batavia

Walnut Street residents Jeremy and Cassie decided to rake up their fall leaves Saturday, and got some extra "help" from their sons Ethan, 7, and Matthew, 4, who found it was great fun to play in the big pile of leaves.

Farmers and farm equipment buyers from throughout the area were at the old Empire Tractor location on East Main Road (the business moved at the beginning of the month to a new location on East Main Road) to get bargains on used farm implements, from combines to tractors and even riding mowers. Empire Tractor was selling off used equipment from the longtime East Main Road location, but brought in used equipment from its other locations as well. President Tim Call said it was a chance to clear out some unsold inventory. 

Saturday was the first day of 30-percent off prices at Lowe's for its close-out sale and it probably seemed like all of Genesee County turned out. The parking lot was full and the aisles around the checkout counters were wall-to-wall people and shopping carts. (I have no pictures from inside the store because I did the polite thing and asked the manager for permission, even though legally I could have just snapped away until told to stop, and he said no (at which point, I had to comply) -- so just take my word for it, the place was jammed.)

There was another big turn out Saturday for the Batavia Kiwanis Club's annual Pancake Day breakfast at the Presbyterian Church in Batavia.

The entire staff of South Beach is dressed up for Halloween tonight. Do you recognize owner Ken Mistler?

While you may still be thinking about Halloween candy, the folks at Oliver's need to think decidedly further ahead -- like Christmas. Candy cane production started today. Here's a few photos of the process.

Workers continue to make progress on the roof replacement of County Building #1 at Court and Ellicott streets.  The $214,000 project was awarded to Elmer W. Davis, Inc., of Rochester.

Everything was nice and frosty this morning. It could have made some good photos if I'd gotten out of the house sooner.  

I did head up to Centennial Park just before 9 a.m. hoping for some frost still on the ground and leaves. There wasn't but I took a few pictures anyway. It was still a beautiful morning, and just enough fall left to provide some color.  

The bottom photo, however, is some of the frost I found outside in our own front yard.

A cement truck reportedly dumped two or three yards of concrete on West Main Street Road in the area of West Main Mini Mart.

A witness reports that the driver got out of the truck, fixed the truck's shoot, and then continued westbound.

The truck turned left on Wortendyke and has now reportedly stopped at Cargil on Wortendyke.

Law enforcement is responding.

UPDATE 8:26 a.m.: Truck driver says that his company was notified and is responding to clean it up. A deputy reports that it's just a small portion actually in the roadway and a quick response from either the company or DOT can get it cleaned up. Shortly after that message, the deputy reports that a Town of Batavia highway employee is on scene and is going to sweep it up before it adheres.

The NYS DOT has been dispatched to the Route 98 bridge over the Thruway after an apparently minor injury accident.

A deputy on scene reported black ice conditions after responding to the accident.

A flatbed tow truck has been requested to the scene to deal with the disabled vehicle.

Mercy EMS is on scene tending to at least one injured person.

Town of Batavia Fire Department also responded.

UPDATE 7:21 a.m.: A trooper informs dispatch that DOT should also be notified that the Route 63 over the Thruway is also "pretty slick."

UPDATE 7:35 a.m.: A patient was transported to UMMC with only minor complaints of pain. Town of Batavia fire is back in service.

Residents of 400 Towers enjoyed a Halloween party on Thursday night that included a costume contest, karaoke and sweets.

Local law enforcement agencies will again participate in the DEA Prescription Drug Drop Program on Saturday.

The program allows local residents to drop off any sort of prescription drug for proper, safe and legal disposal -- no questions asked. 

The locations: 

• Batavia PD, 10 W. Main St., Batavia
• Pembroke Highway Garage, routes 5 and 77, Pembroke
• Le Roy PD, 3 W. Main St., Le Roy

Pictured are Deputy Chris Parker, Genesee County Sheriff's Office; Det. John Condidorio, Le Roy PD; Det. Charles Dudek, Batavia PD.

A young woman worked an agreement with Jeremy Almeter, owner of Glass Roots on Center Street, to avoid criminal charges after she was caught on video making an art heist from the shop. The woman walked out the front door with two paintings on the very first day Almeter was using a video surveilance system installed by Rich Clark of Computer and Phone Repair (CPR). Almeter and the woman made an agreement not to release her name. She walked in front of the store for two hours today carrying the sign reading "I stole art from Glass Roots."

A pedestrian has reportedly been struck by a car at the intersection of Prospect and Richmond avenues in the City of Batavia. Batavia Fire Department and Mercy EMS are responding.

A 7-year-old child is being transported to UMMC for evaluation as a precaution. She was riding her bicycle, collided with the car, and she fell to the ground but there was no loss of consiousness and no complaint of pain, according to the medic.

Batavia firefighters are back in service.

Jeremiah T. Jones, 38, of 535 McGinnis Road, Scottsville, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation and harassment, 2nd. Jones was allegedly involved in a domestic dispute at a residence on Central Avenue at 8:10 a.m., Tuesday.

Kara Jo Oliveri, 27, of Moller Street, Binghampton, was arrested on a bench warrant related to a petit larceny charge. Oliveri was arrested in Binghampton and arraigned in Darien Town Court. Oliveri posted $305 bail.

The cast of "The Producers," this year's choice for the annual theater production of the Batavia Rotary Club (this year, in conjunction with Encore! Theatre Arts, is starting to nail their performances in rehearsals.

Director Lynda Hodgins invited me into the Batavia HS auditorium tonight to take some pictures during the non-dress rehearsal. She allowed me right on the stage during the performance. Thank you to the indulgence of the cast for carrying on as I moved around trying to get some interesting shots.

The show is high-energy and fun. It's not easy to take pictures when you're laughing out loud.

Starring are Steve Valvano and Cal Young as Max Bialystock and Leopold Bloom (pictured above).

The Mel Brooks-written musical is about a broadway producer whose career is in a downward trend when an accountant, Leopold Bloom, suggests that there's more money to be made in producing a real stinker of a show than in producing a hit.

Performances are 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3 to 5 and 2 p.m. Nov. 6 at Batavia High School.

Tickets are $12 for the Nov. 3 show, and $15 for all other shows. Tickets may be purchased online at bataviarotary.com and encoretheatrearts.com, and in person at Lawley Insurance or The Insurance Center.

Jason Michael Norton, 39, of Pekin Road, Oakfield, is charged with grand larceny and petit larceny. Norton is accused of stealing money and giving discounts on store merchandise under retail value while employed at Lowe's. The total value of the alleged thefts exceeds $1,800.

Joseph Charles Wind, 41, of Horseshoe Lake Road, Batavia, was arrested on a bench warrant. Wind was arrested by Rochester Police on a warrant out of Batavia City Court and turned over to the Genesee County Sheriff's Office. Wind was jailed on $100,000 bail. The nature of the underlying alleged crime was not released.

There are eight properties in the City of Batavia that could be put up for auction for non-payment of property taxes, other charges and fees. All eight properties have reportedly been delinquent for three consecutive years.

No date has been announced for the auction.

The properties are:

• 24 Franklin St., a single family home, delinquent $17,244; assessed value $67,700
• 12 Hall St., a single family home, delinquent $12,501; assessed value $29,000
• 1 Pearl St., a single family home, delinquent $27,294; assessed value $48,000
• 3 Walnut St., a single family home, delinquent $18,962; assessed value $54,900
• 48 Walnut St., a single family home, delinquent $29,746; assessed value $54,900
• 109 Walnut St., a single family home, delinquent $27,381; assesed value $52,000
• 11 Watson St., a single family home, delinquent $11,598; assessed value $49,900
• Oak Street, rear, vacant land, delinquent $341; assessed value $1,000

Amy Hlebik and Robert Walton accept a Batavia City Council resolution from Council President Marianne Clattenburg recognizing Nov. 11 as Veterans' Day. Walton is commander of VFW Post 1602, the Veness-Strollo post, and Hlebik is quartermaster.