Pavilion

This post has been updated with the write-up for the Griffen home.

Press release:

The Landmark Society of Genesee County will hold its annual Preservation Awards Dinner on May 19 at the St. James Episcopal Church ((405 E. Main St., Batavia). The dinner will begin at 6 p.m. and the awards presentation will follow (at approximately 7 p.m.).

Six buildings in Genesee County will be recognized this year. Each year the awards committee tries to choose a group of structures that is varied in styles of architecture, geographic location, building materials, and type of building such as residences, churches, commercial, and public facilities.

“Historic preservation does not mean that everything must stay the same.  Rather, it focuses on the character and quality of construction,” explained Landmark Society President Laurie Oltramarie.

“Preservation comes in many forms --renovation, restoration, adaptive re-use, rehabilitation, and even reproduction. In a neighborhood, the ultimate goal of preservation is to maintain the character of a place and activity within it. And we think this year’s honorees accomplish that beautifully.”

The Landmark Society of Genesee County is a nonprofit, volunteer operated organization. Since 1965, The Landmark Society has encouraged local communities and individuals to work together to preserve our architectural heritage. Preservation, protection, and improvement of the landmarks located throughout Genesee County are the objectives of this organization.

Above, the home of Dave Howe on Alexander Road, Alexander. Here's more info on the house:

David Howe purchased this circa 1888 Shingle Style home in 1986. This handsome home features multiple gables and the original porte cochere.  Mr. Howe recently had the cedar shingles and clapboards restored and repainted. The interior features leaded and stained glass windows, inlaid hardwood floors, three original fireplaces with elaborate oak trim and ceramic tiles, original sliding window shutters, and natural oak trim.  Leaded glass windows in the dining room are bowed to produce a rainbow effect throughout the room. The matching shingled carriage house still stands and was recently re-roofed.

Here's a slide show of pictures of each the winners. If you have trouble viewing the slide show, click here. After the jump (click on the headline), pictures and write-ups of each of the other winners.

 

Roy and Frances Griffen

11137 Buckman Road

Pavilion, NY 14525

The proud owners of 11137 Buckman Road are Roy and Frances Griffen. This home, recognized by the Landmark Society for their tender, loving care, has been in Mr. Griffen’s family for almost 100 years. Mr and Mrs. Griffen have owned the home since 1980 and began living in it around 1984.

The current home is not the first one on this property. Prior to the construction of the existing home in 1916, there was another home on the property that burned. Mr. Griffen’s grandfather, Wakefield Burks and his wife Magdalena, built the home that stands today. Originally from England, Wakefield Burks was a farmer. All the lumber to build the home came by train to Linden and was brought by horse to the property, according to Mr. Griffen. One year after the home was built, one of the barns was built in 1917. Mr. Griffen still possesses the original plans for the house. It should be noted that the year 1874, that is located near the top of the front of the house is not the year that the home was built, rather it is the year that Mr. Griffen’s grandfather came here from England.

Upon the death of Mr. Griffen’s grandfather, the side door located in the front of the home was never used again after Mr. Burks’s casket was brought through it. Mrs. Burks and her son, Glover, along with a helper, Richard, continued to live in the home and kept the farm going. Mr. Griffen recalls sheep being on the farm and remembers his Uncle Glover delivering cream, milk and eggs to Batavia. Mr. Griffen spent a lot of time during the summer while young on the farm.

Mr. Griffen’s uncle never married and thus left the home and land to Mr. Griffen. At the time, Mr. and Mrs Griffen lived in Warsaw and decided to move to Buckman Road so that Mr. Griffen would be closer to where he worked in Batavia. Since the Griffens have owned the property, they added the garage onto the home. A previous garage was a distance from the home, making it difficult to bring in groceries and other items. The Griffens also have had the home painted every 10 years. Prior to their ownership, the home was painted all white. Their painter suggested a colored trim and the Griffens agreed, allowing the painter to add a light blue to the house.

Mr. Griffen recalls many events in this home, but feels that the best memory he has is that his whole family has lived in the house that he and his wife call home. Today, it is rare that one family resides in a town for 100 years, yet alone a home, making the Griffen’s story even more special. Mr. Griffen has no plans to even sell the home and foresees it staying in the family, for others to provide the same tender, loving care that he and his wife have given during their ownership.

Kistner Concrete Products, Inc.
10 Ellicott St.
Batavia, NY 14020
Renovation

By Larry D. Barnes

The story of the former St. James Rectory building really begins in 1812 when missionary bishops of the Episcopal Church started to visit the Batavia area.  Occasional services were held in the part of Ellicott Hall known as Hickock’s Inn.  Kneeling cushions for these services were stored at the home of Robert Smith and had to be carried to the Inn for each service.

In June of 1815, those who had been attending the Episcopalian services gathered for a business session to choose a committee to arrange for incorporation. The Holland Land Company gave the incorporated congregation a lot on Ellicott Street (then called Big Tree Street) and ground was broken in April of 1816 for a church building.

Building the church turned out to be a slow process with financing of the project a major obstacle. It took six years to complete the construction. Finally, in 1822, the congregation had a habitable brick building on a gray stone foundation standing about where the recent Ponderosa Restaurant used to be and where the Mexican restaurant Rancho Viejo currently stands.

Apparently the structural quality of this brick building left something to be desired and, in 1836, the Episcopalians tore it down. On the same foundation as the first church, they then erected a stone building that stood until 1975. (Incidentally, that building had problems, too, and the roof structure had to be torn off and rebuilt not too many years after the building’s erection. Observing the work now taking place on the tower of the current East Main church where stones have been falling from the building, it would seem that the Batavia Episcopalians have been unusually cursed with structural problems in their houses of worship.)

When the first church building was taken down in 1836, the bricks were saved for re-use. That “re-use” was the construction of a rectory next door at 10 Ellicott St.  This handsome building served as a rectory until 1909 when the congregation moved into its current church building at 405 E. Main St. The rectory building then entered into a series of new uses.

Starting in 1909, 10 Ellicott St. was owned by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 550. However, by 1912, the lodge had grown to 275 members, too many to meet comfortably in the former rectory. So, the Elks sold the building and moved to 213 E. Main St. where the organization remained for the rest of its existence. (Recall that the Main Street Elks building was torn down this past year.)

In the 1920s, the former rectory building became the property of the E. N. Rowell Co. The Rowell Company manufactured cosmetic boxes. One of its two main buildings was located where the new Genesee County Courthouse is situated.  The Rowell Co. used 10 Ellicott St. to print box labels and to store paper and cardboard. By the 1970s, it was in pretty sad shape. Many expected that it would be demolished, along with the other Rowell buildings, during Batavia’s urban renewal deconstruction phase.

In 1979, the Landmark Society of Genesee County purchased the old rectory building to save it from demolition. The Society restored the exterior and rebuilt the interior. (At one point, Catherine Roth and her husband, Dr. Laurence Roth, gave a $25,000 loan to fund the work.) Following restoration and renovation of the building, the Landmark Society sold the building in 1981 to Stephen B. Hughes, a local attorney. For a number of years, the structure was then used for law offices.

In 2007, 10 Ellicott St. was purchased by Kistner Concrete Products, Inc., a family owned business. William M. Kistner is the current head of the operation.  During the last five years, Tom Hume, construction and maintenance supervisor for the company, has been engaging in further restoration work on the building.  Mr. Hume has commonly been assisted by up to two employees working full-time on the project.

Time has not been kind to the old rectory. By the time Kistner Concrete purchased the building, it again needed major work. Most notably, a wall at the rear of the building was leaning severely and in danger of collapse. Stabilizing and repairing this wall was a major undertaking complicated in part by a need to replace about half of the brick work. The challenge of locating brick from the proper era was solved by salvaging brick from the former Masonic Lodge that was being torn down in Le Roy.

Brick work in other areas of the exterior wall required replacement of between 750 and 1,000 bricks. This was in addition to repointing the brick work, a significant undertaking in its own right.

Four second-floor windows have been replaced with custom-made units designed to replicate the original windows. The part of these windows exposed to the elements is made of painted aluminum. The interior parts are made of wood.  Four cellar windows have also been replaced. Ultimately, all the windows in the building will be replaced. It should be noted that this work has been undertaken in cooperation and under the supervision of the city’s Historic Preservation Commission. In fact, the Commission has recognized the work on the property with a plaque mounted on the exterior.

Additional exterior work has involved efforts to protect the foundation from water infiltration. A trench was dug down 6 feet around most of the building’s perimeter, the foundation surface was cleaned, re-mortared and parged, a tar coat was applied below grade, and a drainage system was constructed.

Extensive work has also occurred in the basement which had a dirt floor. In order to provide more ceiling clearance, 250 cubic yards of dirt were carried out in 5-gallon pails. Then a concrete floor was poured. An interesting feature of the basement is a fireplace located in the rear. A replacement mantle and hearth have been cast from concrete in a manner designed to create the appearance of stone. (Incidentally, when excavation occurred near the fireplace, large numbers of chicken bones were discovered, indicating that food preparation must have taken place there in the basement.) The walls of the basement were also cleaned and re-mortared. The space is now being used, among other things, for storage of records.

Work on the basement led to the discovery that the building is sitting over a bed of water-soaked sand. It’s one more support for the claim that Batavia is built on a swamp.

Other interior work on the first and second floors has involved removal of partitions to open up work areas. Trim has been installed which is historically appropriate, when the original couldn’t be retained. One particularly nice touch is the installation of floor registers made of cast iron and made in a style typical of the early 1900s.

Floors have been sanded, repaired as necessary, and stained. In some areas, the ink stains from the period when the Rowell Co. used the building have been deliberately left in view, a feature which evokes a part of the structure’s history.

Restoration and renovation of the building is an ongoing process with much left to be done. An example of such future work will be the resetting of the front steps which have settled considerably over the years. In another area, where blackened walls signal a past fire of some magnitude, the ceiling will be raised along with the roof above. How much longer will it take to finish this extensive undertaking? When pressed on the matter, Mr. Hume indicates that he hopes to be finished by his targeted date of retirement seven years from now.

Coffee Culture
6 Court St.

Batavia, NY 14020

Adaptive Re-use

By Laurie Oltramari

Preservation comes in many forms -- pure preservation, renovation, restoration, adaptive reuse, rehabilitation, and even reproduction. In our urban setting of Downtown Batavia, the ultimate goal of preservation is to maintain the character of a place and activity within it.

This corner of Court and Ellicott streets has had a lot of activity over the years including a hotel that predates the Park Hotel, which was built around 1880. In 1919, the hotel became the Lafayette Hotel. And in later years, the hotel was reported to serve as an overflow annex for the Hotel Richmond. In later years the building was sold to the Continental Motor Corporation. By mid-century it housed Trailways offices and terminal. The building was ultimately razed in 1965.

Its replacement was a one-story corner building within the downtown. Express Opticians occupied the space until 2009 when Coffee Culture offered to buy the building to house its Canadian-based coffee business. Although the building was not actually for sale, the price was right and thus, a form of rehabilitation took place.

A corner site is a prime location in terms of urban design and promotes the business mantra, "location, location, location." Its high visibility is good for business, but maintaining the corner anchors the downtown and its success can affect the overall block. Rehabilitation plays a huge role in the preservation of a downtown because it can make spaces functional once again.

Historic preservation does not mean that everything must stay the same. Rather, it focuses on the character and quality of construction. Coffee Culture has successfully taken the building and turned it into an inviting space. It has captured the essence of a cozy coffee shop with warm color tones, lighting, wood grains, and a reproduction tin ceiling. Its seating, both indoor and outside, are welcoming. Currently, Coffee Culture rents the space next door for meetings.

Brenda Richardson is the current manager of Coffee Culture and has brought tremendous energy to the downtown. Although Coffee Culture is located at the corner of Court and Ellicott streets, you will see Coffee Culture participate in all the downtown events -- the Downtown Batavia Public Market, Cinema in the Square, the Wine Walk, and the Taste of the Holidays, to name just a few. Community begins with communication and commitment, and Coffee Culture is most welcome in our community of Batavia.

The Landmark Society of Genesee County would like to present Coffee Culture with a Preservation Award for its role in the adaptive re-use of 6 Court St. in Batavia.

Matt and Laura Luft
4747 Oak Orchard Road

Elba, NY 14058
Restoration

By Loren Pflaumer

Nestled on just under two acres and surrounded on three sides by farmland, sits this quaint circa 1880 national style farmhouse. Matt and Laura Luft have spent the last five years painstakingly restoring and repairing their home. The house, which in the 1930s was known to travellers on Route 98 as the Happy Acres Tea House, was purchased at auction in 1996 by Torrey Farms. The Lufts attended the auction and were lucky enough to move into the home as renters. After living at the house for a few years, the Lufts purchased the property in 2005 and have been busy restoring it ever since.

The inside of the house is almost completely restored. The original wood floors have been sanded and refinished and saved wherever possible. Many of the rooms were suffocating under layers of wallpaper (12 layers were removed in one room!). The paper was removed, the walls painted, and all the trim and door hardware were cleaned up and re-used. An original light fixture was re-wired and salvaged. The brick fireplace was cleaned, touched up and a mantle was added. The stairs were stripped and refinished. The kitchen boasts built in cabinetry which Matt stripped and repainted and a swinging door leftover from the Happy Acre Tea House days. When a new exterior door was needed, the original was saved and repurposed. Matt and Laura have gone to great lengths to keep the house as true to its original style and layout as possible.

The work that the owners have done on the exterior is what gets this house noticed. Lifetime Elba resident Don Gavenda moved into this house as a child and lived here for many years. As far back as he can remember, the house was always painted white with green shutters. Matt and Laura were certain they were going to be the first to add more color to the place. Yellow and green were both considered, but when the new Bank of Castile building on West Main Street was built, the combination of brown and beige caught their eye. Having inquired at Sherwin Williams as to this color combination, they were told that the paint on the bank building could be matched exactly, as it had been mixed and bought at their store. So with the final color scheme in hand, Matt painted the entire place with no more than a coffee can and a paint brush. The contrasting colors really show off one of the homes best features, the arched porch supports.

The circa 1910 barn was also given a face lift. Originally built to house farm animals, the barn was later converted into a cold storage for onions. Former owner Maureen Marshall remembers buying fresh muck-grown produce from the owners when she was a child. Produce that she remembers as being the best and freshest around. The barn has had the faux brick siding removed, and the original underlying wood repainted. A new metal roof was added and a large entry door was moved from the side to the front. The smaller entry door is the door that was salvaged when the kitchen was redone. The finishing touch to their outdoor renovations was the addition of the split rail fence, which is always blooming and seasonally decorated.

It is such an honor to give the Lufts our Restoration Award this year. They have so much passion and love for their home that you sense it when they talk about it. They are not yet finished with all they plan to do and we look forward to watching the continuing transformation.

Tim and Lisette Stoddard
20 Ellicott Ave.
Batavia, NY 14020
Renovation

By Lucine Kauffman

The first thing you notice about this painted lady is the large circular front porch.  Upon closer inspection, you find an architectural surprise in every nook and cranny of this circa 1890 Queen Anne style home. Many of the ornamentation designs are drawn from the Colonial and New-Classical styles. In particular the oval window and wooden molding in the porch gable of an urn form reflect turn of the century design. There is also a small ornate “sleeping” porch on the second floor; and a recessed window with a balustrade in the top-most pediment suggesting another porch.

Each gable has its own unique decorative trim with variations of sunburst and foliated motifs.

Shingles, clapboards, and wooden panels cover the exterior.

Maria Kibbe purchased the residence in 1928 and it stayed in the Kibbe family until 1968. Real Estate Broker Harry Smith Kibbe, son of Chauncey Kibbe, lived here.

When the Stoddards bought this elegant home in 2006, they bought a “diamond in the rough.” The house had been divided into three apartments and the front porch was dangerously rotted. When they embarked on their long journey, they lived in one of the small upstairs apartments…with their four young children.  Their first priority was to create a functional kitchen and bathroom to accommodate their family. The house had other plans, though. The front porch collapsed, thus diverting their interior plans to the exterior. They put down a new mahogany floor, replicated the balustrade, and painstakingly bent wood boards to conform to the porch’s curve. Only the original top spindles were savable.

Back inside, the Stoddards set out to uncover the original floor plan. Doorways had been moved, walls built up and others torn out, and windows had been boarded over. The clue that guided them throughout the process were the intact narrow strips of mahogany wood that framed each room’s floor perimeter. 

Where able, they restored the existing original gumwood trim around the windows and doors. The living room fireplace mantle had several coats of white paint.  Lisa used knitting needles and a lot of patience to strip the paint from the crevices of the intricate design, and refinish the wood. They are currently in the process of restoring the main stairway. 

Where the Stoddards had to rebuild doorways, they recreated the trim style using poplar stained to replicate mahogany.  These doors were purchased in Pennsylvania years ago in anticipation that some day they would find a good home. 

The original stained glass foyer window provided inspiration for the kitchen window they had custom built. They also had a new stained glass window built for the dining room to replace the board that had been covering the opening.  Another original stained glass window brightens the living room. A curved glass bay window also graces the living room. Notice the narrow wooden strips border curved in concert with the windows.

Lisa diligently researched period appropriate interior decoration such as hardware, wall treatments, window treatments, furnishings, and light fixtures.  She scoured Ebay and estate sales to find items from the period. Of special note are the plaster medallions Lisa handcrafted to frame each ceiling light fixture.  Some have been given a “mod podge” treatment.

Building the kitchen was the first interior project the Stoddards took on. With Lisa’s skillful direction, Tim’s carpenters were able to create a room that blends with the rest of the house while incorporating all modern conveniences. The glass cupboard doors surrounding the range were custom built to match the kitchen window. Lisa sewed a curtain out of antique flour bags for her broom closet.  Again, period appropriate hardware accents were employed. On the kitchen walls wainscoting was installed topped with a plate rail.

The downstairs bathroom was also meticulously appointed with antique and reproduction fixtures. The hardwood floor had to be replaced because a bathroom pipe burst and ruined the original floor. 

The Stoddards believe that Tim’s office is the same room that Harry Kibbe used for his office. They stripped and refinished the original cupboards. Lisa antiqued the walls using a rag rolling painting technique. She then painted narrow frames on the wall to simulate panels. 

The Stoddards picked a five-color scheme for the exterior.

The carriage barn remains intact.

The Landmark Society is pleased to present Tim and Lisa Stoddard a Preservation Award for the excellent work they have done on their home, a stunning example of Queen Anne Style architecture inside and out.

Lonnie A. Fairbanks, 45, of 6227 Skyview Lane, Mt. Morris, is charged with felony DWI and refusal to take a breath test. Fairbanks was arrested after Le Roy PD responded to a report of a rolling domestic Saturday on Lake Street. Fairbanks was jailed on $5,000 bail.

Robert G. Whitehead, 21, of 28 Clay Street, Le Roy, is charged unlawful dealing with a child, 1st. Whitehead is accused of hosting an underage drinking party.

Roger K. Williams, 55, of 19 Exchange St., in Le Roy, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and unlawful possession of marijuana. Williams was arrested after Le Roy PD responded to a report of a domestic disturbance on Church Street in the early morning hours Sunday. Williams was jailed on $500 bail.

Raymond J. Radley, 46, of 10661 Cook Road, Pavilion, is charged with criminal contempt, 1st. Radley is accused of violating an order of protection by calling the protected person several times and driving past the person's place of work. Radley was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Zayis Rooper King, 19, of Oatka Trail Road, Le Roy, is charged with unlawful dealing with a child, 1st. King is accused of hosting an underage drinking party.

Shawn David Bowman, 40, of Oakta Circle Road, Le Roy, is charged with trespass. Bowman is accused of driving his vehicle on a nature trail behind Pembroke Town Park that is marked "pedestrian use only."

Tyanna Desiree Green, 17, of Lewis Place, Batavia, was arrested on a bench warrant related to a petit larceny charge. The petit larceny allegedly occurred in December. Green was jailed on $200 bail.

Joseph George Sumeriski, 20, of Blackhouse Road, Warsaw, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Sumeriski was arrested at 6:15 a.m., Saturday, on Park Road, Batavia, by Deputy Dana Richardson.

Travis A. Weatherbee, 25, of 25 Swan St., Batavia, is charged with crminal use of drgu paraphernalia, 2nd. Weatherbee is accused of possessing a needle and a spoon. The spoon was allegedly used to liquify a prescribed medication.

Multiple callers report to dispatch that a car has hit a deer on Route 20 in Pavilion and a person is injured.

Pavilion Fire Department and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 11:31 a.m.: The deer apparently went through a side window. The patient was not breathing, but is now breathing with difficulty. The patient suffered facial injuries. Mercy Flight put on in-air standby.

UPDATE 11:33 a.m.: Mercy Flight will not be needed at the scene.

UPDATE 11:50 a.m.: Patient being transported to Strong.

UPDATE 11:52 a.m.: Pavilion back in service.

Pavilion Fire Department, non-emergency, is responding to a barn fire that's almost out at 6305 Sparks Road, Pavilion.

The call started with a report about 15 minutes ago of an unknown type fire in the area of Sparks Road and Transit Road.

A lot of smoke was reported in the area.

It's unclear how the fire got to the point that it's almost out.

UPDATE 8:27 p.m.: Bethany Fire Department was also dispatched to this, now both Pavilion and Bethany are providing mutual aid to put out a structure fire on Wyoming Road in Wyoming County.

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A woman reportedly involved in a motor-vehicle accident in Pavilion early Wednesday morning has been accused of using her mobile phone while driving and doing that while she was drunk.

Alexandra Rae Wood, 21, of McCall Road, Batavia, allegedly had a BAC of .18 or greater when she drove her car into a ditch on Route 19 at 2:34 a.m.

She has been charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, unlawful possession of marijuana, moving from lane unsafely and unlawful use of a mobile phone.

Wood was issued an appearance ticket and released.

The accident was investigated by Deputy Jason Saile.

Brianna Rae Burlingame, 20, of Palmer Road, Churchville, is charged with driving under the influence of drugs, criminal possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana. Burlingame was arrested after deputies Chad Minuto and Jason Saile responded to the parking lot of Petco at 2:14 p.m., Saturday for the report of a woman asleep behind the wheel of her vehicle while it was running. Burlingame was issued an appearance ticket.

Sean Allen Kota, 18, of Byron-Holley Road, Byron, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and driver view obstructed. Kota's vehicle was stopped following complaints of the occupants throwing beer bottles out of the window of the car. His vehicle was stopped at 2:47 p.m., Thursday, on Oatka Trail in Le Roy by Deputy Matthew Butler.

Joshua Webster, 25, of York Road, Pavilion, is charged with grand larceny, 4th, and criminal possession of stolen property. Webster is accused of stealing a purse and credit cards from a location on Commerce Drive, Batavia, and of possessing stolen property from another incident at the time of his arrest on an unrelated incident. (Previously)

Gregory J. Battaglia, 30, of Pavilion Center Road, Pavilion, is charged with petit larceny. Battaglia is accused of stealing gasoline from a station in Le Roy.

A 17-year-old resident of Bacon Street, Le Roy, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. The youth is accused of failing to provide appropriate supervision to a child left in his care.

Samantha M. Williams, 31, of Warsaw Road, Le Roy, is charged with robbery, 3rd, grand larceny, 4th, criminal mischief, 4th, and petit larceny. Williams is accused of getting into an argument with her mother at about 9 a.m., Tuesday, while in a vehicle on Seven Springs Road. Williams allegedly took her mother's credit card. When her mother attempted to call 9-1-1, Williams allegedly took the phone and got out of the vehicle. Williams was located outside a business on East Main Street Road a short time later.

Raymond James Radley, 46, of Cook Road, Pavilion, is charged with forcible touching. Radley is accused of forcibly touching the intimate parts of a woman during an argument.

Accused bank robber Jonathan A. Mills has officially been named a suspect in the April 6 Pavilion Five Star Bank robbery.

The Genesee County Sheriff's Office requested and has been granted an arrest warrant by Town of Pavilion Justice Philip Werner for Mills, who is currently being held in the Columbia County Jail in Hudson.

Mills, with a listed address of 115 Maryland Ave., Rochester, is a possible suspect, along with possible accomplices, in other bank robberies around the state.

The Genesee County warrant accuses Mills of robbery, 3rd, a Class D felony, and grand larceny, 4th.

Authorities believe Mills is the man who stepped into the Pavilion bank about 3:30 p.m., April 6, and presented the teller a note, claiming he had a gun, and demanding money.

Investigators have not said how much money the robber received from the teller.

The suspect then ran from the bank and jumped into a car, according to witnesses, driven by another African-American male.

The second suspect has not been identified.

The operation matches a robbery in Greene County on Monday, which eventually led to the arrest of Mills.

A Rochester man arrested in Greene County and accused of robbing a bank in Greenport may be linked to a bank robbery in Pavilion on Friday.

Deputy Chief Jerome Brewster said Sheriff's Office investigators are looking closely at Jonathan Mills, 24, of 115 Maryland St., Rochester, who has been charged in Greene County with robbery, 3rd, and grand larceny, 3rd, both Class D felonies.

"We believe this is the guy who robbed the Pavilion bank," Brewster said.

Investigators have some fingerprints they would like to match with prints taken by the Greene County Sheriff's Office. If there's a match, Brewster said the evidence will be presented to the District Attorney by Friday for possible arrest or indictment.

The suspect's appearance, M.O. and other physical evidence seem to match, Brewster said.

According to Brewster, Mills may have been involved with as many as four other people in a series of bank robberies around the state.

According to the Daily Mail in Greene County, Mills allegedly presented a bank teller with a note around 4 p.m. Monday. It read “I have a gun, give me all the money, no dye packs and you won’t get hurt.”

Patrols searched and canvassed the immediate area. Sheriff’s investigators conducted witness interviews while evidence technicians processed the crime scene.

“The investigators did a great job,” Capt. David Barlett of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office said. “It was some good, old-fashioned police work.”

Heavy black smoke is spewing from a vacant structure at 6553 Ellicott St. Road in Pavilion. They are not sure whether it's coming from the first or second story. Pavilion Fire Department is responding and so is Le Roy's.

UPDATE 12:34 p.m.: A responder on scene reports this is a "controlled burn" -- a rubbish fire, which includes tires, and it's behind the house. The second-alarm responders are told to stand by in quarters-- they include Alexander, Bethany, Stafford and the City of Batavia's Fast Team.

UPDATE 12:37 p.m.: They anticipate being able to "knock this out quickly."

UPDATE 12:43 p.m.: Bethany's tanker is en route, non-emergency mode. Stafford is cancelled. (We presume the city and Alexander are also standing down.) They are going to shut the road to traffic.

UPDATE 12:45 p.m.: "We've got it pretty well knocked down for the most part."

UPDATE 12:54 p.m.: The fire is out.

UPDATE 12:57 p.m.: Le Roy is returning to service.

UPDATE 1:12 p.m.: The road is reopened.

UPDATE 1:16 p.m.: Bethany and Pavilion are back in service. A representative of the Department of Environmental Conservation responded to the scene to investigate and is now leaving.

Investigators believe they have identified a possible suspect in Friday's robbery of a Five Star Bank in Pavilion, according to Deputy Chief Jerome Brewster.

"We remain very optimistic that we'll be able to solve this," Brewster said.

According to Brewster, there are some "common denominators" with prior bank robbers in Rochester and Geneva, and the Sheriff's Office has been working with those agencies to piece together evidence.

There may be DNA evidence and fingerprints to link the crimes with a suspect, Brewster said, but investigators are waiting on lab results.

As for the quality of the surveillance pictures released to the media, Brewster said the actual video from the bank is excellent quality. The problem with the still pictures released has to do with conversion of digital video to digital images.

Brewster said investigators have equipment to improve image quality and that Genesee Community College has state-of-the-art equipment if needed. But in this case "it isn't needed," Brewster said, because investigators already believe there is an identifiable suspect.

If there wasn't a good chance at solving the case, Brewster said, he might consider releasing the video or obtaining better quality still pictures from the video.

A motorcycle accident with injuries is reported in the area of 10038 South St. Road, Pavilion, between Black Street Road and Route 20.

The rider is reportedly down on the road. A caller reports he is breathing and trying to move, but she told him to stay down.

Pavilion Fire Department and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 5:18 p.m.: A deputy on scene requests Pavilion fire police to an area south of the accident to slow down traffic. He said, "we're on the reverse side of a hill."

UPDATE 5:20 p.m.: Mercy Flight on ground standby.

UPDATE 5:23 p.m.: Mercy Flight to the scene. Traffic being stopped on South Street Road from the north.

UPDATE: 5:31 p.m.: Mercy Flight 5 in route. Five minute ETA.

UPDATE: 5:36 p.m.: Mercy Flight on the ground.

A confirmed garage fire is reported at 7658 Telephone Road (Route 20) in Pavilion.

Pavilion Fire along with Le Roy Fire responding. Stafford is on standby.

UPDATE 2:11 p.m.: Chief on scene reports garbage fire next to the garage, but not into the garage yet.

UPDATE 2:14 p.m.: Responding departments include (but not limited to): Perry, York, Wyoming, Alexander and Bethany.  Also Engine 12 of City Fire is responding to something, possibly this, which would constitute the Fast Team, with Fourth Platoon requested to fill in at City Station.

UPDATE 2:20 p.m.: The fire has been knocked down.

UPDATE 2:40 p.m.: Engine 12 back in the city. Le Roy, along with several other responding companies, back in service.

UPDATE 2:58 p.m.: Pavilion back in service.

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Authorities are still trying to locate two black males involved in a robbery of the Five Star Bank branch in Pavilion this afternoon.

According to Deputy Chief Jerome Brewster, a black male wearing wearing a blue and white striped shirt, jeans, a red ball cap and sunglasses entered the bank and 3:25 p.m. and presented a note demanding cash.

The robber fled with an unknown amount of money and jumped into a silver or grey pickup truck driven by another black male.

Around the same time as the bank robbery, a stolen vehicle was located on Crossman Road, off of Starr Road, in Pavilion. The motor was still running on the green Dodge Intrepid.

The car was stolen earlier from the park-and-ride lot off the I-490 in Le Roy.

It's unknown at this time if the stolen car is related to the bank robbery.

A couple of witnesses spotted the suspects fleeing and investigators are sorting through witness statements.

Officials say a photo of the bank robbery suspect will be released at some point this evening.

In October 2009, the same branch was robbed by a white male wearing a distinctive jacket. Nick A. Hawkins, 28, of 24 W. Main St., Le Roy, eventually admitted the robbery.

Law enforcement units from Genesee, Wyoming and Livingston counties and the State Police responded to today's robbery.

(Initial post)

 

A robbery just occurred at the Five Star Bank on Cato Street in Pavilion. The suspect is described as a black male, 5'6" tall, slim build, wearing a blue and white striped shirt, jeans, a red ball cap and sunglasses. He told the teller he had a gun, but one was not shown. He fled the bank on foot and his direction of travel is unknown. Several law enforcement units are on their way to the scene.

UPDATE 3:43 p.m.: They are going to set up a perimeter to scour for the suspect. Patrols on the interstate highways are alerted as well as those traveling other routes, so are Wyoming and Livingston counties.

UPDATE 3:47 p.m.: They are going to ask Livingston County to send in its canine unit and are also checking the availability of the one in Genesee County. Officers are now interviewing neighbors to determine whether the suspect got into a vehicle and, if so, to provide a description of it.

UPDATE 3:50 p.m.: The canine unit from Livingston County is en route. A neighbor told officers that she saw the suspect get into a vehicle parked at the adjacent St. Mary's Church and there was another black male driving the car. The car's wheels squeeled out of the parking lot and the witness "was so shocked she doesn't remember anything (else)." They are going to check all the streets in the vicinity of the church and along Route 63. A pizzeria in the area had a security camera on and they are going to check it.

UPDATE 3:56 p.m.: "It appears they took off in the car pretty quickly." The suspects are estimated to be in their mid- to late 20s. The canine unit from Genesee County is not available.

UPDATE 3:59 p.m.: The camera by a nearby ATM machine is being screened to glean possible information.

UPDATE 4:04 p.m.: After speaking with a woman in the area, they are looking for a full-sized, silver-colored pickup truck with a regular cab. The witness saw it shortly before she was telephoned about the robbery and it was parked by the basketball courts by St. Mary's.

UPDATE 4:31 p.m.: Wyoming County authorities are reporting that they found a green car roadside (didn't catch which road) and the engine is still running, but no one is around it. They are checking the plates. It is unknown if this is related to the robbery or just an odd circumstance.

UPDATE 4:35 p.m.: They are saying the abandoned vehicle found with its motor running is a green pickup truck car. It's in the vicinity of Crossman and Starr roads, "by a trestle" in Wyoming County. 

UPDATE 4:38 p.m.: The license plates come back to a Le Roy resident, born in 1934, and there's no (telephone) answer at the owner's residence. Again, this may be completely unrelated to the robbery.

UPDATE 4:53 p.m.: Now they are checking on another matter, saying it's unknown whether related to the robbery. A person is going door to door in the area of 10982 S. Lake Road (Route 19) in Pavilion asking for gasoline. The caller could not provide a description of the person because of poor vision.

A head-on collision has been reported in the area of 6928 Telephone Road, Pavilion.

There is one person reporting arm pain and possible entrapment.

Pavilion Fire Department and Mercy EMS responding.

A first responder reports one minor injury.

UPDATE 4:59 p.m.: Pavilion assignment back in service.

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A car is reportedly on its side in a ditch on Old State Road between Perry and Silver Lake roads, Pavilion, with one person reportedly laying in the ditch.

Pavilion Fire Department and Mercy EMS responding.

Dispatchers checking on the availability of Mercy Flight.

UPDATE 10:02 p.m.: Mercy Flight on in-air standby. Old State Road is being closed to thru traffic.

UPDATE 10:03 p.m.: Looks like only one victim.

UPDATE 10:07 p.m.: Car still running, caution on approach urged. The vehicle may have been pulling a trailer. Patient is about 50 feet from the vehicle. Mercy Flight will not be required.

UPDATE 11:35 p.m.: Female patient was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital. Pavilion fire is clearing the scene.

Edwin L. Stancliff, 32, of Alleghany Road, Pembroke, and Adrienne F. Yocina, 31, of Alleghany Road, Pembroke, are charged with unlawful growing of cannabis and criminal possession of marijuana, 5th. Both charges are misdemeanors. Stancliff and Yocina were allegedly found growing cannabis on their property and possessing marijuana in excess of 25 grams during an investigation of an incident at 8:20 p.m., Aug. 13, 2010.

Tammy Marie Chojnacki, 40, of Pike Road, Batavia, is charged with felony DWI and felony driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Chojnacki was arrested by Deputy Matt Fleming at her residence following an investigation at 9:24 p.m., Saturday, into a reported domestic incident in her car.

Jesse Stephen Stocking, 24, of Genesee Street, Corfu, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and speeding. Stocking was stopped on Route 33 in Pembroke at 4:46 p.m., Saturday, by Deputy Matt Fleming.

Robert Jeffery Curry, 22, of Dillon Road, Pavilion, is charged with unlawful dealing with a child. Following a complaint to the Tip Line at 1:02 a.m., Saturday, Curry was arrested for allegedly hosting an underage drinking party at his residence.

Christopher Willard Logsdon, 24, of Big Tree Road, Pavilion, is charged with unlawful dealing with a child. Following a complaint to the Tip Line at 12:23 a.m., Saturday, Curry was arrested for allegedly hosting an underage drinking party at his residence.

Cody Allen Eaton, 22, of Main Street, Attica, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater and speeding. Eaton was stopped at 1:54 a.m., Saturday, on Pearl Street Road, Batavia, by Deputy Howard Carlson.

John Charles McGrath, 43, of South Main Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th, resisting arrest and harassment, 2nd.

Lori Ann Brightenfield, 52, of Main Road, Stafford, is charged with aggravated harassment, 2nd. Brightenfield is accused of using a telephone for no legitimate purpose to contact another person she was allegedly told previously not to contact.

Joseph Carl Jeffords, 21, of Swan Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief. Jeffords is accused of driving across the lawn at College Village and while driving across the lawn, intentionally speeding up, leaving ruts. The alleged incident was caught on tape.

Wilson Figueroa, 28, of Conkey Avenue, Rochester, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Figueroa's car was stopped for alleged traffic violations on Route 33, Stafford, and was found to allegedly have as a passenger protected by an active stay away order.

Stephen D. Reamer, 53, of 76 Gilbert St., Le Roy, is charged with felony aggravated DWI. Reamer was stopped Friday morning in Le Roy by Le Roy Police.