Tuesday News Brief

Genesee County Sheriff Reports Multiple Arrests in November Cases

Genesee County Sheriff’s deputies report several recent arrests.
In Batavia, 67-year-old Upendrakumar Patel was charged with forcible touching and second-degree harassment after allegedly shoving and then forcibly touching another person on Federal Drive late Thursday morning. Patel was taken to the Genesee County Jail and held for CAP Court that evening.
In Pembroke, deputies stopped 39-year-old Robert Humes Jr. of Buffalo earlier this month and say he was driving with a suspended license, no insurance, and speeding. During the stop, officers also allegedly found a semi-automatic rifle with a telescopic stock and detachable magazine. Humes was arrested and held at the county jail for arraignment.
Deputies also charged 26-year-old Larissa Thomas of the Tonawanda Indian Reservation with filing a false written statement. Investigators say she misreported details about a domestic incident on November 12th. She was released with an appearance ticket.
And 48-year-old Steven Stefano of Batavia was charged with second-degree criminal contempt for allegedly violating an order of protection by contacting a protected party on jail phone calls. He was held for CAP Court on Wednesday night.

Attica Refuse Station Halts Recycling Effective Today

The Village of Attica is alerting residents that starting today, the Refuse Station can no longer process recycling. Village officials say a worker shortage has forced a temporary halt, and no recyclables can be accepted until further notice.
Residents can either hold onto their materials or use official Refuse Station bags—sold at Bengos, Attica Ace, Tops, and Citgo—to dispose of items properly. The village says it’s working on a solution and apologizes for the inconvenience.

Senior Wishes Delivers Record 175 HERO Boxes to Local Veterans

Senior Wishes is marking Veterans Week with its largest outreach effort yet, delivering a record 175 HERO Boxes to veterans across Western New York. The organization says this year’s expansion was made possible through major support from the Dreamcatcher Foundation, along with donations from community members, businesses, and local groups.
On November 13th, seven senior veterans at Genesee Senior Living in Batavia received their personalized HERO Boxes during individual visits that also included a sweet treat and time to share their stories. Two additional Batavia residents, Francis Aquino and Russell Hatcher, were also honored. Veterans often describe the boxes—filled with items like hats, mugs, and blankets—as deeply meaningful, with many becoming emotional as they reflect on their service.
Senior Wishes provides year-round support to low-income seniors across Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming counties. The group grants life-enriching wishes, recognizes local centenarians through its Century Club, and runs a holiday gift program for isolated seniors and nursing home residents. Founded by the United Church Home Society, Senior Wishes says its mission is to ensure older adults feel valued and celebrated throughout the year.

Kiwanis Club Offers Free Thanksgiving Morning Skate in Batavia

The Kiwanis Club of Batavia is once again inviting families to start their Thanksgiving with a free community skate. The event takes place Thursday, November 27th, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the David McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena on Evans Street. Admission and skate rentals are free while supplies last, and hot chocolate will also be provided.
Kiwanis says community support of its fundraisers makes events like this possible, and they’re encouraging families from Batavia and surrounding areas to come enjoy the holiday morning on the ice.

Sabres Roll Past Oilers 5–1 at KeyBank Center

The Buffalo Sabres cruised to a 5–1 win over the Edmonton Oilers Monday night at KeyBank Center. Buffalo’s fourth line stole the show, with Noah Ostlund scoring twice, Beck Malenstyn netting his first of the season, and Josh Dunne earning his first NHL assist. Bowen Byram added the game winner in the second period.

Rookie goalie Colten Ellis stopped 32 of 33 shots, improving to 3–1 to start his NHL career. The Sabres have now won back-to-back games and picked up points in eight of their last nine at home.