Wednesday News Brief
Written by Pete Zehler on December 10, 2025
Burke Drive Woman Accepts Plea Deal After Violating Probation and Order of Protection
A Burke Drive woman with a lengthy history in Batavia City Court is facing new consequences after accepting a plea deal Monday. Jill Turner, previously sentenced to three years of probation in December 2023 for a 2023 incident in which she kicked officers and resisted arrest in front of her 11-year-old daughter, pleaded guilty to criminal contempt in the second degree for violating her probation by contacting the protected party in July 2025.
Assistant District Attorney John Sansone agreed to dismiss a felony criminal contempt charge tied to a July 30th incident where Turner allegedly nearly struck the victim with her car while yelling at them in violation of the order of protection. Visiting Judge Dean Lilac Jr. sentenced Turner to two additional years of probation, running concurrent with her existing term.
Turner’s attorney argued to downgrade the stay-away order, calling it “a sword rather than a shield,” but Sansone and Judge Lilac refused, keeping the order in place until 2030.
Judge Lilac waived a $200 surcharge, with Turner required to pay a $50 DNA fee by February 9th, 2026. Turner also recently resolved city code violations for allowing her dog to run at large—one dismissed, one resulting in a $25 fine.
Genesee Chorale Presents “Letters From Father Christmas” This Saturday
The Genesee Chorale will present its 2025 holiday concert, Letters From Father Christmas, at 4 p.m. this Saturday at St. James Episcopal Church in Batavia. Narrated by Jim Meahl, the program imagines what Santa might say if he wrote us a letter, guiding listeners through themes of winter landscapes, childhood wonder, nostalgia, and the story of Christ’s birth. The concert features 16 selections, including classics like “Silver Bells,” “Auld Lang Syne,” “We Need a Little Christmas,” and “Where Are You Christmas?”
Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation Marks 19 Years of “Lending a Hand for Hope”
The Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation is celebrating its nineteenth year supporting families facing pediatric cancer, funding research, and providing grants for youth activities. The foundation was created in memory of Michael Napoleone, who passed away at age 7 from Burkitt’s Lymphoma, and continues to honor his love of sports and childhood activities.
Thanks to community generosity and a dedicated board, the foundation has provided over $900,000 in direct assistance to families. That support helps cover mortgage or rent, travel costs for treatment, groceries, phone bills—whatever a family’s greatest need may be as they navigate the emotional, physical, and financial burden of a child’s diagnosis. Additional giving includes $79,000 to youth programs and $104,000 toward research.
As the foundation enters 2026, sustainability remains a key focus. Those wishing to make a holiday donation can visit michaelshope.org/donate, use Venmo @MNMF8, or mail contributions to P.O. Box 267, Batavia. The foundation extends wishes of hope, joy, peace, and good health this season.
Riflery Growth Continues as Pavilion/York Starts Season Strong
Pavilion/York’s air rifle team is off to a 2–0 start, showcasing impressive precision in one of Section V’s fastest-growing sports. Athletes fire pellets at targets 10 meters away, where even the slightest movement can shift a shot. Scores are tallied over three targets per shooter, with the top five athletes combining for a team total out of 1,500.
This year’s roster spans seniors through eighth graders, and the team has opened with two standing-position matches before moving into kneeling and prone events. Their latest win came against Elba, which competed in its first match in program history — part of a countywide resurgence led by coaches working to rebuild competitive riflery in the region.
Art Installation “Breaking Boundaries” Unveiled at City Centre
City Centre’s newest public artwork, “Breaking Boundaries” by artist Mary Jo Whitman, is officially complete after a three-week on-site build and months of planning. Unveiled Monday night, the immersive piece blends painting and 3D sculpture, featuring a tree that extends into the viewer’s space to invite interaction in a new way. Whitman says the work evolved as she adapted to the space and engaged with curious passersby throughout the process.
The installation is the third created in City Centre through a partnership with the Batavia Development Corporation and funded by a NYS Council on the Arts community grant administered by GO ART!.
Genesee County High School Basketball Scores
In boys action Tuesday night, Elba held off Alexander 49–42, Pavilion beat Mount Morris 47–28, and Notre Dame dominated Royalton-Hartland 71–21.
In girls games, Canandaigua topped Batavia 62–21, Le Roy took down Haverling 54–36, Oakfield-Alabama defeated Lyndonville 45–21, Pembroke edged Kendall in a tight one 55–52, and Elba rolled past Alexander 86–40.
