Alecia Kaus's blog

This is one of a series of articles we will run over the next three days highlighting the winners of the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce awards for 2012. The awards gala is Saturday evening at the Clarion Hotel.

St. Joseph School has been around since 1873 and currently has an enrollment of 300 students from pre-K through eighth grade. The Catholic elementary school employes 14 full-time teachers, four part-time teachers, six full-time aides, six support staff and two school nurses.

Karen Green has been a part of St. Joe's school for 17 years. She started out teaching first and second grade and has been the school's principal for the last seven years. She has witnessed much change in those 17 years. However, the school's mission of teaching faith, academics and service has always remained the same.

Green says, "We are an option for families that are looking for something different. If they want that Catholic and Christian-centered education we are here to give that to them."

She says she is very proud of St. Joseph students. Their work habits, their character and how they treat each other make the teachers' jobs very easy.

Academics and service are what make St. Joseph students stand out.

"I often hear from high-school teachers and administrators that they love getting St. Joe's kids, they have good work habits and they participate in class. Knowing that they leave here doing that is a great feeling," Green says.

Chad Zambito, who has been working at St. Joseph's for the past year running their marketing campaign, nominated the school for the special recognition award. After walking through the halls of the school and seeing the kids and their families, Zambito realized that it was different at St. Joe's. It was a special place.

"They have a strong tradition of supporting the community while struggling to make ends meet," Zambito says. "The school continues to find ways to expand programs like advanced math and sciences along with athletics and music while other institutions have been cutting their programs."

St. Joe's gets very little funding from the state.Tuition and enrollment are very important. "It's what we are used to, we have always done more with less," Green says. 

The parents also play an important role. They help with raising funds by volunteering to work at Friday night bingo, the Mammoth sale, fruit sale, Walk-a-thon, Popcorn Ball, and the Penny Carnival. According to Green, "Those big events give us enough money so that we can give our kids and teachers extras like iPads and SMART Boards to work with. We've tried to make the technology really important here and I think that's how we stay afloat."     

In Genesee County, St. Joseph School is the last remaining Catholic elementary school. St. Mary's closed in 2004 and St. Anthony's in 2006. 

Last year, with the closing of Holy Family School in Le Roy, St. Joseph School had to deal with an influx of about 100 students. "We had a couple of tough months over the summer last year trying to prepare," Green says. "We had mixed feelings and it was bittersweet, we felt bad their school had to close and we know what it would have been like and it very well could have been us put in that position." 

St. Joe's hired six aides and two teachers to accommodate the larger class size. Next year they will be looking for a part-time teacher for their Earth Science class at the middle-school level. 

Looking forward to the 2013-14 school year, the first, third and fourth grades are full and have a waiting list. Kindergarten is filling up fast with only five spaces open. At the middle-school level, sixth, seventh and eighth grades are all open.

Parents who have enrolled their children in 3- and 4-year-old preschool can take advantage of the school's Wrap Around Program which was started two years ago. Green says this program has taken off. It's for parents who need an affordable safe place to take their kids after the half day pre-school session.  

Green says her group of teachers, aides and support staff are amazing. They go above and beyond every day. Some run the After School Program, some are involved in extracurricular activities like Drama Club and Art Class and all are available after school each day to provide support for students and parents.

"It takes a special person to work here, to put that much time and dedication in and they do it on a daily basis. The salary is not like in the public school systems," Green said.

Each school year there will always be challenges. Green thinks that is not always a bad thing. 

"St. Joseph School will always be looking to improve in every aspect," she says. "We just don't want to sit back and say things are working well the way they are. You have to always be looking forward to the future. We are always trying to think ahead to make our school stronger and I think that's why we continue to do what we do here." 

For more information on St. Joseph School at 2 Summit St. in Batavia call 585-343-6154 or check out their Web site at www.sjsbatavia.org/

Photos by Howard Owens.

Karen Green

This is the first of a series of articles we will run over the next three days highlighting the winners of the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce awards for 2012. The awards gala is Saturday evening at the Clarion Hotel.

When Barb Toal went on a sightseeing trip to Rome, Italy, with her sister six years ago, she sat in a beautiful garden across from the Colosseum to rest for a few minutes. At the time she had no idea what the garden was, only that it was a wonderful peaceful spot to sit and take a break.

Fast forward two years later to 2009.

Barb is sitting in the living room of Paula Savage, president of the International Peace Garden Association, who is trying to convince Barb to help set up an International Peace Garden commemorating the War of 1812 in the City of Batavia.

As the two women sat discussing the project, Paula had a laptop on the coffee table running pictures of International Peace Gardens from around the world. Barb froze when she saw a photo of the beautiful garden she remembered sitting in a few years earlier on her trip to Rome.

After scrolling through a few more of Paula's photoss, Barb recognized another garden she visited the following year after her trip to Italy -- in Dublin, Ireland.

"It's pretty ironic. I've been to two of them now. This is a no-brainer. I gotta get involved," Toal said.

Being president of the Holland Land Office Museum at the time, she thought this would be good use for the vacant land to the east of the museum and a good way to bring more people in to visit the Holland Land Office."This is a great fit, a perfect fit," Toal thought. The idea was now planted.

She then solicited the help of longtime friend Carol Grasso. The two have been friends since ninth grade and both graduated from Pembroke High School together.

"I just knew I had to be a part of it," Grasso says.

"This community, we knew since we were little, would come together to make this happen," Toal added.

Armed with seven solid volunteers, the group now referred to as "Friends of the Batavia Peace Garden" went to work. After four years of meetings, fundraising, and solicitations, they were ready to make the garden a reality.  

Running into many obstacles along the way, the project had to be accomplished one day at time. The electric wiring and digging through the base of Walnut Street and the old bridge was a stopper.

"After the electric meeting we were whipped. We thought, 'we can't do this and it's not gonna happen,' Toal said. It was like climbing a mountain, I slipped went down 10 notches then had to go up another 10 again." She said she learned a lot about patience over those four years.

Toal said they knew what they had to do, but had no money. It was amazing how the community came out to help. There were 15 landscaping trucks in the prime season that showed up and volunteered to revamp the once-barren land.

Martin Dilcher, of Dilcher's Excavating, who nominated the group for the award, was driving by the work in progress one day and spotted Barb using a jackhammer. She was making her way through layers of old buildings and solid rock to create a 5-foot hole in the ground for the electric and base for the globe. Dilcher yelled out to her, "What are you trying to do kill yourself ?" Dilcher showed up at 9 a.m. the next morning with a backhoe to help out.

When Toal needed someone to make the giant metal globe she turned to her neighbor Rob Barone who is a welder. He didn't know what she really wanted.

Toal made a trip to BJ's Wholesale and purchased a glass globe in a box and showed it to Barone. She also handed over a few pictures of one located in the Town of Lima. Barone then solicited the help of Patrick Waite, and together they created the globe that is currently on display at the Garden.

According to Grasso, "There were a lot of ups and downs. We didn't think we were going to make it, especially moneywise, but we did it."

She says people can't wait to help out and fund-raise now.

The Friends of the Batavia Peace Garden will be holding their third annual fundraiser dinner to be held at Terry Hills April 27th. They are planning a fashion show and are honoring Joe Gerace and Carolyn Pratt this year.

May 11th they will be having a birthday party and celebrate by raising the 23 flags for the year. It will be a community day from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Everyone is welcome to come out and join in the festivities.  

The Batavia Peace Garden commemorating the War of 1812 is stop number 13 of 25 on a 600-mile trail that runs through Canada and the United States. Batavia became the rallying point in the War of 1812. British forces burned 200 homes in Youngstown, many families then relocated to the Batavia area to take shelter.

Three more gardens were added to the trail last year. All are located in the Thousand Islands region of New York State. Brussels, Belgium, will be the location of the next garden. It will be created in 2014.

Toal says the group has plans on expanding the Batavia Garden in 2014. They want to extend the grounds to include the area behind the Genesee County Courts facility near the falls of the Tonawanda Creek. They will add more flags and possibly a gazebo.

Toal, who is now retired, says she is more busy now being president of the Friends of the Batavia Peace Garden. She says, "It hasn't been a hard road, just a long road to get to this point."

"To think what we've done in a couple of years, it's humbling to think we got this award," Grasso says. "It's was worth every drop of sweat that we had. All the hard work, the back-breaking digging. It's amazing."  

Anyone interested in buying a brick or path stone can contact Barb Toal at 585-344-2548 or e-mail her at btoal@ rochester.rr.com.

The group also has a new Web site, bataviapeacegarden.org.

Photo by Howard Owens. From left, Barb Toal, Mary Ellen Wilber, Carol Grasso, and Berneda Scoins.

Jeffrey Russell Hamill, 34, of Attica, was charged with DWI, aggravated DWI, and speeding after a traffic stop on Route 77 in Pembroke about 1:43 this morning.

A few hours later, Hamill crashed his vehicle on Route 238 in the Town of Darien and had to be transported by Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester with a possible head injury.

According to Corfu Assistant Fire Chief Brian Schollard, Hamill called his girlfriend to give him a ride after being charged with DWI in Pembroke. After being processed on the charges by the the Genesee County Sheriff's Department, his girlfriend drove him to his vehicle. He proceeded to drive toward Attica and she followed him in her vehicle. 

About 4:40 a.m. Hamill's vehicle went off the road on Route 238 near Griswold Road in Darien. It went down a ravine, striking a tree before coming to rest. Side and front air bags were deployed.

Hamill was not seriously injured, but had an altered level of consciousness and a possible head injury.

Genesee County Sheriff's Office is investigating and charges are pending.

Sgt. Bill Snyder is happy to be back teaching eighth-grade social studies at Oakfield Alabama Middle School.

Today is his first day back in the classroom after a two-and-a half year deployment overseas in Kuwait.

"A lot of older kids are shocked to see me in hallways," Snyder says. "The younger kids are wondering who I am."

Snyder, who is with the National Guard, came home to Oakfield on Christmas Eve.

"It was a great present for my wife and kids."

He says he is looking forward to bringing his experiences from Afghanistan and Kuwait into the classroom.

"As a teacher any new experiences you have with different cultures and people can be brought back home and relayed to the kids. It brings a little realism to my classroom." 

Sgt. Snyder has been with the Oakfield Alabama Central Schools since 2000. He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2008 and returned one year later to teach part of the 2009-2010 school year.

In 2010, he was sent to Kuwait on second deployment.

"Kuwait was less hostile than (during) my first deployment to Afghanistan in 2008. They are more supportive of U.S. troops now."

This morning, in an assembly organized by Joe Jankowski, a counselor with the district, Sgt. Snyder was presented with a shadow box containing a flag and certificate along with a photo of Snyder and his fellow soldiers while they were stationed in Kabul, Afghanistan.

The items were a gift to the Oakfield Alabama School District in 2009. Snyder had sent the flag that was flown over his base, the certificate, and photo after the district sent so many school supplies, clothing, and food packages overseas to the Afghan people near Snyder's base.

"I sent the flag and the certificate to honor the school district and the kids for supporting the military. A community in the United States helping another community around the world."

"He dedicated and sacrificed his own life to secure our freedom for our country and this assembly was just a way to show a little respect for him and his service," Jankowski says. "He has a presence about him, the kids see him as a positive role model which is what we need today. We are glad to have him back."

James L. Little Jr., 41, formerly of Batavia, had three and-a-half more years added onto his 15-year prison term today after Judge Robert Noonan sentenced him in Genesee County Court.

Little entered a guilty plea to molesting a second child under the age of 11 in November. He will now serve 18 1/2 years in state prison.

Appearing with his attorney, William Harper, in Genesee County Court for sentencing this morning, Little told the court he was "sorry for the family."  

Little appeared unkept and had a scruffy beard. He was escorted by state correction officers.

Noonan told Little he needs to go away for a long time.

Little is currently serving a 15-year prison term for sexually abusing a toddler last March.

After he was sentenced on that charge, Batavia Police were made aware of a second sexual-abuse victim who is under the age of 11.

Just last week, a 56-year old Pembroke woman, Beverly Hensel was sentenced to 10 years probation and intermittent jail time for possession of sexual performance of a child. Hensel reportedly supplied Little with six DVD's full of child pornography.

Little and Hensel met in a Corfu bar in 2008.

District Attorney Larry Friedman said, "The main concern here is recidivism --  the concern that when he gets out other children will be at risk. That's why the judge felt the need to incarcerate as long as possible."

Batavia Police responded to Washington Avenue and Summit Street about 3 p.m. this afternoon for a 7-year-old found wandering down Washington Avenue without shoes or a jacket.

A Batavia Police officer covered the child with his jacket and held the frightened boy before putting him in the police car to warm up.

The boy's young adult sister, who was watching the child, showed up on scene 15 minutes after police got there. She brought him a jacket and a pair of shoes.

The boy's sister told police their mother was not home, she was working. She says her little brother had just come home from school when he went missing. The young adult sister said she was responsible for the child.

The boy was found just down the street from his residence on Washington Avenue. He was only wearing a short-sleeve shirt and jeans, with no shoes, and walking down an icy, slush-covered sidewalk.

Batavia Police are investigating and charges may be filed.

Peggy Grayson is recycling.

For 16 years she has been administrator of GLOW Solid Waste Management and was recognized by the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling last month in Cooperstown as Recycler of the Year. 

"They started to describe the Recycler of the Year, and it sounds like they are describing me," she says. "I talk a lot and I was speechless. I was honored. It's a pretty big award."

Grayson who is a Le Roy native and resident of Stafford says she has been to every annual conference.

"You pick up things and make contacts and find out new things you don't know." 

The State Association describes Grayson as "inspirational and always willing to go the extra mile on a shoestring budget."

Grayson is the only employee covering Genesee, Wyoming and Livingston counties. Orleans County dropped out nine years ago. 

Working out of County Building #2 on West Main Street, Grayson says GLOW is one of the largest surviving multiple county groups in New York State.

"It's a validation of the counties sticking together and working together. We have very low overhead."

The total county contibution is $72,000.

Her most successful venture has been the Household Hazardous Waste Collection each year. Using the County Highway Department, they have gone from 150 spots in 1996 to 600 spots last year.

"We get rid of a lot of stuff," Grayson says.    

She will continue to spread the recycling word to youngsters throughout the GLOW Region. She says she has fun going into the schools and presenting information about recycling and reuse. She says kids are always asking her what's new. She hopes they relay her message to their parents, too.

To contact Peggy Grayson for recycling, reduction and reuse questions you can e-mail her at glow@co.genesee.ny.us or call 585-344-2580, ext. 5463.

A working house fire has been reported on Bloomingdale Road near Ackerson Road.

Flames showing in second story. Second alarm.

All people accounted for in the house.

Alabama Fire Department responding.

On my way to the scene.

UPDATE 9:15 a.m.: Bill Schutt, assistant fire chief for the Town of Alabama Fire Department, says when crews arrived on scene the homeowner was on the roof in his bare feet trying to push the chimney away from the house.  

The homeowner was later transported to an area hospital with burns to his legs. According to the homeowner's statements, the fire started in the chimney.

The fire then quickly spread to the second story and got out of control with help from the high winds. Fire crews also ran out of water at the scene several times. Tankers hauled in water from ponds that were quite a distance from the fire.

About 12 companies helped fight the fire. Several were called in from Erie and Orleans counties due to the amount of local departments already out on calls for trees and wires down.

The home is a total loss.Firefighters will be on scene for some time to get it under control.

UPDATE 10:41 a.m.: Red Cross has been called in to help the two adults that live in the home.

Mercy medic called non-emergency to the scene for a firefighter with a minor injury.

UPDATE 3:07 p.m. (by Howard): Photo below submitted by a reader.

Genesee County Sheriff's deputies are responding to an address in Bergen on Le Roy Street after a neighbor called in a possible burglary in progress.

There are three subjects about 14 or 15 years years old with a long gun in the backyard. The house may be abandoned. One subject was spotted inside, one in the garage.

Deputy on location. Out with four teens at the scene.

UPDATE 1:52 p.m.: Deputy on location says the teens are using airsoft rifles.

UPDATE 1:56 p.m.: Law enforcement clear of the scene.

City police and a Sheriff's deputy are responding to Liberty and Ellicott streets after a passing motorist dumped their McDonald's garbage on a front lawn at a residence on Ellicott Street Road.

The homeowner chased the motorist from his home on Ellicott Street Road to the city.

The parking lot at Alexander High School was packed with cars and people from all over the Genesee County community. Folks came out to give their support to an 18 year old 2012 Pembroke High School graduate who has been battling a rare juvenile cancer since last February.

The fundraiser for Austin Heineman during last night's Alexander Boys Basketball match-up with Lyndonville was organized by the Alexander Varsity Cheerleading squad.

"I wanted the girls to see what it's like to give back to the community," Varsity Cheerleading Coach Erin Coles said. "This is their chance to shine for a second, I just didn't expect this many people here." 

Admission was free. Donation buckets, 50/50 raffle, a half-court basketball shoot, a bake sale, and the sale of Austin's Army T-shirts and wristbands collected a total of $1,500 for the night. All proceeds will go toward Austin's medical expenses. 

Austin was scheduled to be at the fundraising event, but had to go to Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo for stem cell replacement yesterday morning. 

Doctors want to boost his platelet count to prepare him for a bone marrow transplant next week at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Md. 

According to Tricia Heineman, Austin's aunt, they have found two good candidates for the bone marrow transplant.

"He has the best attitude -- if there was one to make it through this, it would be him," Tricia Heineman said.

The Alexander Boys Basketball Team defeated Lyndonville 59-39 to make the night complete.

To keep updated about Austin's condition go to www.facebook.com/austinsarmy

There has been a report of a grass or rubbish fire at the rear of the transfer station on Circular Hill Road in the Town of Le Roy.

Le Roy fire is responding.

UPDATE 12:57 p.m.: LeRoy Fire is on location and keeping the assignment to what is on scene putting all others back in service.

UPDATE 1 p.m.: Le Roy has extinguished the fire and is back in service.

A car, pole accident with possible minor injury has been reported on Stegman Road between Slusser and Powers roads.

Mercy Medic 1 and East Pembroke fire responding.

One subject is out of the vehicle walking around, talking on the phone. Mercy medic will be responding non-emergency.

Damage to the pole is minimal and the driver is shaken up a bit.

UPDATE 9:33 p.m.: Mercy Medic 1 on scene.

UPDATE 9:40 p.m.: National Grid has been notified about the pole.

UPDATE 9:43 p.m.: Mercy Medic 1 transporting one to UMMC.

UPDATE 9:52 p.m.: National Grid has a 35-minute ETA.

UPDATE 9:56 p.m.: East Pembroke assignment back in service.

The Genesee County Sheriff's Office is investigating a number of daytime, residential burglaries that occurred on Wednesday, Jan. 16.

The burglaries happened along Ridge Road and Lockport Road in Elba, Ham Road in Alabama, and Batavia-Oakfield Townline Road in Batavia. All residences were broken into by forcing open locked rear or side doors. Property stolen consisted of jewelry and electronic devices.

The Sheriff's Office would like residents in Genesee County to be extra vigilant and immediately report anything suspicious such as someone knocking on your door asking for directions, any vehicle being operated in an unusual manner, or if you witness any vehicles or individuals that appear suspicious.

Also, keep an eye on your neighbors' residence and report anything that appears to be suspicious or out of place.  

Contact the Genesee County Sheriff's Office at 585-343-5000 to report any such incidents.

The Batavia Police Department has concluded an investigation regarding the death of William E. Hastings, who fell from a window of 400 Towers June 12, 2012.

The Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office has determined that the fall was accidental and toxicology points to a very high level of medication in his system causing him to be intoxicated at the time of his death.

Batavia Police say Hastings was alone in his apartment at the time of the incident. He spent a large amount of time at the window of his apartment observing the parking lot area to the east of the housing complex.

The investigation also revealed Hastings had a habit of abusing cough medication. The investigation, including an examination of the scene, has indicated his death was likely the result of an accidental fall.

A one-car accident on Fisher Road between Lockport and Albion roads in Oakfield has been reported. It is just south of the S curve.

A car crashed into a tree. One female has a head injury

Oakfield Fire Department and Mercy Medic 2 are responding.

Also a minor property damage accident at Lockport and Fisher roads. 

UPDATE 7:35 a.m.: Oakfield fire advises Mercy medic to back down to non-emergency mode, also to take it easy -- the road is slippery.

UPDATE 7:42 a.m.: Mercy Medic 2 is on location.

UPDATE 7:52 a.m.: Medic 2 transporting one to UMMC.

UPDATE 8:02 a.m.: Oakfield assignment back in service.

A passerby has called dispatch reporting smoke coming from the front of a residence on Route 77 near McGregor Road.

Darien Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 3:13 p.m.: Darien fire unable to find any fire in that area. Some of the houses do not have numbers on them, according to one firefighter. Units coming non-emergency and mutual aid from Alden can cancel.

UPDATE 3:16 p.m.: Darien assignment is back in service.

From the time Hannah Smart was 4 years old she was writing stories and making books with the help of her mother.

"She would sit down, draw pictures, and tell me what they were in sequence. I would then write the words," Renee Smart said. "We would then read them for bedtime stories."

A 10th-grader at Pavilion High School, Hannah began her science fiction novel "Corona" two years ago. Her goal has always been to publish the story from the beginning.

"I knew what the ending was going to be before writing the book," Hannah said. "It was easier this way. I know how the characters will then effect the plot line."

Her goal since she was eight was to write a book. She loves anything science fiction. The "X-Files" and "Star Trek Next Generation" television series are just two of her favorites.

After staying home sick from school one day, Hannah decided to watch "2001: A Space Odyssey" from beginning to end. She said this 1968 epic science fiction film motivated her to write "Corona."

"I thought of a bunch of ideas for characters after seeing the movie," she said.

Hannah's father, Ed Smart, who is an architect, said his daughter started out with imaginary friends as a child. She would construct stories around them.

"She has always been very self-motivated and driven," Ed said. "She approached this with advanced discipline for her age."

"We noticed a turning point in her a year ago," Renee said. "She was able to be more self-critical and acccept criticism. She was willing to change and edit things."  

After her manuscript was complete, Hannah shopped it around to a few publishing agents but was told you have to be published before they will even look at it. 

Hannah did not get discouraged.

She looked into self-publishing her book with Createspace.

Createspace gives budding authors the tools and resources they need to self-publish and distribute their book to readers.

"Corona" is a 204-page paperback that Hannah self-published Dec. 8, 2012, and it is available on Amazon.com and Createspace. You can also go to  www.hannahsmartauthor.blogspot.com.

"My main goal is to get this published," she said.

"I want to keep writing -- it's something I love -- but I would like to be a film director. It combines both writing and pictures. You can bring it to life visually. "

A lot of creativity runs through the Smart family.

Coming up behind Hannah is her 13-year-old sister, Gabby, who is in eighth grade. She loves singing.

And Hannah's mother, Renee, is an artist and owner of Moon Java Cafe on Harvester Avenue. She says it's important to take cues from your kids: Let them take control when they need to and try not to be too pushy.

A rollover accident on Route 63 near Telephone Road in Pavilion has been reported. Believed to be with minor injury.

Pavilion Fire Department is on scene and a Mercy medic is responding.

UPDATE 8:21 a.m.: Mercy medic transporting one to Strong Memorial Hospital.

A tractor-trailor has taken down some power lines and sheared the utility pole near 532 Peoria Road, close to Boyd Road. This is by M&T Trucking.

The truck is tangled in the wires. Boyd Road is blocked.

Pavilion fire responding.

UPDATE 7:25 a.m.: Pavilion chief on scene. National Grid has been notified. No ETA given. Pole across the street is also involved.

UPDATE 7:30 a.m.: School being advised of the situation. Will have to change the bus route. Phone lines are also down.

UPDATE 8:07 a.m.: Pavilion fire clearing the scene. National Grid working on the lines. Boyd Road still blocked.