Millwork on Jackson Street, both north and south of Ellicott Street, in Batavia, began on Monday in preparation for resurfacing the street.

Photos by Howard Owens.

Contractors, as they've did through most of the winter, continue to make progress on construction of the Ellicott Station apartment complex.

For prior coverage, click here.

Photos by Howard Owens.

The space left vacant by Valu Home Center for the last 20 months on the city's west side is under construction by its future occupant, Mike Conroy says.

The commercial broker for the property at 4152 W. Main St., Batavia, confirmed Monday that Ashley Home Furniture plans to move into the building at Valu Plaza that was emptied by the longtime hardware store in September 2022.

"Their target date was in June, but some things had to be addressed," Conroy told The Batavian. "It might be July."

Ashley sells room-to-room furnishings and has 37 store locations in New York, according to its website, with sites including Amherst and Henrietta.

Photos by Howard Owens

Genesee County's justice system took another step forward on Monday in the prosecution of Michael J. Elmore, implicated in the March 10 death of Sgt. line-of-duty death Thomas A. Sanfratello, and co-defendant Lyndsey J. Wilcox.

Both Elmore and Wilcox appeared in County Court before Judge Donald O'Geen for the first time and their attorneys, on their behalf, entered not-guilty pleas to the criminal indictments filed against each of them.

What can you accomplish in six and a half minutes with a photographic feline, some choice hometown architecture and a $5,000 grant?

Batavia native and film producer James DiLullo will answer that soon enough with his self-penned work, “Kitty,” which he plans to shoot in his hometown next month with a local cast and crew.

Volunteers for Animals celebrated its 40th anniversary on Saturday at Batavia First Presbyterian Church.

Previously: Chamber Awards: VFA earns special recognition in its 40th year caring for animals

Lance Donald Beals, 53, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with menacing 2nd.  Beals is accused of pointing and shooting a BB gun toward another person, placing that person in fear of injury at 7:16 a.m. on May 14 at a location on West Main Street Road, Batavia. He was arraigned and released.

Nathan Wayne Campbell, 43, of Oak Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Campbell was accused of stealing merchandise from Walmart at 12:56 p.m. on May 13. He was released on an appearance ticket.

The City of Batavia Fire Department will be flushing fire hydrants on Monday, May 20, and Tuesday, May 21, and Wednesday, May 22 from approximately 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the general area of North of East Main Street and East of Bank Street.

Homes and businesses nearby will be affected. These tests may result in a temporary discoloration of water in that area. As in the past, please do not attempt to wash any clothing if your water appears discolored. If you do experience a discoloration of your water, run cold water for about 5 minutes or until clear.

This annual testing is essential to maintain the communities class III Insurance Services Office (ISO) public protection classification and to assure that fire hydrants are operating efficiently for fire protection purposes.

Along with maintaining the fire rating, the test monitors the health of the city's water system, identifies weak areas in the system, and removes material that settles in the water lines.

Checking each hydrant improves fire department personnel knowledge of the hydrant locations. If you have any questions or should notice a hydrant in need of repair, please contact the fire department at 585-345-6375.

Allie Schwerthoffer of Batavia, was one of 45 SUNY Cortland transfer students inducted into Tau Sigma National Honor Society on Monday, April 1.

Tau Sigma, including its SUNY Cortland Pi chapter, is an academic honor society designed to recognize and promote the academic excellence and involvement of transfer students.

To qualify, students must have transferred to SUNY Cortland from another academic institution with at least one full year's academic credits satisfied and must have a minimum grade point average of 3.5 after earning 12 or more credits at Cortland.

More than 90 students, families, faculty, and staff attended the ceremony in the Corey Union Function Room, hosted by the Advisement and Transition Office. President Erik J. Bitterbaum provided a welcome and Ryan Vooris, chair of the sport management department and transfer student himself, presented the keynote address.

This year was the 20th year for the Pi chapter at SUNY Cortland, which has inducted over 1,000 students since 2004.

A tractor-trailer and car have collided at Jackson Street and Ellicott Street, Batavia.

Injuries are reported. 

Traffic is blocked.

City Fire responding.

UPDATE 9:37 p.m.: Two patients critical, both pinned. 

UPDATE 11 p.m.: Capt. Bob Fix said both patients appeared to be in serious condition following the accident and were transported to Strong Memorial Hospital by ground ambulance. At least one of them may have been transported by Mercy Flight crews hadn't been grounded by weather. The Sheriff's Office Crash Management Team was requested to the scene to conduct a thorough investigation. In the preliminary stages, Batavia police officers have no information on what may have occurred leading to the accident.  The truck driver was not injured. There were only two people in the passenger vehicle.  

Photos by Howard Owens.