A non-injury accident has been reported at Ellicott and Hutchins streets, Batavia.
At the same time, City fire is responding to a fire alarm at Armor Building Supply on Ellicott near Cedar.
UPDATE 8:08 a.m.: No Fire. All fire units back in service.
Driving back from the YWCA on Sunday afternoon, I noticed the great sky over Batavia and remembered that I've been wanting to take another shot at getting a picture of the William Morgan monument on a cloudy day. While I was stopped on Harvester snapping away at Morgan, I noticed the clouds reflecting off the windows of the Harvest Center and thought that that would make for a good shot, too. (If you want to see a bigger version, I'll post it to VuFindr.com some time in the next week, probably.)
Below is the shot I came up with of old Morgan, but a bit different than the one I imagined getting.
As part of its year-long 100th Anniversary celebration, the Batavia YWCA opened the time capsule in the cornerstone of its North Street building Sunday afternoon.
The cornerstone was laid in 1967 and the time capsule probably hasn't been opened since (it took a mason four hours to dislodge it).
Executive Director Barbara Hale said that the local YWCA thought it would be fun to peak inside the time capsule, which contained old newspapers, photos, the Batavia club's original application to join the YWCA and a scroll of donors who contributed to the building fund.
"What was of interest to me was the number of three-generation families that have been involved with YWCA, mine being among them," Hale said. "My dad’s name was on that roll."
All of the items found in the time capsule will be returned to a new box along with some items from the current time and bricked back into the corner of the building, Hale said.
Above, Hale, left, with City Council President Marianne Clattenburg, and Shirley Lasuer with Nora Sands, look over some other items of historical interest to the local YWCA, including a picture of the organization's founder and the original charter certificate.
A Batavia High student has $3,000 more toward her college education after driving a harness racehorse to victory Saturday night at Batavia Downs.
Kaley Falkowski, paired with professional driver Jim Mulcahy, bested four other high school students racing in Batavia Downs first-ever scholarship challenge. A total of $7,500 was awarded to the students.
Taking second was Eric Harrower (Batavia High School) with Ron Beback Jr., earning $2,000. Tyler Pingrey (Notre Dame High School) with Jim Graham earned a $1,200. Mike Norway (Oakfield-Alabama High School) with Michael Baumeister finished fourth and earned an $800 scholarship, while Emily Sallome (Batavia High School) and Mike Pokornowski finished fifth and will receive a $500 scholarship.
More pictures related to the scholarship race and other scenes on Saturday at Batavia Downs after the jump:
A man at 127 Pearl St., Batavia, was taken to UMMC by Mercy EMS this morning after he was reportedly burned while lighting a pilot light for a water heater.
When he tried to light the pilot, there was apparently a quick, small explosion, but no fire followed.
City fire responded at shortly after 9 a.m.
Because it was an accident and no fire, there is no publicly available report with the victim's name or age or medical condition.
City of Batavia Police are responding to a number of calls about a male casually sitting on a porch with a rifle in hand.
The address is 133 South Swan St., north of Sumner Street.
At least 10 callers have voiced concerns about the situation.
Downtown business owners were on Main Street this morning decorating the sidewalks for fall, putting out hay bales and pumpkins, cornstalks and mums.
Above, Carrie Lawrence from Valle Jewelers delivers mums for planting in front of The Daily Grind.
The merchants will host a wine walk Oct. 2. For more information, click here.
Ken Mistler has hung his giant American flag from the Carr's building for 9/11, which is officially designated as Patriot Day.
Pictured above is a recent mission trip in which Catholics, Anglicans, Methodists and Non-Denominationalists helped out the residents of a small Peruvian village suffering from severe poverty.
This missionary group included Fr. Gus Calvo -- second from left in front -- the pastor of Batavia's Anglican Community Church (see January article on his first service).
Having recently returned from this trip, Calvo was happy to share the experience with The Batavian and extend information about the program to anyone in the area who might be interested in next year's trip.
Calvo has been going on these missionary trips -- most of which last about 12 to 14 days -- on an annual basis for the past seven years. It all started when he was working in Honduras under the supervision of another missionary leader.
"My friend and ministry colleague Jeff Miller and I met in Honduras," Calvo said. "Our leader later left that area, so we got together and decided to put together a team each year for mission trips."
They then contacted SAMS -- the Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders -- an organization that sponsors various projects in needful areas. All of the missions Calvo has been involved in these last seven years have been acquired through them.
Since getting started, Calvo and Miller have worked with participants from about 55 different churches, with an average of 15 to 18 people from each church. This past trip was a deeply ecumenical project that included people from the Roman Catholic Dioceses of Albany and Philadelphia, the Episcopalian Diocese of Albany and CANA (Anglican), as well as members of a Methodist Church and a Non-Denominational Church.
Destinations are usually South American countries, although last year's trip was to Texas for Hurricane Ike relief work. Calvo said that he and Miller are looking at a couple of South American locations as possibilities for next year.
The trip to Peru took the team to seven sites, including the village pictured above. This village was home to marginalized indigenous people who had been forced out of their homes in the Andes Mountains by a terrorist group.
"The government granted them a stretch of land to live on," Calvo said, "but it's basically a wasteland. On top of that, their circumstances force them to live in cardboard boxes -- literally. These homes are about 10-by-10, and some of them house multiple people."
Like all of these trips, this one was preceded by a year of careful planning, a key aspect of which was needs assessment.
"We always ask [the people in need of assistance], 'What are your needs?'" Calvo said. "That way they have some ownership. We respond by incorporating them into the project. We provide the materials, but then they put it together."
The whole approach is very different from the patronizing attitude that might come to mind when you think of missionaries -- namely, of being a major blessing to the "ignorant savages" they're visiting. Calvo and his fellow missionaries always go into the mission with the idea of mutual benefit.
"It's not just that we're a blessing to them. They're a blessing to us as well."
A major benefit that members of these trips experience is the opportunity to deepen their faith.
"One of the most common comments from religious leaders of all denominations is that American faith is six miles wide, but only about an inch deep," Calvo said. "These trips add depth to one's faith. After coming back from them, people are more invested and involved in their churches, and they know their faith in a more intimate way."
Throughout the course of each trip, every participant is asked to provide a five- to ten-minute reflection -- in the morning or in the evening -- on a given Bible passage or on an insight gained from working with the poor and needy.
Faith, according to Calvo, is the primary component of these missions, both in terms of personal and extra-personal benefits.
On the personal level, the Christian missionaries get to experience faith in action, discover what unites them with Christians of other denominations, and study passages of Scripture in a way that, in Calvo's words, "probes the many layers of Gospel passages, as opposed to superficial surface presentations."
The extra-personal benefits have to do with the sacramental nature of their faith.
"We follow Jesus' model of spreading the Gospel through word and sacrament," Calvo said. "We tell people about our faith and about the love of God, but we also show them what it looks like. Our work is also sacramental in the sense that there is something visible and tangible going on, but at the same time there are things connected to it that can only be perceived through hearts of faith."
Calvo welcomes anyone in Genesee County who thinks he/she might like to be a part of next year's mission, and he encourages people to form prayer groups in support of missionaries at their respective churches.
"That way the whole church walks together," he said. "It gives people the chance to be missionaries right at home."
But before someone goes off on a mission trip, there are some necessary steps to take.
"You want to discern the nature of the call," Calvo said. "Pray about it, consult your pastor, and then if you find that God really is calling you to work with us, contact me."
All applicants will need to go through a screening process and formation time. A mission trip of this sort requires a certain level of spiritual maturity and strength (pastoral endorsement will certainly improve people's chances of being chosen for the mission).
"A lot of people think of a mission as a sort of vacation with a purpose," Calvo said. "But you're really stepping out of your comfort zone and going to strange places."
In particular, he emphasized the suffering and poverty missionaries encounter in their travels.
"It's one thing to see suffering in movies or commercials, or even to learn about it through training programs. But when you actually see it up close, that brings out a whole new level of emotionality."
The aforementioned Peruvian village was a case in point.
The population suffered from high rates of tuberculosis, physical disabilities and HIV/AIDS. Social problems such as alcoholism, drug abuse, lack of education, and unemployment are prevalent.
Malnutrition is also a problem -- so much so that it's not uncommon to see 12-year-olds the size of 5-year-olds.
And that's not the worst of it. This area also sees a lot of child abduction, which is followed by trafficking in the slave market.
Needless to say, you've got to have pretty thick skin to get involved in something like this.
In the end, though, this is another means of deepening one's faith and Christian identity. Calvo sees the experience of suffering (as distinguished from the evils of it) as having the power to draw people closer to Christ and His suffering.
"We're able to find meaning in suffering," Calvo said, "because we're united in Christ's suffering. Personally, I find it helps me to redefine my humanity. [Suffering] can be a stumbling block for many people, but it can also be a stepping stone to a higher level of faith and a different way of thinking. And as Christians, we know that ultimately we will be released from pain and suffering."
Any person and/or church in the Batavia area interested in getting involved with Calvo in his SAMS missions should -- after a period of prayer, discernment and pastoral consultation -- contact him at 584-3694, or e-mail calvo_gus@yahoo.com.
Photos submitted by Gus Calvo
The Alzheimer's Association will be hosting a "Memory Walk" in Batavia on Saturday, Sept. 11. It will begin at the Genesee County Nursing Home, at 278 Bank St., and proceed along Chandler Avenue, North, Bank and Ross streets, and Washington Avenue.
Anyone who wants to take part can show up the morning of the walk for registration, which begins at 9 a.m. The walk itself will start at 10 a.m. and cover about two miles. Brunch, entertainment from Pete Gomez and a Chinese auction -- with gift certificates and prizes donated by area businesses -- will follow in the nursing home dining room.
Walkers will be raising money via sponors for the benefit of Genesee County residents coping with Alzheimer's Disease. People are encouraged to raise all funds by Saturday, but funds will be accepted until October 29.
For further details or to register in advance, please call (716) 626-0600 or go to www.memorywalkwny.com. If you would like to donate items to the Chinese auction, call Sue Buckley at 344-0584, ext. 2116.
In appreciation for the work performed by fire, police and military personnel, Center Street Smoke House is offering one free drink to them starting at 9 p.m. Saturday, 9/11.
Proper I.D., of course, is required.
"Come to the Center Street Smoke House as we honor those who we will never forget," says the flier about the special.
Live music starts at 9:30 p.m.
Center Street Smoke House is located at 20 Center St. in Batavia. Phone is 343-7470.
Following a joint investigation by Batavia Police detectives and the U.S. Secret Service, a Batavia businessman has been charged with fraud.
Nicholas Salvador, 46, of 20 Park Ave., Batavia, owner of East Main Sunoco, is being charged with two federal crimes related credit-card fraud.
The investigation is related to the arrest in March of Dustin Hurlburt, 32, of 21 Elm St., Warsaw, who was accused of operating a complicated scheme to buy building materials at Armor Building Supply using credit-card numbers obtained at the gas station where he worked and reselling the material.
Salvador is accused of using credit-card information of more than one person, and on more than one occasion, to purchase building materials at Armor Building Supply on several dates in 2009.
Det. Kevin Czora headed the investigation in Batavia.
It was a chilly night out for the weekly cook out for Care-A-Van Ministries. Their summer cookout schedule is winding down. There are 3 weeks left, with the last week being a welcome back cook-out for GCC students.
Kids in a backyard at 112 Tracy Ave., north of North Street in Batavia, are believed to be responsible for a fire there. It is now out.
Still, city fire is responding.
A medic walked over from the United Memorial Medical Center to see what was causing the smoke and flames. An irate neighbor also complained about the fire, which is apparently a "controlled burn" of sorts.
At first, it was thought to be a house on fire, then something outside burning. Firefighters are investigating the incident.
Batavia Police Department officers are also on scene.
UPDATE (7:49 p.m.): Firefighters are returning to quarters after informing the homeowners that controlled burns are not allowed within city limits.
The fall series of Story Time programs at the Richmond Memorial Library, Batavia, begins on Tuesday, Sept. 14.
Toddler Time -- 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays (walkers – 3 years)
Moms & Moppets -- 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays (walkers -- 3 years)
Preschool Party -- 10 a.m. on Thursdays (ages 3-5 years)
Baby Bounce -- 11 a.m. on Thursdays (pre-walkers)
Pajama Primetime -- 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays (all ages)
To register for one of these sessions, or for more information, parents may call the library at 343-9550, or stop in at the Children's Room desk during library hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Register early, as group size is limited. Call 343-9550, ext. 4 or go to the website <http://www.batavialibrary.org>.
Genesee Community College is readying for the first-ever Homecoming celebration on October 1-2.
The committee of 10 Genesee alumni, including chairs Patti Michalak ('70) and Pam Whitcombe ('69), is putting the finishing touches on preparing for an exciting weekend.
All graduating classes as well as family members, friends and the community are welcome to the college's Batavia campus for a weekend filled with alumni activities, sporting events and at the culmination of the weekend, an All-Class Cougar Reunion/Mixer in the Forum.
Part of the Homecoming weekend activities include raising money for the American Cancer Society. A refurbished iron bathtub was recently placed in the Student Union to collect spare change from students, faculty and staff to be donated to the American Cancer Society of Buffalo.
The "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk" will take place on Sunday, Oct. 3 and all monies collected will be donated to the cause. The bathtub collection is a tradition passed down from GCC students back in the 1970s according to John Michalak ('73), a Homecoming Committee member.
"When the college was at the West Main Street Road address (now the Genesee County Building #2) and known to us as 'Valu Tech,' the SOMF (Society of Mature Friendships) fraternity had several fundraisers over the years," Michalak said.
"On one occasion, the group pushed a bathtub on a farm wagon from East Town Plaza to the West Main Street Road campus. We collected money along the way for a donation to the local American Cancer Society. This is our way of bringing some traditions back to campus."
Friday, Oct. 1 will feature men's and women's alumni soccer games played under the lights of the new all-weather turf field. Women players are still needed and are encouraged to sign up at <http://www.genesee.edu/gcc/alumnisoccer>.
Saturday, Oct. 2 will begin with various alumni-centered activities and celebrations across the campus including tours, reunions and a brunch. The men's and women's Cougar soccer teams will play at noon and 2 p.m. versus North Country Community College.
Following the Cougar soccer games, the first group of inductees will be welcomed into the new Athletic Hall of Fame with an induction ceremony and celebration at 5 p.m. in the Conable Technology Building.
Homecoming weekend will conclude with an All-Class Cougar Reunion/Mixer open to all alumni and community members. All graduating years are invited, with special recognition for the classes of 1969 and 1970 and a featured event theme of the "Hippie '60s." There will be music, prizes, food and a cash bar. The cost is $5 per person.
Further details on locations, times and additional alumni activities are available by going to <http://www.genesee.edu/Alumni/Homecoming >.
To volunteer for the Homecoming weekend, please contact Alumni Affairs Coordinator Jackie Christenson at 585-343-0055, ext. 6265 or <http://jkchristenson@genesee.edu>.
Maurices, a women's clothing store in Tops Plaza in Batavia, is having a fashion show to benefit animals on Saturday, Sept. 18.
"Rescues & Runways" is a national campaign created by Maurices, which has more than 750 locations nationwide.
The fashion show is at 2 p.m. in the store at 8351 Lewiston Road. There will also be a silent auction to raise money. All the funds raised will go to the Genesee County Animal Shelter.
Customers who donate needed pet supplies, like food, will receive coupons to use on Maurices merchandise. Monetary donations and pet supplies are being accepted at the store through the end of September.
During the fashion show, models will be going up and down the runway accompanied by animals from the shelter. Representatives from the Genesee County Animal Shelter will be there and available to talk to people about adopting the pets strutting their stuff at the show.
"Rescues & Runways" is a national campaign done in partnership with the ASPCA® American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In its second year, the goals of this program are: to increase awareness of animal shelters, in turn, increasing pet adoptions through pet-themed fashion shows.
There is a website for anyone who might want to know more:
< http://www.rescuesandrunways.com/>.
A four-car motor-vehicle accident is reported on West Main Street near Tops Market. Town of Batavia fire is responding along with Mercy EMS to the Payless Shoe Source parking lot.
There are neck and back injuries reported. At least one of the vehicles was rear-ended.
A 34-year-old Batavia woman is being accused of letting drug dealers operate from her home at 3 Vine St.
The woman and three other people were arrested Wednesday following a raid by the Local Drug Enforcement Task Force at the residence.
The four arrests make it a total of five people accused of drug dealing at that address.
Sara H. Butler was charged with criminal nuisance, 1st, which is a class E felony in New York.
Butler and the other people taken into custody at 5:30 p.m. were charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd, criminal possession of a controlled substance, 4th, criminally using drug paraphernalia, 2nd, and loitering.
The three others arrested were Quinton L. Spinks, 26, of Terrance Park, Rochester, Steven J. Hirsch, 23, of Raymond Avenue, Batavia, Cheetara M. O'Neal, 24, of Sawyer Street, Rochester.
On Aug. 26, 40-year-old William J. Butler was taken into custody at the same address. Butler is suspected of trafficking in crack cocaine and was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd, and promoting prison contraband, 1st.
The four arrested yesterday are accused of dealing cocaine and crack cocaine. Investigators executed a search warrant on the residence and allegedly found both drugs in the house. Their combined reported street value is $2,000. Investigators also say they found more than $600 in cash.
Butler, Spinks and O'Neal were taken into custody at the residence. Hirsch was reportedly seen leaving the residence just before the raid and taken into custody on East Avenue.
Batavia police officers assisted in the raid.
All four suspects were arraigned and jailed without bail.
Photos, from top: Sara Butler, O'Neal, Hirsch, Spinks.
Members of the Local Drug Enforcement Task Force executed a search warrant and 3 Vine St. this evening.
According to Sgt. Steve Mullen of the Genesee County Sheriff's Office four people are currently being detained pending completion of the search.
Mullen did not specify the type of drug activity believed to have taken place at the residence.
On Aug. 26, 40-year-old William J. Butler was taken into custody at the same address. Butler is suspected of trafficking in crack cocaine and was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd, and promoting prison contraband, 1st.
At least two of the people being held pending completion of the investigation are women.
Mullen anticipates that if any arrests are made, they will be made tonight and a press release will be issued.
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