Tuesday News Brief
Written by Pete Zehler on October 13, 2026
BATAVIA GRADUATE TO BE POSTHUMOUSLY INDUCTED INTO ROCHESTER BUSINESS HALL OF FAME
A Batavia High School graduate will be honored later this month with induction into the Rochester Business Hall of Fame.
The late Edward Pettinella, former president and CEO of Home Properties Incorporated, is one of three members of the Class of 2026.
Pettinella grew up in Batavia and graduated from Batavia High School, where he helped set a school relay record in 1969.
He later built a long career in banking, financial services and real estate. Pettinella held leadership roles with Community Savings Bank, Charter One Bank of New York and Rochester Community Savings Bank before joining Home Properties in 2001. He eventually became the company’s president and chief executive officer.
Pettinella also served on several corporate boards and supported organizations including SUNY Geneseo, the YMCA, United Way, Golisano Children’s Hospital and Syracuse University.
He died in January at the age of 74.
The induction ceremony is scheduled for October 19th at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center.
Pettinella will be inducted alongside William Goodrich of LeChase Construction and James Sydor of Sydor Optics.
GENESEE COUNTY POLICE BLOTTER
Several recent arrests are being reported across Genesee County.
Seventy-one-year-old Amos Williams of Batavia is charged with second-degree criminal contempt and attempted third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Deputies allege Williams tried to purchase a firearm while he was subject to an order of protection.
Twenty-year-old Cameron Northan of Batavia and 23-year-old Noah Mack of Rochester face assault and conspiracy charges after an alleged attack that seriously injured another person. Police say Mack strangled the victim unconscious while Northan repeatedly struck the person in the head. Mack also faces a strangulation charge.
Sixty-four-year-old Jeffrey Flint of Batavia is charged with second-degree strangulation following an alleged domestic incident on Jackson Street.
Forty-year-old Richard Miller of Batavia faces weapon, menacing, drug possession and obstruction charges after allegedly pointing a BB pistol at another person during an altercation on Porter Avenue.
And 40-year-old Bobbi Jo Capretto and 19-year-old Gianna Williams, both of Batavia, were separately charged with second-degree burglary and criminal contempt after allegedly entering residences in violation of orders of protection.
All charges are allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
GENESEE COUNTY REPUBLICANS OPEN BATAVIA CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS
The Genesee County Republican Committee has opened its 2026 campaign headquarters at 218 West Main Street in Batavia.
County GOP Chairman Scott German says the location was chosen for its visibility and accessibility ahead of the November election.
The committee is also looking for volunteers to staff the office from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.
Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Barb Eddy at 585-507-9930.
BATAVIA PLANS NEXT WAVE OF DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PROJECTS
Batavia officials are preparing another round of downtown improvements after the city secured a second 10-million-dollar Downtown Revitalization Initiative award.
The first grant, awarded in 2018, helped generate roughly 66-million dollars in total investment, including City Centre upgrades and the Healthy Living Campus.
The next phase would extend redevelopment beyond Main Street, with proposals including renovations to the former police station at 10 West Main, changes to the Ellicott Trail through downtown and additional mixed-use housing projects.
City officials say the goal is to build on recent momentum and encourage more private investment downtown.
FEDERAL AGENTS SEARCH HOME OF CONGRESSWOMAN ILHAN OMAR
Federal agents searched the Washington-area home of Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar on Monday as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
The Justice Department says Homeland Security Investigations carried out a court-authorized search warrant, but officials have not disclosed what agents were seeking or whether Omar is accused of a crime.
Trump administration officials have previously said an investigation was examining allegations involving Omar’s immigration history. Vice President JD Vance has publicly accused her of immigration fraud without offering evidence, while Omar has denied those claims.
Omar called the search an effort to intimidate a political opponent and said she would not be silenced. Congressional Democrats also criticized the timing, coming just weeks before the midterm elections.
MAMDANI ORDERS REVIEW OF NYPD USE-OF-FORCE POLICIES
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has ordered a department-wide review of how NYPD officers use force against civilians.
The review will be the department’s first comprehensive examination of those policies in about a decade and will include public input. Mamdani is also increasing funding for the NYPD Inspector General and tightening procedures for officers facing misconduct cases.
The changes follow renewed criticism after an officer involved in the 2024 fatal shooting of 19-year-old Win Rozario retired before completing the department’s disciplinary process.
Mamdani says the NYPD will now prioritize finishing disciplinary cases before officers retire and will notify state officials when an officer leaves with charges still pending.
Police union leaders criticized the move, arguing the changes are politically motivated and will not improve public safety.
GENESEE COUNTY GIRLS SOCCER ROUNDUP
In Genesee County high school girls soccer action Monday night, Kendall shut out Notre Dame 3-nothing.
Brockport defeated Batavia 5-2, while Byron-Bergen rolled past Pembroke with a 7-nothing victory.
