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Photos: Taste of the Holidays in Downtown Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

The first "Taste of the Holidays" in Downtown Batavia wrapped up this afternoon with arts and crafts for the kids under the big tent on Jackson Street, along with live music by Kevin and Bart, and horse-carriage rides around downtown.

Habitat volunteers begin work to 'Restore' former Cristina's location on Ellicott Street

By Howard B. Owens

Volunteers from Habitat for Humanity were at the former Cristina's location on Ellicott Street this morning clearing out junk from the building so that construction can get started on a Restore location for Habitat.

Habitat for Humanity of Genesee County was given the property by former owner Chuck Brumstead, who decided to deed the one building still standing and the land to a local nonprofit group. Habitat was selected from among several applicants.

Brian Bishop, volunteer and communications coordinator for Habitat said the group recently finalized building permits and will now begin work inside the building to create the retail space necessary for Restore. He said no date has been set yet for when the store will open.

One-car accident with injuries on Route 33 near Wortendyke Road

By Billie Owens

A one-car accident with injuries is reported on Route 33 in the vicinity of Wortendyke Road in East Pembroke's fire district.

Mercy medics and East Pembroke volunteer firefighters are responding.

UPDATE 1:09 p.m.: There are two people involved. One is complaining of back pain and the other is "more shook up than anything." The location is 3487 Wortendyke Road.

UPDATE 1:34 p.m.: East Pembroke is back in service.

Photos: Signs of life as winter sets in

By Howard B. Owens

Winter is setting in, but local photographer Marlene Morris still found some signs of life in her own backyard yesterday and sent in these pictures to share with us.

Group fight reported on Thorpe Street

By Howard B. Owens

Several individuals are reportedly on Thorpe Street, Batavia, fighting.

Batavia PD just arrived on scene.

UPDATE 10:15 p.m.: Police are looking for a couple of named individuals.

Photos: Christmas tree lighting, Downtown Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

After an opening Christmas carol, BID director Don Burkel was given the nod and he flipped the switch, officially lighting Downtown Batavia's Christmas tree. More than 100 people gathered around the tree then joined in singing several more carols to help kick off downtown's Christmas celebration, "Taste of the Holidays."

Photos: Annual Salvation Army toy drive at Ken Barrett's

By Howard B. Owens

With the support of WBTA, city firefighters and assorted volunteers, the Salvation Army was able to collect hundreds of toys today for needy children in our community. Today's drop off point was at Ken Barrett's auto dealership. Gift givers can continue to drop off toys at Barrett's all week. WBTA's Dan Fischer said that this year many more girls toys came in than boys toys and so more toys for boys are still needed.

Photo: Health and Humanitarian award presented to Dorothy Baker

By Howard B. Owens

Dorothy M. Baker received the 28th annual Health and Humanitarian Award of Genesee County from the UMMC Foundation during a luncheon at Terry Hills on Friday afternoon.

Baker was recognized for her many years of volunteer work, including at the Jerome Center gift shop and kiosk, the tourism information booth, Office of the Aging, Veterans Administration and St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Baker logged 1,750 volunteer hours in 2010.

Merry Mornings

By Robin Walters

Care-A-Van Ministries is busy during this holiday seaon with their morning ministry. The bus is all decked out for Christmas. During the holiday times, it seems more people are needing encouragement, hope and prayer.  The bus is out in the city Monday through Thursday from 9 AM to 11 AM.  Paul Ohlson, founder of Care-A-Van Ministries stated that there has been approximately 780 visits this year during the mornings that the bus has been out.  Pictured above with Paul is volunteer Pastors Dave Bombella and Jack McMullen visit ing with a young woman.

Care-A-Van and their team of volunteers will be at Taste of Holidays Friday evening and once again will be serving those delicious brownies. Be sure to stop by and say hello!

Taste of the Holidays schedule of events

By Howard B. Owens

The first-ever Taste of the Holidays event in Downtown Batavia kicks off this evening.

Here's the schedule of events for this weekend:

Friday, Dec. 2 (5:30-9 p.m.)

  • Lighting of the Christmas tree (5:30 p.m.)
  • Sample tastings by area restaurants and caterers (6-9p.m.)
  • Entertainment: The OHMS Band (6-9 p.m.)

Saturday, Dec. 3 (11 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.)

  • Holiday activities for kids and families
  • Divine Dance Group (11-11:20 a.m.)
  • Entertainment: Kevin & Bart (12-3 p.m.)
  • McMahon Irish School of Dance (1-1:20 p.m.)
  • Horse & Wagon Rides Around Downtown (12-3 p.m.)

Also, this weekend, Le Roy has its Winterfest. For more information, click here.

Grand Jury Report: Alleged drunk driver accused of causing serious injuries

By Billie Owens

This week the Genesee County Grand Jury issued the following indictments.

Mitchell J. Irish is accused of assault, 2nd, a class D felony, for allegedly recklessly causing serious physical injury to another person on June 9 by means of a deadly weapon and dangerous instrument, a motor vehicle.

In count two, he is accused of vehicular assault, 2nd, a class E felony, for allegedly operating a 1998 Chevrolet in an intoxicated condition on June 9 in the Town of Darien, thereby causing serious physical injury to another person.

In count three, he is accused of driving while intoxicated, a class E felony.

Christian J. Johnson is accused of driving a 2002 Cadillac while intoxicated, a class E felony, on July 23 on Pearl Street in the City of Batavia.

In count two, Johnson is accused of aggravated driving while intoxicated, a class E felony, for allegedly having a .18 BAC.

In count three, he is accused of allegedly operating the same vehicle without an interlock, a misdemeanor, although he was court-ordered to have an ignition interlock device on it.

BDC seeing bids to transform former Carr's warehouse

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

On behalf of city hall, the Batavia Development Corporation (BDC) has distributed a request for proposals to attract developer interest in the former Carr’s warehouse building located on Jackson Square in Batavia. The city has asked for proposals to convert an historic 1880 warehouse into a productive mixed-use, office, commercial or residential building.

“This 6,000-square-foot historic conversion project, considered small to some, could have a real impact in downtown Batavia,” said Jason Molino, city manager. The city acquired the property in 2010 through a delinquent tax foreclosure process.

Consultants have recently indicated a lack of Class A office space availability, a void in certain retail sectors and a gap in modern housing stock for professionals. Each of these uses would be permitted for this project under the city’s C3 zoning law.

Inciting revitalization efforts through public and private partnerships has become the norm for the City of Batavia.

Neighboring to the warehouse, other public-private efforts have resulted in the redeveloped Center Street Smokehouse restaurant and the 19-25 Jackson Street mixed-use redevelopment by the Valle family to house their jewelry store. Habitat for Humanity also acquired a distressed residential property though a unique public-private arrangement with the city.

On a grand scale, the Mancuso Business Development Group wrapped up its multimillion dollar Masse Gateway redevelopment project to improve the product mix, accessibility and infrastructure to the century-old 30-acre industrial site. The city had secured a $1,500,000 RESTORE NY Communities grant that was redistributed to the developer upon satisfactory completion of the project.

“Substantial renovations to more than 100,000 square feet of flex-industrial space would not have been possible without the city’s support,” said Tom Mancuso, president, Mancuso Business Development Group.

Earlier this year, the city submitted a NY Main Street grant request that is expected to leverage a $275,000 private investment to improve 30 downtown commercial and residential properties. And just last month the city applied for a $100,000 grant through the consolidated funding application process to foster job creation at the new Save-A-Lot store prepping to open after considerable renovations to a longtime vacant building. Both of these projects anticipate award announcements this month.

The City of Batavia serves as the regional economic center for Genesee County situated between Buffalo and Rochester at Thruway exit 48. Four State Routes (5, 33, 63 and 98) traverse the city and provide easy access for both consumers and workers. Daily traffic counts top 40,000 vehicles and more than 3,000 people are employed within walking distance of the featured redevelopment site. To request a proposal package, contact the Batavia Development Corporation at 585-345-6380 or jpacatte@BataviaDevelopmentCorp.org.

Law and Order: Driver charged with leaving the scene of property damage accident

By Howard B. Owens

Joshua Jones, 20, of Sanders Road, Stafford, is charged with leaving the scene of a property damage accident. Jones is accused of his truck hitting a vacuum pump at a car wash on Pearl Street and then driving off. Jones turned himself in to Batavia PD after seeing a picture of his truck on The Batavian. Officer James DeFreze said Jones contacted him a very short time after the picture was posted and said he didn't know he had struck anything. "He was very cooperative," DeFreze said.

Michael David Pacer, 24, of Lake Street, Le Roy, is charged with felony DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Pacer was arrested at 2:31 a.m., Thursday, by Deputy John Weis following an investigation into a report of a car parked on Sweetland Road, Stafford.

Big turn out at Richmond library for grand opening of coffee shop

By Howard B. Owens

Mark and Tammy Schmidt figured they needed a little time to hone their coffee making and smooth mixing skills before dealing with a big crowd of customers.

The six weeks they took honing their craft paid off Wednesday when hundreds of people showed up at the Richmond Memorial Library for the grand opening of Best Sellers Cafe.

The coffee shop is the result of a survey of library patrons who made a little coffee shop their number one request.

The Schmidts were able to open their new business after winning the request for proposal process and then working with the library to carve out an appropriate place among the stacks.

"My wife has wanted to run a coffee shop since before Angel's Café was in town many, many years ago, and when this came along she tought we better jump on it," Mark Schmidt said.

With an a cappella choir singing in the background, a crush of customers at the counter and blenders whirring nearby, Schmidt explained that the library's 600 daily patrols provide a good, solid business base, he and Tammy will be looking for ways to attract people to the library, and Best Sellers, who might not otherwise stop in the library.

Town set to award $300,000 grant for water line in agri-business park

By Howard B. Owens

The Town of Batavia is set to award a $300,000 grant to Genesee Economic Development Center for further infrastructure development at the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park.

The town board approved a resolution in a special meeting Wednesday night setting a public hearing for 7 p.m., Dec. 21, which is a precursor to formerly approving the grant.

The funds will be used to construct a water line for the park. 

Part of the funds, $100,000, were granted to GCEDC in January 2010 for construction of electric transmission lines, but those funds have not be spent, so GCEDC requested that the $100,000 be combined with another $200,000 for the water line project.

"Without infrastructure, we cannot continue to attract business to that park," Supervisor Greg Post said. "It gets us and our partners in a much better position for that construction. I don't think anybody anticipated how quickly this project (Project Wave, or the possible PepsiCo yogurt plant) has moved forward. I am happy to be in this position to utilize money like this."

Two-car accident on Veterans Memorial Drive

By Billie Owens

A two-car injury accident is reported on Veterans Memorial Drive near the Home Depot. One driver is complaining of back pain and has a history of back problems. Batavia Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 7 p.m.: A responder on scene reports the cars are blocking traffic.

Photo: Heavy snow falling on Downtown Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

We got about 20 minutes of heavy, blowing snow in Downtown Batavia this afternoon. There is no visible accumulation, but it looked like a good amount blowing through the sky. The forecast for the rest of the day is no more than 20-percent chance of precipitation. It should be sunny tomorrow.

Law and Order: Shoplifting arrest

By Howard B. Owens

Cody Alan Bush, 26, of Oak Orchard Road, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Bush is accused of shoplifting $56.50 worth of merchandise from Walmart.

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