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James H. Peters

By T.J. Woodward

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  James H. Peters, age 82, of Perry, passed away Sunday December 25, 2022 at the LeRoy Village Green where he had been residing. He was born in Franklinville, NY on March 26, 1940 a son to the late Ralph B. and Florence M. (Beach) Peters. Along with his parents he is preceded in death by a son: Jerry Peters who passed away in 2021

Jim was a bus driver for the Wyoming County Transit where he was known as driver #1. He was a former volunteer for the Pike Fire Department, and former Boy Scout Leader. He enjoyed trapping, hunting snowmobiling, crafting, playing cards and board games and was an avid Buffalo Bills Fan.

He survived by his companion of 36 years Andrea L. MacGonegal of LeRoy, 4 daughters: Lisa (Scott) Falkner of LeRoy, Judith (Robert) Wilson of Frenchburg, Kentucky, Ahrena Dean of Florida, Michele Garman of Webster, 2 sons: James B. Peters Sr. of Attica, James R. (Angela) Peters of Warsaw, his beloved pet dog: Toby, brother John Peters of Wisconsin, Grandchildren James B. Peters Jr., Bethany E. Peters, Abigail M. Peters, Joshua M. Peters, Shanna R. (Dave) Nieman, Kevin E. (Ashley) MacGonegal, Courtney L. MacGonegal, Robert (Wendy) Wilson, Thomas Wilson, Walter (Kashen) Wilson along with many other grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life gathering will be held on Friday December 30th at the Perry Fireman’s Building located in the Perry Village Park in Perry from 12-4PM.

For more information please call (585) 237-2626 or to leave a message of condolence visit www.eatonwatsonfuneralhome.com. Arrangements completed by Eaton-Watson Funeral Home, LLC. 98 North Main Street Perry, New York 14530.

Lorraine Susan Anderson

By Lisa Ace


Lorraine Susan Anderson, age 60, of Batavia NY, passed away on Monday, January 31st, 2022, at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester after a brief and brave battle with cancer. She was born in Niagara Falls, NY on July 1, 1961. Lori was a 1979 graduate of Elba Central School and received her A.S. in Accounting from Genesee Community College in 1981. She was employed as a mail clerk at G.C.C. for the past 24 years.  Lori also was the bookkeeper for her husband’s business, Anderson’s Appliance Repair.

Lori was well known for loving butterflies and the color purple.  She was an avid crafter and talented art quilter. Lori was an active member of the Museum Quilt Guild and Art C Girlz groups of Batavia where she always looked forward to showcasing her work at their quilt shows and participating in their classes and retreats.  Lori also enjoyed photography, gardening in her backyard, researching her family genealogy, and searching for signs of bigfoot in Salt Fork, Ohio.  Her caring and thoughtful personality will be forever loved and missed by all.

She is survived by her loving husband of 38 years, William Anderson; her two children, Bethany (Benjamin) Gillard of Lancaster and Bryan (Allison) Anderson of Fairport; her beloved grandson, Luke Anderson; her parents, Lawrence Cassatt of Batavia, and Shirley Cassatt of Batavia; her siblings, Lawrence (Patricia) Cassatt of Elba and Cindy (Robert) Elliott of Batavia; as well as many other family members and friends.

Keeping with Lori’s request, a celebration of her life will be held at a park at a later date. 

The family requests that any memorial contributions be made in honor of Lori to Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, P. O. Box 631, Buffalo, NY 14240 or Wilmot Cancer Institute Development Office, Alumni and Advancement Center, 300 E. River Road, PO Box 278996, Rochester, NY 14627.

Ha​rold E. Knapp

By Lisa Ace


Ha​rold E. Knapp, 85, of Lyndonville NY went to be with our Lord and Savior on Monday, April 10th, 2023 at his home. Born on November 30 th,1937 in Syracuse NY, he was the son of the late Edward and Rose (Hildreth) Knapp.

Harold moved and attended Attica Central School, and was later employed at General Electric / Black and Decker until they closed. He then went to work at Genesee Community College in the maintenance department. He enjoyed raising and breeding poultry for exhibition, where he showed with-in NYS and beyond. He worked with the youths of 4H for 2-1/2 decades sharing his passion of poultry and showmanship. When not doing 4H shows, you could find him spending time with his lovely wife, and in his garden where he planted a variety of vegetables and flowers. He was an active member of Alabama Full Gospel Fellowship Church in Medina NY.

He is survived by his children Edward (Hope) Knapp of Alexander, and Donald Knapp of Indiana. James and Robert Vanderwoude, both of Medina, Linda (Henry Azcue) Vanderwoude of Brooklyn, 3 grandsons, Jonathan (Amirose) Knapp of Leroy, Michael (Nicole) Knapp of Batavia, Joshua (Brandy) Knapp of Bethany, granddaughter in-law Shannon Daugherty of North Adams MA, Travis Vanderwoude of Florida, along with 8 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he is predeceased by sisters Mary Nelson, Pat Williams and Joyce Knapp.

Friends and family are welcome to attend a memorial service in Harold's honor at 11:00 AM on Saturday, May 13 th, 2023 at the Alabama Full Gospel Church, 5329 Gravel Road Medina, NY 14103. Memorials may be made in Harold's name to the AFGF at the address listed above. Arrangements were entrusted to the Bogan & Tuttle Funeral Home, 226 Pearl St. Medina, NY 14103. Please light a candle or share a memory of Harold at: www.bogantuttlefunerals.com

Law and Order: Man accused of stealing vehicle, fleeing from police

By Howard B. Owens
Shawn Wisniewski

Shawn R. Wisniewski, 33, no permanent address, is charged with grand larceny 3rd, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and burglary 3rd. At 7:29 a.m. on Oct. 25, police received a report of a suspicious person in a parking lot on Bank Street. A male was reportedly trying

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

By Howard B. Owens
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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.

Law and Order: Bank Street residents accused of abandoning an animal in a cage

By Howard B. Owens

Andrew A. Searight, 35, of Batavia, and Jerrtonia A. Scarbrough, 24, of Batavia, are charged with aggravated cruelty to animals. Searight and Scarbrough are accused of abandoning an animal in a cage for an extended period of time at a residence on Bank Street.  The incident was reported at 9:18 a.m

Ethyl I. Sojda

By T.J. Woodward

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Ethyl I. Sojda, age 84, of Creek Rd, Batavia, NY, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on April 8th, 2022. Ethyl was born in Batavia as the only daughter of the late Vincent N. and Ruth M. Kirch. She was a life-long resident of Alexander, NY.

After graduating from Alexander Central School, she held various jobs until she married her late husband, John F. Sojda, Jr. in 1961 and raised three children. As a dedicated mother she could be seen braving any weather to watch her children’s sporting events. She returned to work in 1977 and held a number of positions with local companies over the following thirty years. In her last role she was a Loose Ends hostess managing the GCC cafeteria where many folks came to enjoy her kind and pleasant personality and her dedicated work ethic.

Though a long-time crocheter, later in life she became a serious quilter and active in the Batavia Museum Quilt Guild. She produced a number of quilts for family and friends that are still enjoyed daily.

For a number of years, she was also a volunteer with All Babies Cherished. It was not uncommon to see her with her knitting material creating baby hats for the regional hospital system. For many years she was an assistant to John Sojda, Jr. in his role as Alexander Town Justice. Part of her charm and grace was how resiliently and quietly she met life’s challenges—both her own and those of others who knew her.

Ethyl is survived by her sons John and Steve (Barb), her daughter Ann, five grandchildren; Lily Whisman, Jacob (Paige), Stephanie (Patrick) Guarino, Michelle (Andrew) James , and Angela (Martin) Pohl, great-grandchildren; Ezekiel Guarino, Emily and Eli James, Alex, and Maria Pohl. She was preceded by her brother Merlin Kirch and has 4 surviving brothers (Ralph, Arnold, Harold, and Myron), and many nieces and nephews.

Mass at St. Mary's in Batavia at 9:30am Saturday June 25th followed by a graveside service at West Bethany Cemetery. Lunch to follow at her home at

9926 Creek Rd.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alexander Rescue Squad PO Box 336 Alexander, NY 14005 or Homecare & Hospice 29 Liberty St. Suite 6 Batavia, NY 14020. For more information please call (585) 591-1212 or to leave a message of condolence visit www.marleyfuneralhome.com. Arrangements completed by Marley Funeral Home, LLC, 135 Main Street, Attica, NY 14011

Law and Order: Multi-agency, months long investigation yields three suspects in mobile device fraud

By Howard B. Owens
jerome ware
Jerome E. Ware

Jerome E. Ware, 59, of New Rochelle, is charged with two counts of identity theft 1st and grand larceny third. Joel A. Rojas Perallon, 20, and Raul DeLeon DeLeon, 30, both of New York City, were charged with identity theft 1st, grand larceny 3rd, and scheme to defraud 1st. Ware's arrest came after a report on April 8, 2022, in Wyoming County, of a person misrepresenting himself as a Verizon Wireless employee. 

Three Pavilion alumni inducted into school's Hall of Fame

By Press Release

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The Pavilion Hall of Fame inducted three new members on Friday: Jack McGee, a veteran of WWII, Diane Davis Torcello, a banker and community activist, and TJ Majors, a NASCAR spotter.

The family of McGee received a U.S. flag, which had been flown over the Pentagon. Torcello shared stories of her work and volunteer contributions. 

New report addresses growing crisis in county's fire and EMS coverage

By Howard B. Owens

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There is a crisis brewing in fire and EMS coverage in Genesee County, but it's invisible to most area residents, according to a report released this week by the Office of Emergency Management.

The report was prepared by Municipal Resources, a consulting firm hired to review the state of fire

History of once-prominent black resident of Batavia coming to light with new research

By Press Release

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Article by Sharon Burkel
Batavia Cemetery Association

Many famous and influential citizens are buried in the Historic Batavia Cemetery on Harvester Avenue, and their stories are familiar to many. The founding families of Batavia: the Ellicotts, the Richmonds, the Brisbanes, and the Carys; the Confederate soldier Philemon Tracy and his uncle

Law and Order: Batavia man accused of sex abuse of child in 2018

By Howard B. Owens
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Ronald Washburn

Ronald M. Washburn, 62, of Vine Street, Batavia, is charged with sexual abuse 1st/child less than 11 years old. Washburn is accused of touching a child's sexual or intimate parts to gratify his sexual desire. According to police, Washburn was the child's babysitter at the time of the

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