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Press release:

The Richmond Memorial Library is pleased to offer T-Mobile Hotspots, which will be available for patrons to check out beginning February 1, 2023. The hotspots were received through the Emergency Connectivity Fund Grant as part of the FCC American Rescue Plan Act. The hotspots can be checked out for a period of three weeks with a valid NIOGA library card in good standing. They include a power cord and all instructions. The NIOGA Library System includes public libraries in Niagara, Orleans and Genesee Counties. Hotspots can only be checked out at the Richmond Memorial Library and must also be returned to the Richmond Memorial Library. 

Press release:

The Town of Darien Republican Committee is actively seeking individuals who may be interested in serving their community as a candidate for office for the following positions:

• Town Justice
• Town Supervisor
• Town Council (2 positions)
• Highway Superintendent

All interested parties should send their letter of interest to: Committee Chair, Mike Davis, 10740 Alleghany Road, Darien Center, NY 14040 or to: tdarienrc@gmail.com no later than Friday, February 17, 2023.

Press release:

Community-based hands-only CPR training is being offered free of charge by the Genesee County Office of Emergency Management. 

The class will be presented by Charlotte Crawford on Feb. 8 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Genesee County Fire Training Center, 7690 State Street Road, Batavia.   

This community-based CPR course teaches lifesaving skills of adult hands-only CPR, child CPR and infant CPR. The skills are taught in a dynamic group environment. This course is for people who want to learn CPR but do not need a course certification card for their job.  This course is ideal for students, new parents, grandparents, babysitters and for anyone interested in learning how to save a life.

Registration is required.  To register, call or email the Genesee County Fire Training Center.  (585) 344-0078 or Jeanette.diehl@co.genesee.ny.us.

Press release:

Get in-person tax help and e-file for free at Richmond Memorial Library this tax season

Richmond Memorial Library is pleased to partner with volunteers from the New York State Department of Tax and Finance to offer income-eligible citizens assistance with filing their taxes online this tax season.

Tax Department employees will walk you through your income tax returns, step-by-step, as you complete and e-file your tax return for free.

Sessions will be offered on Thursdays –February 2, February 9, February 16, February 23, March 2, March 9, March 23, March 30, April 6 and April 13.

• If you earned $73,000 or less in 2022, you qualify.
• Safe and secure online tax software.
• Use on-site computers, or your own laptop, tablet, or mobile device.
• You only need basic computer skills and an active email account.

Those interested must schedule an appointment. Sessions are available from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information or to make an appointment, contact the library at 585-343-9550 x3 or visit the reference desk. Richmond Memorial Library is located at 19 Ross Street in the City of Batavia. Find the library online at batavialibrary.org.

Alecia Lyons

Alicia M. Lyons, 43, of Colorado Avenue, Batavia, is charged with resisting arrest. Lyons was taken into custody on multiple warrants on Jan. 11. The first warrant was issued after an arrest on a trespass charge at a local business on May 28, where she was issued an appearance ticket. The second warrant was issued after an alleged trespass arrest at the same business on July 20, where an appearance ticket was issued. The third warrant was issued after another alleged trespass arrest at the same location, also on July 20, and the issuance of an appearance ticket. The fourth warrant was issued after another alleged trespass arrest at the same business on July 24.  Lyons was arraigned in City Court after this arrest and released on her own recognizance. The fifth warrant was issued after Lyons allegedly kicked another person at an apartment complex on East Main Street, and the issuance of an appearance ticket. The sixth warrant was issued after an appearance ticket was issued for an alleged trespass arrest for the same business on Dec. 6. Lyons is accused of failure to appear for all cases. This arrest was conducted by Officer Peter Post. While being taken into custody on these warrants, it is alleged that Lyons resisted arrest.  Lyons was arraigned in City Court and remanded to Genesee County Jail in lieu of $750 bail and scheduled to appear in Batavia City Court on Jan. 19. 

Nasir C. Nathan, 27, of Walnut Street, Batavia, is charged with gang assault 1st. Nathan is accused of participating in a gang assault on Oct. 4, 2019, on Highland Park in Batavia. He was arraigned in City Court and ordered held on bail of $10,000, $20,000 bond, or $40,000 partially secured bond. 

Cordero L. Royes, 35, of Maple Street, Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd, assault 3rd, Driving While Intoxicated, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation in the First Degree and traffic law violation. Royes is accused of driving drunk on Dec. 31 in the City of Batavia following a traffic stop by Officer Sam Freeman. Also, on Dec. 31, Royes is accused of striking another person in the ribs and face during an argument.  He was arraigned in City Court and held without bail on the DWI charge.  On Jan. 1, Royes is accused of striking another person. He was arraigned in City Court and ordered held on $1 bail.

Alyssa K. Hillman, 29, of Main Street, Corfu, is charged with DWI. See entry below.

Richard W. Reid, 54, of Main Street, Corfu, is charged with DWI, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident, and moving from lane unsafely. A hit-and-run accident was reported to Batavia PD on Jan. 2 (location not disclosed). Upon an investigation by Officer John Gombos and Officer and Officer William Yung, it is alleged that Reid was the operator of the vehicle and that he drove away from the scene. It is also alleged that Reid and Alyssa K. Hillman switched seats, and Hillman was driving the vehicle when officers stopped the vehicle on Ellicott Avenue. Reid and Hillman were released on appearance tickets.

Daniel J. Bakowski, 42, of Ellicott Street, Batavia, is charged with assault 3rd, harassment 2nd, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal obstruction of breathing, and criminal mischief to prevent a request for emergency assistance. Bakowski is accused of assaulting another person while children were present on Jan. 18. He was turned over to the Genesee County Jail to await arraignment. The case was investigated by Officer Wesley and Sgt. Mitch Cowen.

Karina M. Treleaven, of Prospect Avenue, Batavia is charged with DWI. Treleaven was stopped in the City of Batavia on Jan. 17 by officers Felica Martinez and Megan Crossett. Treleaven was issued an appearance ticket.  No further details released.

Eric R. Raymond, 52, of Hillside Drive, Batavia, is charged with DWI, drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle, and failed to yield the right of way. Raymond was stopped on Jan. 15 (time not provided) in the City of Batavia (location not provided) by Officer John Gombos. Raymond was allegedly found to have a BAC of .08 or greater.  He was released on an appearance ticket.

Lazeuia D. Washington, 45, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with menacing 3rd and harassment 2nd. Washington is accused of being physically aggressive with a roommate in at a rooming house on West Main Street, Batavia, on Jan. 14. He was released following arraignment.

Jason W. Whitehead, 25, and Natalie N Neureuther, 23, both of Bank Street, Batavia, are charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, criminal use of drug paraphernalia, and act in a manner injurious to an individual under 17 years of age. Whitehead and Neureuther are accused of being in possession of items that were later found to test positive for cocaine. The items were discovered by probation officers and turned over to Batavia PD.  The items were reportedly located immediately in the vicinity of and easily reachable by a child who was present at the time. They were arrested on Jan. 13 and issued appearance tickets.

Anne Marie Boyce, 46, of Woodrow Road, Batavia, is charged with three counts of dog running at large. On Jan 10, police were dispatched to Woodrow Road, Batavia, for a report of a loose dog. On Jan. 11, police received a report of a large dog running loose on Woodrow Road. On Jan. 13, police officers were dispatched to Woodrow Road in Batavia for a report of three loose dogs.  Boyce was issued appearance tickets.

Gabrielle E. Melton, 27, of Walnut Avenue, Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief 3rd. Melton is accused of spray painting another person's vehicle on Summit Street, Batavia, on Aug. 21. She was arrested on Jan. 19. Melton was arraigned in City Court and released on her own recognizance. 

Patrice C. Haight, 60, of Allen Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI and speeding. Haight was stopped on Jan. 7, time unspecified, in the City of Batavia, location unspecified, by Officer John Gombos. Haight was released on an appearance ticket.

Daryl T Stalter, 37, of Brockport Spencerport Road, in Brockport, is charged with DWI, driving with a BACV of .128 or greater, and an open container. Stalter was arrested on Jan. 7, time unspecified, by Officer Joseph Weglarski after officers responded to North Spruce Street and Eleanor Place on a disturbance call. Stalter was released on an appearance ticket.

Ballard P. Maye, 36, of Swan Steet, Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child, criminal mischief and harassment 2nd. Maye is accused of being involved in a disturbance at a residence on Swan Street, Batavia, on Dec. 31. Maye was arraigned in City Court and released.

Timmy J. Frazier, 65, of Main Street, Batavia, was arrested on two warrants from Batavia City Court. On Jan. 5, Frazier was arrested on two warrants out of City Court.  The first warrant stems from an incident reported on Jan. 10 at a business on Main Street, resulting in trespass, resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration charges against Fraizer. Frazier was issued an appearance ticket.  The second warrant stems from an incident on East Main Street on Aug. 8 in Batavia, that resulted in a trespass charge.  An appearance ticket was also issued in that case.  Frazier was arraigned in City Court on both warrants and remanded to the Genesee County Jail in lieu of $500 bail, $1,000 bond, or $3,000 partially secured bond.

Zachary J Sauberan, 27, of 2nd Street, Dunkirk, is charged with harassment  2nd. Sauberan is accused of being involved in a physical confrontation on Bank Street in Batavia on Jan. 4. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Aaron T Hendershot, 26, of Ellicott Street, Batavia, is charged with failure to appear. On Jan. 3, Hendershot was arrested on two warrants out of City Court.  One warrant was issued after an alleged failure to appear on a charge of criminal contempt 2nd stemming from an incident on Oct. 10 at a residence on Washington Avenue in Batavia.  The second warrant was issued for an alleged failure to appear on charges of criminal contempt 2nd and criminal trespass, stemming from an incident that occurred on Sept. 11 at a residence on Washington Avenue in Batavia.  Hendershot was arraigned in City Court and held on bail of $2,500,  $5,000 bond, or $10,000 partially secured bond.  

David A Kendall, 50, of Bank Street, Batavia, is charged with stalking 4th. Kendall is accused of following another motorist to a residence where he engaged in a verbal dispute on Jan. 2. Kendall was issued an appearance ticket.

Olivia J. Patten, 25, of North Main Street, Oakfield, is charged with theft of services. Patten is accused of leaving a local business on Jan. 2 without paying for services. Patten was arraigned in City Court and released.

Michael W. Flint, 23, of Spring Street, Mount Morris, is charged with failure to appear. On Jan. 1, Flint was arrested on a warrant issued by City Court for an alleged failure to appear on a charge of criminal contempt 2nd.  Flint was arraigned in Centralized Arraignment Part Court and released on his own recognizance. 

Billy Joe Budziszewski, 31, is charged with trespass and obstruction of governmental administration. Budziszewski is accused of refusing to leave a local business after repeated requests. He is accused of fighting with officers Sam Freeman and Adam Tucker during his arrest. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Julie R. Richardson, 32, and Jarrod K. Fotiathis, 28, no permanent address, are charged with criminal trespass 3rd. Richardson and Fotiathis were allegedly found inside a building in the City of Batavia they did not have permission to be in. They were released on an appearance ticket.

Jamie L Broadbent, of Walnut Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal trespass 2nd. Broadbent was allegedly found in a residence on Dec. 30 that he was not allowed to enter. He was arraigned in City Court and released.

Mark A. Remington, 48, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with sex offender failure to report an address change. Remington was arrested on Dec. 29 for allegedly failing to register a change of address as a registered sex offender. He was arraigned in City Court and released on his own recognizance. 

Michael R. Ostrander, 58, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. The criminal contempt charge stems from an arrest on July 25. Ostrander is accused of failing to appear in court on the charge, and he was arrested on a warrant by Officer Kevin Defelice. He was arraigned in City Court and released under supervision. 

Robert D Griffin, 44, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd and aggravated family offense (more than one offense within five years). Griffen was arrested on Jan. 19 in connection with an incident and held in the Genesee County Jail awaiting arraignment. No further details released. Griffin was also arrested on Jan. 23 and charged with criminal contempt 1st for allegedly violating a stay-away order of protection. He was held pending arraignment.

Joseph C Jeffords, 31, of Chestnut Street, Batavia, is charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Jeffords is accused of using a friend's vehicle to go to Rochester and then not returning it. He was issued an appearance ticket. He was arrested on Jan. 23.

Anthony L Vanelli, 45, of Federal Drive, Batavia, is charged with not appearing on a petit larceny charge. Vanelli was arrested on Jan. 23 on a warrant. He is accused of stealing a KitKat candy bar and Nitro Pepsi from a local business on May 2. He was arraigned in City Court and ordered held on $1 bail.

Robert A Shuttleworth, 64, of Gaslight Lane, Batavia, is charged with operating a motor vehicle with suspended registration, aggravated unlicensed operation 2nd, operating a motor vehicle without insurance, and operating a motor vehicle by an unlicensed driver. Shuttleworth was stopped by Officer Andrew Mruczek on Jan. 20 at an undisclosed location in Batavia. He was ordered to appear in City Court on Feb. 14.

Shelby L Fryer, 27, of Prune Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI, Driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and unlicensed driver. Fryer was arrested on a warrant related to the charges. Fryer was originally arrested on Oct. 17. He was held for arraignment.

Jessica B Saeli, 33, of Morse Place, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 1st, assault 3rd, and unlawful imprisonment 2nd. Saeli was arrested on Jan. 18 on a warrant stemming from an incident reported on Sept. 19 that led to her arrest then. She was arraigned and released under supervision.

Adam M White, 36, of North Lyon Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI and equipment violations. White was stopped on Jan. 15, time of day not released, at an undisclosed location in Batavia by Officer Joseph Weglarski. White was held pending arraignment.

Dustin T Forkell, 31, of Hulberton Road, Holley, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property 4th. Forkell is accused of being in possession of a stolen motor vehicle on Jan. 21. Forkell was held pending arraignment.

Bradley R Jordan, 30, of Liberty Street, Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child, criminal mischief 4th, and aggravated family offense. Jordan is accused of being involved in a disturbance on Jan. 20. He was held pending arraignment.

Alan Jon Borlaug Jr., 27, of Rochester, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, and no or inadequate plate lamp. Borlaug was stopped at 1:39 a.m., Jan. 22, on Clinton Street Road, Byron by Deputy Carlos Ortiz Speed. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Brian Eric Daggar, 37, of Oak Orchard Road, Elba, is charged with petit larceny. Dagger is accused of shoplifting from an undisclosed store in Batavia Town Center. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Marquis K. Saddler, 32, of Post Avenue, Rochester, and Kara B. Sass, 28, of West Main Street, Batavia, are charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th and criminally using drug paraphernalia 2nd. Saddler and Sass were arrested on Jan. 26 at 5:30 p.m. following a traffic stop on West Main Street by Deputy Nicholas Charmoun. Saddler and Sass are accused of possessing illegal narcotics and associated paraphernalia inside the vehicle while deputies were assisting NYS Parole. They were issued appearance tickets.

Jodi Melody Flow, 36, of Rochester, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, traffic device violation, illegal signal with 100 feet, and tampering with physical evidence. Flow was subject to a traffic stop at 1:49 a.m. Jan. 29, on East Main Street, Batavia, by Deputy Jeremiah Gechell. During the stop, Gechell requested the assistance of Deputy James Stack and K-9 Rayzor. Rayzor reportedly alerted on the vehicle signaling the presence of narcotics. Following a search, she was allegedly found in possession of a controlled substance. Flow was released on an appearance ticket.

Margaret Angela Miles, 57, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny, obstructing governmental administration 2nd, and resisting arrest. Miles was arrested on West Main Street, Batavia, on Jan. 29, at 1:51 p.m., by deputies Alexander Hadsall and Michael Lute. No further details released.

Richard M. Schiersing, 47, of Scottsville, is charged with criminal trespass 3rd. Schiersing was arrested by Le Roy PD at about 12:30 a.m. on Jan. 30 after police were dispatched to an address on East Main Road in the Town of Le Roy for a report of an unknown person within the fenced yard of a residence. Schiersing was reportedly located hiding under a trailer on the caller's property. He was taken into custody without incident. Schiersing was released on an appearance ticket. Anybody with additional information is asked to call Officer C.J. Miller at (585) 345-6350 or email info@leroypolice.org

Logan M. White, 29, of Batavia, is charged with welfare fraud 3rd. White was arrested by State Police in Albion on Jan. 27 and released on an appearance ticket. No further information released.

Joshua D. Eveland, 38, of Rochester, is charged with DWI and driving under the influence of drugs. Eveland was stopped by State Police at 12:42 a.m. on Jan. 29 in the Town of Batavia. he was released on an appearance ticket.

City Councilwoman Patti Pacino was true to her word from a meeting last September.

During that Sept. 27 discussion about shifting more than $9,000 of leftover Centennial Celebration money toward a future Wing Ding event, Pacino spoke up on behalf of another beloved city favorite.

“While I think the Wing Ding is fabulous and it is an event open to everyone, we used to fund the Picnic in the Park, which is also for everyone,” she said at the time. “GO Art! had to cancel the picnic.”

The city used to contribute money — about $2,500 — to the annual Picnic in the Park, but began to cut back over the last few years, and did not fund it in 2019, 2021 or 2022. The Original Red Osier Landmark restaurant presented the event in 2019, and a virtual picnic -- sponsored by several entities, including the city --  was shown on YouTube in 2020. The picnic was canceled in 2021 due to COVID protocols and lack of sponsorship and canceled again in 2022 due to lack of sponsorships.

During that September meeting, Pacino said she would vote for the Wing Ding and transfer of money, but expected support when a request for Picnic in the Park funding came around again.

As part of early budget talks this year, Pacino requested that the council add another $4,000 in funding to GO Art!, for a total of $6,500.

During Monday’s budget workshop, Councilman Bob Bialkowski asked about that line item, and City Manager Rachael Tabelski explained what happened.

“Patti asked for funding of $4,000 to be put back in the budget,” she said. “No one disagreed at the time. So I included it for discussion.”

No one raised objections about the total. In the overall category of recreation, another $12,932 is slated for community celebrations, $78,846 for the Youth Bureau summer rec program, $15,340 for the ice rink, and $15,750 for Dwyer Stadium.

Also present Monday were council members Tammy Schmidt, Eugene Jankowski Jr., Paul Viele, Kathy Briggs, and Al McGinnis. John Deleo and Pacino were absent.

2022 File Photo of City Council President Eugene Jankowski Jr., and Council members Paul Viele and Patti Pacino during a meeting in September 2022. Photo by Joanne Beck.

Monday evening’s city budget talks took a step back in time, slightly dé·jà vu in reverse when it came to the city fire and police departments.

City Councilman Paul Viele suggested the possibility of having one ambulance on reserve just in city limits.

“For police and fire reserves, I want to see some research on response times for the (Mercy EMS) ambulance. If they're not good, I’d like to maybe see if we can get one ambulance for the city, that just takes care of the city limits. Its response time isn't that good,” Viele said during the workshop at City Hall. “There's one incident, the kid got bitten by a bee. And there was no ambulance, and they throw the kid in the police car to bring him to the hospital.”

“We’ve got to have a backup pickup truck thing for the hospital. You know, I don't want to spend $250,000 on an ambulance. But just something to keep someone alive at the hospital. If your wife is having a heart attack, and there’s not an ambulance, you’re going to be pissed off.”

City Manager Rachael Tabelski said that she could check with Mercy EMS to see if some type of arrangement could be made to house an ambulance within city limits. Mercy has a current contract with Genesee County to provide ambulance service countywide, which means that wherever an emergency occurs, the ambulance responds to that municipality within the county.

“There is the option for the city to contract for one soul ambulance from Mercy to be staged in the city at all times. What that costs, what negotiations are, I don't know. And opening negotiations in this manner probably isn't the best way to get a good price, because now it's public,” she said. “But I think we have a lot more to explore. I don't disagree with you, that if an ambulance isn't available for our families in the city of Batavia, that's a severe issue, or if our kids were out in sports fields. And that poor kid, I can't even imagine.”

The service throughout the county is strapped as it is, Council President Eugene Jankowski Jr. said.

“I mean, the county is struggling with staffing and ambulance and shortages. They're struggling now. So I don't think it's by design, I think it's just manpower, we'd have to find out,” Jankowski said. “But I knew they were struggling. They couldn't even get in the volunteers.”

The dé·jà vu factor here is that the city at one time operated its own ambulance service within the fire department. As a cost-saving measure in 2008, a prior City Council and city management agreed to shut down city ambulance operations in lieu of a private company taking over the service.

Councilman Bob Bialkowski recalled how “complicated” the process was at the time, and it involved fire department staff and public protests and concern. The city cannot simply operate its own ambulance due to health certifications, he and city management said, but perhaps an ambulance could be housed inside city limits if Mercy agreed to such an agreement.

Tabelski said that both the police and fire chief can talk more about this topic at a future meeting, as, per a related report, there is a “critical lack of services from ambulance not only here but across the state,” she said.

Top Photo: City Councilman Paul Viele, and Council President Eugene Jankowski Jr. talk about the 2023-24 budget during a workshop Monday at City Hall, and above, City Manager Rachael Tabelski, left, Assistant Manager Erik Fix, far right, city staff and council members work through the proposed budget line by line. Photos by Joanne Beck.

 

Press Release:

The Town of Darien Republican Committee is actively seeking individuals who may be interested in serving their community as a candidate for office for the following positions:

• Town Justice
• Town Supervisor
• Town Council (2 positions)
• Highway Superintendent

All interested parties should send their letter of interest to: Committee Chair Mike Davis, 10740 Alleghany Road, Darien Center, NY, 14040 or to: tdarienrc@gmail.com no later than Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.

In 1900 only 4,000 cars existed in the United States.  However, by 1905 there were 25,000 cars manufactured in the United States.  The world’s first filling stations began opening the same year. 

The first stations were most likely a pump on the sidewalk in front of a general store.  Motorists lined up to buy gas, causing quite a disturbance as the cars blocked horses and pedestrians. By 1910, 500,000 vehicles needed gas for refueling. With this problem came a solution: a new type of filling station, the drive-in station.       

In 1914 when the government broke up Standard Oil, which controlled most of the oil in the U.S., many smaller companies were born.  Suddenly, the new companies competed for customers.  Gas, cheap and plentiful, gave the motorist a choice of where to purchase gas.  With the smaller companies came the competition between the local stations. This would be known as the gas wars.  Different stations would drop their prices to encourage people to buy gas at their stations.  The prices would drop periodically for a short time.

From 1927 through the 1940s, drivers had many different brands of gasoline, such as Atlantic, Blue Sunoco, Cities Service, Colonial, Esso, Essoline, Kendall, Mobil Gas, Richfield, Socony, Standard, Sunoco, Texaco, and Tydol.  But by 1949, only five gasoline brands were sold at the 39 gas stations in Batavia.

Many customers chose their gas station by its service, location, or their similar ethnic backgrounds to the owners of the stations.  A favorite in the ‘40s on the south side of Batavia was Mrs. Rose Argulski’s station at 338 Ellicott Street.  She became a well-known fixture pumping gas at her station.

Articles found at the Genesee County History Department give insight into the various gas stations and the promotions used to lure customers to their stations. For example, a 1939 article described William King’s Service Station on West Main and Porter as one of the oldest service stations. Jimmie Scibetta had a Sinclair station on West Main Street and Montclair.    He stood behind the Sinclair motto for all of its products, a “Factory of safety in its motor oils.”

Many catchy slogans appeared, and a team of uniformed attendants eagerly gassed up the car, cleaned the windshield, and checked oil and tires as the driver sat in the car.  To promote the sale of gasoline, many stations offered incentives such as Green Stamps, dishes, glasses, steak knives, and different automobile coins, to name only a few.   Many newlyweds’ china was from a gas station as a gift for buying its particular gas. 

In the ‘50s, the gas price averaged about 18 cents a gallon, and a new car cost $1,500.  Batavia’s West Main Street was home to 19 service stations, and East Main had 12 stations.  Side streets also had gas stations. For example, Ellicott Street had four stations, Walnut, Hutchins, and Center Street had one station each, and on Clinton Street, there were three stations. Over the years, the names of the gas stations changed, but many of the service stations remained on the original property. 

Some of the names of the 53 stations in Batavia in the ‘50s were: Acheson’s, Argulski, Athoe, Atlantic, Barrett, Batavia Motors, Bob Folger, Boudreau, Campbell’s, Chilano’s, Corey’s, Davis, Day C. C. and Son, Dibbles, Didget, Diegelman’s, Dobson, Frontier, Genesee GLF, Genesee Hygrade, Greening, Gulf Service Station, Hudson and Seward, Kohl’s, Lambkin Bros, Leo’s, Mancuso Motors, Mc Wain, Moretto’s, Nichols, Oaks Auto Service, Paul’s Atlantic, Post’s, Richardson’s, Snyder, Warren Roberts, Winslow,  and York.       

In the '60s, the number of gas stations speckled our main streets remained similar to the gas stations in the '50s.  A gallon of gas cost 32 cents

The first self-service gas station was located on Clinton Street Road. Instead of an attendant coming to your car and asking how many gallons of gas you wanted, you would exit your vehicle, open the cover on your gas tank and pump your gas.  The price of your gas would register on the gas pump.  The driver would go into the station and pay for the gas.

In the ‘70s, the oil crisis forced the United States into gas rationing because of OPEC‘s (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) embargo against the United States.  The embargo that went into effect did not allow any countries in OPEC to sell oil to the United States. With gas rationing, cars were allowed to purchase gasoline on alternate days, according to whether the last digit on their license plate was even or odd.  This resulted in long lines at the gas pump. Some gas stations had to close because they ran out of gas!

In the '80s, the price of gas rose to $1.25 a gallon.  By 2006 a gallon of gas could cost $2.95 a gallon, and today the national average is $3.27 a gallon.

We don’t see slogans such as Go Well with Shell; Esso, Put a Tiger in Your Tank; Gulf, The Gas with Guts; or from Texaco, You Can Trust your Car to the Man who Wears the Star.  Now, after you gas up your cars, you walk into a convenience store to pay, and you can also buy groceries, sandwiches, get a cup of coffee, a newspaper, and in the spring buy mulch for your gardens, gas for your grill and ice for your picnics! 

Many a baby boomer will remember the cost of gas. Still, they also supported their favorite gas station in the ‘60s and ‘70s and possibly the attendants’ names that so graciously took care of their automotive needs.  Some women even met their future husbands at the pump!

A former Batavia parochial educator and administrator has been charged with two counts of sexual conduct against a child in the second degree, according to the county District Attorney’s office.

Jason R. Clark, who had been at St. Paul Lutheran as a teacher since 2002 and became principal in 2019, was arraigned in County Court before Judge Thomas D. Williams Monday. He pleaded not guilty to the charges of engaging in two or more acts of sexual conduct spanning three years with a child less than 11 years old.

One count allegedly occurred on or about and after Labor Day 2014 to mid-June 2015 in the City of Batavia over a period of time and less than three months in duration, the DA’s Office said.

The second count allegedly occurred on or about and after Labor Day 2015 to mid-June 2016 in the City of Batavia over a period of time not less than three months in duration.

Clark was released on his own recognizance and is to appear at 10:30 a.m. on March 27.

Some county legislators agreed, albeit reservedly, to walk the walk Monday when it comes to participating in a Healthy Places By Design Walkability Academy.

Genesee County Public Health Director Paul Pettit presented the academy program during the county's Human Services Committee meeting. Operated by the Walkability Action Institute  (WAI) and Walkability Virtual Academy (WVA), the national-based program is a yearly multi-day course for interdisciplinary teams comprising public health, transportation, planning, and elected officials, Pettit said.

He had received information about a learning academy last November, "where they bring in communities to participate and learn about different strategies and ways to make your communities more walkable, likable, safe, those types of things, active living," he said. He didn’t have enough time to apply then, he said, so he let it go. But apparently, he wasn't the only one in a time crunch around the holidays.

“I got an email a couple of weeks ago that said, ‘Hey, we didn't have enough applicants. If you want to apply, you can be in it, you just have to submit the RFP.’ I talked to (County Planning Director Felipe Oltramari) and my folks, and we felt we could put something together and get it in. It's 12 virtual sessions, there's no travel or anything associated with it, it’s all via zoom, and will allow us to participate …and work on developing some comprehensive planning around this area," Pettit said. “And the goal would be to look at our villages and our city and come up with different strategies,. And in my mind, it's really a way that we can kind of lay the foundation and framework for future funding.”

There are 18 participating groups across the country, and they would each receive a grant of about $5,000, which Pettit admitted wasn’t a huge payoff in and of itself.

“It would allow us to work on comprehensive planning for our villages and the city,” he said. “We would look at sidewalks, crosswalks, signs, things that people find challenging.”

Legislator Gregg Torrey was concerned with the time involvement of team members.

“It seems like a big commitment on our side, for a small grant commitment on their side,” he said.

Fellow Legislator Christian Yunker agreed.

“It seems like a lot of staff time … seems like a significant effort (for what the county is getting).”

The project would probably require five to six people for the academy, including at least one elected official, Pettit said. Yunker clarified that it doesn’t have to be a legislator, and it could be someone from the city, which Pettit confirmed.

Legislator Gary Maha asked if participation would put the county in line for additional funding, and Pettit didn't think so.

No one expressed interest in participating during the meeting, but Legislators Torrey, Yunker, Maha, Gordon Dibble, Brooks Hawley and John Deleo approved Pettit’s request to apply for the program.

According to the Healthy Places by Design website, Healthy Places by Design participates as WAI/WVA faculty and co-facilitates the Community of Practice. The CoP is a peer learning and exchange network of WAI/WVA alumni that continue to build their capacity to implement policy, systems, and environmental changes to make communities more walkable, moveable, equitable, and inclusive. In addition, the team co-designed, drafted, and finalized the Active Community Tool that communities can use to assess local built environment, planning, and policy supports for physical activity.

The WAI/WVA training is a critical component of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's efforts to increase walkability, the site states. The training includes walking audits, discussion sessions with peers, capacity building, and virtual workshops with various leaders in the walkability movement. Each local WAI team formalizes what they learn by creating a detailed action plan for their community. In many cases, these action plans help drive positive change in regional transportation systems to support safety, health, equity, and disability inclusion.

 “When communities are built for all of us, and with all of us in mind, nobody gets left out. I’ve learned that this work has to proactively make the effort to address unintended consequences of successful walkability efforts so that we continually try to improve more than solely health by integrating place-based approaches, inclusion of all kinds, and working to improve social justice,," said Public Health Consultant Karma Harris, of the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors and Walkability and Healthy Communities Lead.

This isn’t the first time this community has undertaken a similar-type study. In 2017, City Council, under the leadership of then-City Manager Jason Molino, approved a planning and design consulting firm to assist the city with a comprehensive plan update that involved meeting with businesses, residents and staff members to understand various challenges faced within the city.

There have also been initiatives to actually walk throughout portions of the city to take note of the condition — or lack — of sidewalks, wheelchair access, crosswalks, stop signs versus street lights, and other considerations for people trying to navigate the area as a pedestrian.

Goals for the Walkability Academy are to:

• Spark, strengthen and sustain collaboration between diverse organizations that strive to create healthier communities.
• Inspire effective partnerships by being good partners as a teaching academy and modeling honesty, authenticity and transparency in relationships, and providing a platform for others to share their stories of progress.
• Expand collaborative learning opportunities.

Photo of Paul Pettit, front left, Gordon Dibble, County Clerk Lisa Casey, Gregg Torrey, Brooks Hawley, Gary Maha and Christian Yunker, in back, and John Deleo, right, by Joanne Beck.

Press Release:

Nancy K. Hartwick, wife of the late Neil R. Hartwick, passed away at her home in Pinehurst, North Carolina on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023. Nancy graduated from SUNY Fredonia and taught music in Attica, Batavia and Brockport, New York before she and husband Neil retired to Pinehurst.

While teaching in the Attica and Batavia area both Nancy and Neil were regular active members of the Batavia Concert Band. Upon husband Neil's passing in 2017, a memorial fund was established to support the Batavia Concert Band. Former students, friends and colleagues continue to support this fund to this day.

Per the wishes of Nancy and Neil, the fund now becomes “The Neil & Nancy Hartwick Memorial Fund” and will continue to accept donations for the support of the Batavia Concert Band.

During the month of February 2023 we would ask you as former students and friends to consider a donation to the Batavia Concert Band in honor of Neil and Nancy Hartwick. Once received, your donations will be utilized to support the band and its concerts in accordance to the wishes of the Hartwicks. An anonymous donor has pledged to match up to $1,000 of donations made during February 2023.

To donate, please make your check payable to: The Batavia Concert Band, and Mail to: Batavia Concert Band, PO Box 1705, Batavia, NY, 14021-1705. On the bottom of your check, please indicate the name Nancy Hartwick. Or those with a Venmo account, send to @bataviaconcertband.

The Owen Library at GO ART! was unveiled today as the James R. Owen Memorial Library, in honor of the late "Mayor" Jim Owen, who passed away Jan. 19.

Owen, notoriously tight-fisted with a dollar, if not a dime, was generous with his donations to causes he supported, especially the arts, and especially music.  Owen, who made no bones about his lack of musical talent (he was quoted at the event as once saying, "I sing solo.  So low, nobody can hear it.") was especially proud of the accomplishments of his father, the late Frank Owen, who was a music teacher at Batavia High School.

In addition to the many donations he made to GO ART! during his lifetime -- such as the funds to help create the library, the books in the library, and the white baby grand piano, he also left a sizeable donation, Director Gregory Hallock (speaking above) said. It's enough that GO ART! can create an endowment fund for the first time in the organization's history. 

Previously:

• Take a lesson from this funeral service: 'be like Jim'
• Genuine, kind, indelible: Jim Owen left a lasting impact on Batavia
• Update: Mayor of Redfield Parkway still smiling, wants to do good in community
• From England to Batavia, late music director brought standards and passion for music
• Mayor of Redfield made official during city meeting Monday
• Hochul's former typing teacher says she 'will do her darnedest' for the people of New York State

Photos by Howard Owens

Andy Rich and Brad Meholick at the Franke E. Owen Memorial Piano in the James R. Owen Memorial Library.

Carol Reband and Elain Watson toast Jim Owen.

The leadership at Crossroads House often talks about the importance of the volunteers who assist people in their last stages of life.  For Cathy Winding, volunteering at Crossroads House saved her life.

"I moved here many years ago, and it was hard," Windings said during the 25th-anniversary celebration of Crossroads Hosue at Batavia Downs on Saturday. "I left my family, my friends. I moved to Batavia, and I found Crossroads House. 

"I had read about it in the newspaper, and my mom had passed, then my dad passed, and I wished I had a place like Crossroads House because they had a horrible time."

She said she finds it rewarding to care for the people who stay in Crossroads House.

Julie Tybor, who is also a volunteer, also said it's rewarding.   

"Being with other families, spending time with other families has been the most rewarding part," Tybor said.

Tybor, left, and Winding, right, are pictured above with Benita Scoins, with stars from a wall of honor.  As part of the event's fundraising event, people could buy stars with names on them, either of people who have passed while staying at Crossroads or of the volunteers they appreciate. Scoins is holding the stars dedicated to family members, including Ron Weimer, who was the first resident of Crossroads House.

Paul Figlow and Joanne Patri pull numbers in the night's reverse 50-50 drawing -- when you're number is called, you're eliminated from the drawing.  When there are only two numbers left, the number pulled is the winner ... 

Meghan Gallagher was the winner ... 

She donated her $600 prize back to Crossroads House.

A barn fire is reported at 10858 Alexander Road, Alexander.

Alexander Fire and Town of Batavia Fire dispatched.

UPDATE 12:10 a.m.: National Grid requested to the scene. The hydrant is on the opposite side of the street so law enforcement requested from Attica and from Genesee County shut down traffic in both directions.

UPDATE 12:13. a.m.: The homeowner tells a chief there are propane tanks inside the structure.

 

Be like Jim.

You didn’t have to know Jim Owen to want to be like him. You didn’t have to know him to respect the man he was and what he brought to this community. And you especially didn’t have to know him to reap some of the good and kind messages that he left behind.

But if you didn’t know Jim Owen, a Batavia resident whose name has been echoed throughout the city with particular might this past year, it truly was a loss that you never had the privilege to feel. Perhaps you’ve read about Jim recently, about his passion for the city school district as a substitute teacher, supporter, mentor, historian, and music lover who lived long enough to see the high school auditorium named after his father, Frank E. Owen.

Or perhaps you read about him being dubbed the Mayor of Redfield Parkway by Batavia City Council for his efforts to have pillars restored on the westside street, and tireless advocacy for the neighborhood and beyond. Or when he donated funds to make the Owen library at GO Art! a reality.

Make time for others
This piece isn’t so much about Jim as it is about what he created up until he died on Jan. 19 of this year. Yes, he gave the community quite a lot — financial and material donations, camaraderie, encouraging words, bits of history culled from his research, recognition, cheesy jokes that somehow always hit the mark, friendship, and, certainly, time. He always gave his time.

During Owen's funeral service Saturday, the Rev. Vern Saile noted something about Jim’s obituary. Usually, one’s obit states everything about that person, Saile said.

“But Jim’s obituary is almost entirely about the people he wants to thank,” Saile said in a near-packed sanctuary at Northgate Church.

That’s a striking difference. Instead of thinking about how he transformed the world, Jim thought about how others made an impact on him. Outward thinking. Positive thinking. Those weren’t just phrases from a motivational book; they were how Jim Owen lived his life.

Be a friend
“He loved people, he loved to encourage them,” Saile said. “He appreciated family, friends, students, and community. He may have more friends than anybody I’ve ever known.”

While visiting Jim in the hospital one day, Vern logged friends who stopped by while Jim had nodded off. There were a dozen in 90 minutes, Saile said with a hint of astonishment.

You don’t have to be perfect, but you can be positive
When he began his talk, Saile admitted that he first found Jim Owen “a little quirky.” He wasn’t quite sure how to take the man that had volunteered to be part of an important committee.

“He didn’t always say a lot, but when he did speak, it was positive,” Saile said. “I cannot remember him saying anything negative.”

He then joked about how Jim would check to see if he was in the minutes. He would sometimes make the first or second motion just to ensure his name was documented. He was the same with local events — often attending ribbon cuttings and business openings, somehow appearing in the media photos.

Quirky? Perhaps. His mom, dad, brother and sister have died, leaving Jim as the remaining Owen, and it seemed as though he wanted his life to be known. To be worth something. Sound familiar? Who can say that’s an unfamiliar notion for most mortals?

Be interested in others
Jim’s good friend Michael Marsh gave an example of how caring and genuine Jim was with everyone he met. He would ask your name, where are you from, “and on and on, and on and on,” Marsh said.

Jim Owen had a sincere interest in people — it wasn’t just small talk, but a need to know more about someone. He “strongly believed in education, and giving tools” for students to believe in themselves, Marsh said.

Jim was a coach, and often told his students that “it’s not important if you come in first or come in last, but that you come in.”

“He would slide into your life and just be there,” Marsh said.

And without Jim’s jovial one-liners, questions, historical trivia, upbeat adages, and other topics of discussion, “you find yourself missing it,” Marsh said.

Jim was diagnosed with esophageal cancer last year, and during his last days in hospice care, he wondered aloud if he would be forgotten. Alas, no.

Leave a piece of yourself
“His presence has caused all of us to form new friendships, and to foster those friendships,” Marsh said. “It’s our responsibility to carry this legacy on.”

Marsh reminded folks to take time to appreciate one another. It only takes moments to enjoy a conversation, share encouraging words, or make someone smile.

Another one of Jim’s favorite sayings was that “a setback is just a setup for a comeback.” Saile believes that he got the ultimate comeback and is safe and at peace.

Meanwhile, Jim left behind plenty of people to carry forth his legacy of not just seeing the glass as half full, but making it wholly delicious.

Be like Jim.

Top Photo of Michael Marsh speaking about Jim Owen during Owen's funeral service Saturday at Northgate FMC in Batavia; musical performances included vocals, piano, violin and "Battle Hymn of the Republic," a special request that Owen had made when planning his service. Photos by Howard Owens.

A driver has reportedly fled the scene after his car struck a pole in the area of 8113 Lewiston Road, Batavia.

The pole is down and wires are down.

Town of Batavia Fire dispatched.

UPDATE 10:26 a.m.: Oakfield Fire requested for traffic control at Galloway Road.

 

Today's annual awards at the Sheriff's Office recognized a wide range of contributions and good police work throughout the department, but the vast majority of awards were generated by one event: Winter Storm Elliott.

The extra effort to save lives went well beyond just a few individuals.

Photos by Howard Owens.  Top photo: Nate Fix and Anthony Johnston of Genesee SnoPackers and Deputy Kevin McCarthy were recognized for their initiative to use the Snopackers' grooming machine and a snowmobile to make it possible for a convoy of rescuers to make it to stranded motorists, resulting in multiple lives saved. Some of those rescued clearly would have perished in the following 30 to 60 minutes if the team of rescuers hadn't reached them when they did, Sheriff Wiliam Sheron noted.

Press release:

2022 BLIZZARD ELLIOTT AWARDS:
The following are being recognized for their heroic actions during historic Blizzard Elliott that occurred December 23 – December 25, 2022.  Blizzard Elliott inflicted sub-zero wind chill temperatures and blinding lake-effect snow that left numerous highways and roads impassable.  Multiple motorists were stranded in their vehicles for several hours and were not easily accessible by emergency first responders.  Without hesitation for their own safety, these employees worked considerable additional hours to rescue motorists.  Their brave actions that holiday weekend, undoubtedly, saved many lives. 

They are to be commended for their actions which have brought great credit upon themselves and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.

COMMENDATIONS:

• Undersheriff Bradley D. Mazur
• Deputy Sheriff Rachel M. Diehl
• Deputy Sheriff Jonathan M. Dimmig
• Chief Deputy-Criminal Investigations Joseph M. Graff
• Deputy Sheriff Eric J. Meyer
• Deputy Sheriff Kyle J. Tower
• Chief Deputy-Road Patrol
• Brian M. Frieday
• Deputy Sheriff Ryan W. Young
• Deputy Sheriff Zachary P. Hoy
• Sergeant Jason E. Saile
• Deputy Sheriff Robert C. Henning
• Deputy Sheriff Morgan C. Ewert
• Sergeant Andrew B. Hale
• Deputy Sheriff Jeremy M. McClellan
• Deputy Sheriff Ryan J. Mullen
• Sergeant Michael J. Lute
• Deputy Sheriff Travis M. DeMuth
• Deputy Sheriff Alexander R. Hadsall
• Sergeant Mathew J. Clor
• Deputy Sheriff James D. Stack
• Deputy Sheriff Carlos O. Ortiz Speed
• Sergeant Kyle D. Krzemien
• Deputy Sheriff Andrew Z. Mullen
• Deputy Sheriff Ayrton J. Blankenberg
• Investigator Erik B. Andre
• Deputy Sheriff Joshua A. Brabon
• Deputy Sheriff Jacob A. Kipler
• Deputy Sheriff Patrick J. Reeves
• Deputy Sheriff David D. Moore
• Deputy Sheriff Mason S. Schultz
• Deputy Sheriff Richard S. Schildwaster
• Deputy Sheriff Jordan M. Alejandro

Deputy Sheriff Kevin R. McCarthy assisted rescue efforts by operating his personal snowmobile to reach stranded motorists in their vehicles.

Blizzard Elliott generated over 3,200 total phone calls and 953 distinct calls for service, resulting in the busiest day in the history of the Genesee County Emergency Services Dispatch Center.  The following communications personnel played a vital role in addressing the tremendous demands placed upon the 9-1-1 Center during this extraordinary event and are to be commended for their actions which have brought great credit to themselves and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.

COMMENDATIONS:

• Director of Emergency Comm. Francis A. Riccobono
• Emergency Services Dispatcher Andrew K. Merkel
• Public Safety Systems Manager Justin T. Allen
• Emergency Services Dispatcher Samantha L. Conibear
• Sr. Emergency Services Dispatcher Robert H. Tripp
• Emergency Services Dispatcher Emily K. Young
• Sr. Emergency Services Dispatcher Jason W. Holman
• Emergency Services Dispatcher Shelby M. Turner
• Sr. Emergency Services Dispatcher Michael T. Sheflin
• Emergency Services Dispatcher Matthew F. Grimes
• Emergency Services Dispatcher Stephen R. Smelski
• Emergency Services Dispatcher Shaylene S. Kilner
• Emergency Services Dispatcher Peggy D. Richardson
• PT Emergency Services Dispatcher Cady E. Glor
• Emergency Services Dispatcher Kelly E. Smith
• PT Emergency Services Dispatcher Marie A. Vaughn

Emergency Services Dispatcher Nathan L. Fix, while off duty and in his capacity as Vice-President of Genesee Sno Packers, played a crucial role in securing the use of its Tucker snow grooming machine that led a convoy of first responders to reach stranded motorists who had been in their vehicles for multiple hours.

CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION:

• Anita Cleveland for welcoming one of our deputies who was stranded on the road in front of her house,  along with two motorists that he previously rescued from their stranded vehicle, into her home where she provided comfort, food and shelter.
• Sheriff’s Office Chaplain Jeffrey R. Bartz, his wife, Jami, and Grace Baptist Church.   Multiple motorists were stranded for several hours in their vehicles and once rescued were in need of a place to shelter until the blizzard passed and roads opened.  Chaplain Bartz, without hesitation, assisted with the opening of Grace Baptist Church as a warming shelter, and he and his wife spent the holiday weekend providing comfort, food, and shelter to strangers in need.       
• Genesee Sno Packers provided its Tucker snow grooming machine to lead a convoy of first responders to reach multiple stranded motorists. 
• Anthony Johnston is a member of the Genesee Sno Packers, and he volunteered his time to drive its Tucker snow grooming machine, jeopardizing his own safety to assist patrols.

In an awards ceremony Friday -- the first one at the Genesee County Sheriff's Office in a couple of years because of the pandemic -- Deputy Kenneth A. Quackenbush, III, was named Officer of the Year by Sheriff William Sheron.

The entire command staff provides advice and input in selecting each year's honorees, which also includes meritorious service and commendation awards. 

Quackenbush thanked his family and his co-workers for their support, and his mentor, a detective he didn't name, for pointing him in the right direction toward becoming a better police officer.

See also: Sheriff's Office awards recognize life-saving efforts during Winter Storm Elliott

Photos by Howard Owens

Press release:

Officer of the Year Award – Kenneth A. Quackenbush, III
Deputy Sheriff Kenneth A. Quackenbush, III has distinguished himself in the performance of service to the citizens of Genesee County during 2022. 

Deputy Quackenbush is a six-year member of the Sheriff’s Office, with almost four of those years on Road

Patrol.  Deputy Quackenbush consistently displays a professional, positive attitude and unwavering work ethic.  He is level-headed and has received accolades for his calm demeanor and de-escalation during tense situations.  Deputy Quackenbush has been a leader in traffic enforcement, which often leads to larger cases, including those for impaired driving.  He had several notable felony arrests in 2022, which included illegal weapon and drug possession cases.   Deputy Quackenbush has developed trust within the department as shown by him being a Field Training Officer, Drug Recognition Expert, a member of the Emergency Response Team and is looked upon for other special assignments. 

Deputy Sheriff Kenneth A. Quackenbush, III has reflected great credit upon himself and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, and most deserves to be named Officer of the Year. 

Distinguished Service Award – Principal Financial Clerk Margaret A. Sheelar

Principal Financial Clerk Margaret A. Sheelar has distinguished herself as a member of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office for over 20 years. 

Principal Financial Clerk Margaret A. Sheelar began her career on August 1, 2000.  During her career, she was the recipient of two Meritorious Service awards for her dedication in the performance of her duties. 

Margaret’s professionalism, coupled with her knowledge of Sheriff’s Office operations, has been a source of pride for this Agency.  This year, as in previous years, Margaret continues to pay diligent attention to the financial needs of the Sheriff’s Office.  She frequently assists the administration with tasks that go well beyond her listed duties to ensure smooth operations and is always willing to take on additional responsibilities without hesitation.

Principal Financial Clerk Margaret A. Sheelar reflects great credit upon himself and the Genesee County

LONGEVITY AWARDS:

Correction Officer Lewis A. Henning

10 years

Program Coordinator Tracy L. Ranney

10 years

Correction Officer Michael A. Cox

15 years

Sr. Emergency Services Dispatcher Robert H. Tripp

20 years

Emergency Services Dispatcher Beth A. Hynes

20 years

Correction Officer Michael F. Lindsley

20 years

Sergeant Thomas A. Sanfratello

30 years

Jail Superintendent William A. Zipfel

40 years

Sheriff William A. Sheron, Jr.

45 years

MERITORIOUS AWARDS:

Sr. Correction Officer James M. Smart
Senior Correction Officer James M. Smart has distinguished himself by Meritorious Service as a member of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office. 

Senior Correction Officer Smart has been instrumental in maintaining the inmate telephone system and tablets.  He has worked diligently to reorganize the inmate files and the file room, which is no small task.  Senior Correction Officer Smart has voluntarily taken on these additional responsibilities while continuing to do a stellar job with his normal duties.

Senior Correction Officer James M. Smart has brought great credit upon himself and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.

Sr. Emergency Services Dispatcher John W. Spencer, II
Senior Emergency Services Dispatcher John W. Spencer, II has distinguished himself by Meritorious Service as a member of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office. 

Senior Dispatcher Spencer continues to demonstrate excellent leadership of his shift and provides guidance for dispatchers, especially newer dispatchers.  He performs additional duties, including schedule management, and emergency medical call reviews, and is a Certified Training Officer.  Additionally, Senior Dispatcher Spencer demonstrates his commitment to providing excellent service to the public and to first responders, along with a willingness to adapt to meet new challenges.

Senior Emergency Services Dispatcher John W. Spencer, II has brought great credit upon himself and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office. 

Deputy Sheriff Nicholas R. Chamoun
Deputy Sheriff Nicholas R. Chamoun has distinguished himself by Meritorious Service as a member of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office. 

Deputy Chamoun’s outstanding dedication to law enforcement is apparent year after year.  He is a Drug Recognition Expert and a member of the Emergency Response Team.  Deputy Chamoun is always eager to learn by way of formal training, researching, and learning on his own.  He takes the knowledge he gains and shares it with other members in the department.  Deputy Chamoun is aggressive in his vehicle traffic enforcement and puts his knowledge to use on his patrol in order to look “beyond the ticket” to identify criminal activity.  His efforts have resulted in felony arrests for illegal drugs and weapons on a consistent basis, thus making our community much safer. 

Deputy Sheriff Nicholas R. Chamoun has brought great credit upon himself and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigator R. Pete Welker
Investigator R. Pete Welker has distinguished himself by Meritorious Service as a member  of the

Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigator Welker began his career at the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office in 1994, and has

dedicated 22 years to the Genesee County Drug Task Force.  Investigator Welker has consistently brought forward the highest-quality narcotics investigations leading to successful criminal prosecutions.  Investigator Welker’s efforts and dedication to narcotics enforcement have significantly reduced the potential of violent crime in Genesee County.   

Investigator R. Pete Welker has brought great credit upon himself and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.

Community / Victim Services Counselor Rosanne M. DeMare
Community / Victim Services Counselor Rosanne M. DeMare has distinguished herself by Meritorious Service as a member of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.

Rosanne continuously puts victim interests first and foremost and spends countless hours comforting victims in distress and providing them with the emotional support needed to work through the complex criminal justice process.  She is compassionate and knowledgeable and is determined to ensure that victim rights and needs are met with the utmost respect and dignity. 

Community / Victim Services Counselor Rosanne M. DeMare has brought great credit upon herself and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.

COMMENDATIONS:

Correction Officer Matthew M. Luce
Correction Officer Matthew M. Luce is being recognized for a Commendation Award for his added responsibility of maintaining the inmate property room. 

Unclaimed inmate property is documented and inventoried, and once sufficient time has passed, paperwork is initiated to destroy the abandoned property.  Correction Officer Luce’s diligence keeps the property room free of clutter and makes for a more orderly property storage area.  He has voluntarily taken on this additional responsibility while continuing to do an excellent job with his normal duties.   

Correction Officer Matthew M. Luce is to be commended for his actions which have brought great credit upon himself and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.

Emergency Services Dispatcher Shelby M. Turner
Emergency Services Dispatcher Shelby M. Turner is being recognized for a Commendation Award for her actions during historic Blizzard Elliott that occurred December 23 – December 25, 2022.

The blizzard inflicted sub-zero wind chill temperatures and blinding lake-effect snow that left numerous highways and roads impassable.  This event generated over 3,200 total phone calls and 953 distinct calls for service.  This was the busiest day in the history of the Genesee County Emergency Services Dispatch Center.  Dispatcher Turner played a vital role in addressing the tremendous demands placed upon the 9-1-1 Center during this extraordinary event.     

Emergency Services Dispatcher Shelby M. Turner is to be commended for her actions which have

brought great credit upon herself and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputy Sheriff Jeremiah W. Gechell
Deputy Sheriff Jeremiah W. Gechell is being recognized for a Commendation Award for his actions while on duty May 7, 2022.

At approximately 0300 hours, Deputy Gechell observed a vehicle driving in an erratic manner in the City of Batavia.  Deputy Gechell initiated a traffic stop and found the driver was acting in a suspicious manner and providing inconsistent information.  Deputy Gechell’s instincts prompted him to investigate further by individually interviewing all three occupants in the vehicle.  Deputy Gechell found there to be several discrepancies in each of their explanations which prompted him to call for assistance from the K-9 unit to search the vehicle.  A large quantity of narcotics was discovered, which included cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine, resulting in felony arrests of the three occupants of the vehicle.  More importantly, high quantities of dangerous narcotics never made their way onto the streets.  Deputy Gechell’s instincts and investigation are to be credited and commended for this.

Deputy Sheriff Jeremiah W. Gechell is to be commended for his actions which have brought great credit upon himself and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.

Chief Deputy Joseph Graph participating in Friday's awards ceremony.

Dispatcher Robert Tripp was congratulated by Sheriff William Sheron.

Press release:

GO ART! will be celebrating the life of James R. Owen on Sunday at 1 p.m. All are welcome to attend. The mic will be open for anyone that wants to speak or share a story about Jim.

The beautiful white baby grand piano in the Owen Library, donated by Mr. Owen, will be played with any and all welcome to sing along. Jim would sit for hours in the Library sharing stories, talking about his father and music, and doing his best to entertain. And entertain, is what we plan to do during this celebration. Food will be provided, and the bar will be open.

When Mr. Owen donated the funds to make the library a reality, he did not want his first name associated with it. He said it was because he did not want to ruin his reputation as a frugal man, but we all know it was because he was humble and did not want the credit. He made GO ART!'s director promise that his first name would not be associated with it while he was alive. Please join GO ART! at this celebration of life event in the renaming of the Owen Library to the James R. Owen Library.

The event will be held at GO ART!'s Seymour Place, 201 East Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020, on Jan. 29 at 1 pm.