From the Genesee -- Orleans County Department of Weights & Measures:

A majority of gas stations and fuel companies offer a variety of savings through the use of their credit/reward cards. These offers range from 3 to 25 cents off per gallon, which add up to huge savings over time.

“Often rural areas are burdened with higher fuel prices but these discounts bring us closer, if not below, the national average,” said Ronald P. Mannella, director of GO Health W&M. 

All fuel pumps within the two counties, roughly 450, are tested at least once annually. W&M inspects the pumps ensuring the correct amount is being dispensed as well as test fuel quality to confirm the octane/cetane is as labeled.

Throughout the year, the department tests more than 1,100 total devices using over 5 million pounds and 13,000 gallons of fuel!

Below is a list of stations within Genesee and Orleans counties that utilize credit/reward cards along with their website to learn more:

• TOPS Markets

https://www.topsmarkets.com/gassavings/

Locations w/ Fuel: Medina, Batavia, Le Roy

• Kwik Fill

https://www.kwikfill.com/charge-card

Locations: Medina, Albion, Batavia, Le Roy

• Speedway

Locations: Batavia

https://www.speedway.com/speedyrewardsmastercard

• 7-Eleven

Locations: Oakfield, Bergen   

https://onlineservices.secure.force.com/creditapplication/WexBOCA?pgm=7Eleven&cc=W7A&lc=wcs

• Mobil Stations

Locations: Albion, Holley, Batavia, Pembroke, Elba

https://www.exxon.com/en

• SUNOCO Stations

Locations: Medina, Clarendon, Kendall, Holley, Albion, Le Roy, Pavilion, Corfu

https://www.sunoco.com/consumer-credit-cards

• Gulf Stations

Locations: Waterport

https://www.gulfoil.com/cards-payments#:~:text=The%20Gulf%20Card%20offers%20pay,fleet%20vehicles%20and%20company%20drivers.

• CITGO Stations

Locations: Kent, Medina, Alexander, Attica, Batavia

https://www.citgo.com/payment-cards/rewards-card/rewards-card

• Crosby’s

Locations: Clarendon, Kendall, Holley, Medina, Albion, Batavia, Byron, Corfu, Le Roy, Pavilion, Pembroke, Elba

https://crosbysstores.com/my-crosbys-rewards/

• VP Fuel 

Locations: Holley

https://vpracingfuels.com/

• Marathon

Locations: Lyndonville, Byron, Corfu, Batavia

https://www.marathonbrand.com/

• Valero

Locations: Batavia

https://www.valero.com/

• T&A

Locations: Corfu

https://www.ta-petro.com/

• Pilot Flying J

Locations: Pembroke

https://pilotflyingj.com/rewards/

If you know of other fuel-saving opportunities please email: Ronald.Mannella@OrleansCountyNY.Gov and we will add it to this list.

Eight homeowners along Lake Street Road (Route 19), Randall Road and West Bergen Road – streets that border land earmarked for rezoning by the Le Roy Town Board -- have signed a petition opposing such a move and plan to bring their concerns to a public hearing Thursday night.

The public hearing is scheduled for 7 o’clock in the courtroom of the Le Roy Town Hall at 48 Main St.

Eric Raines Jr. and Annie Watkins, owners of the former Olmsted Manor on Route 19, north of the Village of Le Roy, are leading the fight to prevent the board from changing the zoning from R-2 (Residential) to Industrial, citing a county land map that shows the 185 acres in question are for agricultural use.

“We also believe that the town’s Comprehensive Plan has this area set aside for green (agricultural) use,” said Raines, who along with Watkins purchased the 

Raines said the majority of the soil of the seven privately owned parcels targeted for rezoning – and possibly to be part of an eventual sale to Great Lakes Cheese as the future site of a $500 million processing plant – is of the highest quality.

“Most of that soil is ranked as A-1,” he said, referring to information from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. “To say that it would be better suited as a parking lot, I don’t believe so.”

Le Roy Town Supervisor James Farnholz, however, said rezoning to Industrial follows guidance found in a 2017 revision of the town’s Comprehensive Plan.

“The Comprehensive Plan is a guide and in that plan is the goal to develop industry along the Route 19 corridor; it was adopted in 2017,” Farnholz said. “One of the things that has caused confusion is that (people think) the property that we’re considering rezoning is agricultural property, and that is not the case.”

Farnholz said that some of the land has been farmed, “but it is R-2, which means it has been open for farming-related activities, churches and other things. They could even put a mobile home park back there.”

“What we want to do is two things – make it contiguous with the (Genesee County) Economic Development Corp. property that’s already there (the 75-acre Le Roy Food & Tech Park) and since it’s completely ringed by smart growth, it would be consistent with our Comprehensive Plan and it would be consistent with the other property around it,” he explained. “And the other side (east side) of Route 19 is already (zoned) Industrial.”

Several property owners in the vicinity of the Le Roy Food & Tech Park, which is owned by the GCEDC, reportedly have been received offers for their land by Great Lakes Cheese representatives in case the Ohio-based company goes forward with relocating from Allegany County to Genesee County.

Phone calls to one of those property owners by The Batavian were not returned at the time of the posting of this story.

Farnholz said he expects to see some of the property owners who have been contacted by the cheese manufacturer at Thursday’s public hearing.

Raines, who was not approached by Great Lakes Cheese, said he anticipates the other homeowners who signed the petition to be at the meeting.

“The only landowners that were contacted were the ones that have land that interests the company,” he said. “If I was offered up to four times the assessed value, we might not be having this conversation.”

Raines and Watkins also said they believe that Great Lakes Cheese would be asking for a truck deceleration lane just a few hundred feet south of their home along Route 19, on the right-of-way owned by the NYS Department of Transportation.

That is all “rumor and conjecture” at this point as there has been no word from DOT, Farnholz said.

As far as Great Lakes Cheese coming to Le Roy, Farnholz said the company is “still considering the logistics” of such a move.

“The problem with all of this is that it’s out of the municipality's hands,” he said. “The big things go to the DOT and the DEC (NYS Department of Environmental Conservation), and then electric and gas. The DOT and the DEC are the two big players … and there are a lot of steps before any industry moves in anywhere.”

Previously: County planners take no action as Route 19 resident objects to Town of Le Roy's rezoning proposal

Photo at top: Eric Raines of 8564 Lake Street Road (Route 19), Le Roy, on his property to the west of his home. Photos at bottom: Field behind the Raines' property; view from the front of Raines' home, looking south. Photos by Mike Pettinella.

A 23-year-old Batavia woman is in guarded condition at Strong Memorial Hospital following a car vs. pedestrian accident at 8:30 a.m. at East Main Street and Swan Street.

According to Batavia PD, Angel Kemp had the right of way in the crosswalk northbound across East Main Street when she was struck by a Jeep driven by Jean Monroe, 73, of Batavia, who was making a left-hand turn from southbound Ross Street.  

Police say Monroe failed to yield the right of way to Kemp.

Monroe was issued traffic citations for alleged failure to yield right of way to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, speed not reasonable and prudent, failure to exercise due care, improper left turn, driver's view obstructed, and uninspected motor vehicle.

Kemp was transported by Mercy EMS to the Mercy Flight hangar at the Genesee County Airport and then airlifted to Strong. Her injuries are believed to be serious. 

City fire also assisted at the scene.

Press release: 

After a commanding 4-0 victory on Saturday, June 3rd, in front of a large crowd against the Niagara Power, the Muckdogs went into a two-game stretch against opponents in the NYCBL. Batavia hosted the Mansfield Destroyers for the second time this season, as they lost 13-3 in a crossover matchup back on June 7th.

On Sunday, Batavia struck first, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first after a Blair Frederick RBI triple and Trevor Dean crossing home after an error by Mansfield catcher Blake Murray. Caden Walton and Frederick would both score due to a two-RBI single off the bat of third baseman Ethan Sarmiento to create a four-run lead.

Nathan Hinkley would allow his first runs on the contest in the fifth as Bryce Porter would drive in two runs to make it a 4-2 ball game. The Destroyers would tack on eight runs in the sixth inning, putting Batavia down six runs erasing their early lead.

As always, the Muckdogs like to make things interesting down the stretch, responding with two runs of their own after Mansfield added one more in the eighth and three more in the ninth. Down 11-9, Mansfield’s closer Matt Kahn shut the door getting the last three outs to secure the win.

Shifting into Monday’s action with the Syracuse Salt Cats, both teams agreed that the friendly matchup would just be seven innings due to both teams running low on pitching. Kyle O’Neill got the nod for Batavia as the Felician University right-hander tossed three scoreless innings while striking out six.

Batavia lost 1-0.

Trey Bacon entered the game in relief and allowed the only to run in the fourth as right fielder Carter Huffman hit a sacrifice fly to score Matt Rinaldi. Abner Benitez would have two of Batavia’s four hits in the game, as there were only a combined seven hits for both teams.

Even though Batavia dropped two straight, neither game will count toward their regular-season records or to their individual stats. Tuesday’s game against the Geneva Red Wings will count as it is the final night of the USA Homestand at Dwyer Stadium. Batavia currently sits at 12-14 and is tied with the Red Wings (13-15) as they are seven games back for the first place Jamestown Tarp Skunks in the West Division.

The Muckdogs will then travel to Sal Maglie Stadium in Niagara Falls in a matchup with the Power before facing the Elmira Pioneers three days in a row from Thursday to Saturday. Elmira has lost five straight games and is just one game over .500, meaning if Batavia wins against Geneva and takes two out of three against the Pios, they could be in second place.

First pitch for Tuesday night’s game is scheduled for 7:05 o'clock at Dwyer Stadium. It can be viewed on YouTube Live by subscribing to “BataviaMuckdogBaseball.” Make sure to follow our Twitter @BataviaMuckdogs, Instagram @Batavia_Muckdogs, and like our Facebook Page, “BataviaMuckdogBaseball.”

Top photo: Syracuse infielders Michael DeStefano and Eddy Garcia tracking a pop-up over the infield in the second inning.

Photos by Howard Owens.

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to Sec. 6-108.3 of the New York State Election Law, that a Democratic Party Caucus will be held @ 7 p.m., in the Town of Le Roy, at the Le Roy Town Hall, 48 Main St., County of Genesee, State of New York on the 20th day of July, 2021.  

This Caucus is called for the purpose of nominating candidates to fill existing vacancies for town council and town justice at the General Election to be held on November 2, 2021. Town enrolled members of the Democratic Party will be eligible to vote.                     

Nikki Calhoun                     Jennifer Keys

Chairman                             Secretary

From Barbara Eddy:

This weekend the Alexander Fire Department E.S.P. Tractor Pull returns!

It will be held Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Recreation Hall grounds, 10708 Alexander Road, Alexander.

Cost: Adults: $16; children 6-12: $8; 5 years and under free.

Classes include: Super Farm, Light Super Farm, Limited Pro Stock Diesel Truck, Heavy Super Stock and Modified Tractors.

Friday at 5 p.m. will include a take-out only Chicken BBQ by the Ladies Auxiliary. Saturday will feature our popular local band "Red Creek" from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the beer tent.

Food tent will be open! Hamburgers, hot dogs, Italian sausage, pizza, nachos, hot pretzels, fried dough, french fries and plenty of cold beverages served both nights.

Plenty of food and drink for all ages! It's time to get out and come to Alexander for the roar and excitement of the Alexander F.D. Tractor Pull!

Jason Armstrong, 48, is charged with: two counts of first-degree rape; two counts of endangering the welfare of a child; and one count of second-degree strangulation. He was arrested at 12:34 a.m. June 28 after an investigation of an incident at 12:18 a.m. that morning on Hutchins Place. He is accused of forcibly raping a person in front of their children. He was arraigned later that morning in Batavia City Court and put in Genesee County Jail without bail.

Melton Chisom, 46, was arrested at 3 a.m. June 24 on Maple Street in the City of Batavia. Chisom is charged with: second-degreed assault; criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree; and second-degree menacing. The charges stem from an incident June 24 in which it is alleged that Chisom engaged in a physical altercation with another person and held a knife to the victim's face, causing injury which required stitches. Chisom was processed at BPD, arraigned in city court and put in jail with no bail. The defendant is due back in court on July 21.

Dawn Orlando, 51, was arrested on June 25 on Wood Street in Batavia. She is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and criminal obstruction of the breathing of a person less than 17 years old by putting pressure on the person's neck. After arraignment in Batavia City Court, she was released on her own recognizance. She is due back in court on Aug. 5.

Brandon Dodd, 34, was arrested June 15 after an investigation alleging he violated a stay away order of protection by being on the protected party's property at 3:44 a.m. June 14 and entering a secured garage. Following his arraignment in Batavia City Court on third-degree criminal trespass and second-degree criminal contempt, he was put in Genesee County Jail in lieu of $2,500 cash bail; $5,000 bond or $7,500 partially secured bond.

Brandon Dodd, 34, was arrested on June 26 and charged with petit larceny. It's alleged that he stole a bicycle from a residence on Highland Park at 1:08 a.m. Tuesday, June 22. Dodd was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Batavia City Court July 6.

Brandon Dodd, 34, was arrested June 26 by Batavia Police Officer Peter Post for petit larceny. It is alleged that Dodd stole alcoholic beverages from a local business at 8:23 p.m. June 23 on Lewiston Road. He was issued an appearance ticket for Batavia City Court and is due there July 6.

Brandon Dodd, 34, was arrested at 10:24 p.m. on June 29 following an investigation into an incident that alleges he violated a stay away order of protection. He is accused of being in the home of the protected parties while they were inside the residence. Dodd was arraigned in Batavia City Court and bail was set at $10,000 cash, or $20,000 bond, or $40,000 partially secured bond.

Sabrena Randall, 45, was arrested on a City of Batavia Court bench warrant on June 25. It stems from an unspecified incident on Sept. 22 on West Main Street. Randall was arraigned in Batavia City Court and held on $1,000 cash, $2,000 bond, $5,000 partially secured. She is scheduled to return to court on July 26. She was also arrested June 25 on a second warrant, given the same bail options and return date for a second unspecified incident.

Phillip Heale, 42, was arrested at 5:11 p.m. June 23 on Linwood Avenue in Batavia. He is charged with second-degree criminal trespass. It is alleged that he illegally entered a vacant residence on Linwood Avenue. Heale was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Batavia City Court July 26.

Thomas Tacito, 61, was arrested for second-degree criminal comtempt after a verbal dispute. The victim has a full stay away order of protection against him and the victim alleges Tacito engaged in a verbal argument with him at 4 p.m. June 27 on North Spruce Street in the city.

Donovan Johnson is charged with: third-degree criminal mischief; criminal mischief in the fourth degree; endangering the welfare of a child; third-degree mischief; and second-degree harassment. On June 24, Batavia police arrested Johnson after responding at 11:41 p.m. to a Hutchins Street address for the report of an incident in which Johnson allegedly caused damage to the walls and some property belonging to the victim while in the presence of four individuals under the age of 18. Johnson was held at the Genesee County Jail until his arraignment in Batavia City Court at 11:01 a.m. Johnson was released on his own recognizance with a return date of Aug. 19.

Christopher Wiegman, 32, is charged with: four counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree; and one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree -- all stemming from a traffic stop at 10:30 a.m. April 4 on East Avenue in Batavia. He subsequently had two arrest warrants and turned himself in on those on an unspecified date. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and jailed without bail pending his next court appearance Aug. 5.

Stephanie Peterson, 43, was arrested at 9:58 p.m. Nov. 22 on Clinton Street and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation in the third degree. She was also given an appearance ticket for the charge and is due in Batavia City Court on July 21.

Reanne Reed, 26, is charged with: driving while intoxicated; DWI with a BAC of .08 percent or more; speeding; open container of alcohol in vehicle. Reed was arrested after a traffic stop for speeding on Bogue Avenue at 8:57 p.m. on June 28. She was released with tickets and is due in Batavia City Court July 13.

Wendy Henry, 36, was arrested June 29 on a bench warrant for alleged failure to appear in Batavia City Court court regarding an incident that occurred at 5:37 a.m. Jan. 26. Henry was released with an appearance ticket to be in court on July 14th.

Michael Jackson Jr., 40, was arrested July 1 on a warrant out of Batavia City Court. He had previously been issued an appearance ticket for petit larceny and a warrant was issued for failing to appear in court as required. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court, held on $100 bail and is due in city court July 29.

Press release from AAA: 

Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $3.13, up 3 cents in the past week. One year ago, the price was $2.18. The New York State average is $3.18 – up 3 cents from last week. A year ago, the NYS average was $2.25. AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:

• Batavia -- $3.14 (up 4 cents since last Monday)
• Buffalo -- $3.12 (up 5 cents since last Monday)
• Ithaca -- $3.18 (up 7 cents since last Monday)
• Rochester -- $3.16 (up 6 cents since last Monday)
• Rome -- $3.24 (up 2 cents since last Monday)
• Syracuse -- $3.16 (up 2 cents since last Monday)
• Watertown -- $3.21 (up 3 cents since last Monday)

Crude oil prices have significantly increased in the last seven months. Following the Independence Day holiday weekend, AAA expects crude oil prices, and in turn gas prices, to increase and stay expensive through the end of summer.

The market has supported increasing crude oil prices in reaction to these variables:

• Confidence in worldwide vaccination rollout;
• Global oil demand spikes;
• Easing of travel restrictions and optimism for leisure travel.

Crude oil accounts for more than half of the price at the pump. As it increases, so does the price consumers pay.

Press release from GasBuddy:

"Gasoline demand over the holiday weekend certainly did not disappoint as millions of Americans flooded the roads for the long weekend, guzzling down gasoline at a clip not seen in years, and in the process, we could have set new all-time records for consumption," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy.

"As OPEC+ met over the weekend and saw a heated disagreement about raising oil production, WTI crude oil surged in Monday evening electronic trading to nearly $77 per barrel on higher demand and a lack of additional supply from OPEC amidst a mountain of disagreement on how to respond to the market.

"For now, with imbalances in supply and demand continuing, motorists will continue digging deeper to pay for gasoline as prices are likely headed no where but up until global supply starts to catch up with the continued surge in demand."

From the National Weather Service office in Buffalo:

1151 a.m. EDT Monday July 5: Niagara-Orleans-Monroe-Wayne-Northern Cayuga-Oswego-Jefferson-Lewis-Northern Erie-Genesee-Wyoming-Livingston-Ontario-Chautauqua- Cattaraugus-Allegany-Southern Erie.

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western and north central New York this afternoon and tonight. The combination of heat and increasing humidity levels today may lead to heat index values near advisory levels of 95F inland across the Genesee Valley and Finger Lakes region.

Tonight, a cold front will approach and then move into the Lower Lakes with increasing chances for storms. The best chance to see a storm will be just south and east of Lake Ontario.

A Marginal Risk for severe thunderstorms has been issued with the main threat damaging wind gusts.

Tuesday through Sunday -- a stronger system approaches the Lower Lakes Wednesday with another round of storms. A Marginal Risk for severe thunderstorms has been issued for Wednesday afternoon and evening with the main threat damaging wind gusts.

An accident with injuries that is blocking traffic is reported on Route 20 and Main Road in Alexander.

Alexander fire and ambulance responding.

UPDATE 9:24 p.m.: Only one minor injury. Mercy EMS can cancel.

Press release:

The Little Free Pantry in Batavia is looking to spread our reach further into our community to assist more in need, and we need your help to do so. 

By the end of summer we are hoping to erect six mini pantries in Batavia to help more of our neighbors in need. Fresh veggies are in season, and we are looking for people to help reduce food waste and promote food security by sharing with our neighbors. Visit lfpbatavia.org for full details, and to sign up.

There are five different ways you can help us reach this goal:

1. Host a Mini Pantry -- hosts will make sure the area is clean and maintained along with the help of volunteers. In order to be a host you will need to own your home, or have your landlord's permission to operate one in your front yard.
2. Host a Little Free Farm Stand this summer -- to help distribute farm fresh produce in your neighborhood, similar to Mini Pantries but without the commitment over the winter.
3. Volunteers needed to help restock the Mini Panties and Little Farm Stands -- this can include picking up from our drop off locations, or the Farm and delivering to one or more mini LFP’s.
4. Materials needed -- plexiglass, screws, paint, wood glue, door hinges, and plywood to make the mini LFP’s -- these can be donated directly, or we would be happy to accept cash or gift card donations to be used at Home Depot sent to 124 State St., Batavia NY 14020
5. Assemblers needed -- We need assistance in assembling them, once we have the materials. For those looking to build their own LFP, to donate, or to host themselves, the construction plans can be found here.

Give What You Can, Take What You Need

Little Free Pantries are a national grassroots, crowdsourced solution to immediate and local need. Batavia’s Little Free Pantry was created last summer to address food insecurity in our neighborhoods, and its refrigerator and pantry are located at 180 Washington Ave.

The Pantry is a place and a way for people to share what they have, and to take what they need, with dignity, without income guidelines, and without judgement. Everyone is encouraged to give and take. Whether a need for food or a need to give, mini pantries help feed neighbors, nourishing neighborhoods.

With your help we can make sure more of our neighbors have access to fresh organic produce over the summer at the Little Free Farm Stands. The Mini-Pantries help in neighborhoods so people without transportation have to walk less during the winter in order to reach the main LFP.

To donate, host, or volunteer, visit:   lfpbatavia.org

A fire inside a box truck carrying fireworks was "roaring pretty good" on South Lake Road in Pembroke when firefighters arrived on scene, said Indian Falls Assistant Chief Ed Mileham.

The call initially came in as a firework striking a vehicle and starting a fire but as it turned out the fire started inside a truck that was returning to Genesee County from a fireworks show last night in Akron.

The driver is unsure how the fire started, Mileham said.

The truck was loaded with launch canisters stacked in the front of the truck and unused fireworks in the back of the truck.

Exploding fireworks lit up the neighborhood and blew out the passenger side panel of the truck, the back roll-up door, and the roof. The cab was undamaged, probably because of the stacked canisters in the box stacked between the fireworks and the cab, Mileham said.

The driver was rolling on Route 5 through Pembroke when he spotted some sparks in his rearview mirror. He stopped to inspect, heard some bangs, and thought "I need to get out of here," Mileham said. He started yelling for residents to call 9-1-1.

Pembroke fire was first on scene with a truck that had a deck gun, which allowed firefighters to spray water on the fire from a distance.  

"The flames just roaring out of the back of the truck, almost hitting the power lines in the area," Mileham said.

National Grid was called to the scene and the power lines and a transformer about 20 feet away appeared to be undamaged.

"It was not a normal truck fire or car fire where you go up, put some water on it, put it out, and that's hit," Mileham said.

There was smoking debris up and down the roadway for dozens of feet, Mileham said, as well as in residential yards. No secondary fire was started by the fireworks, however.

Pembroke and Indian Falls were assisted at the scene by Corfu, the Genesee County Sheriff's Office, and Dadswell, which towed the truck and cleaned up the debris.

Video taken with a home security camera submitted by a reader.

UPDATE: Here's another video from James Garrett.

A vehicle fire is reported in the area of 8783 S. Lake Road, Pembroke.

A firework reportedly hit the vehicle.

Pembroke fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 11:56 p.m.: Corfu Fire Police requested to shut off traffic at Cohocton on South Lake. A responding unit is standing back because "it's still exploding." National Grid requested to the scene.

UPDATE 11:57 p.m.: A neighbor told a chief that the vehicle was full of fireworks. "Until about 60 seconds ago it was still exploding," the chief informs dispatchers. (If any Pembroke residents took photos or video, please email to howard@thebatavian.com)

UPDATE 12:38 a.m.: A box truck is apparently involved. It will require "massive cleanup."

UPDATE 1:30 a.m.: Pembroke, Indian Falls, Corfu, back in service.

Semiprivate owner’s suite, beautifully remodeled kitchen, Anderson Windows, oak floors, workshop, outbuilding, 2 garden sheds, concrete driveway, 2 working fireplaces, attached garage, partially finished basement, mudroom, deck, patio, and central air.

This house has it all! $224,900. Negotiations begin @ 10 a.m. on July 6th. Click here to view my listings.