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Accident with injuries reported on Route 98 in Alexander

By Howard B. Owens

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported at Alexander Road and Peaviner Road, Alexander.

Alexander fire and Alexander's ambulance are dispatched.

UPDATE 8:54 a.m.: This is a three-car accident. Mercy EMS also requested to the scene.

Photos: Lake effect snow falling on Batavia (UPDATED)

By Howard B. Owens

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We've had a few hours now of steady, lake effect snow with a brisk wind, but accumulations are a couple of inches at best. A lake effect snow advisory remains in effect through tomorrow.

UPDATE 6:45 p.m.: A lake effect snow warning is now in effect for Genesee County. A band of lake effect snow is expected to drop snow at a rate of one to two inches an hour. No ETA for when the warning will be lifted or what the total storm accumulation might be.

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Rollover accident reported on Warsaw Road, Le Roy

By Howard B. Owens

Rollover accident reported at 9536 Warsaw Road, Le Roy.

Unknown injuries.

That's at the corner of Warsaw Road and Cole Road.

Le Roy fire and Le Roy ambulance dispatched.

Photos: Retirement party for Sheriff Gary Maha

By Howard B. Owens

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More than 350 people attended Sheriff Gary Maha's retirement party at Batavia Downs on Saturday night and Maha was feted with more than a dozen gifts, certificates and plaques. 

Maha started his career in law enforcement as a dispatcher and film processor for the State Police 50 years ago. After a year with the State Police, the undersheriff of Genesee County invited Maha to apply for a deputy's position and he's been with the Sheriff's Office ever since.

He never set out to become sheriff, he said, and when Doug Call announced his retirement, he thought the appointment by Gov. Mario Cuomo would go to a fellow Democrat, but based on Call's recommendation (Call was a Democrat), Maha was appointed to the position. Maha never faced any opposition in any election.

Maha's final term ends Dec. 31 and Undersheriff William Sheron will become sheriff.

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Livingston County Sheriff Thomas J. Dougherty presents a plaque to Maha.

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The County's Deputy Sheriff's Association presented Maha with a Smith & Wesson .38 revolver, exactly like the one he would have carried as his first service revolver. They also presented him with an updated permit to include the revolver.

Pole struck by vehicle on Route 20, Darien

By Howard B. Owens

There are no injuries in an accident in the area of 2276 Broadway Road, but the vehicle struck a utility pole and the utility pole snapped in half.

Darien fire is dispatched.

UPDATE 2:09 p.m.: Alexander fire requested to Route 20 and Alexander Darien Townline Road to shut down westbound traffic.

Stabbing reported on Tracy Avenue in the city

By Billie Owens

A person has reportedly been stabbed at 4 Tracy Ave. City police and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 4:45 p.m., Sunday (by Howard): We requested an update from Batavia PD. No new information. Still under investigation.

Lake effect snow possible starting early Sunday morning

By Howard B. Owens

A lake effect snow advisory has been issued starting at 1 a.m. and lasting until 7 p.m., Monday.

The region for the possible snowstorm includes Genesee County.

From two to four inches of snow are possible on Sunday and a storm total of three to six inches is predicted.

Winds will be 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45, creating blowing and drifting snow.

Travel precautions are advised.

Brush fire reported on Britt Road

By Howard B. Owens

A brush fire is reported at 6364 Britt Road, Stafford.

The fire is near a tractor and/or a garage.

Stafford fire is dispatched.

Sponsor recognizes youth bowler for his perfect game

By Mike Pettinella

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PRIZE FOR PERFECTION: Bill Hayes, left, owner of Turnbull Heating & Air and sponsor of the Turnbull Heating Junior Bowling program at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia, presents a $100 gift card from Dick's Sporting Goods this morning to Jordan Fluker, the 19-year-old Batavian who rolled a 300 game last Saturday in league competition.

"This is a worthy accomplishment -- something to be proud of and something that can carry you forward to future success," Hayes said, as parents and youth bowlers looked on during a brief presentation.

A story about the achievement can be found by clicking on the Pin Points link at the top of the home page. Photo by Mike Pettinella.

Photos: HLOM Wonderland of Trees Gala 2016

By Howard B. Owens

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Friday evening the Holland Land Office Museum hosted its annual Wonderland of Trees Gala.

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Anne Marie Starowitz with the manger she grew up with, now on display at HLOM. The ceramic set was a gift to her family from a local priest. The photo on the table, lower right, is her as a little girl with the manger.

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Photos: Set up underway for second Foxprowl-Con at Clarion Hotel

By Howard B. Owens

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Bill Hume, his staff, and volunteers bring back Foxprowl-Con to the Clarion Hotel this week.

The premier event last year drew dozens of vendors and big crowds and Hume said this year's comic convention will be even bigger with more vendors, more stars, and more attendees.

The convention opens this evening and continues through Saturday and Sunday.

For more information, visit the event's website.

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Local law enforcement to be on the look out for DWI over Thanksgiving weekend

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

Genesee County STOP-DWI Coordinator Matt Landers announced today that the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, City of Batavia Police Department and the Village of Le Roy Police Department will participate in a special enforcement effort to crackdown on impaired driving.

This Thanksgiving weekend, millions will hit the roads eager to spend time with family and friends. It’s one of the busiest travel times of the year, and unfortunately more people on the roadways means the potential for more vehicle crashes. During the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in 2014, 341 passenger vehicle occupants were killed in traffic crashes across the nation. In a combined effort to stop impaired driving, prevent injuries and save lives, law enforcement officers across New York State will take to the roads. The statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown efforts start on Nov. 23rd and will end on Nov. 27th. New York State Police, County Sheriff and municipal law enforcement agencies across the state will be out in force.

Research shows that high-visibility enforcement can reduce impaired driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent. Sobriety checkpoints play a key part in raising awareness about the problem. Batavia Police Chief Shawn Heubusch states, “Thanksgiving is a time to spend with loved ones, make sure that you drink responsibly and have a plan so that all families can be together this holiday weekend.”

The STOP-DWI Thanksgiving Weekend Crackdown is one of many statewide enforcement initiatives promoted by the New York State STOP-DWI Association with additional funding from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and implemented by the STOP-DWI Foundation. Throughout the remainder of the year the Statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign will also target the national Holiday Season in December.

While STOP-DWI efforts across New York have led to significant reductions in the numbers of alcohol and drug related fatalities, still too many lives are being lost because of crashes caused by drunk or impaired drivers. Highly visible, highly publicized efforts like the STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving Weekend!

Law and Order: Le Roy resident accused of selling oxycodone

By Howard B. Owens
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     Robert Kingsbury

Robert C. Kingsbury, 39, of East Main Road, Le Roy, is charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd, and one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd. Kingsbury is accused of selling a quantity of oxycodone to an agent of the Local Drug Task Force. He was arrested Thursday by members of the task force with assistance from Le Roy PD. He was arraigned and ordered held without bail.

Jonathan E. Seiger, 55, and Scott H. Spencer, 52, both of West Main Road, Stafford, are charged with one count each of grand larceny, 4th, and identity theft, 2nd. Seiger and Spencer are accused of unlawfully possessing and using a debit card of a friend. The men were also charged with 11 counts of criminal possession of stolen property, 4th, and conspiracy, 5th. Between Aug. 5 and 15, the duo allegedly used the debit card at an ATM machine, along with the friend's PIN identification, to withdraw $1,660. They were jailed on $2,500 each.     

Cassandra Marie Neal, 32, of Lapp Road, Fillmore, is charged with first-degree perjury and filing a false instrument, 1st. Neal was called upon to testify before a grand jury about an alleged domestic incident in Genesee County Park in 2015. Neal allegedly lied about the incident during her testimony. She also allegedly filed a false instrument with the Sheriff's Office. She was arraigned in City Court and released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

Gregory Joseph Rodak, 32, of Winterroth Street, Rochester, is charged with felony DWI and felony driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and driving left of pavement markings. Rodak was reportedly involved in a two-car accident at 8:11 p.m. Thursday on Townline Road, Bergen. Deputy Kevin Forsyth reports he detected the odor of alcohol and that Rodak admitted to drinking earlier. Rodak submitted to a field sobriety test. He has a prior conviction for DWI within the past 10 years, leading to the felony charges.

ARC officially opens new enclosed area for recycling customers and staff

By Howard B. Owens

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Customer service is going to improve quite a bit with the new enclosed recycling center for ARC Genesee Orleans, just by the fact that people will no longer be forced to stand outside in the snow while visiting the center, said Donna Saskowski, executive director.

"It's just a little more customer friendly in terms of having it enclosed for our customers and our staff," Saskowski said.

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce joined the grand opening event last night for a ribbon cutting.

The entire ARC facility, located at 3785 W. Main Street Road, employs 26 clients of the nonprofit organization, which assists people with disabilities.

"That's 26 people who are able to earn a regular paycheck and feel good about themselves," Saskowski said. 'The fact they are employed and communicate and work in a community is really important to them, so it's important to us."

The facility recycles not only bottles and cans, but e-waste and documents and includes a document-shredding service.

"That’s why we call it a one-stop," Saskowski said. "People can come in and get all done in one place, all in one errand."

Photo: Scott O'Geen, Paul Saskowski, Donna Saskowski, Tom Turnbull and Scott Shea.

Batavia Urology announces new prostate treatment available locally

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

Batavia Urology today announced that its first patients have been treated with the UroLift® System, an innovative new treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also known as enlarged prostate. The UroLift System is designed to relieve symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate, while preserving sexual function.

Delivered during a minimally invasive procedure, the UroLift permanent implants act like window curtain tie-backs to hold the lobes of an enlarged prostate open. Patients recover from the procedure quickly, and return to their normal routines with minimal downtime. The cost of the UroLift System procedure is covered by Medicare in New York.

“We are committed to providing patients with the highest-quality, most effective options to address their urology needs,” said Jason Donovan, P.A., who was present for the first procedure. “The UroLift System has an excellent safety profile and provides men suffering from an enlarged prostate a beneficial first-line treatment alternative to drug therapy or more invasive surgery. Importantly, the UroLift System provides fast and meaningful relief from BPH symptoms, improving overall quality of life for our patients.”

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also known as enlarged prostate, affects more than 37 million men in the United States alone. Twelve times more common than prostate cancer, BPH occurs when the prostate gland that surrounds the male urethra becomes enlarged with advancing age and begins to obstruct the urinary system. Approximately one in four men experience BPH-related symptoms by age 55, with 90 percent of men over 70 symptomatic.

Data from clinical trials showed that patients receiving UroLift implants reported rapid symptomatic improvement, improved urinary flow rates, and sustained sexual function. Patients also experienced a significant improvement in quality of life. Most common adverse events reported include hematuria, dysuria, micturition urgency, pelvic pain, and urge incontinence. Most symptoms were mild to moderate in severity and resolved within two to four weeks after the procedure.

Top Items on Batavia's List

The Batavia Housing Authority is seeking a positive, hardworking teammate to perform a variety of outdoor landscaping tasks, primarily mowing, with some trimming and cleanup work. The Groundskeeper is independently responsible for outdoor landscaping tasks on a weekly basis with some flexibility. This job may require some weekend hours when necessary. Part-time position Pay Range: $19.00/hr - $22.00/hr Anticipated start date: May 2024 Application deadline: April 29, 2024 See full job description at: https://www.co.genesee.ny.us/Groundskeeper.pdf Complete Civil Service Application at: https://cms1files.revize.com/geneseecountynew/CivilServiceApplication2022Revision-09.22.22.pdf Contact Information Nathan Varland Executive Director Batavia Housing Authority 400 East Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020 (585) 344-1888 nvarland@bataviahousing.org Location: Batavia
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Seasonal cook at Stafford Country Club. Immediate start, great work environment, competitive pay! Please send resumes to: HR@Staffordcc.com
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For Rent - Lower 1 Bedroom Apartment Private country setting, lower one bedroom apartment with all appliances and parking. Sunroom with gas fireplace and patio. Includes water and heat. NEW LOWER PRICE! $1000/Month plus electric. No pets, no smoking. References and security deposit required. Available June 1st, 2024. Call 585-344-3141.
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