Anthony Armstrong

Batavia Police have arrested 34-year-old Anthony Armstrong of Rochester following the five-hour standoff at 64 Walnut Street that started with a hang-up call to 9-1-1. Late yesterday afternoon, an argument had broken out between Armstrong and a tenant in one of the apartments; Armstrong entered the apartment unlawfully and barricaded himself inside and held the tenant against their will. Armstrong had a knife and threatened to harm himself; the victim was in fear of their own safety. State Police along with a Monroe County SWAT team assisted local law enforcement. The victim was able to escape through an upstairs window. Eventually, Armstrong surrendered, was taken to the hospital for evaluation and then turned over to the police. He was arraigned in Genesee County Court and is being held in County Jail. The long list of charges against him includes burglary, felony unlawful imprisonment, and criminal possession of a weapon, which is considered a felony because Armstrong has a prior conviction. The detailed story by Howard B. Owens is available on the website of our news partner, The Batavian: https://www.thebatavian.com/howard-b-owens/after-five-hour-standoff-suspect-charged-with-felonies-held-in-jail/628877

31-year-old Joseph Martino of Windsor, New York has been charged with criminal contempt following an investigation into an incident in Attica, last month. Martino was arraigned in Attica Court and transported back to the Genesee County Jail where he is currently being held on unrelated charges.

39-year-old Jaquln Dueppengiesser and 33-year-old Shawnna Lamont, both of Perry, have been arrested. They’re each charged with grand larceny after it was reported they used another person’s credit card information to transfer money to themselves via Cash App, without the car owner’s permission. Both were issued appearance tickets returnable to the Town of Perry Court at a later date.

Police in Rochester are continuing their investigation into a fatal officer-involved shooting. The department says officers were pursuing a suspect who they believe was involved in several recent crimes yesterday when he showed a gun and opened fire towards police in the Park Avenue neighborhood. At least one of the officers fired back and killed the man. The names of the people involved in the shooting haven’t been released.

Xylazine

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has unveiled his plan to get an extremely dangerous drug of the streets. The drug is called xylazine, and it’s been linked to overdose deaths across Upstate New York. Schumer said he’s calling on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to speed up efforts to track down the sources of xylazine. He’s also pushing for a more than $530,000,000 (million) funding boost to the Community Oriented Policing Services Hiring Program to help stop drug trafficking. People who are struggling with addiction can get help 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 1-877-8-HOPENY.

Aftermath of fatal crash

An investigation is underway into what caused a crash in Buffalo that left one person dead and several others injured. According to police, a vehicle was traveling on Main Street yesterday when it struck a pole and rolled over. An 18-year-old man was killed due to the impact and the other victims were taken to a hospital for treatment. Their names haven’t been released yet and anyone who saw the accident is asked to give police a call immediately.

A school in Lockport is going to be closed for a second straight day today following a fire there over the weekend. The fire at Emmet Belknap Intermediate School happened on Sunday and led to four classrooms being damaged. It is believed the flames were sparked when a stack of tablets that were being charged overheated. No one was hurt and the hope is that classes can resume tomorrow.

Damien Harris

Trent Sherfield

The Buffalo Bills have made some changes. Damien Harris is joining the team from New England. The 26-year-old started with the Patriots in 2019 and battled a few different injuries. In his most recent season, Harris ran for 462 yards and three touchdowns. The Bills also signed Dolphins Wide Receiver Trent Sherfield to a 1-year deal. Devin Singletary is headed to the Texans.

Aerial file photo of Keybank Center

With their playoff hopes dwindling, the Buffalo Sabres will be back on home ice tonight as they try to snap a 3-game losing streak. The Sabres are hosting the Nashville Predators at KeyBank Center. Buffalo is coming off of seven-to-nothing shutout at the hands of the Boston Bruins on Sunday. Face-off this evening is set for 7:00.

Please play responsibly, puppy!

Another Mega Millions drawing has come and gone without a winner; that means, the prize up for grabs ahead of tonight’s drawing will be $272,000,000 (million) after no one correctly picked the winning numbers for last Friday’s drawing. The odds of getting the grand prize are one in 302 million. To watch the drawing live, go to megamillions.com. Please play responsibly.

One of the shirt styles available – “Buffalo Night”

A local business is doing its part to support the family of fallen Buffalo firefighter Jason Arno. 26 Shirts is selling a shirt this week called “Buffalo Night” and it’ll cost $26.99 before shipping. Arno’s family will get $8 from every sale and the shirts can be purchased online at 26shirts.com. Arno passed away back on March 1st while battling a blaze on Main Street. The cause of the fire hasn’t been revealed yet.

File photo – Donald Trump

It’s looking like former President Trump will not face a possible indictment today. The New York City grand jury hearing his alleged hush money payment case involving adult film actress Stormy Daniels is expected to reconvene tomorrow. Reports say the Democratic Manhattan DA appears ready to elevate the false paperwork case from a misdemeanor to a felony.

3 Armored Response Vehicles and a Swat team from Monroe County converged on 46 Walnut St in Batavia Monday night as a 911 hang up call turned into a barricaded suspect and an evacuated home.  Shortly after 5pm police responded to a hang up call to 911 and determined a crime was in progress.  They tried to talk to an individual at the door but the person retreated into a second floor apartment and barricaded themselves inside with a weapon.  The apartments were evacuated and the police said there was no threat to the general public.  The Emergency Response Team was dispatched. Batavia PD also deployed its MRAP. Eventually, the Monroe County SWAT unit also arrived on scene with two armored vehicles. Genesee County Emergency Management responded with its command unit. Emergency Management deployed its drone over the scene. A K-9 was also observed at the scene. Negotiators from Batavia PD and the Sheriff’s Officer were on scene. At about 10 p.m., the subject was taken into custody.  After the subject was in custody, he was placed in a Mercy EMS ambulance for evaluation.  It’s unknown if the subject was taken to a hospital.

United Memorial Medical Center has received a prestigious award.  Just 595 U.S. healthcare organizations out of over 6,000 U.S. hospitals have achieved Magnet recognition.  UMMC now joins other RRH hospitals that have a proud history of Magnet achievement, including Rochester General, Unity, Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic and Newark-Wayne Community Hospital, and Primary Care and Ambulatory Specialty Institute, which was the first primary care organization in the nation to achieve this designation.  Magnet recognition is the gold standard for nursing excellence and is a factor when the public judges healthcare organizations. U.S. News & World Report’s annual showcase of “America’s Best Hospitals” includes Magnet recognition in its ranking criteria for quality of inpatient care.

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney is sponsoring 3 bills to defund the World Health Organization alleging that during the beginnings of the COVID pandemic the WHO refused to listen to scientists and health officials who were warning them of the dangers of COVID 19 and instead acted as a mouthpiece for the Chinese Communist Party in insisting that COVID wasn’t transmissible by humans and covered up the origins of the virus.  The bills withdraw any US money from the WHO and also change the relationship between the US and the WHO to a treaty so that it would fall under the purview of the Senate instead of the President.  

On March 31st at the Tonawanda Valley Federal Credit Union you can drop off necessities for the Genesee Area Retired Educators association benefit drive for children involved with Court appointed Special Advocates.  These kids often need everyday items like socks, underwear, and shampoos, body washes, deodorants and other personal hygiene items for boys and girls 0 to 18 years old.  The drive will go from 10 to 4:30.

Independent Living of Genesee Region and the Office For the Aging are holding workshops on the topic of Chronic Disease Self Care every Wednesday from April 5th to May 17th.  Participants will learn how to manage ongoing health conditions such as: Arthritis, Diabetes, Cystic Fibrosis, COPD, Other Eating Disorders, and Asthma.  Those who attend will be shown practical steps to gain control of their daily health concerns.  Participants will learn about healthy eating, problem-solving, action plans, medications, weight management, physical activity, sleep and relationship communication skills. Classes will take place at the GCOFA, at 2 Bank Street in Batavia, NY 14020, and Snacks will be provided.  People who complete the series will get a gift card and resource book.  Pre-registration is required; please call Cathy DeMare at 585-815-8501, ext. 400, by April 5th.

Genesee County 4-H Dairy Club represented their county well at the Finger Lakes Regional Dairy Bowl Contest.  Dairy Bowl is a Jeopardy-style competition that tests participants’ knowledge of dairy cattle facts, including breeds, equipment, nutrition and more. Top placing participants will have the opportunity to represent the region at the state level contest later this year.  Gia Zuber, Lilia Buckenmeyer, Veronica Wolcott and Lucy Kimball came in 3rd place as a Beginner Team.  In the 3rd Place scoring Junior team were Owen Kimball, Tate Zuber and Annalise Sybertz.  Veronica Wolcott came in 2nd place as an individual beginner.

The Buffalo Bills have some news about players moving on and off the team.  Damien Harris is moving from the Patriots to Buffalo.  The 26-year-old joined the Patriots in 2019 and battled a few different injuries. In his most recent season, Harris ran for 462 yards and three touchdowns.  The Bills also signed Dolphins Wide Receiver Trent Sherfield to a 1 year deal.  Devin Singletary is headed to the Texans.  Singletary accounted for over half of the Bills rushing yards last season.

GENESEE COUNTY INDICTMENTS: Jeffrey Hewitt of LeRoy has been indicted by a Genesee County Grand Jury. He’s accused of criminal possession of a weapon after knowingly possessing a metal knuckle knife in the City of Batavia. Other charges include unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Hewitt also is accused of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the City of Batavia. ALSO: Rufus Johnson of Chili has been indicted and accused of the crimes of petit larceny and burglary. It’s alleged he knowingly and unlawfully entered Walmart in Batavia with intent to commit a crime and steal property. ALSO: Johnnie Waston of Batavia has been indicted, accused of the crime of criminal mischief. It’s alleged he damaged the property of another person, a car windshield. Damages exceeded $250.

Alexandro Rodriguez

FROM THE BATAVIA CITY POLICE BLOTTER: 26-year-old Alexandro Rodriguez of Batavia has been arrested and charged with criminal contempt. This followed an investigation into a domestic incident at a local address, where it’s alleged he violated an order of protection. Rodriguez was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released on his own recognizance. He’s scheduled to return to City Court next month. ALSO: 80-year-old Carolyn Kurek of Batavia is charged with harassment. Earlier this month, she was arrested after it was alleged that she shoved another woman while at a State Street address. Kurek was issued an appearance ticket for Batavia City Court.

Erik Fix

Assistant City Manager Erik Fix has announced, the City Centre entrance project plans have changed due to increased costs. The proposed construction estimate was $2.6 million, which is more than twice the Downtown Revitalization Initiative award of a million dollars. The project will now be streamlined and alternate designs discussed, as well as alternate grant funding. At this time, the City is waiting for a quote on the new proposed entryway plans. (File photo)

47-year-old Roger Yencer of Mt. Morris is charged with criminal contempt after allegedly violating a full stay away order of protection while being a passenger in a vehicle that the victim was driving on Route 63 in Batavia. Yencer was held at the Genesee County Jail for CAP Court.

The reporting of COVID-19 cases will be scaled back this month and state officials also plan to assess how the data is collected from local officials. COVID data was closely watched for much of the pandemic but a major spike in cases has not occurred in more than a year after the onset of the omicron variant. The data reporting is one of several changes New York is making as federal emergency rules are set to lapse May 11. For example, last Friday the state Department of Health announced visitors at nursing homes would no longer be required to show proof of a negative COVID test to gain entry. Public health officials are still urging New Yorkers to take precautions, including monitoring symptoms and personal hygiene as well as staying up-to-date with vaccines. COVID data will still also be available on the State Department of Health’s website.

Shane Lake

At approximately 6 pm last Tuesday, Albion Police were dispatched to a location on West State Street. A call had come in reporting a male covered in blood and threatening people while holding a knife. He was identified as 31-year-old Shane Lake of Albion. As responding officers arrived, Lake was driving away. Police conducted a traffic stop and charged him with criminal possession of a narcotic drug (cocaine) with intent to sell. Lake was issued an appearance ticket and released under New York State Bail Reform guidelines. He’s scheduled to appear in the Town of Albion Court at a later date.

McKinley Parkway accident aftermath – 3/18/23

One person is dead and another injured following a single-car crash over the weekend in Buffalo. Investigators say a vehicle was traveling northbound on McKinley Parkway when it left the road and hit several trees, just before 9 p.m. Saturday. The 44-year-old passenger was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. The 38-year-old driver is in the hospital with multiple injuries. Officials say high speed appears to be involved and the driver will be facing charges. (Provided photo)

Gas prices are holding steady these days. Triple A tells us this morning that the average price of gas in Batavia is currently 3.38 for a gallon of regular; it’s only fluctuated by a penny one way or the other, over the last month but is down nearly $1 from a year ago today. The state and national average is 3.44.

Isaiah Williams

A man charged with the attempted murder of a Rochester police officer is due in court today as his jury trial is scheduled to begin. Monroe County authorities say 27-year-old Isaiah Williams is charged with firing at officers last May while he was fleeing police. No officer was hurt. The district attorney’s office says Williams has an extensive criminal history. (Provided photo)

Eastern Niagara Hospital – Lockport – Set to close June 17, 2023

One Niagara hospital is shutting down permanently in the next few months. Lockport’s Eastern Niagara Hospital has been struggling for years and will close its doors on June 17th. The struggling hospital filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2019. Hospital leaders said with the high number of Medicaid, Medicare, and uninsured patients, the hospital could not rely on insurance and patient billing to keep the lights on.

Sabres vs. Bruins – 3/19/23

The Buffalo Sabres were completely shut out against the Boston Bruins in their game on Sunday. They lost 7 to 0 against the frontrunner for the President’s Trophy. Boston scored their first goal within 15 seconds of puck drop. The loss marks Buffalo’s third in a row and the second straight time giving up seven goals in a back-to-back contest against Boston. Buffalo plays again at Keybank for their next game, a showdown with Nashville tomorrow night. Puck drop is at 7:00.

Canisius team celebrates win

Canisius College in Buffalo has won their second Atlantic Hockey title. They defeated Holy Cross 3-0 on Saturday, sending them to their first NCAA Tournament in 10 years. The Griffins will enter the tournament as the 16th seed out of 16 and face off against Minnesota, the nation’s top team, in the regional semifinal in Fargo, North Dakota on March 23rd.

Buffalo Record Riot – 3/18/23

The next Buffalo Record Riot will be in July. Vinyl collectors descended upon the Knights of Columbus in Cheektowaga on Saturday to buy and sell classic and modern records. The event is part of the biggest chain of record shows, running 18 shows across eight states.

Yianni Diakomihalis

Cornell’s Yianni Diakomihalis has made history as he became only the fifth wrestler in NCAA history to win four individual Division One national titles this weekend. Diakomihalis won his fourth title at the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Tulsa by beating Ohio State’s Sammy Sasso. He says his next goal is to win a gold medal at the world championships.

Please play responsibly.

The Powerball jackpot is growing. Lottery officials say no one picked all six numbers in Saturday’s drawing. That means tonight’s jackpot will be worth $86,000,000 (million). Tomorrow’s Mega Millions jackpot will be worth $272,000,000 (million). Please play responsibly.

The New York State Democratic Senators are attempting to push out 500 Million Dollars to child care providers across the Empire State.  The $500 million workforce retention grant program would provide up to $12,000 in salary enhancements to child care workers employed at a facility that serves families who receive assistance for care. The Senate’s proposal also raises eligibility for assistance up to 103% of the state median income, or 42% of the federal poverty level.  Providers are pushing for the Senate’s proposal, though it’s less than the $1 billion they say is needed. New York has about 17,000 child care providers statewide.  Senators also included a provision to provide money to expand child care assistance to immigrant families and undocumented children.

Fire Crews responded to 10 and a half South Spruce Street for a report of a house fire at around 3am this morning.  When they arrived they found that the fire had spread from a single room into the attic.  Crews were able to put the blaze out within an hour.  All occupants were able to escape the house safely.  The cause of the fire is under investigation but it is believed it started outside the house.

Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg slammed New York’s marijuana law as a disaster — blaming state legislators for a roll out of cannabis that has helped criminals and hurt kids by making it as “easy to buy an ounce of pot as it is a slice of pizza.”  Bloomberg, who has rarely weighed in on New York issues since leaving City Hall a decade ago, said the law has failed to address enforcement of criminal activity and allowed illegal pot shops to flourish as a result before legal cannabis shops were licensed to open.  He cited data that drug and alcohol incidents in public schools spiked 29% over the past year.  Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo approved marijuana legalization in 2021. His successor, Gov. Kathy Hochul, has since overseen the slow rollout, with only a handful of licensed pot shots opening amid a massive black pot market.

Gas prices aren’t moving.  AAA says that the average price of Gas in Batavia is currently 3.37 for a gallon of regular.  This is even with what it was a week ago and a month ago.  It is down 98 cents from last year.  The New York State Average is 3.44 and the National is the same.

Lots of people came out for a taste of the sweet life on the first day of the 28th annual Maple Weekend. Over 50 maple producers opened their doors to the public to learn how maple syrup is made, sample delicious products, and experience the history behind this powerhouse crop.  According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, New York maple producers produced a whopping 845,000 gallons of maple syrup in 2022, which is a 31% increase from the previous year.  Over at Genesee Country Village and Museum, they were offering demonstrations on the history of maple syrup production.  Governor Hochul declared the weekends open to the public on Saturday in a ceremony at Moore’s Maple Shack and Pancake House in Freedom.  

The Buffalo Sabres were completely shut out against the Boston Bruins in their game on Sunday.  They lost 7 to 0 against the frontrunner for the President’s Trophy.  Boston scored their first goal within 15 seconds of puck drop.  The loss marks Buffalo’s third in a row and the second straight time giving up seven goals in back-to-back contest against Boston.  Buffalo will stay at the KeyBank Center for their next game. A Tuesday night showdown with Nashville. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. est.

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal, multi-vehicle accident in Batavia.  Deputies said at around 6:30 p.m. Friday, a Hyundai crossed the median on West Main Street and hit a Jeep and a pick-up truck.  According to deputies, the driver of the Hyundai, 68 year old Maryellen Wilbur, was thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. Another driver was taken to ECMC for lower body injuries.  The Sheriff’s office says the cause of the crash is still under investigation.

Oddey the overdosed French Bulldog has been adopted.  Cassandra Elmore, who ran the court ragged missing court appointment after court appointment and then failing to show up for rehab when jailed and then released, had entered a guilty plea back in February on the charges that were keeping the dog locked up.  With that part of the case resolved, Oddey could be taken out of captivity and found a new home.  Elmore was granted a conditional discharge which meant that she was free and her records would be sealed if she complied with court orders and avoided further arrests.  She is currently being sought by the police for a warrant because she failed to obey the court order to show up for rehab services, as well as criminal weapon possession, criminal use of drug paraphernalia, aggravated unlicensed operation, and obstruction of governmental administration.

State lawmakers have just over two weeks to submit their budget for next year and part of it is planned to be a 9 billion dollar investment into transportation and infrastructure mostly centered around New York City.  How are they planning to pay for this?  Taxes on streaming services like Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max and others.  Assemblyman Steve Hawley is against the raise in taxes saying that “To attack every single individual that has this type of device on their television or on their computer just is not sensible and really goes after the working men and women of our state.”  The state is also looking at adding a 25 cent fee for delivery transactions.

Standardized test scores and proficiency in things like math and English have fallen since the Pandemic.  In order to make it so fewer kids failed their tests, the New York State Education Department lowered the minimum passing score needed on those assessments.  Now they want to make the change permanent.  They say that judging a student’s proficiency by just one test a year isn’t fair to the student.  Critics say that lowering the passing grade just lowers expectations when students are already struggling to graduate with what they need to succeed in college or a trade.

The Buffalo Sabres lost their St Patricks Day match up against the Philadelphia Flyers 5 to 2.  Victor Olofsson scored both of Buffalo’s goals.  The loss keeps the Sabres at 72 points and six points back of the Islanders and Penguins for the second wild card spot.  They’ll look to rebound back at home Sunday when they square off with the Boston Bruins. Puck drop is at 1 p.m. at the KeyBank Center.

Another incident is being investigated today at Compasscare, a pregnancy services clinic located on Eggert Road in Amherst. A link to surveillance video of the incident, which occurred shortly after midnight yesterday morning, is posted on the Amherst Police website. It shows CompassCare’s sign being vandalized with red graffiti to spell the word “Liars” by a Caucasian woman in a dark gray sweatshirt and black leggings. CEO of Compasscare Reverend Jim Harden said that politicians and pro abortion protesters use language accusing pregnancy resource centers of lying to and manipulating women into having babies but then don’t help them afterwards. Compasscare and other resource centers list services that include free baby care items, educational assistance, help getting formula and baby clothes and more for both pregnant women and women and their babies.

A winter storm watch is in effect for Wyoming County, as well as Southern Erie County from 2:00 tomorrow afternoon through Sunday afternoon at 2:00. Heavy lake effect snow is possible with accumulations of 3 to 6 inches predicted in the most persistent lake snows. Winds could gust as high as 40 miles per hour. Travel could be difficult, especially on Saturday night, with periods of blowing snow significantly reducing visibility.

Brand-new data from the state shows the spread of COVID-19 has decreased slightly in our region. Right now, the 7-day average infection rate is sitting at 5.5%. At this time last week the average infection rate was 5.61%. To prevent another surge in cases, County Health Departments say that people should make sure they’re up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters, and wear a mask when indoors, in public.

File photo of Irondequoit Police vehicle

Irondequoit police are continuing their investigation into a shooting that sent one man to the hospital. Officials say the victim was found last night in the parking lot of the Hidden Creek Townhomes on Charwood Circle. It is believed he may have been shot during an attempted robbery and he was taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for his injuries. An arrest hasn’t been made in connection with this case and tips can be submitted to police by calling 585-336-6000.

Rochester Police tell us they now have two people in custody in connection to a vehicle stolen at knifepoint that crashed into a police car and then a school bus. 20-year-old Maliq McCullough and 23-year-old Adeosun Hughes were arrested after allegedly stealing a jeep at knifepoint from a 51-year-old woman yesterday afternoon on Costar Street and then later fleeing a traffic stop. They rammed a police car and then went across an intersection against the light where they were struck by a school bus, which caused the jeep to spin out. They then attempted to run away but were quickly apprehended. No injuries were reported. McCullough is charged with robbery, assault and two counts of grand larceny. He was taken to Monroe County Jail. Hughes is charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. He was issued an appearance ticket. (Provided photo)

File photo of a house finch

Tomorrow’s Birding Walk and Spring is Here Hike have been POSTPONED to next Saturday, March 25th due to high winds. Call Genesee County Parks, Recreation & Forestry for more information: 585-344-1122

File photo of Mark Poloncarz

Erie County officials are expressing concern over a growing number of drug overdoses in the area. County Executive Mark Poloncarz said yesterday that many of these overdoses have been connected to fentanyl, which is being used to lace drugs such as cocaine. Since the start of 2023, there have been a combined 97 probable and confirmed opioid-related deaths in the county. Anyone who is struggling with a drug problem can contact Erie County’s 24-Hour addiction hotline at 716-831-7007.

Josh Allen (left); Kyle Allen (right)

Allen No.2 is coming to join the Buffalo Bills quarterback room. It’s become the tale of two Allen’s; Kyle Allen appears to be Josh Allen’s newest backup after spending his most recent season with the Houston Texans. Ironically, the same place former Bills backup quarterback Case Keenum just joined. The Allens are close friends off the field. The new Allen has spent time with the Panthers, Commanders, and Texans, totaling 19 career starts.

The Buffalo Sabres will be back in action tonight as they try to end their current road trip with a victory. The Sabres are visiting the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center in the City of Brotherly Love. On Wednesday, Buffalo suffered a tough 5-4 defeat at the hands of the Washington Capitals. Face-off this evening is set for 7:00.

Please play responsibly.

Lottery players are hoping luck is going to be on their side as they try to win tonight’s jackpot worth $254,000,000 (million). The drawing will be streamed at megamillions.com. Please play responsibly.

2015 Ford Lincoln MKZ

Ford is recalling more than a million cars because of a brake hose issue. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says Ford Fusions and Lincoln MKZs sold between 2013 and 2018 are affected. It has to do with front brake hoses that may rupture and leak brake fluid.

Wyoming County is under a Winter Storm Watch for Saturday afternoon through Sunday afternoon.  Heavy Lake Effect snow is expected with snow accumulations of more than 7 inches possible.  Winds are also expected to gust over 40 miles per hour.  Travel could be difficult Saturday night with blowing snow causing drifts and reduced visibility.  

The Amherst Police Department is investigating another incident at Compasscare.  Police said the incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. on Thursday.  CompassCare, a pregnancy services clinic located at 1230 Eggert Road, posted a link to surveillance video of the incident on its website which shows its sign being vandalized with red graffiti to spell the word “Liars” by a Caucasian woman in a dark gray sweatshirt and black leggings.  CEO of Compasscare Rev. Jim Harden said that politicians and pro abortion agitators use increasingly violent rhetoric accusing pregnancy resource centers of lying to and manipulating women into having babies and then don’t help them afterwards.  Compasscare and other pregnancy resource centers list of services includes free baby care items, educational services, help getting formula and baby clothes and much more for both pregnant women and women and their babies.

56 Harvester Center could soon have a new tavern and bar.  Bill and Michelle Snyder are just waiting on a permit to open their new establishment.  They own Windy Brew brewery in Strikersville.  The City Council has approved their application for a liquor license and Batavia Police have no objections.  Plans are to include live music and a tasting room for brews, including Windy Brew.

Rochester Police said they have two people in custody in connection to a vehicle stolen at knifepoint that crashed into a police car and a school bus Wednesday afternoon.  20 year old Maliq McCullough and 23 year old Adeosun Hughes were arrested after allegedly stealing a jeep at knifepoint from a 51 year old woman on Costar Street and then fleeing a traffic stop on Bernard and North st.  They rammed a police car and then went across an intersection against the light when they were struck by a school bus which caused the jeep to spin out.  They then attempted to flee on foot but were quickly apprehended.  No injuries were reported on the bus.  McCullough is charged with robbery, assault and two counts of grand larceny. He was taken to Monroe County Jail.  Hughes is charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. He was issued an appearance ticket.

This weekend is the first half of Maple Weekends in New York State which runs this Saturday and Sunday and also next weekend.  Dozens of maple producers are participating with tours, tastings, wagon rides and special events throughout the weekend.  The events are completely free to attend but you may find yourself buying lots of sweet treats like: maple syrup, cotton candy, ice cream, maple candies and sauces to take home.  There are plenty of producers near Batavia such as Sweet Dream Maple in Corfu, Merle Maple near Varysburg, A and A Maple and Maple Moon Farms near Attica and Randalls Maple Products near Darien.  You can see an interactive map of participating locations by following the link at wbtai.com. 

https://mapleweekend.nysmaple.com/

Allen No.2 is coming to join the Buffalo Bills quarterback room.  Kyle Allen looks to be Josh Allen’s newest backup after spending his most recent season with the Houston Texans. Ironically, the same place former Bills backup quarterback Case Keenum just joined.  The new Allen duo are known to be friends spotted via social media hanging out during the offseason.  The new Allen has spent time with the Panthers, Commanders, and Texans, totaling 19 career starts.

The Batavia Indoor Track Team competed at the Nike Nationals meet this past weekend in New York City at the Armory Track and Field.  Parker Kleinbach earned a second-place finish in the Weight Throw with a distance of 57′ – 6.25″.  The 4×200 with Fabian Vazquez, Aidan Anderson, Parris Price, and Cole Grazioplene finished in 13th place with a time of 1:34.20.   This was the second fastest time in program history and a very competitive race for these athletes.  In the 4×400 Relay the team finished in fifth place, earning a medal with a time of 3:29.40.  This performance is a new school record, the first time Batavia has had a team run under 3:30 in program history, and the fastest time of any team in Section V this season.  The girls 4×800 had an incredible race running the 2nd fastest time in program history and only missing the school record by 1 second.  Nicole Doeringer, Jadyn Boyce, Izzy Scott, and Campbell Riley finished in 9th place with a time of 9:59.05.  Batavia had 22 athletes compete at the Nike Nationals this season in a three-day competition with thousands of athletes from across the country.

Patrick Casanova

29-year-old Patrick Casanova of Medina has been sentenced to 2 to 4 years in state prison; he pleaded guilty to assault when he admitted to punching a woman in the face, which fractured her orbital bone and damaged her sinus.

An arrest has been made in connection with a shooting in Rochester last week that left one person dead. According to investigators, 19-year-old Sincere Vazquez shot 20-year-old Anthony Stevenson-Sutton while he was in a vehicle on Depew Street last Friday night. Stevenson-Sutton passed away at the scene and Vazquez was also hurt in the incident. Vazquez is now facing multiple charges including murder and will be arraigned at a later date.

Cleaning up after the blizzard; 12/29/22

President Biden has approved a major disaster declaration in the aftermath of a deadly blizzard that devastated this area back in December. That means more federal funding is going to be available to help local governments cover the cost of both responding to the storm and cleaning up after it. Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown says that this money will be critical to help the city successfully recover. The storm was responsible for taking dozens of lives and causing millions of dollars worth of damage.

Monsignor Peter Popadick

The Diocese of Buffalo has announced that a priest has been placed on administrative leave for a second time. The diocese says the decision to put Monsignor Peter Popadick on leave was made after a child sexual abuse complaint was filed against him. He is currently serving as the pastor at Saint Aloysius Gonzaga in Cheektowaga. Popadick was previously put on leave after being accused of molesting a child, but was allowed to return to the ministry after an investigation couldn’t substantiate that claim.

Gerald Berg of Lee Center in Oneida County was sentenced to four months of weekends in the Orleans County Jail, plus five years of probation for attempted promotion of prison contraband. Berg admitted to trying to bring fentanyl to the Albion Correctional Facility. He told the court that he was aware it was a dangerous substance for someone to use.

2740 Monroe Avenue, Brighton – Opening next month

The Rochester area’s first Whole Foods Market is scheduled to open April 12 at 2740 Monroe Avenue in Brighton. The long-awaited announcement comes one week after a judge ruled in favor of the project’s developers in a lawsuit filed by Wegmans-backed community groups. Festivities will kick off at 7:00am on opening day. The first 500 shoppers in line will receive a Whole Foods tote bag and gift cards. The store will be open from 8:00am until 9:00pm on opening day, with giveaways, free samples and live entertainment planned. Whole Foods said the store would feature more than 500 local items from Western and Central New York.

Saint Patrick’s Day is tomorrow, and police in New York State will be doing their part over the next few days to make sure everyone gets to and from their celebrations safely. Their latest crackdown on impaired drivers begins today and continues through Sunday. Travelers will see an increased police presence on the roads and additional sobriety checkpoints will be set up. Police say people can ensure they get home safely by having a designated driver or by using a taxi or rideshare service.

Families across the Empire State will be finding it a bit easier to access childcare thanks to the launch of a brand-new online tool. Governor Hochul says this tool will allow parents to see if they are eligible for monetary support from the state’s Child Care Assistance Program. Families can fill out a questionnaire that lets them know if they meet the basic criteria and puts them in contact with a department of social services in their area so they can apply for funding. For more information, go to ocfs.ny.gov.

Strong Museum of Play – 2023 Nominees

Officials at the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester have announced the finalists for this year’s World Video Game Hall of Fame. The nominees include The Last Of Us, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Angry Birds, Quake, Wii Sports, and GoldenEye 007. Games are judged based on their longevity, influence on culture, and international reach. Voting is open until March 22nd and can be done by going to museumofplay.org. The induction ceremony will happen May 4th.

Hundreds of students from around the region are expected to attend the second and final day of the Buffalo National College Fair today. The event is at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center and there’s no cost to attend. The goal of the fair is to allow people to get a look at what a variety of colleges have to offer, all without having to leave Western New York. If you’re unable to attend or would like more information, go to buffalocollegefair.com.

Ukko-Pekka-Luukkonen – file photo

The playoff hopes of the Buffalo Sabres have taken a hit following a disappointing loss on the road. Zemgus Girgensons, JJ Peterka, Tyson Jost, and Ilya Lyubushkin each scored, but the Sabres were beaten in a shootout by the Washington Capitals last night 5-4. Buffalo goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 35 of the 39 shots he faced in the contest. The next game for the Sabres is tomorrow against the Flyers in Philadelphia. The puck drops at 7:00.

In an effort to rally young people’s interest in the election process and voting and build a future base of voters, Genesee County Board of Elections is sprinkling a little fun into what can otherwise be a dry topic.  The “I Voted” sticker contest is being promoted to students in grades five through 12 in art or in government classes throughout county school districts and home schools. They are being encouraged to create original artwork used with the words “I Voted” to celebrate that American privilege, and a grand winner, plus prizes for first, second and third will be awarded to the top selected entries.  The grand prize winner’s design will be made into stickers for voters during the Primary and General elections, including Early Voting.  First, second and third place entries will be used in social media content and for other voting-related outreaches.

The Rochester area’s first Whole Foods Market is slated to open April 12 on Monroe Avenue in Brighton.  The long-awaited announcement comes one week after a judge ruled in favor of the project’s developers in a lawsuit filed by Wegmans-backed community groups.  Festivities will kick off at 7 a.m. on opening day. The first 500 shoppers in line will receive a Whole Foods tote bag and gift cards.  The store will be open from 8 a.m.-9 p.m. on opening day, with giveaways, free samples and live entertainment planned.  Whole Foods said the store will feature more than 500 local items from Western and Central New York.

A new airline is coming to Rochester and bringing nonstop service to a popular destination for Western New Yorkers.  Avelo Airlines will offer twice-weekly flights from the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport to the Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina’s Research Triangle.  Service will be offered Mondays and Fridays, following a special inaugural flight on Wednesday, June 14.  Introductory one-way fares start at $39. Reservations can now be made online.

Emmanuel Baptist Church on Oak Street in Batavia is inviting Batavia community members to join in creating and farming a new community garden in the field behind the church.  The initial plan is to build 20 4 foot by 3 foot plots and a toolshed and offer the plots for 20 dollars for anyone in the community who wants to grow flowers, veggies and herbs.  The garden hasn’t been built yet and part of the invitation is for anyone who wants to help build to get a free plot for the first season.  Tools, seeds, water and watering cans will be provided by the church.  An informational meeting is scheduled for March 29th at 6pm at Emmanuel Baptist Church.  For more information call 585 343 4905 or email ebcbatavia@gmail.com.

In a surprising move, Bills safety Jordan Poyer is returning to Buffalo.  The team announced Wednesday afternoon the two sides agreed on a two-year deal.  A first-team All-Pro in 2021, 31 year old Poyer,, earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2022 despite missing four games due to injuries.  The 10-year veteran, who originally joined the Bills in 2017, was expected to sign elsewhere after his contract with Buffalo expired, with many reports indicating he hoped to sign with the Miami Dolphins.  The news comes after the team lost linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, who signed a four-year, $72 million deal with the Chicago Bears.

The Sabres lost their matchup against the Washington Capitals by just one goal for a score of 5 to 4 in a shootout.  Zemgus Girgensons, JJ Peterka, Jack Quinn and Tyson Jost all scored and Ukko Pekka Luukonen made 35 saves.  The Sabres are at 33 and 28 and 6.  Playing out the rest of the regular season the Sabres have a contest against the Philadelphia Flyers at 7 on Friday in Philadelphia at Wells Fargo Center.

Batavia City Council – file photo

The City Council in Batavia has voted 6 to 2 in favor of overriding the tax cap and passing the proposed $33,500,000 (million) budget. The override means that the city will be able to collect a $6.6 million tax levy for the $19.4 million general budget. City taxpayers won’t see an increased tax rate, as that will remain flat at $8.94 per $1,000 assessed value. Council was also unanimous in its vote to approve the 30 cents water rate increase, which, along with an increased water meter rate and capital improvement fees, will tack on about $60 more for an average home of four people. City Council members said they were happy with the cities financial status and their ability to get a new Zamboni and ice chiller for the ice arena, put up the new police station, change over the streetlamps to LED lights, and 3 major water and sewer projects.

File photo from October 2022; South Lyon Street Bridge

Work on the South Lyon Street Bridge will resume Friday, March 17th. Work had been paused due to seasonal weather conditions. A small portion of South Main Street will be closed to traffic over the upcoming months. The bridge replacement project began last September and consists of two 11-foot lanes with 2-foot shoulders and a 5-foot sidewalk on the east side of the truss. The alignment of South Lyon Street will be modified to improve the intersection with South Main Street and approach work includes a seamless transition to the relocated intersection, existing roadway, and sidewalks. Photo by Doug Thompson, WBTA News.

Orleans County deputies have arrested a teenager who they say made a threat against the Albion Central School District. The alleged threat was made on the social media app Snapchat and targeted the district with the threat of violence. Officials were able to track down the 16-year-old student they say was responsible for the message and the teen told them it was just a joke. The suspect was charged with a felony and released.

Lauren Taggart

The family of a teenager who lost her life in a tragic crash has filed a lawsuit against the Town of Clarence. Last March, 17-year-old Lauren Taggart and 17-year-old Luke Malinich were traveling on Delaware Road near Goodrich Road when the vehicle they were in ended up going off the road, flipping over, and hitting a tree. The lawsuit is claiming that the town didn’t make enough of an effort to ensure the road was safe before the accident. The town attorney isn’t commenting on the litigation.

The driver of a Niagara Falls plow truck has been arrested after police say he caused the vehicle to tip over, leading to a salt and fuel spill. When police got to the scene in the area of Porter Road and Hyde Park Boulevard yesterday, they suspected 53-year-old Robert McClain was intoxicated and he was taken into custody. McClain wasn’t hurt and there were no other vehicles involved in the incident. The Niagara Falls Fire Department was able to clean up the fuel spill.

Another STOP-DWI effort starts tomorrow and will continue through Sunday, March 19. St. Patrick’s Day weekend is notorious for impaired driving due to the number of celebrations and drivers on the road. New York State Police, County Sheriffs and municipal law enforcement agencies will be out in force during this across-the-board effort to reduce the number of alcohol-related injuries and deaths. While STOP-DWI efforts across New York have made great strides in reducing the number of alcohol and drug-related fatalities, still too many lives are being lost because of crashes caused by drunk or impaired drivers.

Four Sabres players talking – November 2022

The Buffalo Sabres continue their road trip and will be back on the ice tonight as they look to keep their playoff hopes alive against an Eastern Conference rival. The Sabres are taking on the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena. On Monday, the Sabres snapped their four-game losing streak with a 4-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Face-off this evening is set for 7:00.

For the first time in weeks, members of the Erie County Stadium Corporation are expected to gather for a meeting today. The Buffalo News is reporting that they’ll be discussing documents related to the construction of a new stadium for the Buffalo Bills. Plans call for that facility to be built near Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, which is where the Bills currently play their home games. The hope is that the new stadium will be ready to open in time for the 2026 NFL season.

It is National Kidney Month, and the New York State Department of Health is pushing Empire State residents to take steps to protect themselves from kidney disease. People can help keep their kidneys healthy by eating foods that are low in salt and by eating fruits and vegetables each day. Also, people who have diabetes should make sure their blood sugar stays in its target range as much as possible. Experts also say people who smoke should stop, since smoking can worsen kidney disease. Data shows chronic Kidney Disease is the ninth leading cause of death in the United States.