Morning News Brief
Written by Michael Baldwin on March 18, 2021
The Batavia retail scene is getting a boost. Two new stores – Old Navy and Ulta Beauty – will be coming to the Towne Center on Veterans Memorial Drive within the next few months. Town of Batavia Building Inspector Dan Lang confirmed that the merchandising giants are expected to open at the retail hub this spring. He said that the Old Navy clothing store will feature more than 14,000 square feet of retail space while the Ulta Beauty cosmetics store will have nearly 11.000 square feet of retail space. The Old Navy store is taking space formerly used by Bed Bath and Beyond.
Court action is pending for a Batavia woman who faces felony and other counts. Sheriff’s deputies arrested 28-year-old Angeline Escudero of Columbia Avenue. She was charged with felony grand larceny, criminal mischief and conspiracy. The alleged crimes occurred at Walmart when the woman allegedly stole property valued at more than $1,000. She will appear in Town of Batavia court on April 8th.
Batavia Downs Gaming has donated nearly $1,500 to the Batavia Police Department’s K-9 Unit. The money was left at Batavia Downs and was turned into the police. When the money went unclaimed, Batavia Downs decided to donate that money to the Police Department’s K-9 Unit. The money will be used to help fund the program. The Batavia Police Chief said the funds will be used to offset the cost of food, veterinary services, training, equipment and other K-9-related expenses.
The Genesee County Health Department brought a COVID-19 vaccine clinic to Washington Towers for residents who can’t get to a vaccination site. Office for the Aging organized the clinic, Washington Towers staff registered residents online and the health department sent over the providers to administer the vaccines for up to 50 residents. The residents received the Pfizer vaccine with a second dose schedule for early April.
Rather than reorganizing his debt, Michael S. Tomaszewski, the local funeral director also facing more than 200 criminal charges, is now seeking to dismiss all of his debt. A judge Wednesday signed an order converting Tomaszewski’s bankruptcy filing from Chapter 11 to Chapter 7, which would allow Tomaszewski to liquidate most of his assets and have any debts not paid after liquidation discharged. Tomaszewski, both personally, and his company Acme Holdings of New York filed for bankruptcy in Federal Court on Feb. 5. Combined, he lists about one million in assets against $3.2 million in liabilities. That doesn’t include any restitution he may be ordered to pay if convicted of the nearly 200 criminal charges he faces locally.
Justice For Migrant Families has been advocating for detainees at the Buffalo Federal Detention Center, and the organization launched a GoFundMe fundraiser to support those that have been released. The GoFundMe organizer wrote, “Batavia has begun releasing people from immigration detention where they are dropped off at a gas station with very little resources to secure basic needs. People need funds for temporary housing, transportation, phones, and food.” The community has poured support into the fundraiser, contributing over $12,000 in 7 days. Justice For Migrant Families is also hosting a supply drive on Saturday.
Genesee County on Wednesday reported a dozen new COVID-19 cases. Fifteen of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list. Three of the current positive individuals are hospitalized. Six new cases were reported in Orleans County with seven new cases confirmed in Wyoming County.
Next Friday is Healthy Kids Day 2021 and there will be a free drive-thru event sponsored by the Genesee County YMCA. Healthy Kids Day provides all the ingredients for developing healthy, resilient kids and to celebrate kids being kids! It will take place behind United Memorial Medical Center’s Jerome Center, located at 16 Bank St. in the city. Get your picture taken with the Easter Bunny and pick up a Healthy Kids Day activity kit (one per vehicle while supplies last). Registration for the drive-thru is required and will be capped at 100 children. Call the Y to register.
