Stories from

An Attica woman is in critical condition at Strong Memorial Hospital tonight after her 2003 Chevy Trail Blazer hit a large, thick patch of compacted ice on Route 98 in Alexander and then turned sideways and slid into an oak tree.

Lorna Johnson, 53, was the lone occupant in the vehicle.

The SUV struck the tree right in the middle of the driver's side door.

Johnson was reportedly unconscious when first responders arrived on scene. It took more than 30 minutes to get her stabilized in an ambulance before she could be flown to Strong by Mercy Flight.

The patch of ice and compacted snow was at least 50 yards long and an inch or more thick, the result of blowing snow across the highway that melted on the road in the afternoon and then froze as the sun went down.

The SUV traveled off the road another 25 yards or more after leaving the iced area and struck the tree in the front yard of a residence.

The Alexander Fire Department responded, along with the Alexander ambulance, and volunteer firefighters extricated Johnson from her vehicle.

Mercy EMS, the Sheriff's Office and State Police also responded to the scene.

Speed unsafe for conditions may also have been a factor in the accident, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Deputy Kyle Krzemien and Sgt. Ron Meides are heading the investigation. Trooper Robert Breidenstein assisted at the scene.

(initial report)

It's been years since Downtown Batavia had a nice shoe store and it's a void in the Downtown retail space that Dave Howe has looked at since the day Thomas and Dwyer closed up shop.

He never added a shoe section to his store because of limited space, but two things have come together to make it possible for Howe and partner Don Brown to open up a shoe store just a few doors down from their current East Main Street location.

One, the Chamber of Commerce vacated its space in the City Church (former Mancuso Theater) building, opening up an attractive retail store front with lots of space and great visibility. Two, p.w. minor has two new fashionable shoe lines it wants to sell locally.

"We love the fact that Pete Zeliff and his family and all the family of p.w. minor decided to bring all of the production back from China to here in our own community," Howe said. "It seems like it's the perfect partnership to put together a hometown."

The move is the start of a business expansion for p.w. minor, said Brian Benedict, director of sales. The more than 150-year-old, Batavia-founded and Batavia-based company is going into shoe lines beyond the orthopedic shoes it's long been known for.

The Abrams Boot line is made up of fashionable work boots and the company will also introduce the Batavia Shoe and Boot line.

Bennett said the Downtown retail store will be the company's one-and-only retail location as it seeks new distribution channels for its new line with shoe retailers across the nation.

Howe said two factors will be hallmarks of the new store: quality and American-made products.

And there will be other products besides shoes, such as American-made workwear, belts, gloves and other accessories.

Howe thinks the shoe store will be a good complement to Charles Men's Shop.

The new store won't open until sometime in January, but people looking for shoes for themselves or as Christmas presents can stop into Charles Men's Shop to see the lines of shoes and be fitted for some of the first pairs to come out of the Batavia factory.

Photos and information provided by St. Joe's:

Throughout the month of October, St. Joe’s National Junior Honor Society held a fundraiser to collect items for All Babies Cherished. Items and monetary donations totaled more than $300. Some items collected included diapers, wipes, pacifiers and baby clothes. Co-advisers Mr. Landfried and Mr. Bowman along with the NJHS students were invited by All Babies Cherished Director Sue Sherman to visit the office to see how their organization operates and where the donations go.

Press release:

The Western New York Chemical Dependency Consortium held its annual Gold Key Awards and Holiday Luncheon in Buffalo on Friday, Nov. 18. Dr. Bruce Baker, currently a medical consultant for GCASA, received the Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Dr. Baker graduated from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in 1959. He worked as the Genesee County Jail physician for 25 years, which is where he began addressing substance abuse issues with his patients. He also worked as the medical director of Hope Haven Alcohol and Chemical Dependency Inpatient Service at United Memorial Medical Center from 1963-2013. While Dr. Baker has been a physician for almost 60 years, he has worked in the addiction field for more than 35 years. 

Dr. Baker has been on the cutting edge of addiction medicine throughout his career. He was an early adopter of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). As the medical director at Hope Haven, he was responsible for the initiation of Suboxone treatment. He recognized early on, especially working at the Genesee County Jail, that individuals who suffered from addiction needed treatment, both medically and therapeutically. 

Dr. Baker is extremely knowledgeable about addiction. He shares his knowledge with others in a straightforward, uncomplicated way. He created an easy to understand document, Opioid Addiction and Medically Assisted Treatment, to share with his patients. In this document he describes what opiate addiction is, how the brain is affected, and how MAT can help. He truly wants to help people; and he does. Dr. Baker has helped thousands of patients in the WNY region recover from addiction. 

When asked about his greatest accomplishment in his career, Dr. Baker acknowledged his service of providing medical care to patients for more than 50 years. He adds that at 83 years old, he plans to continue practicing and loves the work he does at GCASA. Dr. Baker shared that of all the work he has done throughout his career, including delivering babies and working in his family practice, he feels most fulfilled in his work at GCASA. His compassion for his patients is exceptional. 

In addition to his career accomplishments, he’s very proud of his family. He and his wife raised six children and have a total of 21 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Jerard L. Wilson, 18, of Roycroft Drive, Rochester, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Wilson was charged following a complaint of excessive marijuana smoke coming from a vehicle in the parking lot of 337 Bank St., Batavia.

A 17-year-old resident of Shanley Street, Cheektowaga, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, inadequate exhaust, uninspected motor vehicle and unlicensed operator. The youth was stopped at 1:43 a.m. Saturday on Route 77, Darien, by Deputy Eric Meyer. Also charged with unlawful possession of marijuana was Megan Lynn Murby, 18, of Aurora Street, Lancaster.

Shawn P. Burns, 38, of Oak Orchard Street, Albion, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .18 or greater. Burns was charged after police responded to a disturbance complaint at 12:17 a.m., Nov. 10 at 301 North St. Burns is accused of having driven to that location while intoxicated. The incident was investigated by Officer Nicole Salamone.

Reginald C. Sampson, 50, of Ellicott Street, Batavia, is charged with grand larceny, 4th. Sampson allegedly stole a purse containing credit cards.

Brian J. Miller, 35, of Ellicott Street Road, Bethany, is charged with assault, 3rd, unlawful imprisonment and criminal obstruction of breathing. Miller was arrested following an investigation into an incident reported at 1 a.m. Saturday on Edward Street, Batavia.

Jordan R. Bradley, 23, of Colby Road, Corfu, is charged with petit larceny. Jordan is accused of shoplifting from Tops. Bradley was held on an alleged parole violation.

Bernard Thomas, 57, of Whitney Avenue, Pittsburgh, is charged with sex offender failure to report an address change. Thomas, a Level One sex offender, reportedly moved to Pittsburgh without notifying officials of his address change within 10 days. After speaking with investigators, he returned to Batavia and was charged. He was released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

Brandon D. Delelys, 18, of Hartshorn Road, Corfu, is charged with burglary, 2nd, conspiracy, 4th, and petit larceny. Delelys is accused of committing a burglary on Hutchins Street in August. He was released under supervision of Genesee Justice. Also charged was Michael E. Welchman, 21, of West Main Street, Batavia.

Patricia A. Sand, 59, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with grand larceny, 4th, and conspiracy, 5th. Also charged, Michael R. Ostrander. Sand and Ostrander are accused of stealing a wallet while at Aldi's. Sand was issued an appearance ticket. Ostrander was jailed without bail.

Cheryl M. Lyons, 51, of Tracy Avenue, Batavia, is charged with menacing, 1st, criminal possession of a weapon, 3rd, and criminal contempt, 1st.

Fawn Lynn Marie Kaczmarek, 28, of Thorpe Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Kaczmarek allegedly stole the tip cup of a waitress at Batavia Downs.

Williams T. Gibbs, 61, of West Main Street, Corfu, was arrested on a a warrant for alleged failure to appear. Gibbs allegedly failed to appear in City Court on traffic tickets. 

Kenneth W. Cook III, of Galloway Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 1st. Cook allegedly violated an order of protection.

Jacklyn M. Ganzhorn, 29, of Central Avenue, Batavia, is charged with failure to appear. Ganzhorn was located by a Sheriff's deputy and transported to Batavia PD. He was jailed on $1,000 bail or $2,000 bond.

A lake effect snow warning has been issued and is in effect until 4 a.m., Tuesday.

The storm will bring from three to five inches of snow today, but mainly over eastern Monroe and northern Ontario counties. 

Winds will be 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph, causing blowing and driving snow.

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.

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.

Bergen's fire chief has requested available manpower to assist with multiple vehicles off the road in the westbound lanes of the I-490 near mile marker 1.0.

Bergen Fire responding.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Stafford fire is dispatched.

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

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.

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.

Twenty Native American schoolchildren were at Jackson School this morning to share about their culture through dance and a presentation by an adult leader.

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. 23^rd and will end on Nov. 27^th. 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!