MTV reality show star Johnny Bananas dropped into City Slickers in Downtown Batavia tonight. Bananas made the appearance to help support the new restaurant's opening week. The star of shows such as "Real World" signed autographs and posed for pictures with fans.
Owner Ken Mistler said a big crowd showed up during the piano bar portion of the evening for the restaurant and bar's first Saturday night, even though there was a two-hour power outage downtown.
A local business owner has been charged with two Class A misdemeanors after allegedly making a phone call to a property owner on Ellicott Street and impersonating a law enforcement officer in an attempt to intimidate her from renting the property to a potential competitor.
Jason Lang, 28, is charged with criminal personation, 2nd, and aggravated harassment, 2nd.
Sgt. Ron Lobur said Lang turned himself in to State Police, was cooperative and was released on an appearance ticket.
According to Lobur, Lang allegedly called a property owner and left a phone message saying he was a State Police "detective" and warned her that a business she may be renting to has a reputation for selling synthetic marijuana and bath salts. He allegedly warned her that she might not want to rent to this business.
Lobur noted that the State Police do not employ detectives. Rather, their detective work is done by investigators.
Lang, a Liberty Street resident, owns The Laughing Buddha on Ellicott Street and has admitted in the past to selling synthetic marijuana.
Press release:
The Genesee Community College Board of Trustees recognized the extraordinary service and contributions of the late Lynn E. Browne by dedicating the college's Library Instruction Classroom in his honor.
Browne served as a member of the Genesee Community College Foundation Board of Directors from 1997 to 2010, including nine years of service as treasurer. He was deeply involved in the fund raising initiatives that led to the expansion of the college's scholarship programs, and the construction of the Conable Technology Building and the Humphrey Student Union. He was a member of the committee that facilitated the foundation's acquisition of the former College Meadows, renamed College Village.
A native of Batavia, Brown was a graduate of the Wharton School of Business. After serving as an Army officer during World War II, he married Phyllis Shiekman, of Philadelphia, and relocated there. For many years, he owned and operated one of the nation's leading button distribution businesses. After the death of his wife in the 1980s, Browne returned to his hometown and immersed himself in community activities.
He was the first recipient of the Alpha Medal of Honor (2006), bestowed on area citizens during commencement ceremonies in recognition of outstanding philanthropic and volunteer support of Genesee Community College. His family returned his Alpha Medal to the college after his death, and it will be displayed in or near the Library classroom.
Browne contributed funds to assist in the renovation of the college's Alfred C. O'Connell Library during 1999-2000, and asked that the plaque recognizing his contribution be displayed outside the Library Instruction Classroom. The classroom is often used by students learning how to use library resources and conduct research, and it had a special meaning to Browne, according to Foundation Executive Director Richard Ensman.
Board Chair Charles R. Ruffino called Browne an extraordinary citizen who "poured his heart and soul into Genesee Community College."
The college foundation will host a public dedication event honoring Mr. Browne and the naming of the Library Classroom in the near future.
The Notre Dame Girls Softball Team won the Class D1 Section V championship tonight in Keshequa by beating Arkport 17-14.
Photo submitted by Linda Bartlett.
A 33-year-old resident of Flint, Mich., is being accused of dealing crack cocaine in Batavia.
John "Solo" Sumlin III, was stopped today by members of the Local Drug Enforcement Task Force as he was riding a bike on Porter Avenue.
Sumlin's arrest is the result of a month-long investigation that included undercover agents allegedly purchasing crack on two occasions.
During the course of the investigation, task force members identified Sumlin as an individual wanted in Michigan on a possible parole violation.
When Sumlin was stopped today, he allegedly gave investigators a false name in an attempt to conceal his warrant from local law enforcement.
Following arraignment in Batavia City Court, Sumlin was jailed without bail.
Dan Deluca and Jonathan Jaeger will perform jazz at Moonjava Cafe from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on Friday, June 1.
It is located at 56 Harvester Ave. in the City of Batavia.
Press release:
As part of the its Strategic Plan for Environmental Sustainability, the City of Batavia is conducting a bulk item pickup for residential properties. Residential properties will receive two (2) yellow special bulk item collection stickers in their next quarterly water bill.
The stickers may only be used between JUNE 1st AND OCTOBER 1st, 2012 for the disposal of bulk items on regularly scheduled garbage days.
During the city-wide limited bulk pickup program only ONE sticker is necessary for the disposal of one bulk item such as a couch, appliance or dresser that would normally require two (2) orange stickers. Residents are asked to place the bulk item with the sticker securely affixed to it at the curb/parkway on their regularly scheduled garbage day.
If there are any questions please contact either the Bureau of Inspection at 345-6345 or the Department of Public Works at 345-6325.
The third member of a trio caught with drugs in a Batavia hotel room nearly a year ago entered a guilty plea to a drug possession charge in county court today, but has a chance to have his plea reduced if he successfully completes a drug program.
Benjamin Santiago was arrested with Justin Barker and Derick Barker on June 1 after the three men allegedly refused to leave the hotel after not paying the bill. When police arrived they found a quantity of drugs in the room.
The Barker brothers were later accused of plotting a conspiracy to kill Santiago.
Justin Barker later admitted to his role in the plot and was sentenced to two to six years in prison.
Santiago was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd. As part of a plea deal, Santiago entered a guilty plea today to criminal possession of a controlled substance, 5th.
His case is being sent to Batavia Drug Court, where he'll be given a chance to complete a drug treatment program. If he successfully completes the program, he can return to county court, withdraw his guilty plea and plead guilty to a Class A misdemeanor.
He could still be sentenced up to a year in jail under that plea, but if he doesn't complete drug treatment successfully and comply with all of the other terms of his release, Santiago could facing from two and a third to seven years in prison.
Derick Barker, who previously entered a guilty plea to possession of a controlled substance and strangulation (stemming from an attack on an inmate in the Genesee County Jail), is currently serving a sentence that could stretch to eight years.
Samantha Luce is in front of the county courthouse today selling cookies on behalf of the YWCA as a fundraiser for the Child Advocacy Center. The cookies are the creation of Anita Stollo and her daughter Serena.
Pre-schoolers from the Tuesday-Thursday class at the YMCA enjoyed a field trip to the Batavia Fire Station today, where they learned about what firefighters do, how they dress and what to do in case of a fire, and each child got a chance to spray water from a fire hose.
A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported on Route 33 and Wilkinson Road, Batavia.
East Pembroke fire and Mercy EMS responding.
The vehicles are blocking.
One person is complaining of back pain.
UPDATE 5:42 p.m.: Three vehicles involved.
UPDATE 5:43 p.m.: Three ambulances requested to the scene.
An ATV was reportedly struck by a bullet from a high-powered rifle while it was being driven near the railroad tracks off Wortendyke Road in the Town of Batavia. A caller who lives on Wortendyke reported seeing the shooter running toward a nearby trailer park. Law enforcement is attempting to locate the shooter.
UPDATE 4:43 p.m.: Deputies have located the suspect and are speaking with him now.
After years of cramped quarters in their office on Washington Avenue, Batavia, Creamy Creations cut the ribbon today on their new space in Masse Gateway.
The company now has 7,000 square feet for its laboratory, storage and offices to serve customers throughout the Western Hemisphere.
"We’re definitely optimistic about the future," said Barbara Van Hoorn, VP of the Americas for Creamy Creations. "There’s room to grow and we anticipate hiring more people in the future."
Creamy Creations is a subsidiary of FrieslandCampina, which is based in the Netherlands. Three FrieslandCampina executives were in Batavia for the ribbon cutting, including Roelof Josten, COO of FrieslandCampina (above, Van Hoorn and Josten perform the ribbon cutting).
Currently, Creamy Creations employs nine people in Batavia, with a 10th person starting next week and immediate plans to hire another sales person.
The company creates emulsified beverages, both containing alcohol and nutritional drinks. Many of its drinks are created for and in cooperation with O-AT-KA.
Van Hoorn said the company was created after Bailey's introduced Irish Cream in 1974 in response to customer requests to develop similar products. The company moved from Wisconsin to Batavia in 1993, in part to be closer to O-AT-KA. It now services beverage companies from Chili to Canada.
Creamy Creations is Masse's first official tenant. Merrill Lynch is expected to open an office in the redevelopment project by the end of the summer. Owner and manager Tom Mancuso said Mancuso Development Group is in active negotiations to fill the remaining 48,000 square feet.
Steven Alexander, from the Netherlands, is managing director of Creamy Creations.
Tom Mancuso
Melanie H. Mosher, of Batavia, was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa Society, the national academic honor society at a ceremony May 18 at Valparaiso University at Valparaiso, Ind.
Mosher was graduated summa cum laude from Valparaiso University in December 2011 with a bachelor of arts degree in History and German. She also excelled in the academically challenging curriculum of Christ College, Valparaiso University’s honors college, graduating with its top honors distinction.
Mosher is a 2007 graduate of Alexander High School where she was salutatorian of her class. She studied for two years at Hamburg and Reutlingen, Germany. Mosher is the daughter of Roger and Sherry Mosher, of Batavia.
According to the society, "Only about 1 percent of the arts and sciences graduates in the United States are elected to Phi Beta Kappa membership.” The society added, “The ideal Phi Beta Kappa has demonstrated intellectual integrity, tolerance for other views, and a broad range of academic interests.”
Since inception, 17 U.S. Presidents, 37 U.S. Supreme Court Justices, 1 NFL MVP, 1 Heisman Trophy winner, and 136 Nobel Laureates have been inducted members.
Its mission is to "celebrate and advocate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences" and induct "the most outstanding students of arts and sciences at America’s leading colleges and universities." Founded at The College of William and Mary on Dec. 5, 1776, as the first collegiate Greek-letter fraternity, it is also the oldest honor society for the liberal arts and sciences and among the oldest undergraduate societies in the United States.
Kate Elizabeth Brozic, 29, of Lake Road South, Brockport, is charged with two counts of bail jumping, 3rd. Brozic allegedly missed two court appearances after being bailed out of jail. She was jailed on $10,000 bail or $20,000 bond.
Amanda Jane Richardson, 27, of Hillside Terrance, Silver Springs, is charged with a violation of probation. Richardson turned herself in on a bench warrant out of Genesee County Court. Richardson was jailed pending arraignment.
Michael James McCarthy, 24, of Angling Road, Pembroke, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. McCarthy is accused of violating an order of protection by contacting the protected party.
Gavin David Laben, 18, of Darien, is charged with resisting arrest and obstruction of governmental administration, 2nd. Laben allegedly resisted arrest while an Erie County deputy tried to take him into custody on an accusation of criminal mischief in Erie County.
Jodee Marie Henderson, 27, of no permenant address, is charged with petit larceny and conspiracy, 6th. Henderson, along with two other individuals, is accused of stealing merchandise from Stan's Harley Davidson on West Saile Drive, Batavia. The suspects allegedly stole $214 in merchandise. Henderson was jailed on $500 bail. Also arrested on the same charges and released were Leaha Rae Anne Wimmer, 19, of Darien, and Nicholas Adam Antonucci, 25, of Alexander.
Nicholas Christian Doell, 21, of Darien, is charged with trespass, operating an unregistered ATV and unlawful operating an ATV on a highway. Doell was arrested after allegedly failing to comply with the instructions of a police officer while allegedly operating an ATV on Norfolk Southern Railroad property in Darien.
Seth Ryan Doster, 20, of Darien, is charged with trespass and disorderly conduct. Doster was allegedly involved in a verbal dispute with a neighbor while on private property. Also arrested on the same charges in connection with the same incident was a 17-year-old resident of Darien.
The issue of overnight parking downtown was put in reverse by the Batavia City Council on Monday, when by unanimous consent members sent it back to where the controversy started -- the BID Parking Committee.
The council was following the recommendation of City Manager Jason Molino, who suggested the parking committee -- which according to him, initially asked for parking restrictions to be enforced -- come up with a compromise plan.
"We want to try and do what’s best for everyone," Molino said. "Sometimes you can’t satisfy everyone, but we’re going to try to. I think the best thing is have the BID parking committee review the issue further and come back with recommendations."
Molino said the situation is a balancing act of various interests. Parking lot clean-up and plowing requires overnight parking be limited and ideally confined to a defined area, and downtown business owners are worried about employees and customers who need to use the parking lot between 2 and 6 a.m. getting tickets.
About a dozen local business owners attended Monday's meeting, along with BID Director Don Burkel.
Burkel informed the council that the BID board met earlier in the day and agreed that overnight parking fees should not be increased.
"In light of trying to promote downtown for residential use, as well as for shopping and restaurants and other various businesses, the board is in favor of avoiding any increases so as not to shortchange (downtown) in any way," Burkel said.
Louis Kingsbury, an employee of Ken Mistler and Jerry Condello, spoke as a representative of local businesses.
Kingsbury listed off a number of concerns: Where are employees supposed to park whose shift ends after 2 a.m. or starts before 6 a.m.? Who's liable when a plow hits a parked car?
"I'm just trying to figure out a solution to the whole scenario so it's feasible for everybody," Kingsbury said.
Condello delivered pages of signatures on petitions of people opposing overnight downtown parking restrictions.
Council members had a variety of initial reactions. John Canale wondered why people pay for parking when they've already paid for the parking lot through their taxes. Jim Russell said some sort of order and structure is necessary to the parking situation.
And if bar patrons decide not to drive home and still wind up getting a ticket, well that's a small price to pay compared to a DWI, Russell said.
Bar owners argue that customers won't necessarily look at it that way, but Molino said there is an application process in place for anybody who gets a ticket under extenuating circumstances.
The fee for the overnight parking permit is necessary, City Attorney George Van Nest said, because there are court cases that prevent government agencies from giving away taxpayer-owned property. A parking spot is a piece of real estate and if you're going to give a person special permission to use the property when others can't, there needs to be a fair-market price attached to that use.
Molino established the overnight parking fee -- which he can set under local law -- at the same rate as a garbage Dumpster fee, under the premise that the fee establishes market value for that much space being used by a private party.
So far, a total of nine overnight parking passes have been purchased by downtown residents. Tickets and fees account for only about $1,000 in city revenue, Molino said.
William Henry Foote, 57, of Myers Road, Oswego, is charged with felony driving while ability impaired by combined drugs and alcohol, felony DWI, felony driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and felony driving while ability impaired by drugs. Foote was arrested after deputies responded at 3:35 p.m., Monday, to a report of a person who said he had burned himself by spilling coffee on his chest. Foote was evaluated by ambulance medics, but refused further treatment. Further investigation by Deputy Joseph Graff and Deputy Howard Carlson led to Foote's arrest.
Russell Hosahi Blumer, 39, of Gillate Road, Alexander, is charged with assault, 3rd, resisting arrest, aggravated DWI and DWI. Blumer was allegedly involved in a motor-vehicle accident on Gillate Road, Alexander, at 4:23 p.m., Monday. Blumer was later located operating a Kubota tractor and was allegedly intoxicated. Blumer was allegedly verbally combative and physically resisting arrest, causing a hand/finger injury to a deputy. The deputy was treated at UMMC and released.
A 17-year-old resident of River Street, Batavia, and a 16-year-old resident of South Main Street, Batavia, are charged unlawful possession of alcohol by a person under age 21. The youths were allegedly found in possession of beer at 11:42 p.m., Saturday, at a location on Lewiston Road, Batavia.
Deidre Roshelle Scott, 25, of an undisclosed address, Rochester, is charged with criminal impersonation, 2nd, aggravated unlicensed operation, 2nd, and inadequate headlights. Scott is accused of giving a false identification following a traffic stop at 2:03 p.m., March 15. Scott's alleged deception was discovered after Scott reportedly failed to appear in court and the person whose identity she allegedly used was issued a summons for failure to appear.
James Thomas Kusmierczak, 27, of Chestnut Street, Medina, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd, and possession/consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle. Kusmierczak was stopped for allegedly consuming beer in a motor vehicle. During the stop, Kusmierczak was allegedly found in possession of marijuana.
Jeffery Scott, 29, of Keeney Road, Le Roy, and Adrian James, 32, of East Main Street Road, Le Roy, are charged with trespass and petit larceny. The two men were arrested following a report of people removing property from a local business. When approached, Scott was immediately taken into custody. James was captured after initially fleeing on foot.
Melissa G. Betances, 31, of 180 1/2 Pearl St., Batavia, is charged with operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs and moving from lane unsafely. Betances was stopped Monday on Pearl Street by Officer Darryle Streeter.
Josanne Alysse Schultz, 23, of Wolcottsville Road, Akron, is charged with petit larceny. Schultz is accused of shoplifting at Kmart.
Brett Douglas Perfitt, 17, of Bennett Avenue, Oakfield, is charged with DWI, aggravated DWI, consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle, speed not reasonable and moved from lane unsafely. Perfitt was reportedly involved in a motor-vehicle accident at 2:10 a.m., Monday, on Bloomingdale Road, Alabama. Perfitt allegedly failed to reduce speed when approaching a curve and traveled off the roadway into the woods. Perfitt said he was not injured in the accident and declined medical treatment. The accident was investigated by Deputy Kevin McCarthy.
There were several Memorial Day observances throughout Genesee County today. Here are photos from the Genesee County Park, Williams Park, the VA Center, the Bergen parade, the Batavia parade and the St. Jerome's ceremony.
If you're unable to view the slide show below, click here.
To purchase prints of these photos, click here.
A 3-year-old has reportedly been struck by a vehicle at 20 S. Main St. in the city. The location is between Walnut and Pearl streets. City fire is on scene and Mercy medics are responding.
UPDATE 3:05 p.m.: City Engine 12 is back in service.
UPDATE 3:16 p.m.: Minor injuries. The boy was taken to UMMC. Early indications are the family was walking across the street and the boy darted out in front of them.
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