When Ted and Patricia Hawley launched New York Craft Malt in 2013, it could have been characterized as an experiment. It was certainly speculative.

The State Legislature had recently passed a law that opened the door to commercial craft brewing and distilling, but it required 90 percent of the ingredients of any craft brew to come from New York.

Malt, created from barley, is a critical ingredient in beer but what legislators apparently didn't realize was that malting barley hadn't been grown in New York for nearly 100 years.

The Hawleys recognized an opportunity and they opened New York Craft Malt in Batavia.

"It was very experimental," Ted Hawley said after giving a tour of his malthouse to about 100 people on Wednesday, including beer enthusiasts, farmers, other malters, and brewers. "I had to educate myself on how to malt. I had to learn how to malt with this equipment. I had to learn the equipment and learn the trade, so I've come a long way in a short time."

Today, New York Craft Malt offers more than 40 varieties of malt with an emphasis on flavor and color, the unique attributes of craft malts. Brewers from throughout New York buy Hawley's malts and he now has customers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Oregon and California.

"The circle is growing," Hawley said.

New York Craft Malt is also no longer the only malthouse in New York. There are 12 now, and each is unique, according to Gary C. Bergstrom, chair of Cornell University's Plant Pathology Department.

"I’ve seen every one of them and I can tell you, every one of them does things a little differently," Bergstrom said. "The word craft really applies here."

The tour of Hawley's operations started with Bergstrom and other members of Cornell's team in a farm field off of Assemblyman R. Stephen Hawley Drive in Batavia where Hawley and Cornell work together to grow experimental barley strains as they try to develop varieties that can not only thrive in New York but also provide what craft malters seek -- a choice of flavors and colors.

Malting in New York fell victim 100 years ago to market forces, the climate (it's not easy to grow barely in New York), and Prohibition. The effort to bring barley back has concentrated on developing strains that can grow well and be disease free in this climate.

"After the legislation passed, we quickly realized that we didn't grow what the whole industry depends on, which is malting barley," Bergstrom said. "We hadn't grown it since Prohibition. We had an immediate challenge and a positive challenge."

Cornell scientists swiftly started studying all of the varieties grown throughout the world to find which might best be adapted to New York.

"We started a breeding project to find our own unique variety of barley," Bergstrom said. "In the meantime, we learned about varieties that do well enough here to grow them and how to adapt them, how to reduce the risks and toxins on them, and how to harvest them to get the best quality we can produce right now."

Hawley has been an integral part of that barley trials, Bergstrom said.

"Ted has been a great partner with Cornell," Bergstrom said. "He's cooperated on trials; he's opened his facility to tours; at the state level he's been a good person to network and share his knowledge with others. He's helped on the education front as well as the research."

After the field tour and the malthouse tour, the group headed over to Eli Fish Brewing Company where master brewer Jon Mager gave a tour of his operation and guests could sample some locally brewed beers.

With a craft beer in hand, Jason Crossett, lead brewer for the New York Beer Project in Lockport, said coming on the tour was an important part of seeing how the whole value chain of craft beer works in New York. It was a chance to meet growers and even though he knows how malting works, he wanted to see how a craft malthouse did it.

"For me, I've done a few beers with Ted's malts but I always wanted to check out his facilities and see how a small malting operation works," Crossett said. "It was very important for me to see how the grain gets from the farmer to the malter to the brewer. To me, it's a cycle. Beer can't be made without the malters doing what they do and the farmers doing what they do and the brewers doing what we do. It takes all of us to make a good product for consumers."

Hawley also emphasized the importance of those cooperative relationships. They are, he said, what has enabled his business to grow and thrive. Early on, a few brewers trusted him enough to work with him and help him develop his product.

"In the beginning, I had bad supplies," Hawley said. "I was learning the trade and now those brewers trust me for quality malt because, without their feedback, I wouldn’t know if I was making something that was good or not. I needed their feedback, their honest, constructive criticism and it has made me where I am today."

A propane truck has reportedly rolled over at 599 Route 246 in the Town of Covington.

Pavilion fire and Mercy EMS responding. Le Roy asked to standby in quarters.

Mercy Flight was initially dispatched but then canceled.

Shianne Foss, of Alden, won the 4-H Club's annual Overall Master Showman competition at the Genesee County Fair on Saturday.

The competition is among the six members who won their respective showmanship awards for their animals but in the master showman contest they must demonstrate their ability at handling four different animals -- in this case, goats, lambs, chickens, and beef steer -- as well as their knowledge of those animals.

Pictured with Foss are judge Kirby Dygert and the 2017 winner Ben Kron.

Saturday was tractor pull day at the Genesee County Fair.

More than 90 children from age 4 to age 8 turned out at the Batavia Sports Park on Friday for Ricky Palermo's annual soccer clinic.

This was the 15th year Palermo hosted the clinic.

"It grows a little bit every year and that's exciting," Palermo said.

The clinic helps raise awareness about spinal injury, Palermo said, and shows the kids that even a person with a spinal injury can still do things.

Keeping busy is one reason two seniors believe they are enjoying life into their 90s.

Madeline Harding, of Batavia, turned 90 on June 15, while Mary Tuttle, also of Batavia, was 94 on July 18. Harding was born in Yorkshire and graduated from Wyoming County Academy, where she studied Nursing. She became a nursing supervisor at the former St. Jerome Hospital, then retired from the Genesee County Nursing Home.

She and her husband, Frank, 93, have four children, six grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. They enjoyed traveling all over the world, but aren’t able to do it anymore. England was her favorite destination, Harding said. They have been there several times.

Harding said she joined the Senior Quilters because she has always liked to do crafts and her mother was a quilter.

She still drives, “but very carefully,” she said.

Tuttle was born in Blossburg, Pa., and met her husband when her father moved to Perry for work.

She learned to quilt after they retired to Florida, where they lived for 21 years until moving back to Batavia for his health.

Tuttle has always loved to sing and said she would sing “Anywhere they let me.” She starred in her first operetta at age 5 at PerryHigh School, playing the part of Baby Bear.

“You gotta’ stay happy,” she said.

She and her husband had two children, five grandchildren, and 11 grandchildren.

When decided where they wanted to celebrate their birthdays, Harding and Tuttle chose Fortune’s at Batavia Downs, because it was a favorite spot of their friend and former quilter, Frances Ford. Ford, who would have been 102 a week ago, died in May.

The Senior Quilters have made more than 15 quilts for Quilts of Valor. They donate quilts to the VA Nursing Home, Migrant Day Care Center, Cancer Treatment Center, Social Services and the surgical center at Golisano Children’s Hospital in Rochester.

Their newest quilt raffle will be in September. They are selling tickets for $1 each or three for $2.

New quilters are welcome to join the group from 9 a.m. to noon every Wednesday.

Top photo: The Senior Quilters, who meet Wednesdays at the Genesee County Office for the Aging, celebrated the birthdays of two of their members, Madeline Harding and Mary Tuttle (both seated) this week. Holding a quilt they will raffle off in September are, from left, Cheryl Bauer, Marge Coniber, Linda Nalbach, Donna Tomski, Harding, Tuttle and Irene Pierce.

Two seniors chose to celebrate their special birthdays' quilting at the Senior Center on Bank Street, before going to lunch at Fortune’s in Batavia Downs. Madeline Harding, left, turned 90 on June 15 and Mary Tuttle was 94 on July 18.

Five runs that crossed the plate in the last two innings for Mahoning Valley would prove to be too much for the Muckdogs to overcome in a 7-3 loss to the division-leading Scrappers.

Mahoning Valley got an early jump on Humberto Mejia on Saturday. They picked up two runs in the first inning. Two of the first three batters came around to score. Tyler Freeman continued his tear of NYPL pitching with a triple after one out. He was scored by a Mitch Reeves' double, one of Reeves four hits in the game. Hosea Nelson, who had a home run in game one of the series drove in the second run to give the Scrappers a 2-0 cushion before Batavia even got to bat.

Batavia answered with their first runs of the game in the bottom of the second inning. Albert Guaimaro hit a triple with one out, his first of two in the game. Then a two-out single from Denis Karas scored him to cut the Scrappers’ lead in half after the second.

Both pitchers locked in a pitchers’ duel until the tie was broken in the eighth inning with bullpen pitchers on the mound. Batavia and Mahoning Valley scored two runs each in their half of the inning to bat. The Scrappers rally started with two outs in the top half of the frame. Reeves notched his fourth hit of the game and Nelson got on by reaching on a throwing error. Angel Lopez hit the clutch two-run single to make it a 4-1 game after the top of the inning.

The bottom of the eighth saw the Muckdogs answer with their two runs from an RBI single from Sean Reynolds. His base knock brought in one run, and the second came on a throwing error to the plate that cut the deficit to just one run.

The 4-3 lead in the ninth for the visitors swelled by three more runs, all coming with two outs. Jose Fermin singled home Michael Tinsley, and after a botched foul pop-up on a miscommunication, two more scored on a Freeman single and a wild pitch.

Batavia then went down in order in the bottom of the ninth, giving Mahoning Valley the game and the series W. The final game of the series before the league off day is today at 1:05.

A property-damage accident is reported at Route 77 and Route 5 in Pembroke. One subject is reportedly intoxicated and an argument was reported.

Deputies are responding.​

A grass fire is reported at Route 33 and Warner Road, Byron.

The fire is 150 feet from a house.

A fire chief on scene has requested a law enforcement response, no reason given. A trooper is responding.

Byron and South Byron fire departments dispatched.

UPDATE 7:21 p.m.: All equipment can be held in quarters at this time.

A two-vehicle accident is reported at Bank and Main streets in the city. One person has a leg injury. It is blocking traffic. City fire and Mercy medics are on scene.

A motorcycle vs. vehicle accident is reported at 4170 Batavia-Elba Townline Road. The location is between Pekin Road and Batavia Oakfield Townline Road.

Town of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. A first responder asks that medics come in emergency mode. There are two patients.

SATURDAY, July 21st – Farm Bureau Day & Bring Your Tractor to the Fair Day

• 8:30 a.m.      NIOGA Colored Breed Show (Show Ring)
• 9 a.m.           ECYSS—Youth Breed Show (Old Draft Horse Barn)
• 10 a.m.         FARM STOCK TRACTOR – Bring your tractor!
•  Enhanced Tractor & Garden Pullers (Grandstand)
• 10 a.m.          EXHIBIT HALLS & BUILDINGS OPEN
• 10:30 a.m.     NIOGA Holstein/Open Class Dairy Show (Show Ring)
• 1-11 p.m.       MIDWAY OPEN (Amusement Area)
• 12 p.m.          Talent Show (Entertainment Tent)
• 12 p.m.          Cowgirl Couture—Barrel Racing (Horse Ring)
• 3:30 p.m.       Small Fry Tractor Pull (Exhibition Ring)
• 4 p.m.            4-H Market Animal Master Showman Contest (Show Ring)
• 6:30 p.m.       Empire State Puller Tractor Pulls (Grandstand)
• 8 p.m.-12 a.m.  Band - UNDER THE GUN (Entertainment Tent)
• 8 p.m.            4-H Non-Market Animals – Beef, Goat, Sheep & Swine released
• 8 p.m.            4-H Non-Animal Exhibits Released    

*This schedule is tentative and is subject to change at any time.* 

Bright and cheery, warm and inviting, this home features gorgeous woodwork hardwood floors, spacious floor plan, awesome kitchen that will make you want to hang out its just that homey!

Three year tear off roof on house and barn. Electrical and plumbing all upgraded. New bath fitter shower and many other updates. Home was just freshly carpeted and painted as well as exterior and barn! Two-story barn has amazing storage but also finished rec room upper!

Everybody will want to claim for their own private hangout! Back yard is extra deep and fully fenced for privacy and has a pool and landscaping/flowers are spectacular!

LOOK now! Click here for more informaiton on this listing. Call Lynn Bezon today -- 585-344-HOME.

DriVen -- a power trio comprised of Dylan Desmit on guitar, Mike "Thunder" Warran on base, and Alex Desmit on drums -- beat out Invictra to win the 2018 Genesee County Fair Battle of the Bands.

I first saw Dylan Desmit play a few years ago and he was a good, young guitarist. He's become a great guitarist.

As the winner, DriVen is tonight's entertainment at the fair. They are scheduled to play from 7 to 11 p.m.

It's also Demolition Derby night and there will also be barrel racing at 8 p.m.

Corinne Rhoads was a big hit with the crowd when it came time to auction off the chickens she had raised during the annual 4-H Club Livestock Auction at the Genesee County Fair.  Bidders purchased 112 animals during the charity auction, usually at prices well above market value, which included not just chickens, but goats, lambs, beef steers, dairy steers, and hogs.

William Kent Inc. conducted the auction.

Clare Mathers

Madelynn Pimm

Mya Grant

Hunter McCabe

Pete Broughton making a bid.

Bob Bowen, Circle B Winery, holds up his bidder number so the auctioneer can record his winning bid on an animal.

Audre Dorman

A two-car head-on collision is reported at 1396 Main Road in Pembroke. The location is between Boyce Road and Alleghany Road. The driver of one of the vehicles has a head laceration; three others are "shaken up" but otherwise OK.

No word on injuries in the other vehicle. The accident is blocking traffic.

Law enforcement is en route. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding along with two ambulances, one from Mercy -- the second either Mercy or Darien. Mercy Flight is on standby.

UPDATE 3:32 p.m.: There are a total of two patients with minor injuries; one has a small head laceration; the other a leg injury.

UPDATE 3:52 p.m.: Three patients were transported. This was not a direct head-on collision. A Ford Escape was westbound on Main Road when it veered into the eastbound lane and struck a Chevy Traverse; neither vehicle sustained significant damage. The Ford had damage to the passenger side; the Chevy had passenger front-end fender damage. A third, unspecified vehicle, was sideswiped in the collision but no one was injured. Two patients in the Ford Escape were transported to a hospital. The passenger in the Chevy was also taken by ambulance to a hospital.

Genesee County Sheriff's Sgt. Thomas Sanfratello was on Route 262, heading to the barn fire on Terry Street in Byron when his unmarked SUV was struck by a van traveling on Byron Road. The impact pushed the unmarked vehicle into a utility pole.

No one was injured.

Sanfratello had his emergency lights flashing and siren blaring when he slowed at the intersection, but the van's continued through the intersection. The male driver of the van was evaluated at the scene and released. Three dogs that were traveling in the van with him were likewise uninjured.

A memorial at the utility pole that was struck -- to two Byron-Bergen School students killed in a crash at that intersection years ago -- was "obliterated."

UPDATE 3:50 p.m.: Reader Valerie Patrick informs us that the memorial was for two students -- Christopher and Victoria Claus.