date.

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