A 64-year-old woman living in Batavia has been arrested on suspicion of selling controlled substances following an investigation by the Local Drug Task Force.

Linda P. Thomas, of West Main Street, is charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd, criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd, criminal sale of a controlled substance, 5th, and criminal sale of a controlled substance, 5th.

Thomas is accused of selling hydrocodone to an agent of the Local Drug Task Force and alprazolam to an agent on two other occasions.

Thomas was arraigned in County Court and released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

Strong winds are expected to start tonight at 8 p.m. and a high wind warning and hazardous weather outlook statement has been issued by the National Weather Service for Genesee County and most of Western New York.

Winds of 40 mph with gusts of 60 to 65 mph are forecast.

The warning is effect until 1 p.m. tomorrow.

Damaging winds could bring down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles.

The weather service urges people to avoid being outside and around trees and branches. The statement urges residents to remain in the lower levels of homes and to avoid windows.

O’Lacy’s Irish Pub & Eli Fish Brewing Company have worked together and created a custom-made beer, hoping to show the public and business community that its not always about competing, but when you work together, both businesses can benefit!

On Tuesday, Nov. 5th , 5-9 p.m., O’Lacy’s Irish Pub will be hosting a kick-off party for the new hazelnut porter that has been custom made for O’Lacy’s Irish Pub by Eli Fish Brewing Company.

The collaboration was inspired as Kent Ewell (owner, O’Lacy’s), Chris Hoffman (bartender at O’Lacy’s) and Matt Gray (wwner, Eli Fish) were discussing the large amount of draft beer that O’Lacy’s sells.

“We should make you your own custom brew,” Gray said. “You pick the type (lager, ale etc.) and flavor if you wish and we can make it."    

After reviewing what was currently on tap at O’Lacy’s, Ewell chose a hazelnut porter, which is named appropriately, “Old Sod Hazelnut Porter.”

After sampling the test batch, Ewell said, “I think this is very unique and something people will enjoy.” 

At Tuesday's kick-off party, pints will be on special for $3.50. Come on out and try the new “Old Sod Hazelnut Porte,r” which pairs perfectly with O’Lacy’s Reuben sandwich and famous homemade chips and dip.

The Pembroke Girls Volleyball Team won their first-round playoff game Wednesday, beating Letchworth 3 sets to 1.

The win sends the Lady Dragons to a quarterfinals match against Bloomfield at Bloomfield at 6 p.m., Saturday.

Pembroke took the first two sets against Letchworth 25-21 each, dropped the third set 25-17, and won the forth and match 25-19.

Dekari Moss had 14 kills and seven digs; Oliva Mets, 17 assists; and Allie Schwerthaffer and Trinity Humel each had seven digs.

A former parolee from Rochester accused of murdering a good Samaritan on Ross Street at the end of May refused to appear in court today for an evidentiary hearing and Judge Charles Zambito set a new hearing date and ordered deputies to bring him in by force next time if necessary.

Quinten Edmonds is being held at the Genesee County Jail while awaiting trial. He is accused of killing Michael R. Paladino, 43, after Paladino reportedly saw Edmonds hitting a woman, who had been a passenger in the Rochester man's car, outside of Paladino's apartment on Ross Street.

A grand jury has indicted Edmunds on second-degree murder, a Class A-1 felony. 

Batavia Police Chief Shawn Heubusch said after the incident that their investigation indicated that Edmonds was in a vehicle in the City when an argument began between Edmonds and at least one of the two women in the vehicle with him. The vehicle stopped on Ross Street and the argument continued outside the vehicle.

Emergency dispatchers received a call of the disturbance at 5/7 Ross St. at 12:44 a.m.

Paladino suffered multiple stab and cut wounds to his upper torso and head and collapsed in the entryway of his apartment. He was transported by Mercy EMS to UMMC. He was pronounced dead at 5:05 a.m. by Coroner Don Coleman.

The women in the vehicle fled the scene right away and a police officer saw a vehicle driving erratically and stopped it in the parking lot just east of St. Joseph School.

Edmonds is next expected in court at 3 p.m., Dec. 12.

Benjamin Santiago Jr.

A man accused of entering an apartment on Ellicott Street and attacking the resident with a hammer before stealing property and a credit card and then stealing a truck from another person appeared in Genesee County Court today and accepted a plea bargain he had previously turned down.

With the guilty plea in the assault and robbery case, Benjamin Santiago Jr., 30, is facing a prison term of eight to 20 years.

Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 5 at 2 p.m.

At 9:15 p.m., June 2, Santiago entered the apartment of a person he knew on Ellicott Street and demanded money. When he didn't get it, he attacked the man with a hammer, then stole items and fled on a bicycle he had stolen earlier in the day from a location on Bank Street.

He then located a 2010 Ford F150 Lariat super cab truck belonging to a third victim and fled to Rochester, where he was located and arrested by police there.

Santiago had rejected a similar plea offer before the case was referred to the grand jury.

He came into court facing an eight-count indictment, including first-degree robbery and a first-degree assault, and with the previous plea offer no longer on the table; however, after a conference with Judge Charles Zambito, Santiago was allowed to enter the plea under the same conditions as the previous offer.

Santiago has been arrested previously in and around Batavia, including a case involving problems at a local hotel that led to a multi-agency manhunt 2011. The two brothers in the case were later accused of trying to hire somebody to kill Santiago. Eventually, that case led to a prison term for Santiago. He was most recently accused of stealing $800 in tools from Crocker's Ace Hardware in Le Roy.

The Batavia Society of Artists is hosting artist Rebecca Maynard from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12th, at GO ART!, located in the historic Seymour Place building at 201 E. Main St., Batavia.

She will be doing a hands-on demonstration of acrylic pour on Christmas ornaments and tiles.

If anyone would like to do more than one ornament each the cost is $5 per ornament. Non-members are welcome with a $5 fee.

Demo will consist of different acrylic pouring methods. It will be a hands-on event, with each person pouring their own Christmas bulb and a ceramic tile.

Maynard will demonstrate the flip cup, dirty pour and swipe methods and then participants will get to work and have some fun.

It is a very low stress and fun way to paint.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) responds to legislation introduced by Sen. Kevin Parker -- S.6821 -- that would allow locked-up felons the right to vote.

“This is a shameful display of governance that’s insulting not only to law-abiding citizens across New York, but members of law enforcement and the criminal justice system who worked diligently to get these dangerous predators off the street. 

“We are a nation of laws, but it has become crystal clear that New York City politicians believe those laws shouldn’t apply to illegal aliens, criminals or prison inmates – all of which should be held accountable and should face punishments. 

“The challenges facing our state are vast and diverse, but none of them should include making life easier for rapists, murderers and pedophiles. First it was free iPads for prisoners, next it was voting rights for parolees, then it was no bail requirement for accused drug dealers and felons, and now voting rights for inmates. 

“There’s a runaway train in New York tossing giveaways and luxuries to criminals, inmates and illegals and it's being conducted by Gov. Cuomo and New York City radicals.”

Press release:

Recently the United Way of Genesee County created a Women United group.

While the United Way campaigns for funding to subsidize viable and critically needed programming in our community, the Women United group will campaign for items to help alleviate additional needs that our agencies are experiencing with their clients.

Our Women United group is collecting winter garments on Wednesday, Nov. 20^th. This date is to be considered our debut Day of Sharing.

Affordable winter garments continue to be in short supply and many agencies find their clients will go without. Please consider sharing the warmth this winter by donating new or gently used coats, snowpants, snowsuits, hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, thermal socks, and infant car seat covers.

The Women Unite group would appreciate any and all efforts you can extend prior to Nov. 20^th to collect winter wear items that are needed.

Collected items can be delivered within two different time slots -- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. & 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. -- on Nov. 20^th to one of three drop-off sites:

• United Way office parking lot -- 29 Liberty St., Batavia
• Liberty Pumps parking lot -- 7000 Appletree Ave., Bergen
• Boy Scouts of America -- 102 S. Main St., Oakfield

Items will be dispersed to those in greatest need through nonprofit agencies in Genesee County on a waiting list basis.

If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to reach out. Email United Way Executive Director Tammy S. Hathaway at:   tammy.hathaway@uwrochester.org

Press release:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) Board of Directors will consider approving incentives for two capital investment projects in the Town of Le Roy and an application for incentives for a project in the City of Batavia at the board’s Oct. 31^st meeting tomorrow.

Wright Associates is requesting incentives for a proposed $9.5 million capital project that would include the purchase of an existing 139,000-square-foot building on Wright Avenue in Le Roy. The beverage distribution company based in Rochester in seeking approximately $854,452 in mortgage, sales and property taxes. (Previously, Wright's project was estimated to cost $8.9 million, but additional costs in the final application pushed the projected total to $9.5 million.)

The project would create 125 new full-time jobs in Genesee County.

Wendt Propane Gas Service is requesting incentives in order to build a new 9,600-square-foot facility at the corner of Route 19 and North Road in the Town of Le Roy. The company will be expanding its propane service to local residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural customers. The company is seeking approximately $120,000 in mortgage, sales and property taxes.

The project would create four new jobs.

The GCEDC board also will consider accepting an application for incentives from Fraser-Branche Property LLC, which is seeking to purchase and renovate the YWCA building on North Street in the City of Batavia.

The company will renovate approximately 67 percent of the 13,000-square-foot facility and is proposing to lease back the remainder of the facility to the YWCA and two other existing tenants.

The total project capital investment is $1.4 million. Fraser-Branche Property LLC is seeking approximately $105,000 in mortgage, sales and property taxes. The project will be part of the Batavia Pathway to Prosperity (BP2) program.

The GCEDC Board meeting will take place at 4 p.m. Thursday at its offices at 99 MedTech Drive in Batavia. The meeting is open to the public.

A hazardous weather outlook was issued shortly after 3 p.m. today by the National Weather Service in Buffalo for portions of Western New York, including Genesee County and specifically the City of Batavia.

There's a high wind watch in effect from Thursday evening through Friday evening.

Southwest winds 30 to 40 mph are expected with gusts up to 60 mph possible.

Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines. Given the wet antecedent conditions that will be in place, shallow rooted pines will be most vulnerable.

Widespread power outages will be possible. Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

Fasten loose objects or shelter objects in a safe location prior to the onset of winds.

Press release:

Early voting for the Nov. 5 General Election continues through the weekend at County Building 2, located at 3837 W. Main Street Road, in the Town of Batavia.

Early poll hours are:

Today -- Wednesday, Oct. 30th -- now until 8 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 31st -- 12 to 8 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 1st -- 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 2nd -- 12 to 5 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 3rd -- 12 to 5 p.m.

All registered voters from Genesee County can vote early at County Building 2. The Early Voting location is accessible to the disabled.

Please contact the Genesee County Board of Elections at (585) 815-7804 with any questions. www.co.genesee.ny.us

Lorie J. Longhany -- Democratic Commissioner

Richard E. Siebert --  Republican Commissioner

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- After 56 games over five days, five competitors, led by Sean Rash of Montgomery, Ill., have advanced to the championship round of the 2019 U.S. Open.

The quintet conquered four challenging oil patterns at Victory Lanes and now will battle for the $30,000 top prize, coveted green jacket and final major championship on the 2019 Professional Bowlers Association Tour schedule live on CBS Sports Network on Wednesday at 8 p.m. Eastern.

TELEVISED STEPLADDER FINALS
(Will be live Wednesday on CBS Sports Network at 8 p.m. Eastern)

Match No. 1: O'Neill vs. Anthony Simonsen
Match No. 2: Jason Belmonte vs. Match No. 1 winner
Semifinal: Francois Lavoie vs. Match No. 2 winner
Final: Sean Rash vs. semifinal winner

For more details, click on the Sports or Pin Points tab at the top of this page.

A man on Cherry Street in the city called emergency dispatch to report that his neighbor "came onto his property and cut down his tree." The complainant wishes to speak with an officer, so one is en route.

Traffic congestion at Richmond Avenue and Union Street – adjacent to the new Van Detta Stadium – and along the S-curve between Jefferson Avenue and Main Street has struck a nerve with at least one Batavia City Council member.

Speaking at Monday night’s meeting at City Hall, Council Member John Canale said he has firsthand knowledge of the current situation at both locations, and requested city management and the police department to explore ways to rectify it.

Canale said he expected “fine tuning” of the traffic flow and parking plan at Van Detta Stadium, but he said that leaving the parking lot along Union Street proved to be “very difficult” since cars are parked right up to the corner of Richmond Avenue.

“It’s congested with no line of sight to the intersection,” he said. “It’s a very dangerous situation.”

He said he turned right out of the parking lot to head south on Union Street to avoid the intersection, and then was suddenly met with a couple of young people who darted out in front of his vehicle.

Canale suggested a parking ban from Richmond to the end of the parking lot.

“I think it’s something we need to look at,” he said, which prompted Council President Eugene Jankowski to hand the ball off to City Manager Martin Moore and Police Chief Shawn Heubusch.

Council Member Robert Bialkowski said there was a “no parking” sign near the Richmond intersection but he thinks that the sign is gone.

Turning to the S-curve behind Wendy’s and Tim Hortons, Canale said he wondered if a reduced speed limit would help prevent the “near misses” of broadside crashes, maybe dropping the limit to 20 or 15 mph.

He said he negotiated the curve at both speeds and “felt that 15 miles per hour was a comfortable speed to react to a pedestrian or vehicle” – and added that he saw two cars in front of him almost get broadsided before his car almost was hit as well.

Canale also spoke of the number of cars and children at Austin Park during the summer months, and asked if the police department could “at least look at changing the speed limit there.”

Moore said the City did a three-day speed assessment of vehicles traveling south along the S-curve and found that the average speed of the 1,467 vehicles was 18.6 mph, with a maximum of 29 and a minimum of 10.

Heubusch then reported that there have been two traffic accidents there in the past five years, and that NYS Vehicle & Traffic Law allows officials to limit the speed only to 25 mph within the City limits.

Jankowski asked to see more data and for management to make recommendations to Council, adding that maybe a flashing yellow light or caution sign would be beneficial.

In other developments, Council:

-- Heard an update from DPW Director Matt Worth about the National Grid Light Conversion program that he has been exploring for the past several months.

Worth said the City is investigating whether to purchase the entire street lighting system of about 1,600 lights from National Grid at a cost of $113,000. He said that it would cost another $800,000 to $1 million for a complete conversion to LED lighting.

“We would have to weigh the (upfront) costs against the savings that would be realized,” he said. “The City would receive a $45,000 rebate in addition to the energy savings and better light quality.”

He also mentioned new technology that is available, features such as individual monitoring of lights, the ability to reduce light strength during non-peak times and measures to help law enforcement.

“This has become complex very quickly,” Worth noted. “We’re looking at the best long-term solution.”

-- Conducted a public hearing for the purpose of amending the zoning code to include self-storage facilities in I-1 and I-2 zones. No one from the public spoke.

The hearing followed several meetings in response to a request by Peter Yasses (54 Cedar St. LLC) to erect a self-storage business on Cedar Street, across from the DeWitt Recreation Area. County and city planning boards both gave the go-ahead for the zoning change.

Is there a “secret plan to roundup civilians” with the City of Batavia’s recently-acquired Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) military-style armored vehicle?

“No," Batavia City Police Chief Shawn Heubusch emphatically replied in response to a question Monday night from City Council President Eugene Jankowski.

Heubusch reported to Council on the police department’s Oct. 11 receipt of the MRAP, stating that it will be used exclusively as a rescue vehicle.

“It is not an assault vehicle – no firearms are attached to it – and the department is not patrolling with it,” said Heubusch, adding that the vehicle is in “exceptional condition.”

The chief said it cost only $1,600 to get it to Batavia from Maryland – with the price tag much less than the budgeted amount of $7,000.

He said $900 was spent to replace a couple batteries and that a Buffalo business will be donating a lighting package. He also said that the plan is to paint the vehicle to remove the “military look” and with lettering indicating that it is for rescue operations.

All costs to get the truck ready will be split 50-50 with the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department, Heubusch said.

“This vehicle cost $854,000 new; that’s what the federal government paid,” he said. “For a comparable (model), you’d spend $200,000 to $300,000. We got it at a fraction of the cost (transportation to Batavia and other maintenance/painting charges).”

Heubusch said the Department of Defense owns it – “we’re renting it,” he said – but it’s not costing taxpayers because the money came from asset forfeitures and court-ordered drug seizures.

(File photo.)

The proposed county budget for 2020 includes a 7-cent property tax rate increase for county residents, up from $10.04 to $10.11, while the county grapples with new state spending mandates but manages to keep the tax levy under the state's 2-percent cap.

The proposed tax levy is $31,015,658, up $759,567.

Mandated expenses, from Medicaid to law enforcement functions, will consume 72 percent of the levy.

Total anticipated general fund expenditures are $114,048,256, or $13,030 less than 2019's.

New mandated expenses include additional services related to the Raise the Age legislation, which now requires most criminal cases involving 16- and 17-year-olds to be referred to a youth court, at $318,373. The state is expected to provide the county with full reimbursement for these expenses.

What is not reimbursed are expenses related to bail reform and new evidence discovery requirements, which require the District Attorney's Office to add additional staff, including a new full-time assistant district attorney, a part-time ADA, and a new paralegal.

The Public Defenders Office is also adding an attorney but this expense will be covered by state aid. 

The county will have 452 full-time-equivalent employees. 

While the state is pressuring municipalities to enter into more shared services agreements, the county has pretty much exhausted those opportunities, County Manager Jay Gsell suggested in his budget statement.

The county has been sharing services with County Highway and other county highway departments for 21 years. There are also shared service agreements for the Health Department with Orleans County and combined youth services between the county, city, and Orleans County. 

The Chamber of Commerce Tourism Bureau has an anticipated budget of $420,000, entirely funded by the bed tax. 

A motor pool agreement with Enterprise Fleet Management and energy savings initiatives as a result of consulting with Johnson Controls currently gives the county an anticipated $200,000 in savings.

A public hearing on the proposed budget will take place Nov. 6 in the Old Courthouse. The Legislature will vote on the proposed budget Nov. 25.