An 11-year-old boy was reportedly dragged down the street by his dog on Bank Street, between Fairmont Avenue and North Street, Batavia, and now has cuts and abrasions.
City fire and Mercy EMS responding.
Batavia's assistant city manager is leaving the area to take a job as city manager in a city of 21,000 people in Alabama at an annual salary of $136,000.
That's more than a $50,000 boost in pay for Gretchen DiFante, who is originally from the State of Alabama.
DiFinate became Batavia's assistant city manager in 2014 and is credited with, among other things, putting together a program to help reduce the cost of flood insurance for local property owners who need it.
She is scheduled to start her new job Aug. 21 in Pelham, Ala., according to the Shelby County Reporter.
The newspaper reported that DiFante was selected over two other finalists candidates who already live and work in the area.
Council President Rick Hayes said DiFante stood out to him as being an excellent communicator and a detailed person who likes to dig in and find the best solution. He said she also brings extensive strategic planning experience, which will be a major asset for the city.
“She has a significant amount of corporate consulting and government experience, which is rare to find,” Hayes said.
From talking to her, Hayes said he could tell that she is a dynamic person who would bring passion to the job.
DiFante holds a bachelor's degree in Communications from Auburn University and a master's degree in Management from Keuka College.
Batavia City Manager Jason Molino said the city will seek to fill the assistant manager position with DiFante's departure. He also issued this statement:
Gretchen has been an outstanding contributor to the community and has set a high standard of leadership in the organization.
Aside from leading the City’s Department of Administrative Services, Gretchen has been responsible for: developing the City’s Strategic Plan that has been recognized as a best practice by the International City/County Management Association; leading the City’s efforts to instill a culture of safety, contributing to a reduction of over $200,000 in workers' compensation premiums; and spearheading the City’s Community Rating Service (CRS) team that reduced flood premiums by 15 percent for property owners in the floodplain, earning the City one of the best CRS ratings in the State.
Most of all, Gretchen and her family have been committed members to the community for over 20 years. She and her family will be greatly missed and we wish them the best on their new endeavors in Alabama.
An ATV accident with injuries is reported in the area of Route 63 and Roanoke Road. Pavilion Fire Department is responding along with an engine from Le Roy and Mercy medics.
A new project with the hope of brightening people’s days will start at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, where Kim Argenta will host and teach a class to paint rocks, and place them all throughout Batavia.
Argenta, owner of Art Ah La Carte in Batavia, got the idea from her friend, Kelly Carlie, who runs a similar project in Le Roy, called “Le Roy Rocks.” She saw the post on Facebook and thought it was really cool. This is part of the nationwide project, “The Kindness Rocks Project.”
“I want to place them randomly throughout Batavia hoping that other communities will jump on board,” Argenta said.
Participants pay $5 to cover the paint and supplies, and bring a rock. Right now, there are three sessions, on July 13, July 27 and Aug. 17, from 6:30 until 7:30 p.m. The sessions are held at Art Ah La Carte in Batavia at 39 Jackson St.
The $5 cost does not even cover all of the supplies, Argenta said. Each set of oil-based markers cost around $65 and she purchases paints, brushes, primer and sealer as well.
“This is nonprofit,” Argenta said. “I am making nothing from this. I just want to spread art and happiness.”
For those interested, they can call Argenta at Art Ah La Carte at 245-1655.
Argenta is proud of the fact that she is self-taught. She learned everything from teaching herself and doing. She started Art Ah La Carte in October almost nine years ago, when she wanted to offer Batavia something different.
“I wanted kids that weren’t into sports to have another option,” Argenta said. “I truly believe the arts are important for academics and the well-rounded individual.”
Press release:
UR Medicine’s Wilmot Cancer Institute Batavia has added RapidArc technology to its linear accelerator, the machine that delivers beams of high-energy radiation to treat a variety of cancers.
With RapidArc, the radiation beam is shaped and reshaped to tumor’s contours as the treatment is delivered in a seamless 360-degree rotation of the machine. It allows the radiation to be delivered in small, multiple doses with increased precision.
For patients, this means that each treatment will take less time, alleviating the need to hold still for long periods, and the additional precision protects healthy tissue, leading to fewer side effects. This technology can be used for many types of cancer.
“RapidArc is a system that allows this dose to be delivered over a smooth rotation of the machine rather than what we call stop-and-shoot radiation treatment,” says Kevin Mudd, M.D., radiation oncologist at Wilmot Cancer Institute Batavia.
Typically, radiation treatments would require several movements of the treatment gantry, stopping each time to target the next portion of the tumor, which could take 10 minutes or more, Mudd says. RapidArc requires only one or two non-stop rotations of the machine to deliver the same treatment in less time — as little as two to four minutes.
That time difference can be very important for patients, who must lie completely still during treatment.
“Prostate cancer patients, for example, must receive their radiation treatments with a full bladder, and cutting their treatment time in half makes the experience much more comfortable,” says Megan Menzie, RTT, lead radiation therapist.
During its nonstop rotation, RapidArc automatically shapes the radiation beam to fit the contours of the tumor, keeping it tightly focused and protecting nearby healthy tissue. This precision is especially important for patients with head and neck cancers, for example, whose salivary glands, taste buds and spinal cord need to be protected.
“This is the only RapidArc between Buffalo and Rochester, and we’re pretty excited to have it here in Batavia,” Mudd says.
Press release:
The 47th Annual Genesee County 4-H Market Animal Auction will be held Thursday, July 20, at the Genesee County Fair.
The auction begins at 7 p.m. in the main show ring.
Market goats, lambs, steers and hogs raised and shown by local 4-H members will be auctioned by William Kent Inc. Registered buyers are invited to the buyers' dinner catered by the Red Osier Restaurant at 5:30 p.m. in the Kennedy Building on the fairgrounds.
Don’t miss your chance to bid on quality animals raised by 4-H youth.
Parking passes are available at the 4-H office, call 585-343-3040, ext. 101.
An accident, believed to be with minor injuries, is reported in the area of 8703 Lake Street Road, Le Roy.
Le Roy fire and Le Roy ambulance responding.
Traffic is being shut down at West Bergen Road.
Press release:
On Saturday, July 29th there will be a 5K race during the Byron Heritage Day Festival.
Registration is 7 – 8:15 a.m. at Byron Community Park behind the Byron Fire Hall. The registration fee is $15 if paid by July 24th. Registration is $20 on race day. Family and school teams welcome -- discounts available. This race is for ages 8 and older. Rain or shine.
Register online at https://register-this.com/?raceid=20170729BYRN or pick up registration forms at Gillett’s Hardware, located at the Four Corners in Byron -- 6330 Townline Road.
First 30 pre-registered participants receive free T-shirts. The 5K race benefits the Byron Rescue Squad.
For more information call Laura at 585-548-2245.
Press release:
Remember to visit 4-H at the fair! This year’s 4-H fair theme is “4-H Grows Here” and local 4-H’ers have been working hard all year to show the community what 4-H means to them.
Check out the 4-H exhibits, club displays and animal shows at the Genesee County Fair July 17-22, held at the Genesee County Fairgrounds 5056 E. Main Street Road in Batavia. For more information about the Genesee County Fair visit: http://gcfair.com/
2017 Genesee County Fair 4-H Schedule
(Dates and times are subject to change)
Monday, July 17
9 a.m. 4-H Horse Show – English Classes (Horse Ring)
9 a.m. 4-H Goat Show (Show Ring)
11 a.m. 4-H Beef Cattle Show (Show Ring)
12 p.m. 4-H Dairy Cattle Fitting Clinic & Contest
6:30 p.m. Fair Parade – 4-H Theme “4-H Grows Here”
Tuesday, July 18
9 a.m. 4-H Horse Show – Western Classes (Horse Ring)
9 a.m. 4-H Market Hog Show (Show Ring)
12 p.m. 4-H Market Lamb Show (Show Ring)
6 p.m. 4-H Rabbit Show (Merton Building)
6:30 p.m. 4-H Market Steer Show (Show Ring)
Wednesday, July 19
10 a.m. 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest
12 p.m. 4-H Sheep Show (Show Ring)
5 p.m. 4-H Hog Show (Show Ring)
6 p.m. 4-H Poultry Show (Merton Building)
Thursday, July 20
9 a.m. 4-H Horse Show – Gymkhana Classes
9 a.m. 4-H Dairy Cattle Show (Show Ring)
2 p.m. 4-H Goat & Sheep Quiz Bowl Contest (Merton Building)
5:30 p.m. 4-H Market Animal Auction Buyer’s Dinner (Kennedy Building)
7 p.m. 4-H Market Animal Auction (Show Ring)
Friday, July 21
10 a.m. 4-H Beef Cattle Judging Contest
12 p.m. 4-H Livestock Costume Contest (Show Ring)
3 p.m. 4-H Beaded Bracelets Activity with the FCS Club (Kennedy Building)
5:30 p.m. 4-H Tractor Driving Contest
Saturday, July 22
1 p.m. 4-H Goat Obstacle Course Contest
2 p.m. 4-H Bandana Bracelets Activity with FCS Club (Kennedy Building)
2:30 p.m. 4-H Rabbit Knowledge Contest (Merton Building)
4 p.m. 4-H Market Animal Master Showmanship Contest
Full daily events schedule of the Genesee County Fair is available at: http://gcfair.com/Home/FairInformation/DailySchedule.aspx
A two-car accident is reported at Richmond Avenue and State Street. Police are on scene and Mercy medics are called for patient evaluation. City fire is also responding.
UPDATE 1:38 p.m.: City Engine 11 returning to service.
Deer running loose in the City of Batavia -- creating havoc with residents' flower gardens and posing a threat on roadways -- has been a problem of varying degrees in the City of Batavia for the better part of two decades.
So, in the eyes of City Council, any deer management plan that does not include an option to cull the deer population is simply passing the buck (or doe).
On Monday night, council members responded to a report submitted by the Council-appointed Deer Management Task Force that recommends a non-lethal approach to managing the deer population.
During a discussion steered by Council President Eugene Jankowski, the board agreed that more needs to be done to minimize the impact of deer in several parts of the city, notably the Naramore Drive, Clinton Street, South Main Street and Burke Drive areas.
"Did you reach out to the Hawleys and Michalaks (property owners on Bank Street Road in the Town of Batavia), the county or the town to network with them and possibly assist us?," Jankowski asked Mike Freeman, task force chairman, following Freeman's presentation. "I think we need a balanced approach, and I know that the Hawleys and Michalaks are open to assisting us."
Deer herds on those Town of Batavia properties make their way into the city, primarily causing problems in the northeast section of the community.
Councilman John Canale agreed with Jankowski, while noting that he has seen eight or nine deer running through Lambert Park near Burke Drive. Councilman Robert Bialkowski said he is aware of herds on South Main Street, Union Street and at the VA Medical Center and Councilwoman Patti Pacino has received calls about deer on Ross Street.
"There are people who have done everything (to deter the deer from coming on to their property)," Pacino said. "Can't we do better? Isn't there something we can do? In a year and a half, there won't be a tulip on Ross Street."
The task force's report (details were outlined in a story on The Batavian on Monday) focuses on ways to alleviate or prevent "deer-related impacts" -- through an informational link on the city's website and basing its recommendation on survey responses that suggest the issue "did not rise to the attention that a lethal and proactive initiative needed to be undertaken ..."
Freeman, who said the task force did not speak to the Bank Street Road property owners, said residents need to be educated about ways "to keep their property safe and to keep the deer away." He also noted that it is against the law to feed the deer.
As far as hunting deer within the city limits, the task force did not rule that out as long as residents adhere to NYS Environmental Conservation Law, which restricts the discharge of a gun, bow or crossbow within certain distances of residences and buildings.
Task force member Joe Rowbottom of Naramore Drive said he has been dealing with deer in his yard since 2001. He said the best way to cull the herd is during the summer, at night, baiting them and using sharpshooters to take them out.
"But, there is a problem with legality," he said. "You have to get property owners to agree. And who is going to be liable if mistakes are made?"
Jim Rosenbeck, of Lewis Avenue, speaking during the public comments portion of the meeting, said he didn't think it is "realistic" to hunt deer in the city.
"I don't want to see the city get deeply involved in a hunt in the city," he said. "Issuing a permit in the Town, that's the way to do it. Homeowners can come together and go to (speak) to Mr. Hawley."
In the end, Jankowski and Council called for the task force to continue its work by exploring a "combination plan" -- culling, education and enforcement of the law -- that would ultimately involve the Department of Environmental Conservation in the process of issuing permits and butchering the deer (with meat given to local food banks).
"We need a little more research, a couple more options," he said.
In other action, Council passed two resolutions dealing with the community's Comprehensive Plan update -- (1) establishing the City as the lead agency for the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) for the draft Comprehensive Plan and (2) setting a public hearing on the proposed plan for 7 p.m. Aug. 14.
City Manager Jason Molino reported that the City Plannining & Development Committee already has scheduled a public hearing on the matter for July 18.
Once adopted, Molino wrote, the Comprehensive Plan will require zoning code updates consistent with the new plan, adding that the City has money in a committed fund balance to support zoning code updates.
Photo: Mike Freeman, chair of the Deer Management Task Force, addresses City Council on Monday night. Seated at the table in the back are other task force members, from left, Ken Alfes, Joe Rowbottom and Rae Ann Engler. Photo by Mike Pettinella.
A community gathered to come to grips with the loss of one of their own Monday night at Alexander High School in the wake of the death of 17-year-old Brian West Jr.
"We're going to struggle for a while," said Andrew Young, a father of an Alexander student and athlete. "You need to have conversations you’re not used to having. You need talk with your parents. You need to talk with each other. If you don't, you're going to struggle longer than you should."
A group of classmates brought 17 sky lanterns as a way to honor and remember Brian.
"I didn’t know him the best," said one of the girls involved, "but he always had a smile on his face. Since he lived the best 17 years any kid could, we bought 17 paper lanterns."
After a few words by Young and Tim Sawyer, an Alexander teacher and head football coach, the students went down onto the football field and launched the lanterns.
Sawyer encouraged the kids not to take anything for granted.
"What if life were all good?" Sawyer said. "What if we never had an injury? What if we never broke a bone? What if we didn’t have death? What if there was no hunger? What if there were no broken relationships? Would we appreciate any of it? I’m just saying, life is a struggle and we can’t feel cheated by it. I think it’s part of life, and death, it seems final, but if things were good all the time, would we appreciate anything?"
Matt McCracken recalled a game last season just after Brian's grandfather died. The family was devastated, he said, and Brian already had an injured ankle. The opponent that week was Attica, and Brian played.
"He shows up on Friday night and plays the game of his life, and Brian Sr. and Jr., afterward, I’ve never seen a father and son that close, that happy, and that’s something I’ll remember forever," McCracken said.
Then McCracken turned his attention to a group of teens who came through the grades with Brian and pointed to the community of support around them.
"We're a small community and something like this hits us especially hard," McCracken said. "Don’t forget there are people who care about you."
It's important, Sawyer said, that the community supports each other and the community supports the parents of Brian, Brian Sr., and Jen, but in coming together Monday night, they were doing that.
"I don’t know how long this was going on social media that this was going to happen tonight, two or three hours, but there are a couple of hundred people here, and this is a little town," Sawyer said. "This is a little community. People look out for each other. People share other people’s sorrows. Guys, if it was good and happy and rosy all the time, I don’t know that we would all appreciate each other the way we do."
Previously:
A one-vehicle rollover is reported at 24 W. Main St., Corfu.
The car may have struck a house.
There were four occupants in the vehicle. The caller believes all are uninjured.
A chief on scene says Mercy EMS can continue non-emergency.
Corfu fire on scene.
There is a hydrant at the location that was sheared off.
Announcement:
From Governor Andrew M. Cuomo:
Fellow New Yorker,
New York is one of the largest dairy producers in the country, being home to nearly 5,000 dairy farms and more than 600,000 dairy cows.
And the majority of the farms in the state are family-run operations -- that's why it's crucial the state invest in hard working New York families and ensure they have the support they need to succeed.
Tomorrow, I am announcing the details of a new partnership that will create hundreds of new jobs at an idle dairy facility in New York.
Join me tomorrow, July 11th at 12:30 p.m. as I unveil the details of this new investment.
WHAT: Announcing new investment in New York dairy industry
WHEN: Tuesday, July 11th at 12:30 p.m.
WHERE: Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park
5140 Ag Park Drive, Batavia 14020Thank you for your support, ever upward.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
City Council may or may not be contractually obligated to give City Manager Jason Molino a 2.75-percent salary increase for the 2017-18 fiscal year, but, as far as Councilwoman Rose Mary Christian is concerned, the time for across-the-board raises must come to an end.
The subject of Molino's pay hike, which would lift his annual salary to $96,361, was presented to Council at Monday night's Conference meeting. After a few minutes of discussion, it was moved to the board's September business meeting when a vote is expected to take place.
Christian, who has spoken favorably of Molino's job performance on several occasions, said if a raise is warranted she would rather see a specific dollar amount not a percentage.
"I'm not in favor of a raise," she said afterward. "I started (as a council member) with (an) $8 million (budget) in 1992, we're up to $24 million now. It just boggles my mind."
Christian said Molino receives his salary and many perks as well.
"We give a three thousand dollar raise besides all your perks. It's just crazy, OK. We pay him for gas, we pay him for different events that he goes to, any college that he wants to attend as far as somethng to do with our city, any kind of NYCOM meanings, all of his family has health insurance.
"Goodness. There's so many families that can't even put food on the table, let alone everything else."
When asked for her thoughts going forward, she was quick to respond.
"I know what the solution is going to be coming up in 2018 -- nobody's going to get a raise. We're going to be at a standstill. It's going to stay right there, as far as I'm concerned. We've got to have some adjustments. Think about it, there were never any houses that defaulted on their taxes at one time. Now, we have three, four, five a year. And how many (more) are coming this year?"
While Councilman Paul Viele said he agreed with Christian's assessment, Councilman Robert Bialkowski said that Council needs to act consistently with terms of a contract that, he said, enables the City Manager to receive a raise in line with what other city management employees were given.
Noting that Molino scored at least 4.5 out of 5 in various areas of his performance evaluation, Bialkowski said "it is up to us to be responsible and meet our obligations," adding that he doesn't go for "double-crossing on deals."
Council President Eugene Jankowski pointed out that the board is "taking steps to adjust some things in next year's contract ... looking at other ways of compensation."
"We are doing something; it's not falling on deaf ears," he said.
Councilwoman Kathleen Briggs said that positive evaluations don't necessarily result in pay raises, while Councilman John Canale noted that Molino's raise was included in the budget that was passed in the spring.
It was decided to postpone the vote on Molino's raise until September since Jankowski will not be in attendance at the August business meeting.
Brian West Jr. loved people, and people loved him, according to Tim Sawyer, head coach of Alexander High School's football team.
He packed a lot of living into his 17 years, Sawyer said. Friends, family, and football.
Early this morning, Brian West died at Strong Memorial Hospital from injuries sustained in a single-vehicle rollover accident on West Bethany Road on the Bethany/Alexander town line, just yards from his home.
Sawyer wasn't just Brian's coach. He had known him his entire life. Sawyer and Brian's father grew up next door to each other, were best friends and Sawyer also knew Brian's mother since high school and Brian's grandmother is Sawyer's neighbor.
Besides football, Brian liked to hunt and fish and ride ATVs, just like Sawyer and his dad when they were growing up together.
"He was a lot like his dad in that way," Sawyer said.
Brian was one of the nicest kids you could meet.
"I think his relationships meant a lot to him," Sawyer said. "His friends, his teammates, his family. He always had a smile on his face and wanted to have a good time while he was around people."
He was part of the Trojan's first-ever Section V champion team last year. He planned to pursue a career in law enforcement. (Click here for his obituary).
The cause of the accident is under investigation, and with Brian's death, it may be hard to determine. As of last night, investigators said there were few clues at the scene.
Brian was northbound on West Bethany Road and lost control of his Chevy Avalanche after coming over the crest of a hill. The truck swerved, partially left the roadway on the west shoulder, and as Brian seemed to bring it back to the road surface, it flipped over. It may have rolled over twice. Brian was ejected and landed in a neighbor's driveway. He was alert and conscious when first responders arrived and that seemed to provide hope to everybody at the scene that he would survive the crash.
He died this morning at Strong at 5:20 a.m.
Brian was a good football player, Sawyer said. He excelled as a defensive lineman but played mostly as an offensive tackle this past season because of a pre-season ankle injury. Sawyer said he was too valuable on offense to risk playing both ways every game.
"He was almost like a Dustin Schmieder type of kid," Sawyer said. "He wouldn't have come off the field this year for me."
Recently Brian ran a 4.96 40-yard dash.
"We were looking at him possibly playing tight end for us this year," the coach said.
Brian loved athletics and he loved to compete, Sawyer said.
The Alexander football team works out together in the weight room during the offseason, and tonight is no exception.
"We're a really close-knit community and our team is no different," Sawyer said. "As a team, we'll try to wrap our hands around this and I'll talk a little bit about life and how we all leave a legacy, if it's a good one or if it's a bad one. We all have got to make our time count. That's going to be my message to the boys. I'm going to tell them I love them. We lost a big part of our team today and as young men, as men, we've got to be able to deal with that stuff."
Sawyer also spent time today with Brian's parents. Before he went to their house, he said, he spent some time thinking about what he could say. It's hard to know what to say, he acknowledged.
"I said to Brian Sr., 'If God would have said 17 years ago, I will give you a son for 17 years and them I'm going to take him home, I think we would all take that deal if that were a good life, a life worth living,'" Sawyer said. "Maybe that's not the right perspective. I don't know. But he had a good 17 years."
Life doesn't always work in a storybook fashion. Not everything continues along perfectly, Sawyer said.
"As sad as it is, I choose to focus on the positive," Sawyer said. "The boy had a great life. Yes, it’s cut short, but he didn’t get cheated out of his 17 years."
(Submitted photo)
Northern Power Systems, a Vermont-based wind energy company, will host an “Open Turbine Day” at 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on July 21, at Miller Sonshine Acres Farm in Corfu.
Attendees will celebrate the successful operation of two wind turbines on the farm, highlighting significant energy cost savings, as well as getting an up-close look at the turbines.
“This is a great opportunity for those who don’t have it and don’t know how they work,” said Maureen McCracken from Northern Power Systems.
The family-friendly event will be held in conjunction with Buffalo Renewables and the Miller Sonshine Acres Farm, located at 10021 Simonds Road in Corfu.
At the event, attendees will learn about the benefits of wind power and talk to representatives from the companies.
Miller Sonshine Acres Farm has two wind turbines. McCracken said the farm has had one of them for two years and recently installed the other at the end of last year.
McCracken said they will be opening the door to the turbine, for attendees to see how it works.
The turbines that will be shown at the farm are not for home use, but companies do sell smaller wind turbines. At the event, people can learn about financing options. Wind turbines allow people to use wind energy to cut costs, McCracken said.
“In New York, there are good incentives through NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) and the costs for the turbines have decreased,” McCracken said. “Now more than ever, it is easy for people to own a wind turbine.”
Residents can register for the event by July 17 by emailing: info@northernpower.com or by calling 877-906-6784, ext. 6070.
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