The John Gardner Society gathered for the 20th time last night for its annual reading of works by and about John Gardner, the acclaimed novelist originally from Batavia.

This year, Bill Gardner, John's cousin, attended and spoke at the end about a phone call he received from John near the end of his life. He said John was morose and despondent over the state of his writing.

“I want to come back to Genesee County," John told Bill. "I lost my roots."

He wanted Bill to find him a place to live, ideally a Greek revival home. Bill said he there wasn't much around, but he had seen a place in East Bethany, so he went took at it, but found it had been turned into apartments.

John died in a motorcycle accident in Pennsylvania (where he lived) not long after that, but Bill said he was always struck by the fact that John felt he couldn't write because he had strayed too far from home.

"He had lost his touch," Bill said. "He had lost his ability to write and the problem, as he saw it, was that he lost his touch with the land where he grew up and he wanted to come back."

Top photo: Maureen Maas-Feary.

Gretel Kauffman

Byron Hoot, who travels from Pittsburgh each year for the reading.

Helen Maier

Bill Gardner

Timothy Bucknam stands in for Philemon Tracy, the only Confederate officer lain to rest north of the Mason-Dixon line, who is buried in the Batavia Cemetery.

Bucknam provided visitors to the cemetery last night with information on Tracy's life during the Batavia Cemetery Association's annual ghost walk.

Also pictured below are Tracy Ford as poet Rev. John Henry Yates and Patrick Weissend as Joseph Ellicott.

A pair of large obelisks at grave sites in the Batavia Cemetery, which were knocked by falling tree branches in recent years, were placed and positioned on their stands earlier this week by Craig Wolcott and his crew from Wolcott Lawn and Cemetery Maintenance.

The project was funded through a grant from the Rochester Area Community Foundation and a donation by the Landmark Society of Genesee County.

Photos and information from Sharon Burkel.

James Dillon explained to more than a dozen people who attended the open house Saturday night at the new Harvester Makerspace what a makerspace is all about and what they can do there.

Members will have access to a variety of tools to help them turn their ideas into useful items, art or new products to try and bring to market.

The space provides 3D printing, CNC milling, laser cutting and vacuum forming.

Wet and cold and a slippery pigskin defined much of Batavia's opening round game against University Prep at Van Detta Stadium on Friday night.

Batavia pulled out a win, 24-12, after falling behind in a first half 12-8 marked by four fumbles.

In all, both teams would combine for more than 10 turnovers on the rain-soaked night.

U-Prep held Batavia's season-leading rusher, Ray Leach, to less than 40 yards on the ground. He did score the opening touchdown.

It was a tough night for passing, and with Leach pretty well bottled up by U-Prep's defense, Batavia turned to QB Jerry Reinhart to run the ball. He rushed for 66 yards and two touchdowns.

The star of the night was likely Anthony Ray, who had 10 tackles and two sacks, including one for a safety.

To purchase prints, click here.

Alexander roared out of the playoff gate with an impressive 53-0 win over Lyons in the first round of the Section V Class D tournament.

Dane Heberlein led the way for Alexander with 22 carries for 222 yards and four touchdowns. Chris McClinic added 109 yards and a TD on seven carries.

Senior QB P.J. Brennan scored a touchdown on the ground and was six for 12 passing for 109 yards and a two TDs. Brennan has tossed 18 touchdown passes on the year against only two interceptions.

Hauling Brennan's tosses for TDs were Dustin Schmeider and Job Smith.

Hannah Paolucci notched five extra points.

The Trojan defense recovered three fumbles on the night. Erik Scharlau blocked a punt and had five tackles. Schmeider had a sack and five tackles. Zack Jasen had six tackles.

The news wasn't as good out of East Rochester, where Le Roy fell 70-0 in its sectional playoff game. East Rochester's Cameron Cleveland rushed for 249 yards and six TDs on 13 carries. 

Game photos by Rick D. Franclemont.

A caller reports a vehicle on its roof in the area of 6042 Fisher Road, Oakfield.

Unknown if any injuries.

Oakfield fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 8:58 a.m.: Mercy Flight #7 is on a ground standby.

UPDATE 9:01 a.m.: Patient out of the vehicle.

UPDATE 9:05 a.m.: Cancel Mercy Flight.

UPDATE 9:21 a.m.: The road can reopen.

Solidly updated country ranch in great location! This 3 bedroom 2 full bath home has not one thing to do but move in and decorate! Home has been newly remodeled and updated with beautiful hardwood floors! Living room is roomy but cozy and has eye catching brick wall fireplace which looks into pretty maple kitchen with all new stainless appliances and double oven for those that love to cook! This home features a beautiful bright and airy sun room with cathedral ceiling and lots of windows and pretty sliding door which walks out onto one of the three porches!! On almost one acre yard is nicely landscaped with stamped concrete patio work and surrounded with fields! Large workshop off attached garage for hobbyist and oversized high and dry basement! Something for everyone and easy to see!  Click here to view the complete listing for 7973 State Street Road. Call Lynn Bezon at Reliant Real Estate today at 585-344-4663!

Shawn T. Rushok is indicted for the crime of first-degree sexual abuse, a Class D violent felony. It is alleged that between Dec. 15 and April 24 in the Town of Le Roy, that Rushok subjected another person to sexual contact when that person was under age 11. In count two, the defendant is accused of endangering the welfare of a child, a Class A misdemeanor. It is alleged in count two that between those dates Rushok knowingly acted in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical, mental or moral welfare of a child less than 17 years old. In count three, the defendant is accused of the crime of first-degree sexual abuse for allegedly subjecting another person to sexual conduct by forcible compulsion on April 24. In count four, Rushok is accused of endangering the welfare of a child on April 24 for allegedly knowingly acting in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical, mental or moral welfare of a child less than 17. The crimes in counts two, three and four also allegedly also took place in the Town of Le Roy.

Press release:

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and, as often as domestic violence is discussed during October, there is often one missing component in the message.

“Domestic violence is a devastating social problem that affects every segment of the population. Children are considered secondary victims of domestic violence and this is not the case,” says YWCA’s Support Services coordinator Sherry Crumity. “Children often hear and see violence at home, and through that exposure they have emotional, mental and social damage that can affect their developmental growth.”

That was the message during YWCA’s annual Partner Agency Breakfast Wednesday at the nonprofit’s North Street site. The event is a way to recognize those people that work in law enforcement, legal and justice systems, government, business and human service fields to help reduce domestic violence in the community.

Why the focus on children? Since 2015, two dozen victims and 46 children have sought safe housing at YWCA’s shelter. That means 46 little lives have all been touched by domestic violence right here in Genesee County this past year alone. Nationally, one in 15 kids is exposed to intimate partner violence each year and 70 percent of abusers seeking treatment witnessed domestic violence as a child.

This type of violence does not happen in a vacuum, said Dr. Alisa Hathaway of Project Stronger at Mount Hope Family Center. She explained it simply after a video showed one young girl’s sadness due to the abuse in her home.

“She feels invisible,” Hathaway said to the audience of about 50 people. “There’s not something wrong with her but what has happened to her.”

Children exposed to domestic violence exhibit signs of aggression, anxiety, stress, destruction of property, depression, bedwetting, challenging authority, headaches and/or nightmares, Crumity said.

Since services for children began at YWCA earlier this year, seven out of 10 have met the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder. It can be a long-lasting struggle, she said. She has worked with adult clients who have gotten “stuck” at the age they first witnessed domestic violence.

“Children who have witnessed domestic violence often have confused and contradictory feelings.  When the violence happens, children may feel scared and ashamed, or they may even think that they caused the problem,” she said. “Worse, they can grow up thinking that it's okay to hurt others or let other people hurt them.”

While most people are aware that domestic violence may include emotional, verbal, physical, sexual and even financial abuse, trauma and its signs may not be as obvious. Trauma is one’s response to a perceived threat to survival or emotional well-being. Even if a child seems “fine” on the outside, that doesn’t mean he or she is truly emotionally stable, Hathaway said.

In fact, care providers need to pay attention to those kids in particular, she said. They can be feeling shutdown, numb and separated from normal life, and therefore pull away from activities and relationships.

Crumity believes that it’s crucial for partner agencies, which also include health care professionals, schools and churches, to be trained in trauma-informed care and the effects domestic violence has on children.

“This way they are able to identify and refer families to services,” she said. “The training conducted today by Dr. Hathaway was a major step in addressing the gaps in services for children exposed to domestic violence.”

What to do? Hathaway offered some “essential elements” for providing this type of care:

• Recognize the impact trauma has had on a child;
• Help the child to feel safe and understand his or her problem behaviors;
• Respect and support the child’s positive, stable relationships;
• Be an advocate for the child and encourage trauma-focused assessment and treatment.

There is another element that is the anchor to all of these suggestions, Hathaway said.

“Take care of yourself,” she said. “It is equally important that trauma care providers take care of themselves.”

For more information about domestic violence and YWCA’s services, call (585) 343-5808 or YW’s 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline at (585) 343-7513.

Press release:

Eugene Jankowski Jr., of Batavia, president of the Batavia City Council and a former Batavia Police officer, and has just returned from hosting Season 1 of "Shot to the Heart" reality TV show.

“The crew and contestants were great to work with and it’s one of the top 10 most fun projects I've ever been involved with!” Jankowski said.

"Shot to the Heart" is the brainchild of Stephanie Shipman and is produced by the Shipman Agency. Filmed on location in Texas, it's an outdoor television original and the first of its kind in reality outdoor programming.

A true outdoor-oriented reality show, based on the couples' abilities in the outdoors. Think "Survivor" meets "The Apprentice" outdoor style!

The show features couples that are experienced in various outdoor disciplines. They will compete in events that range from shooting sports, various hunting techniques, wilderness survival, trekking and sporting challenges. Only one couple will emerge the Champion.

The program will air mid-January on the BLAZETV network, check your local listings for times.

For more information and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the show, click here.

Eugene can be found here.

Turning math into playtime was the theme of Family Fun Night at Jackson School last night. 

The elementary schoolchildren and their parents were given a booklet with math problems to solve, and then they went through various game boards to help them solve those problems.

Prizes were award to students who successfully filled in their booklet with the correct answers.

In Connors and Ferris Bowl play on Thursday, Pembroke notched one more victory for 2016, making it a total of four against four losses, by beating Notre Dame, 20-0.

In a rain-soaked game, there were only six pass attempts between the two teams, so the ground game dominated, and Pembroke dominated on the ground, with Zachary von Kramer rushing for 188 yards on 33 attempts and two TDs for the Dragons. Nick Clark added another 44 yards on a single run that went for a score. 

Jordon Weatherwax gained 51 yards on 16 carries for Notre Dame. 

Notre Dame's Caleb Wolcott led all defensive players with 12 tackles. Jim Zickl added seven tackles for the Irish.

For Pembroke, Von Kramer had eight tackles and Brian Seweryniak added seven and a sack. Jarrod Carrow had an interception.

In the area's other Connors and Ferris Bowl game, Perry/Mt. Morris beat Oakfield-Alabama/Elba, 27-0.

Section V playoffs begin tonight. The #1 seed in Class B, Batavia, hosts University Prep, coming in at #8, at Van Detta Stadium tonight. Game time is 7 p.m. Alexander, the #1 seed in Class D, also has a 7 p.m. home game against Lyons. 

Pembroke/Notre Dame game photos by Rick D. Franclemont. 

A storm passing through Western New York today could bring as much as two inches of rain to Genesee County, according to the National Weather Service.

A flash flood watch has been issued locally because of the potential for rapidly rising water in populated areas, especially along feeder streams.

The watch is in effect until 4 p.m.

The NWS reports that an elongated low-pressure zone over West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania is directing widespread soaking rain to zones north from the Southern Tier across the Genesee River Valley and Finger Lakes to the Eastern Lake Ontario region.

Press release:

Diana Kastenbaum, the Democratic Congressional Candidate for NY-27, has called upon Rep. Chris Collins to step forward and declaratively disavow Trump’s recent statements that the election is rigged. As a an elected official himself, Mr. Collins should persuade Mr. Trump that he should accept the outcome of the election if Secretary Clinton wins. That is what we know in this country as a peaceful transfer of power. That “peaceful” transfer of power is the very essence of what a democracy is all about.

“There used to be civility amongst opponents running for public office. However, the tone the Trump campaign and all of its surrogates have set forth, including Mr. Collins, is anything but civil. The time has come for all patriotic Republicans to speak out against this unprecedented attack on our core beliefs and our fair election process.”

Legislators are faced with a number of hard choices as the county's 2017 budget comes together.

Increases in mandated spending, increases in personnel expenses, flat sales tax revenue and unsettled questions about expenses related to the soon-to-be-former Genesee County Nursing Home means the county needs to raise more money than allowed by the tax levy cap.

County Jay Gsell laid out several options for the legislators, except one, but Chairman Ray Cinifrinit put it on the table: Voting to override the tax cap limit.

To override, the Legislators would have to hold a public hearing and then vote on a resolution. That would have to be done before completion of the budget process, so approving the resolution wouldn't necessarily mean there would be a tax increase above the cap amount.

"I'm suggesting that we at least pass the resolution," Cianfrini said. "That's just good planning."

Gsell said he won't submit a budget proposal, which is due within 48 hours, that includes a tax increase above the cap amount.

The formula for figuring the cap takes into account the $14 million in increased assessed value for real property in the county, but the county can only use a portion of that increase for any pre-cap increase in the levy.

If the county were to raise no more money from the levy than in 2016, it would put the tax rate for the county at $9.69 per thousand of assessed value.

The rate can't go past $9.86 to stay under the levy cap. 

If Gsell accepted all of the funding requests by various county departments, which by direction were already frugal requests, the tax rate would be $10.27.

To get the rate down to at least $9.86, Gsell said there will be no new hires for county staff, except two new corrections officers, and he's looking at using $1 million from the county's reserves, as well as diverting 1 percent of the sales tax that would normally go to next year's capital projects (think roads and bridges), for another $800,000 in savings. He's also cutting 10 percent from all non-mandated services, except for mental health related services, Genesee Community College and the Chamber of Commerce (the tourism office helps generate revenue for the county and gets funding from the hotel bed tax).

Here's the list of programs and agencies slated for a 10 percent cut from their funding requests:

• GO-ART!
• Business Education Alliance
• Cornell Cooperative Extension
• Holland Land Office Museum
• Housing Initiative Committee
• Genesee County Economic Development Center
• Libraries
• Mercy Flight
• Soil & Water Conservation District

Legislator Andrew Young expressed concern about the county once again dipping into reserve funds to balance a budget. He noted that practice can't last forever. He is also concerned about diverting funds from capital projects when the county is looking at a $15 million bill for road and bridge repairs over the next five years.

So take those two revenue diversions off the table, that leaves Legislators with two big options -- raise taxes above the levy cap, or go to what Gsell called "the nuclear option," the "scorched earth policy."

That option is completely eliminating a service the county currently provides but isn't mandated by state law. Those options include closing county parks and eliminating the road patrol deputies in the Sheriff's Office.

Such drastic cuts could also include elimination all funding for the nine programs and services listed above.

"If they (the legislators) don't like what I recommend in terms of how the revenues are put together," Gsell said after the meeting, "that's when I have to go back to the expense side of the equation and get rid of $1 million to $2 million worth of expenses."

But Gsell warned legislators that drastic cuts will certainly bring about intense pushback from the community.

"We tried that with Genesee Justice a few years ago and I believe there were 200-plus people at a public hearing over in the court facility," Gsell said. "Everybody and the kitchen sink came in and said that's the worse thing the county has ever thought of, let alone tried to do as far as county government goes. So that's just a caution."

The two-and-a-half hour meeting Wednesday also included a lengthy discussion about how to eliminate some of the overtime costs within the Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Gary Maha, Undersheriff William Sheron (top photo), Chief Deputy Gordon Dibble and Jail Superintendent William Zipfel participated in the conversation.

The two main areas of overtime expense are deputies in training with their four-hour daily commute to and from basic training in either Niagara Falls or Monroe County and prisoner transport of female inmates between Genesee County, which doesn't have a jail that can house female inmates, and the jails in the area that can accept female prisoners.

Currently, deputies are taken off of road patrol for transports.

The Sheriff's Office budget requested three new corrections officers to handle the transports, but the discussion headed toward a proposal to hire two new corrections officers and find retired law enforcement officers to work part-time help with transports.

County Attorney Charles Zambito, soon-to-be County Judge Zambito, said once he's judge he can probably make sure the calendar is adjusted to ensure prisoners to be transported are scheduled for appearances in batches, reducing the number of transport trips. 

Jail expense is also going up, Zipfel said, because of the changing demographics of the jail population. There is more time and expense with medical transportation and dealing with mental health issues, including more one-on-one watches for inmates who may be suicidal.

"The jail population is aging and getting sicker with every month that goes by," Zipfel said. "We're encountering more people who have drug and alcohol addictions, more people who are older. We've had several people recently in their 70s and 80s who are getting sentenced because of drug and alcohol addictions."

The legislature will meet again on the budget next Wednesday.

Batavia Town Supervisor Gregory Post sees himself as "a merit-based guy" -- someone who believes in rewarding those whose job performances consistently exceed the expectation of the Town Board.

"And we have those type of people here," he said. "Employees who come in early and stay late, who have a high level of expertise, and who warrant a level of compensation that will enable us to recruit the best people and retain them."

But, Post is also a realist, and he has come to the realization that the town's contribution to staff health insurance premiums has reached a tipping point.

The supervisor fielded health insurance-related questions on Wednesday night, following the board's favorable vote on a resolution that mandates that the town pay up to 95 percent of the monthly premiums for its employees for 2017.

Rates under the Blue Cross Blue Shield Gold Standard Plan that the town will be purchasing range from $456 per month for an employee-only plan to $1,300 per month for a family plan. Employees hired prior to Sept. 18, 2013 will contribute 5 percent of the monthly cost and those hired after Sept. 17, 2013 will contribute 25 percent.

All told, the town is projecting in the neighborhood of $250,000 in health insurance premium costs.

"Traditionally the town's compensation package has been to provide health insurance, but eventually we will have to find something less expensive (to the town) and less generous (to its employees)," Post said, adding that the current formula is "unsustainable."

 "The staff is already aware that this will be addressed in 2017. Workshops will start in December."

Post said he expects health insurance costs to go up about 2 percent in 2017, although the tentative budget allows for a 12-percent increase to cover possible changes in employee status throughout the year. He said the board will be negotiating with both union (Batavia Town Employees Union) and non-union employees to come up with a more equitable payment plan.

When asked about the level of compensation throughout the town's organization, Post said that salary, health insurance, pension contributions, vacation time, etc., factor into the pay scale.

"One thing that stands out is that the staff here is the community's biggest asset," he said. "We've seen a 40-percent increase in the assessed value in this town over the past 10 years. The return on our investment (to employees) has been tremendous."

In a related development, Post shared a report from Daniel Lang, codes official, that indicated the town has received a more favorable rating from the Insurance Services Office, action that could lead to reduced liability insurance premiums for homeowners and business owners. This new rating, from a 9 to a 4 (the best score is 1), is for all one- and two-family dwellings and for all commercial and industrial buildings in the town.

The ISO is an organization that tracks property and casualty insurance risk, evaluates and rates a community’s ability to handle fires.

In other action, the board:

-- Set public hearings for Nov. 9 in connection with sewer rates (7 p.m.) water rates (7:05 p.m.) and the town budget (7:30 p.m.) for 2017.

The proposed rates for Sewer Districts No. 1 and No. 2 in the town are $6.13 per 1,000 gallons, a 10-percent increase from the 2016 rates. The water rates would go up by about 3 percent, with the base rate set at $5.10 per 1,000 gallons and the agriculture rate set at $3.73 per 1,000 gallons.

As previously reported first on The Batavian, the town's projected tax rate for 2017 is $2.64 per thousand of assessed valuation, up from the $1.42 rate in 2016. The tentative budget calls for a tax levy of $1 million.

Per public hearing notice guidelines, proposed salaries for the elected public officials in the town are as follows:

Supervisor -- $30,000
Deputy Supervisor -- $15,000
Councilpersons (3) -- $10,000
Town Clerk/Tax Collector -- $66,229
Highway Superintendent -- $18,035
Town Justices (2) -- $25,235

-- Transferred $89,600 from the unappropriated unexpended fund balance to cover additional equipment, water meter and meter reading instruments for both water and sewer districts in 2016.

-- Allocated $9,237 as the town's share to support Genesee County school districts' 2017 summer recreation programs. Batavia will receive $3,442, followed by Pembroke ($2,080), Oakfield-Alabama ($997), and Elba, Byron-Bergen and Alexander ($906 each).

Deputy Supervisor Dan Underhill (due to the death of his father, David) and Councilwoman Patti Michalak were absent.