I've been driving through Stafford in the evenings a lot recently and every time I pass the barn on Griswold Road off Clinton Street Road, I wish I had my camera with me. Yesterday evening, I time my trip for sunset and had my camera with me.
I took the photo above last night after stopping to buy some sweet corn off Route 33 in Stafford.
Below, sunset in Alabama by Joanne Meiser.
Members of the Stafford Country Club opened a 25-year-old time capsule as part of the club's year-long centennial celebration.
Water had gotten into the capsule but it was filled with memorabilia from 1996 when Tiger Woods ruled the golf world -- among the items in the box was a magazine with Woods on the cover. Other items included documents of events from 1996 and the history of the club along with a restaurant menu.
Top two photos by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service.
Pictured above, Jim Owen, Country Club member, Mike McCarthy Pres. Stafford Country Club, Pat Garnish, Chair of Stafford Country Club Centennial Committee, Ralph Garnish, Auctioneer, Candice Bower, Centennial Committee member, Mari -Ellen Lamont, Centennial Committee member/photographer.
Photos below by Mari-Ellen Lamont
Members of the Batavia Society of Artists participated Tuesday evening in a Plein Air painting exhibition at the Stafford Country Club.
The artists spread out over the golf course to paint various landscapes of the club. The event was organized by club member Mari-Ellen Lamont as part of the club's 100th Anniversary Celebration.
The paintings will be sold at auction to benefit Stafford Country Club Scholarship Fund.
Thomas Matthew Bergman, 22, of Park Road, Batavia, is charged with forcible touching. Bergman is accused of touching the intimate parts of a female Uber driver at 12:49 a.m., Aug. 1, at the Relax Inn on Park Road, Batavia. Bergman was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court and released on his own recognizance.
Karrie Morrow, 38, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a substance 7th. Morrow's car was reportedly stopped at 1:15 a.m. on East Avenue on July 31 by Officer John Gombos. Police say K-9 "Batu" alerted on Murrow's purse on the front passenger seat of the vehicle. The purse allegedly contained "illegal contraband." Morrow was processed at the jail and issued an appearance ticket.
Luis Santiago-Arroyo, 33, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Santiago-Arroyo allegedly violated an order of protection by calling the protected party. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Alex Dumbleton, 28, of Batavia, was arrested in Rochester on three bench warrants out of Batavia and for failing to appear as directed on one arrest warrant. The arrest warrant was for alleged burglary 2nd and criminal contempt 2nd. Dumbleton was arraigned in City Court and ordered held on bail pending his next court appearance on Aug. 25.
Carlene Mahoney, 59, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Mahoney allegedly took produces from a store on Ellicott Street without paying on July 28. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Brittany Lynn Bolton, 21, of Main Road, Stafford, is charged with petit larceny. Bolton is accused of stealing $293.80 in merchandise from Walmart in the Town of Batavia. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Joseph Michael Dispenza, 27, of Lewiston Road, Batavia, is charged with two counts of harassment 2nd. Dispenza was allegedly involved in an altercation with two people outside the Autozone at 8347 Lewiston Road, Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Carl Eugene Goodman, 34, of Main Street, Yorkshire, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Goodman allegedly violated a stay-away order of protection by calling the protected party multiple times for no legitimate purpose. Goodman was issued an appearance ticket.
Teresa Marie Stephenson, 31, of Cedar Street, Batavia, and Justin Thomas Stephenson, 36, of Cedar Street, Batavia, are charged with trespass. Teresa and Justin are accused of being inside a building on Bethany Center Road Bethany, at 2:54 a.m., Aug. 6, without permission. Both defendants were issued appearance tickets.
Anthony L. Vanelli, 43, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Vanelli was arrested by State Police in the Town of Batavia at 6:10 p.m., July 28. No further details were released. He was issued an appearance tick.
A Batavia resident figures he missed being involved in a serious accident by one second with a car "easily going 100 mph" on Bank Street Road yesterday.
"(The car) had to swerve towards college road," David Austin told The Batavian in an email. "I thought for sure he was going to wipe out but he corrected and I could hear him accelerate. Scared me more than I have ever been. If I would have made that turn 1 second later I probably wouldn't be here."
The alleged driver of that car was James Matthew Lepore, 23, of Rio Grande Drive, North Chili.
According to the Sheriff's Office, Lepore failed to stop for a deputy who spotted his car exceeding the 55 mph speed limit on Route 33 in Stafford. The deputy pursued and the car continued into the Town of Batavia and then into the city before heading north on Route 98. There law enforcement successfully deployed a spike strip and the car was forced to a halt.
According to the arrest report, Lepore "recklessly engaged in conduct that created a grave risk of death by unlawfully fleeing a deputy in a motor vehicle and intentionally went into the opposite lane of travel causing other motorists to swerve out of the way to avoid a head-on collision, all while traveling at speeds in excess of 90 to 100 mph."
After the stop, Lepore was allegedly found in possession of an unregistered firearm and a controlled substance.
Lepore is charged with:
Lepore was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court and under terms of bail reform released on his own recognizance.
The lead investigators in the case are Deputy Travis DeMuth and Investigator Kevin Forsyth. Assisting in the incident were Sgt. Andrew Hale, Investigator Howard Carlson, Investigator Joseph Loftus, Investigator Ryan DeLong, Deputy Kyle Krzemien, Deputy Josh Brabon, Deputy Kyle Tower, Deputy Andrew Mullen with K-9 "Frankie," members of Batavia PD and the State Police.
A grass field fire covering about an acre erupted at about 11:37 a.m. in Stafford at Sweetland and Roanoke roads. It was moving toward a house.
Stafford Fire Command called for mutual aid from Le Roy, which was just wrapping up a response to a vent fire at a business and an accident in front of Le Roy's Tops. Byron also responded.
The fire was knocked down but then hot spots flared up and had to be snuffed out.
A farmer helped by plowing a furrow around the blaze to help contain it.
Stafford and Byron went back in service at 12:56 p.m.
Photos by Glenn Adams.
SUNY Oswego recently recognized Genesee County residents as high academic achievers on its President’s List and dean's list for the Spring 2021 semester.
President's List students are those attaining semester grade-point averages of 3.8 or higher while carrying required academic credits. Students on the President’s List include:
Alexis N. Begin, of Corfu, Communication
Collin J. Knapp, of Byron, Journalism, History
Chase N. Monachino, of Batavia, History
Dean's list students are those attaining semester grade-point averages between 3.3 and 3.79 while carrying required academic credits. Students on the dean's list include:
Charles T. Burton, of Batavia, Creative Writing
Kelsey Kasmarek, of Stafford, Criminal Justice
SUNY Oswego enrolls nearly 8,000 students in more than 110 academic majors across its College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; School of Business; School of Communication, Media and the Arts; and School of Education. For more information, visit oswego.edu.
Buffalo State College is pleased to congratulate the students from Genesee County who completed the requirements to earn their baccalaureate degrees in Spring 2021.
Carli Bogue, of Elba
Jenna Huntington, of Elba
Michelle McEwen, of Stafford
Angelina Miconi, of Batavia
Miranda Schiller, of Alexander
Samantha Tatarski, of Corfu
Buffalo State is a State University of New York (SUNY) college located in Buffalo. It offers 79 undergraduate majors as well as many minors and certificate programs. Every year, thousands of students benefit from Buffalo State's community engagement, hands-on learning opportunities, and affordable SUNY tuition. Buffalo State also offers more than 60 graduate programs.
Clyde Davonta Hoskins Jr., 29, of Genesee Street, Buffalo, is charged with: criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree -- a loaded firearm; criminal possession of a stolen property in the fourth degree -- a firearm; and tampering with physical evidence. On Tuesday, July 13, Hoskins was arrested after an investigation into a loaded pistol being located in a chicken coop at midnight on Aug. 8, 2020 on Route 237 in the Town of Stafford. He was arraigned in Stafford Town Court at 1:20 p.m. yesterday and released under supervision of Genesee Justice. He is due to return to Stafford Town Court on Aug. 12. The case was investigated by Genesee County Sheriff's Investigator Kevin P. Forsyth.
Brian Michael Raphael, 33, of East Main Road, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. At 3:45 p.m. on July 12, Raphael was arrested after being located by Genesee County Sheriff's deputies after fleeing Walmart. He allegedly stole merchandise from the store. He was processed at the jail and released on an appearance ticket. He is due in Town of Batavia Court on July 20. The case was handled by Deputy Kenneth Quackenbush, assisted by Deputy Nicholas Chamoun.
Nazareth College undergraduate students earned their degrees at the 94th Annual Commencement ceremony that took place at the Golisano Training Center on the Nazareth College campus on May 15.
Nazareth College's academic strengths cross an unusually broad spectrum of 60 majors, including education, health and human services, management, the fine arts, music, theater, math and science, foreign languages, and the liberal arts. The coeducational, religiously independent, classic campus in a charming suburb of Rochester challenges and supports 2,000 undergrads and 800 graduate students. Nazareth is recognized nationally for its Fulbright global student scholars and commitment to civic engagement. Rigorous programs, an uncommon core, experiential learning, career skills, and a global focus prepare graduates for not just one job, but for their life's work.
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.
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.
Kaleb James Bobzien, 23, of Alexander Road, Batavia, is charged with: second-degree strangulation; two counts of criminal obstruction of breathing; and endangering the welfare of a child under age 17. Bobzien was arrested at 8 p.m. June 24 on Alexander Road in Batavia after an incident in which he allegedly obstructed the breathing of two victims, including one juvenile. During an altercation with the two victms, Bobzien is alleged to have placed a blanket over the face of one victim while choking the second victim with his arm. One victim reported an injury to her neck as a result of the choking. Following an investigation, Bobzien was arrested and put in Genesee County Jail with no bail. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Deputy Jacob Gauthier, assisted by Sgt. Andrew Hale.
David Thomas Gay, 40, of Ellicott Street, Batavia is charged with: driving while intoxicated -- first offense; unlawfully fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle in the third degree; second-degree obstruction of governmental administration; resisting arrest; and speeding -- exceeding 55 mph; and refusal to take a breath test. On June 30 at 8:36 p.m., Gay was arrested on Byron Road in Stafford after Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Kenneth Quackenbush tried to stop Gay's vehicle on Route 33 for allegedly violating NYS vehicle and traffic law. Gay eventually stopped a few miles away on Byron Road. It is alleged that Gay was intoxicated and that he resisted arrest. Gay was transported to GC Jail, where he allegedly fought with officers. He was released with appearance tickets and is due in Stafford Town Court on July 9. Quackenbush was assisted by Deputy Jacob Gauthier in this case.
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.
Town of Bethany Justice – Vote for any Two (Republican)
Town of Byron Supervisor – Vote for One (Republican)
Town of Stafford Clerk – Vote for One (Republican)
SUNY Morrisville recently announced those students who were named to the dean's list for the Spring 2021 semester. To be named to the dean's list, a student must achieve a 3.0 to 3.99 grade-point average for the semester and complete 12 credit hours.
SUNY Morrisville's curricula are enriched with applied learning and pave the way for opportunity at both the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. An action-oriented, interactive learning lab, the college is a national leader in technology and has been lauded for its exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs.
The college was ranked among the Best Regional Colleges in the North by U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges 2021 issue and was also recognized in the Top Public Schools, Regional Colleges North in the 2020 Best Colleges rankings. For more information about SUNY Morrisville, visit or connect with us at: www.morrisville.edu, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube.
Press release:
Press release:
EARLY VOTING REMINDER to Republican Primary Voters in Bethany, Byron and Stafford
The location for Early Voting has changed. Early Voting has moved from County Building #2 to the ARC Community Center, 38 Woodrow Road, Batavia.
Contests are ONLY for registered Republicans in Bethany, Byron and Stafford. No other jurisdictions have contests.
Registered Republican voters from those three communities can plan to vote early, if they wish, at the ARC Community Center during the following dates and times:
Primary Election Day is Tuesday, June 22nd, from 6 a.m. - 9 p.m. for the Republican contests in the three jurisdictions: Bethany (Bethany Community Center 10510 Bethany Center Road); Byron (Byron Town Hall, 7028 Route 237); and Stafford (New Town Hall, 8903 Route 237).
There are no contests in any other Genesee County towns or in the city.
Lynn Scarpa, 25, of Le Roy, was arrested June 4 after a five-car collision on North Main Street in the Village of Castile. Scarpa was driving a white 2004 Chevrolet Silverado southbound on North Main Street when her vehicle left the roadway, sideswiping a parked vehicle in front of the post office. Scarpa's vehicle continued southbound, striking a Ford work van from behind, which was also parked in front of the post office. Scarpa's vehicle pushed the work van into a Ford Fusion, which was parked in front of Carney's Market, which then struck a Toyota RAV4 that was parked in front of it. The Fusion was occupied and the occupant was transported by Castile Ambulance to the Wyoming County Community Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. A tow company removed two vehicles from the scene that were not drivable. It is alleged that Scarpa had concentrated cannabis in her pants pocket and throughout her vehicle. She allegedly performed poorly on field sobriety tests and was taken into custody, transported to the Wyoming County Sheriff's Office and evaluated by a Drug Recognition Expert. The expert reportedly deemed her impaired by multiple categories of drugs. She is charged with: driving while ability impaired by drugs; DWAI by the combined influence of drugs; and moving from lane unsafely. She was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Town of Castile Court on June 14. Scarpa was released to a sober third party. The case was handled by Wyoming County Sheriff's Sgt. Colin Reagan.
Michael Snyder, 49, is charged with second-degree harassment. He was arrested June 3 at 9:59 a.m. for an incident that occurred at 10:10 p.m. May 30 on Highland Park in Batavia. Snyder allegedly threw an unopened can of beer at another person, striking the person in the head. Snyder was processed, issued an appearance ticket and released. He is due in Batavia City Court June 22.
Kevin McCoy, 54, was arrested by Batavia Police Officer Peter Post and charged with second-degree harassment after a disturbance at 4:11 p.m. June 2 on East Main Street. It is alleged that McCoy struck a female during an argument. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court, released on his own recognizance and is due back in court June 10.
Eric Swede, 32, was arrested at 10:05 a.m. May 26 and charged with criminal contempt in the second degree after a complainant alleged he violated a stay away order of protection by being in the presence of a protected party. His presence was confirmed by police. Swede was issued an appearance ticket to be in Batavia City Court at a later date, then released from custody.
Brandon Crawford, 19, is charged with two counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief. He was arrested at 10:50 a.m. May 24 on Ross Street in the City of Batavia after he allegedly broke a front door and a closet door that did not belong to him during a domestic incident on Vine Street. Crawford was arraigned in city court and released on his own recognizance. He is due back in court July 8.
Michael Fisher, 51, is charged with: operating a motor vehicle without a license; driving while intoxicated with a BAC of .08 percent or more; driving without head lamps; drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle; and aggravated unlicensed operation in the third degree. At 10:33 p.m. on May 30, Fisher was arrested after a traffic stop on Ellicott Street in the city. He was issued an appearance ticket for Batavia City Court and released from custody.
Kyle John Gugel, 35, of Genesee Street, Le Roy, is charged with refusal to take a breath test and driving while intoxicated. At 1:52 a.m. on May 18, deputies conducted a traffic stop for speeding over 55 mph in the 5700 block of Clinton Street Road in the Town of Stafford. Gugel was allegedly operating the vehicle while intoxicated and he was issued appearance tickets returnable to Stafford Town Court June 1. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Zachary Hoy, assisted by Deputy Nicholas Chamoun.
Joanne Krutchen Harper, 56, of County Road 16, Dalton, is charged with petit larceny. She was arrested at 4:32 p.m. on June 3 after a police investigation into a larceny on Vallance Road in the Town of Le Roy May 30. She was issued appearance tickets and released from custody. Harper is due in Le Roy Town Court on June 17. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Jenna Ferrando, assisted by Deputy Jonathan Dimmig.
Lindsey Densmore, 26, was arrested May 31 and charged with petit larceny after an investigation into the theft of $166.38 worth of merchandise from a business in the City of Batavia at 4:20 p.m. that day. She was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Batavia City Court at a later date.
Tierance Davis, 34, was arrested May 26 on a bench warrant out of Batavia City Court for failing to appear in court on March 22. He was processed at Batavia Police Headquarters and released. Davis is due back in court June 15.
Tierance Davis, 34, is charged with third-degree bail jumping. He was arrested at 1 p.m. April 24 on West Main Street in Batavia on a warrant out of Batavia City Court. He was processed at Batavia Police Headquarters and released. Davis is due back in court June 15.
A "large" grass fire is reported in the area of Clinton Street Road and Horseshoe Lake Road, Stafford, near the roadway.
Stafford fire is responding.
UPDATE 11:15 a.m.: The fire is an attended controlled burn. Stafford is standing down.
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