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Photo: Making way for new South Beach dining area

By Howard B. Owens

Crews have been working yesterday and today to remove the concrete and plants that once made a little park between the HSBC building and South Beach Restaurant.

South Beach owner Ken Mistler acquired the strip of land from the city in order to create a BBQ pit and outdoor dining area for his restaurant.  

The new space will also contain a greenway with a walking path and bricks inlayed as a fundraiser for the Kiwanis Club (the park was formerly known as Kiwanis Park).

Batavia Daily News publisher shares thoughts on book about the future of journalism

By Howard B. Owens

As part of the Richmond Memorial Library's regular series, "Books Sandwiched In," the publisher of the Batavia Daily News spoke today about his assigned book: "The Death and Life of American Journalism," by Robert W. McChesney and John Nichols.

As Turnbull explained, the book examines why commercial journalism has declined in the United States and what might be done about it.

The authors take the position that robust journalism is essential to a functioning democracy, and if there are fewer reporters and fewer media outlets, the public will be less informed and more susceptible to be misled by the government.

The book opens with some sobering statistics about circulation declines for newspapers (broadcast news is hardly mentioned in the book) and correctly notes that the declines started well before the advent of the web.

While the authors place some blame on free online news and loss of revenue to sites such as Craigslist, the real problem, according to McChesney and Nichols, is corporate journalism.  

Conglomerates, not merely chains, that owe a greater allegiance to shareholders than readers, started depending on higher and higher profit margins in the 1990s, leading to cuts in news rooms and a decline in journalistic quality at many newspapers.

Not satisfied with the 15 percent profit margins many family owned newspapers maintained throughout most of the 19th and 20th centuries, shareholders and CEOs beholden to them upped the ante to 30 and 35 percent profit margins.

The explosion of the Internet only added to the woes of newspapers with an abundance of free content -- most of it supplied by newspapers -- and competitors that robbed newspapers of vital classified advertising revenue. The recession made things worse, and in 2009 more than 15,000 newspaper employees lost their jobs.

If journalism is going to be saved, according to McChesney and Nichols, it won't come from a free-market approach with Internet entrepreneurs inventing a new news industry, and it won't come from the government allowing newspapers to form a cartel to protect their interests.

Instead, the authors argue that the solution is some form of government subsidy -- from vouchers for readers to direct handouts -- and the ability of newspaper ownership groups to more easily form nonprofit entities.

As Turnbull notes, even the authors acknowledge none of these solutions are perfect. They're all expensive, and Turnbull indicated he didn't see politicians -- or the public -- supporting subsidy solutions.

"The authors make a really strong argument at the end of the book that subsidies are not only necessary, but worth it," Turnbull said. "I think when you look at this book, it's not really a blueprint for the future of journalism, but a series of talking points."

While Turnbull didn't offer up his own version of what the future of journalism will look like, he did express concern that it isn't possible yet for a news operation the size of the Daily News to generate enough revenue online from advertising sales.

Turnbull is also skeptical that readers will pay for their news online. While there are various experiments in "pay walls" being conducted by newspapers around the country, Turnbull noted that none have yet proven successful.

Meanwhile, Turnbull said, subscription fees for the print newspaper are an important part of the Daily's revenue pie.

"Almost everybody reads everything on the Internet," Turnbull said. "And like I said, we can’t find a way to make money on that."

In an audience of mostly retirees, they all indicated they are avid Daily News readers.

"You're my favorite group (to speak to)," Turnbull said with a smile, and one audience member piped up with, "The day’s not complete without a good solid reading of the Batavia Daily News."

UPDATE: Tom Turnbull sends along a couple of clarifications. Regarding the quote "Almost everybody reads everything on the Internet," Turnbull said. "And like I said, we can’t find a way to make money on that." 

Turnbull said to be clear we should note that comment was in response to somebody in the audience talking about the media habits of the "younger generation." Also, " we can't find a way to make money on that yet."

Stoplight malfunctioning at Lewiston and Veterans Memorial Drive

By Billie Owens

The stoplight at the intersection of Lewiston Road and Veterans Memorial Drive (Route 63 and southwest end of Park Road) in the Town of Batavia is apparently malfunctioning. The state Department of Transportation is being notified so it can be fixed.

"It's holding red way too long and people are starting to go around it," a man tells dispatch.

Batavia PD issues 105 tickets during 'buckle-up' campaign

By Howard B. Owens

From May 23 through June 4, Batavia Police participated in a statewide Buckle-Up New York campaign and issued 105 citations during that period.

Citations were issued for seat belt violations as well as talking on mobile phones and equipment violations.

In all, officers logged 140 hours working the buckle-up detail.

Police officials said the goal of the campaign was to address the dangers of seat belt and mobile phone violations through aggressive enforcement.

Electrical fire reported in Batavia mobile home

By Billie Owens

An electrical fire was reported at the Batavia Mobile Home Park, Lot #26, at 3322 W. Main St. Road. The trailer has been evacuated and the electical breakers shut off. The fire is now out.

"Everybody's out. The trailer is filled with smoke. I'm checking the panel box," says a Sheriff's deputy at the scene.

East Pembroke and Town of Batavia fire departments responded.

Planning board still with more questions than answers on Stringham Drive project

By Howard B. Owens

The developers of a proposed housing development off Stringham Drive have been given an 11-page document by the Town of Batavia Planning Board and asked to respond within 60 days to issues and questions the board still has about the project.

The "scoping document" is an essential part of the environmental review process and the project, known as the Gardner Estate Subdivision, cannot go forward without passing the environmental review.

"Scoping involves looking at what they need to do to meet (the environmental review guidelines)," Board Chairwoman Kathy Jasinski said.

The scoping document asks for information on such things as the purpose and need of the project, type of ownership and compliance with current zoning as well as impacts on traffic and water.

Gardner Estates is being proposed by Rochester-based Nathaniel Development Corp.

Originally, the company was proposing apartment complexes, then, when that met with resistance from the community and the board, Nathaniel proposed condominiums. After that proposal was rejected, they developed a plan for single-family homes, which is under review now.

From the start, Nathaniel has seemed intent on building low-income housing in the area, which neighboring residents oppose and doesn't necessarily fit into the town's master plan.

The town needs more middle-income housing, and the Stringham Drive area was intended to provide parcels to accomodate that type of growth -- especially if the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park proves successful.

However, Jasinski noted that Nathaniel has been willing to mold its plans all along to address board concerns, so Nathaniel might very well turn in a satisfactory scoping document.

If the developer meets the requirements of the environmental review process, there will be little the board can do to block the project.

"We have to abide by rules of zoning," Board Member Paul McCullough said.  "We can’t look at it and say 'In my heart of hearts, we don’t want X.' If it doesn't say that in the book of rules, tough. We have to abide by the rules."

Agri-business park needs new parcel map to accomodate changes in plans

By Howard B. Owens

It's back to the drawing board for the parcel subdivision of the proposed Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park.

Because the first confirmed tenant for the park -- Bogata, Colombia-based Alpina Products -- has set its sights on a different plot of land than originally thought, the subdivision boundaries need to be reset.

Tuesday night, the Town of Batavia Planning Board set 7:30 p.m., June 21, as the time and date for a public hearing on the revised boundaries.

Members of the Genesee County Economic Development Center will also make a presentation about the project to the board that night.

Zoning Enforcement Officer Bruce Gerould also told the board that the revised parcel plan will include a two-acre plot right on Route 5 for an office complex for an advertising agency.

Because the agency specializes in marketing for agricultural businesses, it apparently fits the requirements of the agri-business park, Gerould said.

Tapas.242 offers 'adventure dining' in your home

By Billie Owens

Earlier this spring, Howard and I, accompanied by Elba residents Bill and Lucine Kaufmann, sat down to a special dinner. We were ready for delectable fare and we got it.

It was prepared in the home of two chefs, Kristine Gallop and Ronnie Odessa, who live in Batavia and share a lifelong passion for food. Together these “foodies” have created a new “adventure dining” enterprise called Tapas.242.

You choose from their elaborate menu. They prepare the food using the freshest ingredients in your kitchen, serve it and attend to your table, clean up everything and bid adieu.

On the night we tried Tapas.242, the chefs wore clean, crisp black chef jackets and hats and greeted us cordially. They were gracious and the table was beautifully set. The atmosphere was casual, modern and relaxing.

We had chosen our menu days before. We supped by soft light, enhanced by candles, with the distinctive vocals of Dean Martin for music.

Our first treat was an appetizer of small, red-orange peppadews stuffed with lemon-infused cream cheese. Divine.

“Oh, these are so good,” Lucine said, who daintily cut hers in two while I plopped the whole thing in my mouth, indulgent creature that I am.

Our soup of choice was crab and shrimp sherry bisque. We were served bowls containing a neat mound of seafood, then Kristine went around the table and gingerly poured scalded cream bisque over them. You could taste each ingredient. Howard loves seafood bisque and this one pleased him greatly.

Then we had a simple salad of cucumber and onion with a subtle sour cream vinaigrette. Our main course was chicken in roasted red pepper cream sauce with toast points. It appealed to all the senses.

All the while, the chefs came and went, from kitchen to dining room. They spoke quietly, worked efficiently, were pleasant and unobtrusive.

Dessert was a cold, smooth creme brulee, with the wisp of sugar crust created table side by chef Ronnie.

There were no leftovers.

“I love it when people enjoy my cooking,” Kristine said. “It gives me a lot of pleasure.”

The 42-year-old entrepreneur (owner of The Spa at Artemus on Main Street) has always enjoyed cooking and experimenting in the kitchen. Ronnie, 38, was a chef at a pizzeria. Clearly, they relish what they do and it is evident in their attention to taste, freshness, detail and stylish presentation.

“They say that you enjoy food with your eyes first,” says Kristine, who also devours books and magazines about cuisine – its finer points and its evolution.

A big part of her delight comes from scanning cookbooks, testing recipes and, of course, tinkering with the alchemy of spices.

“Vanilla beans in the store are sooo expensive,” she says afterward. “I found this place online where I can get them in bulk much cheaper.”

She shows me a new bottle of truffle oil and a container of delicate saffron threads. This kind of stuff is exciting for her and it shows.

Ronnie admits that she's had a big influence on his thinking about food.

Before, he says didn’t take the time to really appreciate the nuances of taste and the subtle textures, etc., which make dining different from eating. Now he does.

Believe it or not, this new mindset has helped him lose almost 30 pounds in about a year, without doing anything different – except being mindful of what he’s eating and all the sensory input that goes with it.

I guess you could say he’s eating consciously, more interested in the overall experience than merely extinguishing his appetite. That sounds plausible, because there’s nothing on the menu to suggest “dieting.”

Here’s a sampling of some other offerings.

An appetizer of carpaccio tenderloin with mixed greens & truffle oil. Orzo lemon chicken soup. A salad of arugula with blackened carrots & goat cheese. A main course of panko-encrusted, ricotta-stuffed pork with bing cherry sauce or perhaps catfish wrapped in wilted romaine.

Tapas.242 works like this. After viewing the menu days before your reservation, you select one kind of appetizer, soup, salad and main course to be shared by all. Just as you would serve guests in your home.

You provide the beverages. Desserts are available upon request. And if there’s something you would like that’s not on the menu, just ask, and they will try to accommodate you.

We brought some California pinot noir and Dr. Frank Konstantin Frank's gewurztraminer. "And a good time was had by all!"

“Tasting boards” are also available, each typically serves four. For example, the olive board -- with stuffed olives, cream cheese stuffed peppadews, Portuguese toast point and olive tapenade. Total price for this board is $20.

There are three price points in each category (appetizer, soup, salad, main course) and you can choose among them, say a less expensive appetizer, but a more expensive entrée, if you wish.

For the soup, if you’d like to sample all three options, you order “flights,” within a given price-point, which are 2-ounce servings of each three (per person).

Pricing, per person, ranges from: $6 to $12 for appetizers; $4 to $8 for soups (flights are extra); $4 to $9 for salads; and $18 to $26 for main courses.

By the time we were ready to go, the table had been cleared, the dishes, pots and pans washed. And off we went quite satisfied, with Dean still crooning away… “that’s amore…”

To find out more about the moveable feast that is Tapas.242, and/or to book a dinner party, call Kristine at 356-0729 or Ronnie at 356-5195.

Downtown Batavia Public Market opens June 23

By Billie Owens

The Downtown Batavia Public Market begins its fifth season at corner of Ellicott (Route 63) and Center streets on June 23. The market will be open every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. through Sept. 22.

An abundance of fresh, quality produce and other items will be offered, including baked goods, fresh sweet corn, tomatoes, berries, peaches, potatoes, cheese, BBQ sauce, honey, maple syrup, cut flowers and herbs, garden accessories and lots more.

Stop by and enjoy lunch at Alston’s BBQ as he will be serving pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs, and hamburgers and of course selling his famous BBQ sauce.

There are a number of special programs and giveaways that will be announced throughout the market season. Stay tuned.

“Support the downtown that supports your community."

Sponsored by the Batavia Business Improvement District. For more information, contact the B.I.D. Office at 344-0900 or at www.downtownbataviany.com. or on Facebook.

Author of new book on WYN amusement parks to visit Present Tense

By Billie Owens

For more than 100 years, Western New Yorkers have enjoyed the region’s exciting amusement parks. Author Rose Ann Hirsch captures the sun, fun and thrill of these great parks in her new book, "Western New York Amusement Parks," part of Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series.

She will be signing copies of her book at Present Tense beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 25. The book consists of more than 200 historical images of past times at the amusement parks and contains chronological information on the growth and/or decline of each park.

During the days of trolleys and steamships, area businessmen created Celoron Park, Crystal Beach Park, and other fine local summer resorts. Decades later, lifelong memories were formed for neighborhood Baby Boomers who visited Glen Park and Fantasy Island, as well as one of New York State's finest theme parks, Darien Lake.

Western New York has always been a proving ground for some of the nation's most famous rollercoasters. The terrifying Cyclone, the fast and furious Silver Comet, and the extreme Ride of Steel have attracted the very bravest of visitors.

In the new millennium, the summer tradition of visiting local amusement parks continues with a blend of family orientated parks and theme parks that appeal to all ages. As a Western New Yorker, Rose Ann Hirsch grew up visiting several of the area's parks and spent 31 summers riding the Comet at Crystal Beach. She has written various articles and books on amusement park topics, including "Kiddie Parks of the Adirondacks."

The book signing is free and open to the public. Present Tense, a locally owned, independent bookstore, is located at 101 Washington Ave. in the City of Batavia. For more information call 815-7640 or visit www.presenttensebooks.com.

College's 'ACE' program honors four local students, eight teachers

By Billie Owens

Four Genesee County students were the finalists for Outstanding Scholar Awards in Genesee Community College's Advanced Studies program. The awardees were honored at a ceremony and reception on Wednesday, June 1, in the Stuart Steiner Theatre at the Batavia campus.

Advanced Studies is part of the college's ACE program, or Accelerated College Enrollment, and allows high school students the opportunity to earn college credit from Genesee while attending class within their high school. High school teachers approved as Genesee adjunct faculty teach all Advanced Studies courses. Some of the most enterprising young students earn enough transferable Advanced Studies credit to enter their first year of college as sophomores.

"We're pleased we could make this a special evening for our Advanced Studies students and their families," said Ed Levinstein, associate dean of the ACE program. "The students honored are some of the best and brightest students in our local region."

A total of 21 finalists were selected from 163 nominations in the five subject areas of mathematics, science, social science, foreign language and English. As in years past, a committee of academic professionals from Genesee Community College selected the award winners, listed by subject area and high school:

  • English -- Alaina Chapman, Pembroke
  • Foreign Language -- Paige Radney, Pavilion
  • Mathematics -- Russell Marchese, Notre Dame
  • Science -- Paige Radney, Pavilion
  • Social Science -- Christina Mortellaro, Batavia

In addition to the students being honored for their academic achievements, 18 faculty members were honored for having 10 years of service teaching in the ACE program. Listed below are the eight Genesee County teacher honorees and their high schools:

  • Mike Silivestro Monroe, #1 BOCES  
  • Neal Jones Monroe, #2 BOCES
  • John Tomidy, Byron-Bergen
  • Barbara Harkness, Oakfield-Alabama
  • Jane Neff, Pembroke
  • Karen LaDuke, Alexander
  • Robert Mullen, Batavia
  • Olga Babich, Notre Dame

For more information about the Advanced Studies program at Genesee Community College, call 345-6801 or go to <http://www.genesee.edu/ACE.>

Photo: Artist opens show at new Glass Roots gallery

By Howard B. Owens

Artist Sean Walker stands in front of a mural he's painting inside the new art gallery at Glass Roots on Center Street.

Walker, a fine arts student at GCC, has a show in the gallery of some of his original artwork.

Photo: Fallen tree removal in Batavia Cemetery

By Howard B. Owens

Crews were at the Batavia Cemetery this afternoon cleaning up the remains of a massive tree that fell near the Richmond Mausoleum over the weekend. 

Tree removal is expensive and the Batavia Cemetery Association is asking for donations to help defray the cost. Checks can be mailed to the association at 22 Fisher Park, Batavia, NY 14020.

Also, the "Ladies of Batavia Cemetery" tour that was scheduled for Saturday had to be cancelled Saturday because of the heavy rains. It will be rescheduled for a date later this summer.

Photo: Confederate flag on Philemon Tracy's grave

By Howard B. Owens

Philemon Tracy is believed to be the only Confederate officer buried north of the Mason-Dixon Line. His grave is in the Batavia Cemetery. I didn't notice this flag on his grave on Memorial Day or over the weekend (I was at the cemetery on both occasions, but could have missed it). When I drove down Harvester Avenue today, there it was, which struck me as interesting.

Photo: City officials inspect Dellapenna building

By Howard B. Owens

City officials took a walk-through of the Dellapenna building on Ellicott Street this morning to check the security and safety of the long-vacant building.

Over the weekend, police officers discovered the building was unlocked while looking for a missing person.  

Following the inspection, officials said they secured it as best as they could today and will take steps to ensure it is better secured.

Grand Jury Report: Batavia man accused of sexually abusing person under 11

By Howard B. Owens

Anthony P. Dioguardi is indicted on four counts of sexual abuse, 1st. Dioguardi is accused of using compulsion for sexual contact with a child less than 11 years old.

Myron W. Hartford is indicted on a charge of grand larceny, 2nd. Myron W. Hartford and Marline A. Hartford are indicted on charges of grand larceny, 4th, and three counts of offering a false instrument for filing, 1st. Myron Hartford is accused of stealing more than $50,000 from an individual. Both Myron Hartford and Marline Hartford are accused of stealing more than $1,000 from the Department of Social Services. Both are accused of filing false instruments with DSS.

Rebecca A. Chatley is indicted on charges of grand larceny, 4th, and criminal possession of stolen property, 4th. Chatley is accused of stealing a gift card for WalMart belonging to another person. 

Andrew J. Rock is indicted on two charges of burglary, 1st, and one count of menacing, 2nd. Rock is accused of entering a residence on Washington Avenue, Batavia, on May 15, and brandishing a long gun.

Carlos A. Torres Jr., is indicted on three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd. Torres is accused of possession on April 2 of more than a half-ounce of cocaine with the intent to sell it.

Thomas M. Pillo is indicted on charges of felony DWI and felony driving with a BAC of .18 or greater. Pillo was allegedly driving drunk March 11 in the City of Batavia.

Photo: New Main St. Pizza sign

By Howard B. Owens

Remember when businesses had painted signs on the sides of their buildings? 

Vic Marchese is going old school with the sign he hired Vinny DelPlato to paint for him on the back of Main St. Pizza Company.

DelPlato is responsible for many of the murals you see around town.

Here's a piece we did on him when he was working on the mural at Next Level Fitness.

Aspen Dental rip off ??

By Eric [Rick] von kramer

I went to aspen dental to get a check up, free xrays and a cleaning. They did the xrays and checked me over, and came back with an estimate for cleaning.[this is cleaning only]  Now i am 65 years old with all my own teeth. I have not had a cleaning in a while, but i do take care to brush regularly. The estimate said i would have to come for 4 appointments, upper left one day etc.etc. the price for this cleaning was 2600.00 yes   two thousand six hundred.  I left scratching my head after declining to make an appointment  at this time.  This has been about 5 weeks,and yesterday i received my second letter from them reminding me to make an appointment, this time there was a discount coupon for $600.00  off if i scheduled by the end of the month. Now lets just say i called two weeks ago and scheduled my cleaning, i would have paid the total $2600.00  How long can one appointment  take for even the most complicated cleaning. If it took 3 hours, that would be 12 hour total to get my teeth cleaned, that would 216 .00 an hour. They do advertise dentures for under $300. Is it me or am i just to old to appreciate how much a dental assistant gets paid these days?

Photos: Batavia Motel becomes training ground for volunteer firefighters

By Howard B. Owens

Today, the former Batavia Motel on West Main Street became a training structure for volunteer firefighters as the Town of Batavia Fire Department began a bit of the dismantling process.

The hotel, acquired by the town a couple of months ago, is to be torn down (or burned down) to make way for an expansion of Lion Park.

The town condemned the property at  3768 W. Main Street Road in December, sending about seven residents looking for new places to live.

A couple of months after condemning the property, the town completed the purchase.

Town of Batavia Fire Chief Randy McIntire said the department isn't sure how much training it will be able to do on the building. The town may want it down pretty quickly and there might be some complications related to asbestos removal. 

At least for the next few weeks, however, firefighters -- and perhaps local law enforcement -- can use the worn-down structure for training.

Tonight, firefighters worked on venting -- the practice of cutting holes in the roof of a burning structure to allow heat and smoke to escape.

BTW: If this looks like your idea of fun and public service, visit ReadyGenesee.com to find out more about volunteering for your local fire department (city residents can volunteer for the Town of Batavia Fire Department).

Photos: The Memphis Belle at the county airport

By Howard B. Owens

I got four emails from four different people this morning about a B-17 being parked at the Genesee County Airport.

It turns out it's been there almost a week. The plane is the Memphis Belle, a prop plane used in the movie of that name. Its proper home is the Geneseo Airport, but since that is a grass field, all the recent rains have made the runway too soggy for landing such a large bird.

The Memphis Belle is expected to depart some time Wednesday.

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