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All day long sledders of all ages enjoyed being out in Centennial Park. The winter fun and tradition continues. 

Photos by Jim Burns.

A reader from Corfu submitted this photo.

Growing up in Batavia in the 1950s provided kids with a lots of opportunities for winter outdoor fun. There were a couple reasons for this: first, there was a lot more snow to play in.

The average temperature in this area has risen almost a degree and a half in the last 50 years and the average low temperature has gone up double that amount. Even though we receive more winter precipitation, a lot of it falls as rain. You can't really build a rainman or have a rainball war.

Secondly, there are a lot more indoor electronic entertainment options now. I'm not gonna go all grumpy old guy (although I sometimes am him) and criticize kids for phones, video games, etc.. It's just a different time.

All Bundled Up

Back then in order to make it through a snowy cold outdoors day, kids had to dress warmly. This involved a lot of bulky clothes and some help from your mother. I have mentioned the movie “A Christmas Story" in my reminiscences before, but if you picture Ralphie's little brother Randy having so many clothes on that his arms wouldn't stay down, that describes us perfectly.

A bittersweet memory for me is that in 1997 my mother had a heart attack. The doctor told us that it was fatal and she only had a short time to live. As I sat trying to comfort her, I asked, “Mom, what's your favorite memory from when we were kids?” She replied, “ I think it has to be you guys (I had two younger brothers) going out to play in the snow.”

Sledding And Skating

Until age 10 I lived on Thomas and Ellicott avenues, so sledding at the State (Street) Park (now known as Centennial Park) was one of our winter activities. It was a pretty short walk there with our wooden Flexible Flyer sleds and we'd stay there all afternoon until our hands were frozen into our mittens.

I recall that over toward the west end of the park hill there was a tree that for some reason had a raised earthen circle around its base. It wasn't that high, but everyone tried to start from it to get a little extra boost in speed.

In 1957 we moved to North Spruce Street and had a lot more yard room to make snow forts and have snowball wars. Also, in the late '50s and through the '60s we got a LOT of snow.

Like most kids then, we did get ice skates for a Christmas present one year. I never did enough skating to be any good at it, but I do remember going to a rink at Williams Park on Pearl Street. One time my friend Charlie's older teenage sister who could drive dropped us off and agreed to be back at a certain time. Well, she was a teenager so she was late. Very late. By the time she got there we were on the verge of crying because our feet were so cold. I think Charlie blistered her ears pretty good as we drove home to thaw out.

On Jan. 15^th 1994 I went to the coldest game in Buffalo Bills' history, a playoff game against the (then) Los Angeles Raiders with a wind chill of -32 degrees. My feet did not get as cold as that day skating in Batavia. Mostly because I was prepared with three pairs of socks and felt-lined boots. Also, because a teenage girl didn't go necking with her boyfriend and leave me there.

When we moved to North Spruce we were the last house on the east side of the street. A couple years later someone began constructing a house on the lot to our north.

Something got delayed and the basement walls were poured, but then it was left open and water got in there. We discovered by climbing down a wooden ladder that there was a sheet of ice there when the water froze. So one winter before it was closed in, we'd go down there and play hockey. Well, hockey as played by several kids who really couldn't skate on a rink about 25-yards long.

Snowball Shenanigans

Snowball wars were usually fun unless you caught one in the face. When we lived on North Spruce Street we used to go to East Main Street and bombard semi-trucks. On the north side of Main between North Spruce and Eastown Plaza there was a hill with apartment buildings on top (I'm not sure how long the hill has been gone, but I only noticed it recently). We'd go up there at night and launch our icy missles at the rear part of the trucks as they lumbered by.

While living on Thomas or Ellicott avenues my younger brother Dan and I used to take hikes out State Street Road to the airport and back. In the cold weather Mom would pack us some sandwiches and a thermos of chicken noodle soup to fortify us on our journey.

One time though snowballs got us in trouble. We got the less-than-brilliant idea to throw them at cars on the New York State Thruway from the State Street Bridge. A State Trooper saw us, turned on his flashing lights, pulled over, and came up the embankment after us. We were too terrified to run (we were probably 9 and 6 years old) and appropriately froze to the spot.

The trooper gave us a good chewing out and told us if he caught us endangering drivers like that again he'd put us in his car and take us to our house. He ordered us to be sure to tell our parents what we had done, but I can't remember if we actually did or not. That might have been one of those cases like climbing the water tower when you told them years later -- when there was no chance of punishment.

Getting the Boot

Another memorable winter incident happened on Cedar Street. My aunts Kate and Peg lived by the sand wash (now DeWitt Recreation Area) and one snowy day my brother and I had been playing somewhere past there by either the Peanut or Lehigh Valley railroad tracks.

On the way home I decided to take us on a shortcut by skirting the icy edge of one of the ponds. Suddenly, my boot sank into the snow and water started coming up around it. I was overcome by fear since us kids had heard that those ponds were hundreds of feet deep. I pulled and tugged, but my booted foot was stuck solidly.

Dan started toward me to help, but I yelled at him to get back fearing the extra weight. I yanked my leg one more time and my leg came free but the boot stayed entrenched in the slush.

I scrambled up the bank onto solid ground (under the snow), but momentarily debated in my mind whether to try to get the boot. I had seriously pictured the ice giving way and me sinking underneath so it wasn't much of a choice. I was getting the heck out of there.

I began running as fast as I could with only a wet sock on my foot through the cold and snow to our aunts' with little brother tagging behind.

As I was running, already my devious kid mind, while glad to be alive, was thinking of a way to get out of trouble. We had been warned many times to stay away from those ponds.

Aunt Kate's face turned white as I came bursting through the door possibly crying (although mostly fake I think) and blurting out a story about how I made a mistake and my boot got stuck in some water and I had to run miles (maybe a quarter of a mile) through the snow in my sock and that I'd never go near there in the winter again, and so on.

I don't think I ever saw Aunt Kate wear anything but what she called a “house dress” and she was certainly not an “outdoorsy” person, but she took Dan and went and retrieved my boot. I don't think I ever asked how, but she lectured me at length about going near the water. I don't think she ratted me out to my parents though.

Driveway Duties

At some point in the late '50s, not too long after we moved to North Spruce Street, my dad had to have surgery, so at age 11 or 12 I became responsible for shoveling the driveway. As I mentioned earlier, we got a lot of snow those winters and it was a constant battle for a kid to keep that passage cleaned out.

We had not added a garage onto the house yet, so fortunately for me my mom would park close to the street so I wouldn't have to shovel too far. I remember that she would give me the keys to start the car up and I would take breaks in there. We probably had something like a 1956 Pontiac and I'd listen to The Tommy Shannon show on WKBW radio with The Rebels playing “Wild Weekend."

Drifting Away

In the rear of our ranch-style house on North Spruce Street we had a picture window in the living room. I can recall several winters where my brother and I were sent out to shovel the windblown snow away from it so we could see out. Also, I remember drifts in the front that went up almost to the level of the rain gutters.

I would be remiss if I wrote about memories of snow in Batavia without mentioning the blizzards of 1966 (one of my previous stories was about my adventures during that epic event) and 1977. So many Batavians recall being stranded for days, getting groceries by snowmobile, and cars being buried in the piles of snow until spring.

Judging by the large number of former Batavians who have moved to Florida and other Southern environs, not everyone shares my fondness for winter nostalgia. However, I still enjoy the change of seasons in Upstate New York, but will admit that I wouldn't complain if it only snowed on Christmas Eve and Day (which it rarely does). Nonetheless, sometimes in the winter I'll “drift” off to sleep thinking of my kid days in snowy Batavia, New York.

Top photo: Dave Reilly (left) with brothers Jim and Dan 1960.

Middle two color images: Before and after photos of little Dave when a sled ride went bad.

Bottom two photos: Two views of the back of 122 N. Spruce St., Batavia, circa early 1960s.

Photos courtesy of Dave Reilly.

A motor-vehicle accident involving a tree, with one person sustaining a possible leg and neck injury, is reported in Le Roy on Griswold Road, just west of Route 19. The patient is conscious and alert. Le Roy Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. First responders report roads are icy.

UPDATE 11:15 p.m.: Chief on scene reports the patient is out of the vehicle.

UPDATE 11:17 p.m.: The Le Roy assignment is back in service.

Submitted photos and press release:

The American Legion Auxiliary, Unit #734 of Attica, has been busy with this year’s holiday project “Sweats for Our Vets."  

With the generous donations of the organizations of the Harder O’Donnell Post #734; American Legion Auxiliary, A.V.M.A., American Legion, Sons of the American Legion and the assistance of local Attica business owner, Robert Cusmano of Mugs and More, the project quickly came together.  

A donation of 76 zip-up hooded sweatshirts were given to every patient of the Batavia V.A. Medical Center in their gift bags on Christmas morning. 

Also donated by the Auxiliary, was a 55” television for the Veterans Recreation Room. This donation was made in memory of Auxiliary Past President Leilani Spring, who passed away earlier this year.

We would like to thank Volunteer Services Personnel Cindy Baker and Nicholas LaMarca of the Batavia V.A.M.C. for their assistance with our holiday project “Sweats for Our Vets."

A few members of each organization met on Dec. 8^th at the V.A.M.C. to deliver the sweatshirts and television.

The vets were delighted and surprised!

American Legion Auxiliary Unit #734

Harder O’Donnell Post

83 Market St., Attica

Top photo from left: Auxiliary members -- Tammy Soemann, Barbara Eddy, Kathy Roberts, Kate Kellner; Commander Robert Wood; Adjutant Keith Almeter; and S.A.L. members Ralph Eddy and Mike Almeter.

Brent Joseph Graham, 32, of Sand Hill Road, Akron, is charged with: driving while intoxicated -- with two previous convictions within 10 years; aggravated DWI -- a BAC of .18 percent or more -- with two previous convictions within 10 years; aggravated unlicensed operation in the first degree; reckless driving; failure to reduce speed under special hazard; operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock device as required; and operation in violation of restrictions. After a personal-injury accident on Main Road in the Town of Pembroke at 10:13 p.m. on Oct. 25, Graham was arrested. He was issued appearance tickets and is due back in Town of Pembroke Court on Jan. 21. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Kyle Krzemien, assisted by Sgt. Jason Saile. They were also assisted by the New York State Police, City of Batavia Fire Department Special Operations Water Rescue Team, Mercy EMS, and Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments.

Alyssa Jade Garrett, 22, of North Street, Geneseo, is charged with: driving while intoxicated; operating a motor vehicle while having a BAC of .08 percent or more; and moving from lane unsafely. Garrett was arrested at 6:35 p.m. on Dec. 20 on Perry Road in the Town of Pavilion following a property-damage accident. She was released on appearance tickets and is due in Pavilion Town Court on Jan. 5. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy David Moore, assisted by Sgt. Andrew Hale.

A pair of birds managed to make it to the seed in suet cake in the Batavia backyard of Jason Smith this morning despite several inches of snow overnight.

Send your snow-related photos to howard@thebatavian.com.

A third-party caller reports a living room fire in a residence at 1781 Richley Road in Darien. Darien Fire Department and Ambulance Service are responding, along with Mercy medics. The location is between Colby and Harper roads.

UPDATE 6:58 p.m.: An engine and manpower from Corfu are called to respond as mutual aid.

UPDATE 7:04 p.m.: A chief on scene says units responding can continue in nonemergency mode as a precaution; a thermal-imaging camera will be deployed.

UPDATE 7:34 p.m.: The Darien and Corfu assignments are back in service.

Submitted photo and information from reader Joe Caruso:

My Dad was a resident at the NYS Veterans Home in Batavia and passed in 2017. I have an 11-year-old Granddaughter (top photo left) who donated 20 canvas paintings she spent endless hours painting.

She felt the residents would appreciate having them to display or hang in rooms. Her name is Sofia Falleti and she is a sixth-grade student at Saint Joseph Regional School in Batavia.

A police officer has reportedly pulled over Santa Claus somewhere in the city.

A dispatcher responded to the license check confirming the license for Santa Claus is valid and the license expires in October 2025.

No word on whether the registration and inspection on his sleigh are up to date.

A passenger was seriously injured in a one-vehicle rollover accident in the eastbound lane of the Thruway in the area of mile marker 380.5 this afternoon.

The patient was transported by Mercy EMS to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

Le Roy fire and Le Roy ambulance responded to the scene. 

Le Roy Chief Tom Wood said the driver of the vehicle was not injured. 

Traffic was shut down during the incident. 

State Police are handling the investigation.

Photos and information from Alecia Kaus/Video News Service.

Press release:

Data Update – Due to the Christmas holiday, we will not be reporting out on Friday. Monday’s report will include Friday and the weekend coverage. We would like to take this time to wish everyone a healthy, safe and Merry Christmas! Please limit contact and time with non-household members, wash hands frequently and wear a mask/face covering to limit the spread.

o Genesee County received 123 new positive cases of COVID-19.

The new positive cases reside in the:

• • West Region (Alabama, Darien, Pembroke);
  • Central Region (Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Corfu, Elba, Oakfield);
  • East Region (Bergen, Byron, Le Roy, Stafford and Pavilion);
  • The individuals are in their 0-19s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.
  • Thirty-eight of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.
  • Twenty-nine of the positive individuals are hospitalized.
  • Thirteen of the new positive cases are residents at Le Roy Village Green.
  • Seven of the new positive cases are residents at New York State Veterans Home – At Batavia.
  • Twenty-three of the new positive cases are residents at Genesee Senior Living.
  • One new positive case is an inmate at the Buffalo Federal Detention Center.
  • One positive case previously reported as a resident of Premier Genesee is actually a resident of Genesee Senior Living.
• Orleans County received 26 new positive cases of COVID-19.
  • The new positive cases reside in the:
  • West Region (Yates, Ridgeway, Shelby);
  • Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre) and the
  • East Region (Kendall, Murray, Clarendon).
  • The individuals are in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.
  • Two of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
  • Nineteen of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.
  • Eight of the current positive individuals are hospitalized.
  • Eight of the new positives are inmates of the Orleans Correctional Facility.

Submitted photos and press release:

The Genesee County Office for the Aging’s Home Delivered Meals program offers a nutritionally balanced, hot meal at lunchtime, up to five days per week. The meals are delivered with a smile by dedicated RSVP volunteers and Office for the Aging staff.

Each person receives ongoing case management, an important piece of the program, which supports their health and independence in the community.   

This week, due to the generosity of a local couple’s bequest, a local dentist and his wife, and individuals employed by Genesee County government, the older adults participating in the program were treated to a holiday gift bag.

The Office for the Aging has seen tremendous growth in the program; a 55-percent increase since the beginning of the pandemic. The support of the local community has been tremendous and necessary to meet the demand.

During this season of giving, the office wishes to thank everyone involved in making this program one that the community can depend on.   

If you wish to support the Home Delivered Meals program by volunteering or donating, please call (585) 343-1611 or email OFA.Dept@co.genesee.ny.us.

More volunteers are particularly needed to deliver meals in the City of Batavia at this time.

Financial donations to the Genesee Senior Foundation Inc., a nonprofit affiliated with the Office for the Aging, are always appreciated.

Tongue-in-cheek press release:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today issued a movement permit to S. Nicholas Claus, of the North Pole, a broker with Worldwide Gifts, Unlimited. The permit will allow reindeer to enter and exit the United States between the hours of 7 p.m. December 24, 2020 and 7 a.m. December 25, 2020, through or over any U.S. border port.

“This is a holiday season like no other. But as I told my grandkids, Santa has immunity to COVID, so he and his reindeer will circle the globe as planned,” said USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs Under Secretary Greg Ibach.

“We are all looking forward to Mr. Claus’ special brand of Christmas cheer, this year more than ever. To help ensure a smooth trip, USDA worked with Worldwide Gifts Unlimited to issue this permit in advance and waived all applicable fees.”

Veterinary officials ensured the reindeer met all entry requirements before issuing the permit. It was noted on the health certificate that one reindeer, Rudolph, has a minor physical anomaly. The veterinarian indicated that Rudolph’s red nose, while bright, was normal for him and not a concern.

The reindeer will arrive pulling a wooden sleigh with jingling bells attached, filled with brightly wrapped gifts. Port personnel, who will wear appropriate personal protective equipment and follow all COVID-19 safety rules, will clean and disinfect the runners and underside of the sleigh at the time of entry. They will also conduct a short visual inspection of the reindeer. Claus will disinfect his boots and thoroughly wash his hands. These measures are intended to prevent the entry of any livestock diseases the team may encounter during deliveries to farms around the world prior to entering the United States.

Claus also provided an advance list of what port personnel should expect upon their arrival. This includes a variety of food items, all of which come from approved locations and none of which pose a threat to U.S. animal or plant health.

“It’s important that Worldwide Gifts, Unlimited take all the right steps and precautions to protect against the potential introduction of pests and diseases,” Claus explained. “I appreciate USDA’s assistance every year as we gear up for our big night.”

Whether you see the smiles, joy, and wonder on children’s faces this Christmas morning in person or on video chat, enjoy the moment. Happy holidays from USDA!

Amanda Coggiola submitted these photos of a bald eagle at the Tonawanda Creek off South Main Street Road, Batavia.

She said, "My kids and I saw this eagle at our house this morning. They asked if I could send the pictures to you because we know sometimes you post the pics on your website. Merry Christmas: Amanda, Ben, Lilly, and Jake Coggiola"

     Michael Tomaszewski

Funeral home owner Michael S. Tomaszewski, arrested in July after an investigation that uncovered multiple incidences of potential fraud, was arraigned in Genesee County Court today on more than 200 counts of grand larceny, falsifying business records, offering a false instrument in filing, scheme to defraud, and failure to deposit.

As he did when first arrested and arraigned in Town of Batavia Court, Tomaszewski entered a not guilty plea.

Tomaszewski waived his right to have a grand jury review the evidence against him and potentially issue indictments against him. He was arraigned on what's known as Superior Court Information (SCI) that lays out all the charges in the same form as a grand jury indictment.

It is 101 pages long.

Tomaszewski is accused of taking money people used to prepay for funerals and instead of depositing the money in appreciate bank accounts then using the money for other purposes.

The SCI indicates the majority of customers lost from more than $2,000 up to $15,500 each.

The charges include: 67 counts of third-degree grand larceny; 28 counts of fourth-degree grand larceny; four counts of falsifying business records; 93 counts of failure to deposit; seven counts of petit larceny; and counts of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree; and scheme to defraud.

During the virtual arraignment today, the attorneys discussed the possibility of reaching a plea deal within the next six weeks.

Tomaszewski remains released from custody on his own recognizance. His next scheduled court appearance, which will also be virtual, is 1:30 p.m., Feb. 2.

Alecia Kaus/Video News Service contributed to this report.

Previously:

• Local funeral director charged with stealing money from customers
• Fifteen new charges brought against funeral director Michael Tomaszewski
• Sheriff's Office looking into a report that Tomaszewski improperly handled stillborn baby's remains
• Darien Center couple would like the truth from Tomaszewski about what happened to their daughter's remains
• People who think they were defrauded by Tomaszewski should hire an attorney with expertise in bankruptcy, advises law professor
• Fifteen new charges brought against funeral director Michael Tomaszewski
• Tomaszewski charged in case of failure to bury remains of veteran

A 52-year-old Batavia man already previously convicted on child pornography charges has been indicted once again in Federal Court.

Matthew Barber is charged with receipt and possession of child pornography, which carries a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years in federal prison.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office of Western New York was previously convicted in 2007 and was sentenced in 2007 to 74 months in federal prison. He was given five years of supervised release but he failed a sex offender treatment program.

Barber reportedly had a job in Batavia. He was dismissed after allegedly placing a USB flash drive into a work computer. He May, he was charged locally with unauthorized use of a computer.

As a condition of his parole, Barber was required to notify NYS Parole if he was terminated from employment. That day, U.S. Probation and NYS Parole searched his residence and seized a cellular phone and a flash drive.

According to the U.S. Attorney's office, investigators found 1,100 images and 40 videos of child pornography on the drive. Several hundred other images and 200 videos were allegedly found on the phone.

Barber was arraigned today in Federal Court. 

The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia; the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Sliwinski; and the Batavia Police Department, under the direction of Chief Shawn Heubusch.

Press release:

Data Update - COVID-19 is widespread throughout Genesee and Orleans counties. With the high prevalence of active cases, we are changing the way we are reporting the positive cases to regionally rather than listing each of the towns. Detailed demographic data is still being captured by the state

• Genesee County received 50 new positive cases of COVID-19.
  • The new positive cases reside in the:
    • West Region (Alabama, Darien, Pembroke)
    • Central Region (Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Corfu, Elba, Oakfield)
    • East Region (Bergen, Byron, Le Roy, Stafford and Pavilion)
  • The individuals are in their 0-19s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.
  • Seventy-four of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.
  • Twenty of the positive individuals are hospitalized.
  • Sixteen of the new positive cases are residents at Le Roy Village Green.
  • Six of the new positive cases are residents at Premier Genesee.
  • Three of the new positive cases are residents at New York State Veterans Home – Batavia.
  • We are saddened to report the loss of a community member. The individual was over 65. We do not provide any further information to protect the privacy of the individual and their family. Our deepest condolences to the family and friends during this very difficult time.
• Orleans County received 15 new positive cases of COVID-19.
  • The new positive cases reside in the:
    • West Region (Yates, Ridgeway, Shelby)
    • Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre) and the
    • East Region (Kendall, Murray, Clarendon).
  • The individuals are in their 0-19s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 70s and 80s.
  • One of the individuals was on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
  • Fourteen of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.
  • Eight of the current positive individuals are hospitalized.
  • Four of the new positives are inmates of the Orleans Correctional Facility.

Press release:

Eleven years ago the attorneys working in the Genesee County District Attorney’s Office at that time had an average of 25 years of experience. Current First Assistant District Attorney Kevin Finnell was still the “new guy“ in the office, having been there for 19 years.

District Attorney Lawrence Friedman has now been with the office for nearly 39 years and Finnell, with 30 years of experience as a prosecutor, is no longer the “new guy." From March of last year until September of this year, all five of the other Assistant District attorneys began their careers with the office, along with the office’s two new paralegals. In other words, seven of the office's 13 employees started within that 18-month period.

These are the new attorneys and paralegals:

Kaitlynn Schmit joined the office as an Assistant District Attorney in March of 2019, having previously worked as an Assistant Counsel with the Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and briefly as a Staff Attorney with the Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo.

Joseph Robinson joined the office as an Assistant District Attorney in June of 2019, immediately after graduating from law school and becoming an attorney.

Cheryl Nielsen worked at a private law firm, the Wayne County Public Defender’s office and the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office before joining the Genesee County District Attorney’s office in January of this year.

Robert “Bo” Shoemaker started with the office in April of this year after serving as an Assistant District Attorney in Monroe County for five years, an Appellate Court Attorney with the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department for two years and a litigator with the New York City Law Department for one year.

Andrew DiPasquale became an Assistant District Attorney in Genesee County in August of this year, after spending three years working in Albany for the New York State Senate and then the New York State Legislative Bill Drafting Commission.

Gabrielle Krzemien became a Paralegal with the office in December 2019 after working as a Legal Assistant at the law firm of Connors and Ferris in Cheektowaga for one year and then as a Paralegal for the Buffalo law firm of Goldberg Segalla for a year and a half.

Alexandria Almeter joined the office as a Paralegal in March of this year, after working in the same capacity at the DiMatteo and Roach law office in Warsaw for one year.

In addition to Friedman and Finnell, the other “long term” employees of the office are Confidential Secretary Lacie Snell and legal clerk typists Kathleen Schrider, Rhonda Natalizia and Andrea Agan-Silverling. Rosanne DeMare, a Victim Counselor employed by Genesee Justice, also works out of the District Attorney’s Office.

District Attorney Friedman and First Assistant District Attorney Finnell are very proud of their staff and happy to have all of these new additions to the office, who all fit in well and are doing great in their new positions.