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Press Release:

The Batavia Society of Artists is hosting artist Julie Lambert on Tuesday, Nov. 14 starting at 7 p.m. at Go Art!/Seymour Place, 201 E. Main St., Batavia. She will be demonstrating papermaking art. 

Non-members are welcome with a $5 fee. Light refreshments will be provided.  The Tavern 2.o.1. will be open for cash purchases.

Submitted photos of Julie Lambert's artwork.

Tuesday is the general election, and here are the updated contested seats, two universal propositions and one specific proposition to the towns of Byron and Bergen. A prior article did not include all of the contested races.

The contested races are:

Town of Alexander Sarah Kohl is running for one of two seats on the Town Council on the Democratic ticket against Thomas Sanfratello, Republican, and Gerald Krupa Jr., on the Republican and Alexander People lines.

Town Supervisor incumbent David Miller apparently has a challenger with an unofficial call for write-in candidate Brian Farnsworth. The Batavian was contacted by a town council candidate and provided with the incorrect information about the town supervisor race. Brian Farnsworth is running for town highway superintendent.

Town of Bergen has a town clerk position with Teresa Robinson of the Republican Party versus Marcy Vanderstow of the Marcy for Town Clerk ticket; and Joel Pocock, Republican and Working 4 You party lines, is running for town highway superintendent against Chad Roggow, of the Conservative Party.

Town of Byron Supervisor position is pitting Democratic candidate Candace Hensel, who is also on the Republican ticket, is running against Peter Yasses of the Conservative ticket.

Sara Stockwell is running for Town Council as a Democratic candidate for one of two seats against Republican candidates Alfred Klycek and Nathan Knickerbocker.

Town of Darien Justice seat also has two candidates: Michelle Krzemien on the Democratic and Conservative, Common Ground party lines versus Jennifer Nunnery on the Republican ticket.

Benjamin Kohlhagen is running on the Democratic and Common Ground lines for one of two seats against Michael Grant, a Republican, and Timothy Benton, also a Republican candidate.

Town of Pembroke has three candidates for two seats on Town Council, with Helen Trowbridge Haines, a Democratic candidate, and two Republican candidates of Kathleen Manne and Thomas Dix, while Deborah Conti, Republican, is running unopposed for an unexpired term.  

Propositions are:

Proposal One: Removal of Small City School District from Special Constitutional Debt Limitation.

The proposed amendment to Article 8, section 4 of the Constitution removes the special constitutional debt limitation now placed on small city school districts, so they will be treated the same as all other school districts. Shall the proposed amendment be approved? Yes or No.

Proposal Two is to extend sewage project debt exclusion from the debt limit. The proposed amendment to Article 8, section 5 of the Constitution extends for 10 years the authority of counties, cities, towns, and villages to remove from their constitutional debt limits debt for the construction of sewage facilities. Shall the proposed amendment be approved? Yes or No. 

Proposal Three is for voters in the towns of Byron and Bergen only: Shall the Town of Bergen  (Town of Byron) establish an annual tax in the amount of $0.55/$1,000 (fifty-five cents per one thousand dollars) of assessed value in order to support the operation of the Byron-Bergen Public Library, commencing in the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2024. Yes or No.

To view the entire Gensee County ballot and obtain voting information, go to Board of Elections.

Editor’s Note: In an article that ran on Oct. 24, (City, Genesee County races uncontested but one newcomer and three propositions), The Batavian inadvertently took an off-the-cuff remark made by Derek Geib as his response and published it, which was not the case. The Batavian regrets the misunderstanding, and Geib agreed to an interview just in time for the City Council election, which is Tuesday.

Who: Batavia resident and successful business owner Derek Geib. A 2001 Batavia High School graduate, he was barely out of Genesee Community College with his associate’s degree before his first business venture -- opening Main Street Coffee in 2002. He clearly remembers the opening day on Christmas in the City because it was followed by a blizzard that Sunday. 

Geib was also working at Matty’s, eventually buying into the pizza business from 2006 to 2010 until it closed. He then opened Bourbon and Burger in May 2011, followed by Coffee Press in 2019 and Roman’s in 2020, which made for another distinct memory.  They opened to the public on Friday the 13th in March of 2020, just as the state governor was about the announce a life-altering pandemic. 

In between all of that, Geib has been a landlord for multiple units for the last nine years or so. The 40-year-old has served on the downtown Business Improvement District Board for three years, including the last year as president; has been on the Batavia Development Corporation board the last couple of years; and the Genesee County Planning Board and the city’s Planning and Development Committee for about a year.

What: He’s running to fill the vacant seat for Ward 3 on City Council

When: The City Council election is on Tuesday, and Geib and each of his fellow council members will be running unopposed, including Paul Viele, Ward 1; David Twichell, Ward 2; Al McGinnis, Ward 4; Kathy Briggs, Ward 5; and Tammy Schmidt, Ward 6. 

Where: Ward 3 goes from Oak Street east to Bank Street and from Main Street over to the Thruway. Geib, his wife Jennifer and family, including the chihuahua Cedrick, live on Prospect Avenue, which has brought the entrepreneur back to where he first began as a kid growing up, he says.

Why have you gotten so involved in these boards, aside from the fact that you’re a business owner?
“Right from the onset of looking in it, it probably looks like there's a lot of self-interest involved because, obviously, we are completely invested in downtown. But I think being a business downtown, it made me realize that I should be involved in the goings-on, you know, not so we could have control over things, but just to help it be stronger downtown,” he said. “I’m not not saying my addition makes things that much better, but it's, you know, I think I have a pretty good view of what's going on being downtown every day. It's kind of, ‘what I can bring to the table.’”

What’s your interest in being on City Council?
“I think, really, I just want to be involved and do what I can to make Batavia as good as I possibly can. I mean, I think everyone should be involved as much as they can be, as much of their lives allow. Volunteering and participating in politics and government, and in local government, is the most important form of government because it's the one that actually makes a difference in your direct daily life,” he said. “And most people just overlook it and feel like they only need to vote for the president, when it's like, City Council is pretty in charge of everything that's going on right here. So, I think that's that.”

How do you feel things are going in the city? What would you say are the top three main issues in the city?
“I think things are going great. I believe there's the most construction improvement going on for as far back as I can remember, which is always a good sign. It shows investment,” he said. “I believe we need to work on housing. I think that would be probably one of the main focuses, which I know the city is already directly working on.”

What type of housing do you think is needed?
“Top to bottom. It's tough because I really don't want to speak out of turn because I'm not on City Council. So to talk about the goings-on of the city and what Council’s already working on, I don’t want to talk out of turn,” he said. “Infrastructure is also a big deal. And the city has been working on that as much as they can, sidewalks, streets. There’s just a lot going on. And it’s all for the benefit of the city and the people of it, as far as I can tell.”

There’s often the conversation about bringing more business to downtown. What would you like to see?
“I think the best way to increase business downtown is to increase downtown housing, and we need people living downtown, and we need to be creating as much downtown living space as we can. Because those are the people who will frequent the businesses the most. It's tough to continue to try and bring business downtown without first bringing people downtown. It kind of goes hand in hand,” he said. “I think we've done as good a job as we can realistically to fill all the empty spaces downtown. I mean, obviously, there are some that have been empty for a while that are projects that are being worked on, but if you drive around, there really aren't that many empty storefronts, on Main Street, on the side streets. So it's tough to open businesses without buildings to put them in. So we need more construction and more living spaces.”

How did you build your own business acumen, especially since you didn’t go to school for business? Did you have a mentor, or did you study somewhere on your own? Was it learned on the go?
“Realistically, we just opened and hoped for the best. And I learned a lot over the past 20 years, and I'm sure I'm still not even close to doing things the right way, but I'm doing them the way that I know best,” he said. “And, you know, it's working for now. But I had no business background whatsoever.”

So what will Derek Geib bring to the City Council table?
“From the outside looking in … the city is realistically just a business. You've got a budget and an HR and departments. And so it's just a business on a much bigger scale. And so, having now a business background, I think I can bring that to the table to help with budgets,” he said. “And I think, really, that's probably the most important thing that City Council does is setting the budget and keeping taxes where they need to be and making sure everything's paid for and fixed and working. And that's no different than the restaurant: the money comes in, and you have to figure out how to make everything work with what you've got. So that's really, that's my background.”

Some council members in the past have had coffee klatches in their wards to talk and get to know one another. Do you have any plans like that, since you're not knocking on doors or anything like that with this unopposed race?  Do you have any plans to meet with your ward residents to get to know their concerns?
“I’d like to get out eventually and talk to people and find out what their concerns are in the ward and see if we can figure out how to make everyone happy,” he said.

He does know at least two of their concerns now, he said: broken sidewalks and motorists that speed down Prospect Avenue. 

What do you think is the secret for a council to work?
“Does it not work?” he said. “Obviously, working in any group is difficult. But as long as everybody has a common goal, and they can put their egos and their personal goals aside, it's very easy to work in a group.”

A six-month investigation into the possession, transportation, and sale of crack cocaine in and around Genesee County has led to the rest of a 36-year-old Batavia resident.

Philp R. Chin, of McKinley Avenue, is charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, and one count of tampering with physical evidence.

Chin was taken into custody on a sealed indictment warrant issued by Genesee County Court on Thursday evening following a traffic stop in the Village of Le Roy initiated by members of the Local Drug Task Force. 

He is accused of selling crack cocaine to an agent of the task force in Batavia on two separate occasions.

During the traffic stop, Chin was allegedly found in possession of crack cocaine and attempted to conceal it from arresting officers.

Following arraignment in County Court, Chin was released on his own recognizance in accordance with current New York State bail laws.

The task force was assisted by uniformed deputies, Le Roy patrol officers, and the District Attorney's Office.

Four people are facing weapons and drug charges following the execution of a search warrant by members of the Local Drug Task Force on Oct. 28 at 14 South Spruce St., Batavia.

The arrests were the result of a months-long investigation, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Taken into custody were:

Michael J. Torres, 40, Batavia, no street residence provided, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon 2nd for allegedly possessing a loaded firearm, a Class C felony, criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd, a Class B felony, and criminal possession of a weapon 3rd, a Class D felony.

Haley M. Larnder, 24, Batavia, no street residence provided, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon 2nd for allegedly possessing a loaded firearm, a Class C felony, criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd, a Class B felony, and criminal possession of a weapon 3rd, a Class A misdemeanor.

Dawn M. Morford, 60, Batavia, no street residence provided, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd, a Class B felony, and criminal possession of a weapon 3rd, a Class D felony.

Jason H. Freeman, 42, Batavia, no street residence provided, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd, a Class B felony, and criminal possession of a weapon 3rd, a Class D felony.

The Sheriff's Office did not provide details on the weapons nor narcotics allegedly recovered at the scene.

All four defendants were held pending arraignment.

The task force was assisted by the Batavia Emergency Response Team, uniformed officers, Batavia PD, and the District Attorney's Office.

Press Release:

The City of Batavia Water Department will need to temporarily turn off water in the Jackson Street area on Tuesday, November 7th, for the duration of the day to replace a valve. The following streets will be without water: 

Chestnut Street, Kibbe Avenue, Elmwood Avenue, South Jackson Street, from Jackson Street to Liberty Street, and Jackson Street, from Central Avenue to South Jackson Street.

Surrounding streets may be affected as well.

As always, when the water is restored, it may be discolored. Please refrain from doing any laundry until the water runs clear.

We apologize for any inconvenience, and the public’s patience is greatly appreciated.

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.

Victor M. V. Diaz, 22, of Canisteo, is charged with gang assault 2nd. Dias is accused of causing serious physical injury to another person during an altercation on Law Street on May 30, 2022. Dias was arrested on Oct. 19 and arraigned in City Court and released under supervision.

Jennifer K. Freeman, 39, of Batavia, is charged with assault 2nd. Freeman is accused of striking another person in the head with a blunt object on Oct. 17 at an undisclosed time and location, causing injury. Freeman was arraigned and released.

Keith M. Lewandowski, 32, of Albion, is charged with robbery 3rd, criminal possession of a weapon 3rd, menacing 2nd, and harassment 2nd. Lewandowski is accused of being involved in a disturbance on Oct. 14 at an undisclosed time and undisclosed location where Lewandowski allegedly struck another person, threatened that person with a knife, and stole the victim's mobile phone. Lewandowski was arraigned and ordered to reappear at a later date.

Christopher H Monfort, 51, of Webster, was arrested on a warrant on Oct. 17. Monfort was initially charged on Feb. 18 with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle 2nd, and switched license plates. He was released on appearance tickets and is accused of failure to appear in court. Monfort was arraigned and held on nominal bail. 

Amber L. Turner, 30, of Batavia, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant on Oct. 16. Turner was initially charged with making graffiti on July 28 after allegedly spray painting the sidewalk on South Main Street. The warrant was issued after Turner allegedly failed to appear in court. She was arraigned in City Court and released. 

Malik I Ayala, 32, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Ayala is accused of stealing merchandise from Kwik Fill on Jackson Street on Sept .19. He was issued an appearance ticket and released.

Sarah E. Hill, of Corning, is charged with harassment 2nd. Hill is accused of striking another person at a location on West Main Street, Batavia, on Oct. 3. She was issued an appearance ticket and released.

Benjamin G. Evans, 35, of Batavia, was arrested on a warrant on Oct. 13. Evans was initially arrested on July 9 and charged with petit larceny after allegedly stealing a package from the front porch of a residence. The warrant was issued on Oct. 11 after he allegedly failed to appear in court. He was arraigned and released. 

Michael A Sweet, 37, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property 4th, identity theft 3rd, and petit larceny. Sweet is accused of possessing a stolen debit card and using it to purchase items from a local store.  He was arrested on Oct. 22 and issued an appearance ticket.

Shante C. Johnson, 26, of Batavia, is charged with burglary 2nd and criminal mischief 4th. Johnson is accused of entering a residence on Thorpe Street, Batavia, and damaging property inside on Sept. 26. Johnson was arrested on Oct. 16 and arraigned and released pending further court proceedings.

Corey A. Brown, 37, of Batavia, was arrested on Oct. 15 on two arrest warrants. Each warrant charges Brown with sex offender failure to notify change of address and Level 3 sex offender failure to verify address. He was arraigned and ordered to reappear at a later date.

Joseph M Tornabene, 32, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 1st. Tornabene is accused of making unwanted physical contact with a person covered by a protective order. Tornabene was arrested on Oct. 19 and arraigned and ordered to reappear in court at a later date.

Gage A. Dieterle, 22, of Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief 4th. Dieterle is accused of damaging property that belonged to another person during an altercation on Lincoln Avenue. He was arrested on Oct. 24 and arraigned in City Court, and ordered to reappear at a later date.

James E. Murray, 24, undisclosed residence, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Murrary is accused of having contact with a person covered by a protective order. He was arrested on Oct. 23, arraigned in City Court and jailed.

Hailee N. Callicutt, 33, of Batavia, was arrested on Oct. 23 on a warrant issued by City Court. Callicutt was initially arrested on Jan. 1, 2022, and charged with obstructing governmental administration 2nd, resisting arrest and several vehicle and traffic violations. She was issued appearance tickets and released. Callicutt allegedly failed to appear in court, and a warrant was issued on Sept. 20, 2022. Callicutt was arrested on that warrant on Aug. 29. She was released and was scheduled to appear in court at a later date. She allegedly failed to appear again, and another warrant was issued on Oct. 16. Callicutt was located on a traffic stop in Batavia and arrested. She was arraigned is scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

Peter L. Jackson, 57, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Jackson is accused of violating an order of protection. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Ted E. Kingsley, 51, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Kingsley is accused of stealing merchandise from Family Dollar on East Main Street, Batavia on Oct. 21. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Jeslene Daniell Beach, 35, of Morrow Road, Pavilion, is charged with grand larceny 4th and five counts of petit larceny. Beach is accused of stealing five checks from one person and then cashing those checks via mobile deposit. The total of the five checks cashed exceeded $1,000.

Paul Everett Cooper, 47, of Swamp Road, Bergen, is charged with 12 counts of falsifying business records 1st. Cooper is accused of making multiple false entries in his Federal Firearms License Acquisition and Disposition Log Book in an alleged attempt to conceal the crime of criminal possession of a weapon by another person. Cooper was issued an appearance ticket.

Larry Francis Dillon, 62, of Covington Street, Perry, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, failure to keep right. Dillon was arrested by Deputy Mason Schultz following an investigation into a motor vehicle accident reported at 9:21 p.m. on Oct. 12 on Big Tree Road, Pavilion. Dillon was transported to the Genesee County Jail for processing and released.

Todd James Strong, 52, of Rochester (no street provided), is charged with felony DWI, aggravated unlicensed operation 1st, consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle, and parking on the highway. Strong was reportedly located at 3:22 a.m. on Oct. 19 asleep in his vehicle at Route 33 and Wortendyke Road, Batavia, by Deputy Jeremiah Gechell. Strong allegedly has two prior DWI convictions within the past 10 years. He was held pending arraignment.

Raven Madison Spikes, 21, of Porter Avenue, Batavia, and Jaliyah Shontel McClinic, 20, of Dellinger Avenue, Batavia, are both charged with petit larceny and endangering the welfare of a child. Spike and McClinic are accused of stealing items from Target in Batavia at 5 p.m. on Oct. 20 while accompanied by two children. Both were issued appearance tickets.

Ronald James Murray, Jr., 29, of Wood Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Deputies were dispatched to a location on Bethany Center Road, Bethany, at 4:03 p.m. on Oct. 22 to investigate a report of a male passed out behind the wheel of a vehicle. Deputies allegedly found Murray in possession of a white rock-like substance in his lab, which was later identified as crack cocaine. He was arrested and taken to the Genesee County Jail for processing before being released on an appearance ticket. 

Tyler Joseph Burns, 19, no residence provided, is charged with criminal mischief (no degree of the charges listed). At 4 a.m. on Oct. 22, Deputies were dispatched to the parking lot of Batavia Downs for a report of a man going through cars. At the scene, deputies spoke with Burns. It's unclear if this happened before or after the interview, but Burns reportedly fell asleep in a bathroom at Batavia Downs, and when awoken by security, he reportedly became irate and destroyed the baby changing station.  He was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released on an appearance ticket.

Jonathan Michael Falk, 25, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with conspiracy 6th. Also charged was Trace G. Brewer, 23, of Montclaire Avenue, Batavia, who is also charged with petit larceny. Falk and Brewer are accused of stealing from Kohl's Department Store at 4:32 p.m. on Oct. 16. They allegedly stole a $40 pair of children's Nike shoes and fled the store. Once located, the pair was taken into custody and transported to the Genesee County Jail for processing and released on an appearance ticket.

Jeremey Gene English, 21, of Ellis Drive, Brockport, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, failure to keep right, and driving with an obstructed view. English was reportedly involved in a head-on collision at 12:07 a.m. on Oct. 29 on Route 33 in Pembroke. English was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released on an appearance ticket.

Casey Thomas Vaughn, 34, of Prestige Xing, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Vaughn is accused of violating a complete stay-away order at 8:21 p.m. on Oct. 26 by allowing the protected party into his residence. He was helped pending arraignment.

Marando Lena Button, 30, of Batavia (no street address provided), is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th and insufficient signal. Button was allegedly found in possession of drug paraphernalia following a traffic stop by Deputy Jeremiah Gechell at 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 28 on Lewiston Road and Park Road, Batavia. Button was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released on an appearance ticket.

Miguel Esquivel Alvarez, Jr., 28, of Main Road, Corfu, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, unlicensed driver, and inadequate lights. Alvarez was stopped at 1:30 a.m. on Nov. 1 on Clinton Street Road, Batavia, by Deputy Zachary Hoy. He was issued tickets and released.

Ronald Walter Sibs, 58, of Stonebriar Lane, Rochester, is charged with criminal trespass 3rd. Sibs is accused of being inside Batavia Downs at 6:27 a.m., Oct. 28, after being previously barred from the property. He was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released on an appearance ticket.

Trevvohn Sherreff Parker, 32, of West Avenue, Medina, is charged with petit larceny. Parker is accused of stealing fuel from the TP Deli on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation at 1:34 p.m. on Oct. 7. He was arrested on Nov. 5 and issued an appearance ticket.

Jason J. Meyer, 46, of Elba is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Meyer was stopped by State Police in the Town of Oakfield at 6:26 p.m. on Nov. 3. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Robert O. Taft, 49, of Alexander, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Taft was arrested in connection with an incident reported 7:35 p.m. on Nov. 1 in the Town of Alexander. Taft was released on his own recognizance. 

Heather N. Holbrook, 38, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd, criminal possession of a controlled substance 5th, and criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. During an arrest on an unrelated warrant on Oct. 24, Holbrook was allegedly found in possession of narcotics. She was arraigned and ordered held.

Jeffrey D. Bald, 41, of Le Roy, is charged with burglary 2nd and petit larceny. Bald is accused of entering a residence on East Main Street, Batavia, and stole property. Bald was arraigned in City Court and jailed.

Robert D. Griffin, 45, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 1st and assault 2nd. Griffin is accused of sending multiple harassing text messages and leaving voicemails to a protected party. While in custody, Griffin allegedly kicked a door, which hit and injured an officer. Griffin was arraigned and ordered held without bail.

Martin J. Rodgers, 39, of Batavia, is charged with assault 3rd, and Wayne D. Potter, 40, of Batavia, is charged with attempted assault 3rd. Both men were arrested on Oct. 27 following an investigation into a fight on Oct. 14 at a location on West Main Street, Batavia. Both men were issued appearance tickets.

Timothy J. Stump, 51, of Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief 4th. Stump is accused of damaging property inside a residence on Highland Park on Oct. 28. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Haley M. Larnder, 24, of Batavia, was arrested on Oct. 29 on a warrant issued by City Court. Larnder was initially arrested on March 19 and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. She was issued an appearance ticket and was to appear in court at a later date. She allegedly failed to appear, and a warrant was issued on April 11. She was arrested on the warrant on April 21. She was arraigned in City Court and released on her own recognizance. Larnder again allegedly failed to appear in court, and another warrant was issued on June 22. She was arrested on that warrant on Aug. 2. She was arraigned and released. She again allegedly failed to appear in court, and a third warrant was issued on Aug. 21. She was located and arrested on Oct. 29. She was arraigned and was released on her own recognizance. 

Lawrence J. Sharpstene, 44, of Batavia, was arrested on Oct. 28 on a warrant issued by City Court. Sharpstene was initially charged on Aug. 28 on charges of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle 3rd and expired inspection following a traffic stop on East Avenue. Sharpstene was issued traffic tickets. The warrant was issued after he allegedly failed to appear in court. Sharpstene was arraigned in City Court and released. 

James J. Richardson, 45, of Sweden, is charged with harassment 2nd. Richardson allegedly struck another person in the face while at T.F. Brown's on Oct. 27. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Deputies have been dispatched to Veterans Memorial Drive following the report of two men stealing coats from Dick's Sporting Goods.

The men reportedly fled on bicycles.

They are described as white, one wearing a black sweater, baseball cap, and jeans and the other in blue jeans and gray sweater. 

They were last seen headed toward Walmart.

UPDATE 2:45 p.m.: One suspect in custody.

Press Release:

Congratulations to the Genesee County 4-H members who were selected to receive an award for their excellent work during the 2022–2023 4-H Club Year.

Project Area Awards are a form of recognition for 4-H members who have excelled in a certain project area. 4-H members must be nominated in order to receive this award. 

Award criteria include the 4-H member’s accomplishments in the project area, the length of time the 4-H member has worked in the project area, and the 4-H member’s leadership.

Project Area Awards Recipients:

• Arts & Crafts: Kasey Pagels
• Beef Cattle: Cody Carlson, Makayla Sugg
• Cavy: Layla Baker, Evan Winspear
• Citizenship: Amelia Brewer, Justin Hart, Maggie Winspear, Evan Winspear
• Dairy Cattle: Rachel Best, Amelia Brewer
• Gardening: Brook Pagels
• Goat: Ellie Hudson, Liam Baker
• Livestock: Madison Lowe, Maggie Winspear, Bing Zuber, Chase Zuber
• Poultry: Mildred Kendall, Clare Mathes, Kasey Pagels, Brook Pagels, Alyssa Pimm, Raelyn Pimm
• Rabbit: Layla Baker, Amelia Brewer, Nico Faulks, Mae Grimes, Maura Grimes, Brook Pagels
• Sheep: Katelynn Rumsey, Colten Sugg
• Swine: Jillian Weaver
• Waterfowl: Brook Pagels, Kasey Pagels

The Genesee County 4-H Program is a youth development program for youth ages 5-18. New 4-H youth members, adult volunteers, and clubs are always welcome to join.  For information about how to join the Genesee County 4-H Program, please contact the 4-H Office at genesee4h@cornell.edu or (585) 343-3040 ext. 101. Enrollment information is also available on our website at http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu

Press Release:

Pumpkins and gourds were grouped on the tables; spiders, bats, and witches decorated the room and the lights were dimmed to set the mood. Just about 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 19, volunteers and many Byron Ladies Auxiliary members dressed in costume prepared to welcome the 50-plus costumed dancers into the hall. 

The dancers were all shapes and sizes and they took pride in their colorful costumes. There were princesses, pirates, firemen, surgeons, prisoners, witches and ghouls. The Halloween dance for Genesee County Adults with Developmental Disabilities in the new season was off to a great start! 

Old friends greeted and hugged while new friends met up on the dance floor. DJ Uncle Joe played assorted country, rock, and pop tunes. He even showed some music videos, while volunteers served up refreshments of pizza, cookies, and cider.

About an hour into the event Pat Iamon, past dance coordinator, turned up the lights, grabbed the mic, and quieted the crowd. She called the dancers into a large circle and led the group in the ‘Chicken Dance.’ Staff and volunteers joined in. The DJ followed that with the ‘Hokie Pokie’.

Iamon then invited all those with October birthdays to come to the center. About nine happy folks came forward and the room joined together singing them the birthday song. The last thing on the agenda was to introduce Morgan Leaton, the new dance coordinator, to the room. The crowd cheered and applauded Leaton as she took the mic. 

Leaton thanked everyone for coming to the Halloween Dance, she welcomed them back to Byron, and announced that the next dance would be on Thursday, Nov. 16. She encouraged everyone to wear their cowboy hat and boots because the November dance theme is Country & Western.

The tunes played on and on while the dancers moved to the music. Some danced as couples, some in groups and some alone. When the crowd heard the intro to the YMCA, two of Byron’s firemen who had donned their firefighter suits earlier entered the dance floor. The dancers happily gathered around them and everyone enthusiastically danced the YMCA!

Too soon the night came to an end and the dancers followed their staff out of the building promising to return. There were shouts of Happy Halloween as they left. The dances are open to anyone with developmental disabilities aged 13 and up residing in Genesee County. If you would like more information or wish to volunteer, please contact Morgan Leaton at 585-815-3157 or morganrleaton@gmail.com.

Press Release:

On Thursday, Nov. 9 the Batavia High School faculty, administration, and students are planning to celebrate and honor our Veterans in Genesee County. 

We would like to invite our Genesee County Veterans to attend our ceremony to honor and thank you for your service to our country.

All veterans are asked to arrive at 8 a.m. at Batavia High School. The ceremony will begin at 8:15 a.m. in the Batavia High School Auditorium. There will be performances from our High School Band, orchestra, and Chorus, a student representative speaker, and a keynote speaker. 

After the ceremony, we will be offering a reception for our veterans in the High School Library. 

If you are interested in attending the Veteran’s Day Ceremony, RSVP the following information:

1. Name (Full Military Title)
2. Years of service
3. Military Branch

Please email or mail by Nov. 1.

Mail:

Collin Murtaug
Batavia High School
260 State Street
Batavia, NY 14020

Email: CMurtaugh@bataviacsd.org or JHaggett@bataviacsd.org. 

If you have a picture of you in uniform, please send it in with a reservation. We will return the picture on Nov. 9 at the end of the ceremony. We hope you can join us!

Press Release:

The Genesee County Master Gardeners are excited to announce that we will be collecting NEW, unwrapped BOOKS for youth, ages infant to 18 years old.  The books will be donated to the local Salvation Army for their annual Christmas gift giving campaign.

Books enhance a child’s ability to read and to communicate effectively.  The gift of a new book delivers a message of hope and instills self-confidence in children.

You can drop books off at the Genesee County Cooperative Extension office (420 East Main St., Batavia), Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  There is a collection bin set up near the reception area window.  Donations of new books can be made through Dec. 4.

The Genesee County Master Gardeners thank you in advance for your support.

Please contact Jan at 585-343-3040 x132 if you have questions.

“CCE of Genesee County is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities.”

Press Release:

AmeriCorps Seniors, a program dedicated to connecting people aged 55 and older with meaningful volunteer opportunities, is thrilled to invite residents of all ages to the upcoming Volunteer Fair on Tuesday, Nov. 14. This event will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at the Genesee County Office For The Aging, located at 2 Bank St., Batavia.

The AmeriCorps Seniors Volunteer Fair promises to be an enlightening and engaging event, open to all members of the community who wish to explore the world of volunteering and community service. Courtney Iburi, AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP Director, will be available to help guide and connect people to volunteer opportunities. She is committed to finding the perfect volunteer opportunity to match your interests, skills, and passions.

What to Expect 

• Diverse Volunteer Opportunities: AmeriCorps Seniors partners with numerous local organizations to provide a wide array of volunteer opportunities. This event is your chance to learn about these opportunities and how you can get involved.
• Perfect Match for You: Finding the right volunteer opportunity that aligns with your interests and skills is crucial. At the Volunteer Fair, you will discover how AmeriCorps Seniors can help you find the perfect volunteer match that not only fulfills your desire to give back but also utilizes your talents effectively. 
• Support and Recognition: AmeriCorps Seniors offers valuable support to volunteers, including supplemental liability insurance while volunteering and various training opportunities. We also make it a point to celebrate our volunteers at an annual recognition event, acknowledging their contributions to the community.

AmeriCorps Seniors is committed to providing meaningful ways for individuals to purposefully serve their community, creating a positive impact on the lives of others. 

The first 50 attendees will receive a special gift package containing an insulated tote, notebook, and pen. A drawing for exciting prizes will also be held for every attendee who visits each attending table. For more information about the AmeriCorps Seniors Volunteer Fair or any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at 585-343-1611.

Country music recording artist Claudia Hoyser, based in Rochester, visited Mr. Wine and Liquor in Batavia on Saturday to promote her Drunken Bean Whiskey, a coffee-flavored whiskey.

It's not Hoyser's first visit to Genesee County.  She's headlined at Jam at the Ridge (a now-defunct music venue) in Le Roy, recorded portions of a music video in Genesee County (see below), and has previously visited Mr. Wine and Liquor.

Earlier this year, her music video for Small Town Motels topped Country Music Television's 12-Pack Country Countdown for nine straight weeks.  Since her last visit to Batavia, she's played shows from California to New York.

Previously: Claudia Hoyser brings to Drunken Bean whiskey to Batavia, promotes album-release concert at The Ridge

"Duke Devlin" video, partially recorded in Genesee County:

A native of Rochester who has lived “everywhere” before settling down in Batavia eight years ago, Eric Zwieg could easily be described as a journeying artist.

Zwieg, who has more recently racked up academic degrees with no stopping in sight, spent his childhood in his grandmother’s cultural Chautauqua Institute surroundings, where he saw great jazz legends, later pursuing music performance in college before quitting after a year to indulge in the real thing — hitting the road for the next several years, forming his own bands, writing songs, recording albums, and scoring acting gigs for Indie movies. 

“I really wasn’t getting out of it what I wanted. My mother had been an opera singer in college, so she really wanted me to get the schooling, but it wasn’t meant for me. I’d rather hang in the bars,” Zwieg said during an interview with The Batavian. “I worked really hard. I was very industrious,” he said, adding the piece that most aspiring artists can relate to. “I was a personal trainer, did restaurant jobs, gallery jobs, I used to light shows for galleries, anything to make a buck here and there. And it all added up to put food on the table and pay rent.”

He dabbled in writing by drafting his own audition scripts for the theater “to help me stand out a little bit, you know, instead of the same old, same old stuff they hear.” 

“So I was always trying to be creative in that respect. That got me the Indie film parts," he said. "They didn’t pay anything, but you’re working, and you’re doing what you really want to do.”

Since all of that, for the last seven years, he’s been in school full-time, earning a bachelor’s degree in writing in 2016 and his master’s in writing four years later. And “that’s where my writing really started to take on some importance in my life,” he said.

He then obtained his master’s in fine arts at Goddard College this July, which is when he completed the thesis he is using as the basis for his staged reading of “Passenger: A Billion Little Pieces.” It debuts at 7 p.m. Nov. 9 at GO Art!’s main gallery, 201 East Main St., Batavia.  

“It’s a fully hybrid memoir, which is important that people understand that, and it’s based on postmodern writing disciplines and elements, and postmodern literature, having started after World War II … I’m using all the literary elements, I really wanted to pull a card trick off here, not only on my mentors but on the readers,” he said. “I really want to fill it chock full of all this stuff that, it’s aesthetically beautiful to read, but they don’t know what’s going on. And so it kind of takes one to know one. So there’s so much hidden, but it’s stylistically very academic.”

This presentation was made possible with Zwieg’s fifth Ripple grant award through GO Art!

“Passenger: A Billion Little Pieces—postmodern reflections in an attempt at several literary sensibilities, attitudes, and genre” is a hybrid of prose, poetry (Haiku, prosaic, anaphoric, repetition, lyric, narrative), definitions, quotes, lists, font variations, cut-and-paste, liberal punctuation, foreign language, dramatic and film dialogue insertions, homage, pastiche, text colorization, watermarks, absurdum, images, page breaks, use of whitespace, academic annotations, object blocks, postmodern concepts (metafiction, unreliable narration, intertextuality, anti-authorism, rejection-embracement of high and low culturalism, nonlinear storyline), embedded dramaturgical direction, irony, metaphor, existential thought, epistemology, naïve realism, philosophical skepticism, parody-satire, unrealistic narratives, paradox, sarcasm, humor, multiple POVs, dreams within dreams, stories within stories, nonuse of page numbers, contractions, quotation marks, and a bit of memoir, be it faux, pragmatic or idealistic.

Those are a lot of varying elements. Given the academic basis of the reading, and you say so much is hidden, will the audience get it? 
Maybe not. They might not fully understand the big picture, he said, but will get the vignettes. 

“They’ll get the chapters, and they’ll see this guy Henry Grace’s character,” Zwieg said. “He’s an everyman. He’s kind of an island.”

As Zwieg described Grace, and his own existence over the last number of years, one might wonder if there’s also some autobiography in here as well. There is some loneliness. 

Passenger is a professional reading with paid performers featuring Richard Ferris, Stephen VanValkenburg and Zwieg. While there are no costumes or sets, and perhaps because of that, it’s the words — their nuance, their lilt, their palpable meaning, their pronunciation and embrace as delivered by the performers — that make this show, Zwieg said.  

He pays homage to his favorite authors, Kurt Vonnegut, David Foster Wallace, and poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, who founded City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco. 

“I love these writers so much, you’re paying homage to them,” he said. I’m not trying to compare myself to them. I have my own twist on it too.”

Vonnegut is an American writer well known for his “Slaughterhouse-Five,” which Zwieg specifically referenced, and Foster Wallace is a postmodern novelist. His other muse, if it can be called that, was rock band Television’s album “Marquee Moon,” of which he painstakingly rifled through all eight tracks to pull references, quotes and footnotes that have significance for him. 

“There's a section when Henry falls in love with music as a teenager, right? And he goes to see that live band for the first time. So that's where this concept comes from Television. Unless you're a real music nerd, not a lot of people know about it. But this was at CBGBs in the mid-70s, which blew up with Blondie, The Ramones, Talking Heads, Television, on and on and on. It was just, that was the passion of music,” he said. “And so that's the connection to music for me. So the eight chapters, you know, See No Evil, Marquee Moon, whatever on down, are the track listings on that album. And there are quotes. There are footnotes throughout … there are seven or eight pages of footnotes that relate back to the photos, quotations, movie quotes, movie dialogue, all that stuff. 

"So I give credit to all those people. But there are a number of quotes from the lead singer and main songwriter on Television, who actually passed away just this year, Tom Verlaine. And so that's that energy I was trying to, you know, that element really means a lot to me.”

While working on each chapter, he would key in on one song and listen to it, he said, some 20 times in a four-hour period, to “define and pick a line out here that I can include in my prose texts somehow to make it that more of a convoluted postmodern type of experience.”

So there’s a lot going on, he said. An easy understatement. However, that’s the beauty of art and poetry and words, as Passenger’s own script states:  

You. You are. You are you. You have been.

You are. You will be forever. Breathe deeply. Listen. Allow life to be. Simple as a moment.

Fulfilling. The end is what you make it. Who are you? but existence without answers surrounded by suffering. 

Reaching for clarity in all things. Survival dependent upon the balance of randomness, choice, and the process of process. 

Journeys yet unfulfilled.

There will be a second show at 2 p.m. Nov. 11 at Pub Coffee Hub, 56 Harvester Ave., Batavia. There is no admission fee, and it is suggested for mature audiences only of age 17 and older. 

Press Release:

On Friday, Dec. 15 at 5 p.m. Genesee Community College Foundation will welcome all guests to its annual Encore Celebration. This year's event theme, "White Christmas," inspired by the 1954 classic film, will capture the essence of the holiday season and features a special holiday concert program choreographed by the Genesee Symphony Orchestra.

Encore has a distinctive 30-year tradition and all proceeds from the event directly support student scholarships at Genesee Community College. The College is pleased to announce the return of our Presenting Sponsor, Tompkins Financial Corporation, to Encore 2023. 

"Tompkins' banking, insurance, and wealth teams are proud to once again partner with GCC in support of the people and community we serve here in western New York," said David Boyce, President & CEO, of Tompkins Insurance Agencies.

There are several opportunities remaining to sponsor the Encore event. These sponsorships are critically important to the scholarships GCC provides its students and are available at several levels this year:

• Table Sponsor: $1,500
• Conductor's Circle: $1,000
• Golden Baton Society: $600
• Inner Circle: $300
• Individual Platinum Patron Ticket: $100

Help make a difference and make your reservations today at www.gccfoundationinc.org/encore or contact the Foundation Office at (585) 345-6809.

For more information contact Justin Johnston, Vice President, Development and External Affairs at (585) 345-6809, or via email: foundation@genesee.edu.

Press Release:

On Friday, Nov. 17, the Genesee County STOP-DWI Advisory Board will sponsor their 7th annual STOP-DWI Awards Luncheon at Terry Hills Restaurant & Banquet Facility. Nine young people from districts in the county will be honored for their commitment to the community for entering the STOP-DWI Poster Contest. 

There are 1st -3rd place winners in each category, 6th - 8th grade hand drawn, 6th - 8th grade Computer Generated Art and 9th -12th grade Computer Generated Art. There is also a Grand Prize Winner.

Additionally, the luncheon will recognize three Top Cop Awards. The following young people will be recognized for their STOP-DWI poster submissions:

6th - 8th grade winners: Alyssa Bailey, Jameson Hargrave, Deborah Heineman, Taylor Louis and Peyton Gay. 

9th - 12th grade winners: Taelynn Bragg, Savannah Meyer and Aiden Vallett. 

The Grand Prize Winner whose artwork will appear on a billboard in Genesee County in November and December is Marley Santos, a 10th grader from Batavia High School.

Batavia Police Officer Joseph Weglarski, Genesee County Sheriff Deputy Zachary Hoy and Village of LeRoy Police Department Officer Jordan Wolcott are receiving the Top Cop Award for going above and beyond with DWI arrests during a twelve month time period. They are also being honored for their dedication to keeping our community safe.

Registration will begin at 11:30 a.m. The program and luncheon will begin at 12 p.m. Seating is limited. If you are interested in attending the luncheon, contact Theresa Osborn at the Genesee County Youth Bureau at (585) 344-3960 no later than Nov. 9.

Pembroke Town Supervisor Thomas Schneider understands that Genesee County has some rough financial waters to navigate, however, he still wants county officials to remember that he and other municipalities are out there working to maintain their vessels as well.

"Now, it's nice that the county rate is reduced again. But I just want to encourage the Legislature to remember the towns and villages," Schneider said during the county’s budget hearing Wednesday at the old County Courthouse in Batavia. "And I know you've got a lot of other expenses and departments to deal with, but, you know, that did put a significant hit on the town budgets. And I hate to keep sounding like a broken record … we're appreciative of whatever can be shared. I'm a strong supporter of the whole ship working together to stay afloat.” 

Genesee County Manager Matt Landers released his 2024 budget and related message on Friday, and this week included the entire financial summary for the nearly $183 million spending plan, an increase of $20 million from 2023. It includes a property tax levy of $32.7 million, a $1.5 million cash surplus, a $17.4 million year-end fund balance, $104 million in revenues and $138 million in appropriations. 

This isn't the first time Schneider has come to talk to legislators about his plight as a cash-strapped supervisor, and he has been accompanied in the past by other supervisors as well. No matter the outcome, he wants to keep up with the message, he said.

“You know, I think I'm slowly getting into the fifth stage of grief at this point where it's acceptance. The local level tends to be where most of the people come to voice their concerns, it seems like, and trying to get them to understand what the new normal is in Genesee County and in the town of Pembroke is sometimes a little tough. So I don't want to upset anybody if I'm directing them to the County Legislature because, you know, our budget has not increased from 2018. We're still running at 2018 levels in our budgets,” he said. “So I would love to be able to have an increase in my budget each year, but then I've got to put that on the taxpayers and in the town, and so we have to think long and hard about those increases." 

Of the general fund expenses, there is a $5.2 million increase in the water fund because of the Phase 2 water project, he said. The good news, Landers said: “That is a one-time, non-reoccurring” cost. 

“So we don’t expect to see that in the 2025 budget,” he said. “So as far as the $20 million, $5 million of it is right there. That won’t be back next year. “$4.8 million of it is an increase in salaries and related employer FICA costs.”

People that go the public defender’s office and have some type of conflict and have to instead to assigned counsel, there’s a reimbursement cost for that, “which is causing a million dollar increase in costs,” Landers said. “The state is reimbursing half of that. But for the purposes of showing what the increased expenditures are, it is important to note that a million dollars of that is because the aid can be raised. Another $1.3 million is from NYS retirement, and a million dollar increase in Medicaid local share.”

Landers credited increased sales tax, including gasoline sales tax, and a cash surplus for a decreased sales tax rate by 37 cents for the proposed $8.08 per $1,000 assessed value. According to county history, that’s the lowest tax rate in at least 26 years, though total appropriations have risen from $72.6 million in 1997 to nearly $182.8 million in this proposed budget.

That’s in the face of some steep financial bills moving forward as the county has a looming $150 million Phase 3 water project and $70 million new jail facility in progress with the tabs yet to be paid. 

As of Dec. 31 of this year, the county will have an outstanding debt of $85.8 million for the Phase 2 water ($2.92 million), jail construction ($69.1 million), GCEDC STAMP water ($2.82 million), GCC athletic fields/gym/locker rooms ($175,000) and Wellness Center ($6.96 million), airport terminal construction ($2.9 million), and the Sheriff’s administration building ($920,000). 

Landers gave examples of some department highlights and related cash infusions, including a couple of years ago, when there were some substantial and sizable increases for one-time projects that could not grow “without our support.” 

“We once again asked if we wanted to keep that funding going on to demonstrate the need and demonstrate what that money would show as a return from the main investments. Examples are that we have our Jocelyn here from Cornell Cooperative, and we have the Ag in the Classroom program, which has been a huge success, so much so that she wants to expand upon that. There was a request to expand upon that, and in the 2024 budget, we're going to see if we can make that happen in 2025,” he said. “Workforce development that GCC has, we’ve been able to put in place, that these extra funds that the Legislature has been able to invest in is paying off in our community. 

"GCC, we've asked them to continue on with just a $50,000 increase. I say that's less than 2 percent of what we contribute to GCC overall, and inflation is going up by much more than 2 percent. So I think that's still a very, very conscientious move for the Legislature to try to keep them limited to $50,000," he said. "Sometimes in the past we would say, no increase for several years in a row. And then we would have to catch up and have to do a large shock to our budget. So I think this is a very measured approach.” 

He put $30 million in the budget for mandated services for social services and new jail needs, he said.  The new jail facility required hiring six additional correctional officers and one full-time cleaner for a total of seven new positions, Landers said. Every new state-mandated post at the jail means five and half new positions, he said.

He hopes to recoup some of those expenses with boarding of inmates from the ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) Buffalo Federal Detention Facility in Batavia, he said.

Genesee County used to have a more generous profit-sharing formula with its towns and villages, and with the three-phase water projects, that formula was recalculated two years ago that reduced that flattened the annual amount, a calculation that Schneider and other supervisors have critiqued in the past. This time Schneider said he just wants to be a gentle reminder that “we’re still here” and in need of funding whenever that might be possible.

“That's really all I had to say. The sales tax agreement was changed in 2018 because the county needed additional revenue. I don't think it solves anything to be too hard on anybody, but just the fact of the matter is it does put a hole in our budget, we've not increased our spending, our revenues have essentially decreased," Schneider said after the hearing. "So, you know, I just didn't want it lost on the legislature that it is still an impact. I don't want to tell anybody how to do their budget, I try to steer clear of telling other boards and groups how to do their job, but I think all budgets do have wiggle room in them.

"I don't think there's any changes at this point to it, other than just asking for more revenue sharing, because in the 2020 sales tax agreement, whenever that was passed, 2021, there was a possibility of additional revenue if the county had it available, so I just want to make sure we're not silent in the process, keeping in there,” he said.

The county invites public feedback, Landers and Legislative Chairwoman Shelley Stein said. The Legislature plans to have further budget sessions and is scheduled for a final vote on Nov. 20.

A 60-year-old Batavia man was struck and killed by a vehicle while he was attempting to cross the road on foot in the area of 4077 West Main Street Road, Batavia, at 6:55 p.m. on Wednesday, according to the Sheriff's Office.

The victim has been identified as Robert M. Schryver.

The location is roughly between Delre's Greenhouse and the former Dibble Family Center, west of Colonial Boulevard. 

According to the initial investigation, a 27-year-old Akron woman, Brittany Hill, was driving a 2020 Gray Volkswagon SUV westbound when Schryver reportedly crossed the road ahead of her vehicle.

Schryver sustained serious injuries and was transported to UMMC, where he succumbed to his injuries.

The accident investigation is continuing by the Crash Management Team and deputies.  Town of Batavia Fire, Batavia PD, State Police, and Mercy EMS assisted at the scene.

A pair of teenagers from Rochester are accused of stealing two unlocked vehicles that were left running in the driveways of Batavia homes this morning.

The first theft was reported on Lacrosse Avenue in Batavia. It was later located on Cherry Avenue, where another vehicle that had been left unlocked and running was stolen.

A short time after the theft was reported, a Le Roy patrol officer spotted the vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. 

The driver fled, leading to a chase into Monroe County.  The Monroe County Sheriff's Office assisted with the pursuit once it was in the department's jurisdiction.

The chase ended in North Chili, where one occupant was taken into custody without incident.  

A second occupant fled on foot but was taken into custody a short time later.

A 17-year-old male and an 18-year-old female, whose names are not being released by Batavia PD, were charged with two counts each of grand larceny 4th.  They are also facing charges and traffic violations in Le Roy.

The pair was issued appearance tickets and released to their guardians in accordance with state law.

Batavia PD said in a statement that it wishes to thank the Village of LeRoy Police Department, the Genesee County Sheriff's Office, the Genesee County Emergency Dispatch Center and Monroe County Sheriff's Office for their assistance. 

"We further would like to remind residents to secure their vehicles and not leave them running while unattended," the department said in a statement.