Starting on September 1, the Batavia police station at 10 W. Main St. will only be open to the public from 8:30am to 4:30pm. A desk clerk will be on hand during those hours. A call box will be set up outside the station to contact dispatch at the Genesee County Sheriff's Office on Park Road. City police has also opened a new non-emergency number and for contacting police personnel: (585) 345-6444.

Derrick G. Ryzner, 19, of Pennsylvania, was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana Tuesday, Genesee County sheriff's deputies said. Deputies had responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint when they allegedly found the drugs in Ryzner's vehicle.

A couple's complaint about a stolen bank card and an account robbed of its funds led to charges against the couple themselves, Genesee County sheriff's deputies said. Twenty-five-year-old Jennifer and 23-year-old Christopher Cummings, both of Pavilion, were charged with third-degree falsely reporting an incident. After reporting the theft of bank card and money, deputies discovered that the two had allegedly taken their own money out of the bank and reported it stolen.

We have a new commercial on WBTA.

Once again, the spot was recorded by Nici Johnson, local resident and waitress at the Pok-A-Dot.

We're quite proud of it: MP3 File

After 87 years, the Genesee-Orleans Vegetable Growers Cooperative Association voted to dissolve the organization Monday, according to the Daily News. No summary will do justice to the fine piece by Tom Rivers, so today might be a good one to go out and pick up a copy of the paper, if you don't already have one. Rivers really has his finger on the pulse of this agricltural community, and it shows in the depth of his reporting.

Reporter Matt Surtel informs us that the Citizens for Wind Energy in Perry and the Wind Information + Responsible Energy group from Alabama have joined forces and become part of the statewide organization: Renewable Energy Advocates Coalition, which is some 80,000 members strong.

For those who haven't yet heard, Sen. Barack Obama says that he has made his choice for vice-presidential candidate. But he's not telling anybody. Why say so, then? Oh, politics.

Congratulations to the Alexander girls track team, which won the Genesee Region League Championships, the Section 5 Class CC title, and now send 10 girls to the 2008 Genesee Region League girls track all-star team. Not to mention that their very own Dave Radley was named coach of the year. The lucky all-stars from Alexander are: Stacey Flint, Courtney Aldrich, Taylor Antinore, Kayleigh DeAngelo, Amanda Zielonka, Maranda Ohlson, Alyssa Hinkson, Jodie Skidmore, Eleonara Costa and Sidney Flint.

If you don't believe me that the talents of Tom Rivers are enough of a reason to buy today's paper, let me entice you further with another fun feature story by Virginia Kropf. In this tale, she sits down with Catherine Roth, who turns 88 on Saturday, along with her two sisters. They're triplets, and may be the oldest surviving triplets in the whole country. Kropf writes a fabulous tale about the sisters, full of such great lines as: "She liked it when they started wearing different things, because if one wanted to borrow the others clothes, they had a variety." Or this one from Catherine: "We were spoiled collectively." So much fun. Thanks again, Virginia.

As I've already said twice, you should head out and pick up your own copy of the Daily News. Or, better yet, subscribe at BataviaNews.com.

Two new faces have been added to the Muckdogs roster. Here's a look at our new players:

• Ismael Cardona, Catcher: Cardona comes up from the GCL Cardinals where he was batting .222 with 7 RBI.  Orignally from La Sabana, Venezuela, Cardona will add some depth in catching.
• Osvaldo Morales, First Base: In Johnson City, Morales was batting .250 with 12 homeruns and 28 RBI.  In his first start as a Muckdog last night, he went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored.

Also, I know I'm a little late with the reminder but, don't foget there are player appearances today at Denny's from 11:30-12:30 and at Oliver's Candies 12-1! Be sure to stop out, chat them up and get to know some Muckdogs...and then of course get out to a game to cheer them on! We are home all this weekend and this Monday with all games starting at 7:05, except for a 1:05 start on Sunday.

Behind a solid starting pitching effort by Scott Gorgen (3-2), the Muckdogs (36-23) remain in 1st place in the Pinckney Division after a 4-2 win over the Mahoning Valley Scrappers (26-34).  Gorgen threw five innings with five hits, one walk and seven strikeouts.  Russell Young (4-3) suffered the loss in his six innings with five hits, three runs (one earned), one walk and 2 strikeouts.

In the 2nd inning, Batavia started things off by scoring two runs on three hits.  Chris Swauger singled and Alex Castellonas doubled to get on base and Edwin Gomez came up with a double to drive them both in.  They added another run in the 4th when newcomer Osvaldo Morales doubled and Swauger singled.  The Muckdogs's 4th and final run of the night came in the 8th inning.  Jose Garcia bunt-singled, stole second and then advanced to third on a throwing error.  With Frederick Parejo at the plate, the Scrappers had a fielding error which allowed Garcia to come in to score.

Mahoning Valley threatened in the 9th, scoring two runs in the inning on a walk and two doubles, but it was not enough.  Jason Buursma came into relieve Miguel Tapia in the 9th to earn himself his third save.  In an inning of work, he let up only one hit while striking out two.

Castellonas finished the game 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored.  Swauger also went 2-for-3 with a RBI and a run scored.  The teams face each other again tonight in Batavia at 7:05.

Don't know about any of you folks, but my commute takes me straight down Route 33 to Batavia from Route 490 and back every day, a long haul but a beautiful drive with so much more character than swinging up and around via the lifeless thruway. Starting next week, and likely through to November, that could mean the occasional delay or at least a slow down in traffic through a stretch of that road.

The state Department of Transportation released this info about the upgrade to the Black Creek Bridge in Stafford (between Route 237 and Caswell Road on Route 33):

Steel and concrete elements of the 75-year old structure have been showing signs of age and deterioration. Plans call for the removal of the existing concrete parapets on the bridge and for the installation of railing. Repairs will be made to deteriorated sections of concrete above and below the bridge and improving drainage to further slow down deterioration of substructure elements.

Construction work is slated to begin the week of August 25 and will likely be complete by the first week of November.  Motorists can expect limited travel impacts while the bridge is under construction. Shoulder closures and lane closures controlled by a flagger will be used on a daily basis. Motorists should drive with caution through the work zone.

As always, folks can get up-to-date road travel info on the state's Web site.

Police in Le Roy are looking for anyone with information about an apparent break in at the Little League concession stand in the village, according to WBTA. At some point over the past few nights, someone had forced open the door and got inside. Anyone with information should call (585) 768-2527.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley told WBTA's Dan Fischer that most of the $450 million that the state legislature recently agreed to cut from its spending are "un-spent member items, the so-called pork that legislators use to win points with their local constituents." (Quote from Fischer.)

Genesee Community College's Alumni and Friends will hold their annual Hike up the Hill event Saturday, September 13 to raise money for the college's scholarship fund. Everyone is invited to participate: service crews, churches, neighborhoods, workplaces, families or even groups of friends are encouraged to come by in costume, with themed props.

Pontillo's Pizzeria plans to have staff walking while twirling pizza dough above their heads and Genesee's nursing department will wheel a gurney along the walking route.

"We wanted this to be a fun event that includes all members of the community," said Patti Pacino, Alumni Coordinator. "By adding a unique and creative element to the walkathon we hope that more people will participate and that we raise more money than ever for scholarships this year."

The walkathon meets at the Batavia campus clock tower at 8:30am. ... Awards and special prizes will be presented during a picnic on the campus following the walk.

Call Patti Pacino at (585) 343-0055 ext.6265 for more info. Or send her an e-mail.

Austin Spray Park is closed for the season—two weeks early, according to the Daily News. A waterline break that damaged "some electrical components" is cited as the cause of the early closure. It would have taken more than two weeks to fix the problem, and since the park was scheduled to closed on September 2 anyway, officials decided to just call it quits for the season.

In other news:

• Canandaiguan Erin Fairben will take over as superintendent of the New York State School for the Blind. She comes to Batavia from the Geneva City School District. She starts September 2.
• Wyoming and Orleans counties have joined in the statewide NY-Alert system that provides emergency alert information such as road closings and severe weather warnings. Genesee County is "implementing the service."
• Assemblyman Steve Hawley will lead youth in a pledge to be drug-free at 6:30pm at the Muckdogs game this Friday.
• Victorian Manor will host a get-together "for people in any type of business to get acquainted" with the staff and amenities of the refurbished apartment building. Show up at 427 East Main St. from 5:00 to 7:00pm.

Pick up your own copy of the Daily News at local newsstands. Or, better yet, subscribe at BataviaNews.com.

Several members of the Batavia police department were recently rewarded with certificates of commendation for exemplary police service for their involvement in major cases.

Officer Frank Klimjack responded to a residential fire at 6 Pringle Ave. in September, 2006. On scene, Klimjack helped two children and their mother to safety, then directed fire and ambulance crews to the scene to save a child trapped in the residence.

Detectives Todd Crossett and Richard Schauf were commended for their participation in an investigation that started in June, 2007, and continues today that has led to the arrest of four men, so far, who were soliciting minors for sexual encounters on the Internet.

Detective Sgt. Patrick Corona, detectives Charles Dudek, Paul Caffo, Todd Crossett, Richard Schauf and officers Kevin Czora and John Peck were commended for their rapid apprehension of suspects and subsequent investigation and processing of evidence in the murder of Desean Gooch in October, 2006.

Officer Eric Hill, detectives Charles Dudek and Paul Caffo, Detective Sgt. Patrick Corona and Lt. James Henning were commended for their apprehension of a suspect in the robbery of Key Bank on Main Street. That arrest led to the confession by the suspect to several other bank robberies, including one in Rochester that had resulted in the incarceration of an innocent man.

Detectives Richard Schauf and Charles Dudek were commended for their investigation that led to the arrest earlier this year of the infamous Pillow Case Burglar.

In the photo above (from left): Det. Sgt. Patrick Corona, Det. Charles Dudek, Lt. James Henning, Officer Wayne Fenton, Det. Schauf and Officer Eric Hill.

Gensee County home schoolers can look to their local library as a central resource in their education this coming school year. Richmond Memorial Library has countless books and magazines for teachers that any parent, any patron, can check out and incorporate into their routine. This fall, the library will show itself ever more valuable as it kicks of a series of weekly home school programs hosted on site. Children ages 8-14 can participate in the hour-long classes that range in topic from United States geography to recycling and enivironmental awareness. Students interested in participating in the courses must register by September 26. Classes begin October 2.

Schedule of programs:

• October 2: Getting to know your library resources.
• October 9: Ecology. Read and discuss, The World that Jack Built, by Ruth Brown. Learn how to recycle envelopes.
• October 16: Ecology. Read and discuss, The Great Trash Bash, by Loreen Leedy.
• October 23: Ecology. Environmental Awareness Project: Write a classified ad inviting Community members to participate in a cleaner environment.
• October 30: Ecology. Design and make an Earth Friendly bag.
• November 6: Fifty Nifty United States. Part One: Music activity & research a state.
• November 13: Fifty Nifty United States Part Two: Complete state report.
• November 20: Just for fun. Learn the history and nutritional value of peanut butter. Make Homemade Peanut butter to take home!
• December 4: Measurement. Part One: Read and discuss, How Big is a Foot?, by Rolf Myller. Decorate a ruler and measure away!
• December 11: Measurement. Part Two: Using graph paper we will make a scale plan based on your measurements!
• December 18: Holiday Craft and Party.

Contact Children's Librarian Sandra Gillard at (585) 345-9550 for more information. And, as always, be sure to check out the library's Children's Room blog and Web site for more fun facts and stories than you'll know what to do with.

Genesee County residents can get their pets vaccinated against rabies for free today at the County Fairgrounds on Main Street in Batavia from 4:00 to 7:00pm, according to WBTA. The clinic is sponsored by the county Health Department. Out-of-county residents may also use the service, but they have to pay $5.

UPDATE: Ooops. My fault.  Show is at 9:40, twenty minutes later than the original headline indicated.

I will be on WBTA in the morning to discuss blogging -- not The Batavian so much as blogging in general.

My goal is to encourage more bloggers in Genesee County.  I don't care if you blog for The Batavian or your own Word Press or Blogger site, just blog.  It helps extend the conversation.

That will be my theme.

Who among you can look upon these faces and not feel that all too human sense of pity and awe that only an animal can excite in us?

They're as silly as they are cute, and they've got cute too spare. They're alpacas, close cousin of the llama, though much smaller and a lot easier to keep in a pen on a farm and manage without too many outrageous episodes.

Although, from what I understand, there are plenty of shennanigans going on at an alpaca farm, especially when one of them gets loose and tears hide all over the place, looking for all the world like some crossbreed of the roadrunner and a camel, hurling front legs over back legs over front legs. Then there's the neck wrestling among siblings or peers. Don't forget the spitting of regurgitated alfalfa or the trancelike naps in the sun when even a blowhorn wouldn't rouse the beasts. Oh, oh, and the bugle calls and the humming and the funny faces and the exaggerated underbite.

Here to tell us all about alpacas, why they're great and what they're doing in Le Roy, New York, instead of Peru or Bolivia, is Martha McCutchen, owner of Enchanted Forest Alpacas.

A Batavia detective will become a full-time member of the Genesee County Drug Task Force, according to the Daily News. This marks the first time since 2002 that a member of the city force joined up full-time on the multi-agency task force. Police Chief Randy Baker said he hopes the group will continue its focus on "the big guy," as well as the "smaller concerns of neighborhoods." At least, that's what I think he says. Here's the full quote, from reporter Scott DeSmit:

"We met and we wanted to refocus our efforts ... They were doing long-term investigations, focusing on getting the big guy rather than addressing the smaller concerns of neighborhoods. That's all tied together and that's what we're doing."

It's not clear if the chief is saying that the task force was concentrated on the big guy and now they will focus more on smaller concerns, or my interpretation up above. I phoned the chief to clear up the ambiguity. He was unavailable. I left a message.

UPDATE: Chief Baker did get back to me this afternoon to confirm that the second interpretation is correct, that the task force will do more to address the "smaller concerns."

Plans for the soon-to-be-built Sallome's Deli on Oak Street—check out their job listing on our site—were approved by the city planning board last night following a brief debate over the number of signs to be allowed. There's no mention of when the deli will open at 34 Oak St., but the hours will likely be from 8:00am to 8:00pm six days a week.

Richard J. Peters II, 18, of Batavia, was sentenced to 11 1/2 years in state prison for the rape of a four-year-old girl. Wyoming County Judge Mark H. Dadd added 20 years of post-release supervision. Peters could have faced up to 25 years in prison for pleading guilty to a felony county of first-degree rape and a felony count of first-degree criminal sex act.

As the wrecking ball gets set to smash Le Roy's historic Masonic Temple to the ground, Genesee County's Economic Development Center gets set to give Walgreens $122,375 in tax exemptions. The temple, a few neighboring retail spaces and a couple of homes around the corner are all being torn down to make way for the pharmacy chain.

Batavia's town planning board has determined that the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park will have a "significant impact on the environment." A public hearing has been set for 7:00pm on September 16 at the town hall, 3833 West Main Street Road, for residents to hear about the impact and voice their opinions on the project. "The potential effects of constructing the Ag Park," writes Paul Mrozek, "include increased noise, odor and traffic and converting 200 acres of vacant land into an industrial park."

Have you ever wondered why gas will cost you $4.19 in downtown Batavia while guzzlers in Henrietta are paying $3.67—real prices from last week? Well folks, it's called "zone pricing," and it's another example of why we read lines such as these in the New York Times: "By any measure, Exxon Mobil's performance last year was a blowout." That's from an article this past February, written after the oil giant recorded the highest profit for any company ever. Broken down, the $404 billion in sales translated to a profit of $1,287 for every second of the year in 2007, according to the Times. In case you're wondering, every second of the year, Exxon Mobil earned several hundred dollars more than a minimum wage worker earns in a month. So you know, there are 2,592,000 seconds in a month.

While those staggering inequalities probably won't change any time soon, the state is taking a small but significant step in evening out the playing field of hometown gasoline sales. Tom Wanamaker writes in an article that appears in today's Daily News that the state senate passed lesgilsation yesterday that would "outlaw zone pricing of gasoline." The bill which sailed through the assembly and senate awaits the governor's approval.

Zone pricing is a technique used by petroleum wholesalers in which they determine prices based upon the demographics of the region.

Sen. James Alesi explains zone pricing this way:

"If one area typically is more affluent than another ... the price per gallon determined by the wholesaler, at which gasoline is offered for sale to the retailers may be slightly higher in that area, than an area where the clientele is primarily a working class neighborhood."

New York's North Country Gazette interprets zone pricing slightly differently:

Petroleum companies use "zone pricing to determine geographical price zones based on the demographics of a certain area. For example, in areas where competition is limited, wholesalers will charge a higher per gallon tank price to retailers. Gas retailers who are charged more then pass those increased costs onto the consumers at the pump, in many cases affecting those who are least able to pay.

So, one source figures the phenomenon as affecting the affluent, another decries it as a means of further extorting the poor. Whichever is more accurate, in a time when gas prices are already prohibitive for many, the technique of zone pricing just shouldn't exist.

To learn more about the bill, visit the state assembly Web site.

I just stumbled across blog post by Linda Stephans that casts a more critical eye on Jon Powers than we usually get around here.

Compared to Kryzan and Davis, Jon Powers has an exceedingly thin resume.   He joined the army to get the education benefits and was sent to Iraq.  After he returned to civilian life, he became a part-time substitute teacher.

The one thing that he could really boast of in his campaign was a nonprofit organization he started called War Kids Relief, meant to help Iraqi youth.  Now, the Buffalo News reports that the War Kids Relief isn't all it's cracked up to be. Read their story HERE. Seems Powers puffed up things to grab the interest of the media and may have profited from the project more than he should have.

...

Oh, one more thing about Powers.  He's a flipflopper par excellence.  Example:  At the start of his campaign, he told Democrats for Life he was on their side about abortion.  Didn't believe in it, couldn't support it.  Then, when he talked with Planned Parenthood, he told them he was pro-choice all the way.

That ploy came back to bite him.  The head of Dems for Life in New York had contributed money to his campaign.  When she found out Powers was telling folks he was pro-choice she asked for her money back.

There's no link or other evidence to back up the allegation.

It should be noted, as to the charge that Powes resume is thin: He was a captain in the armed forces during a time of combat. That is a heck of a line or anybody's CV.

The Batavia city police department may have an interruption in its non-emergency phone service (for line 345-6350) beginning Thursday morning at about 9:00am and lasting throughout the day. Crews are working to reroute the line to the 911 dispatch center located at the county sheriff's office on Park Road in anitcipation of the consolidation. Once the switchover is complete, calls to that number will go simultaneously to the Batavia police station and the sheriff's dispatch. If anyone has problems calling 345-6350 any time tomorrow, they are asked to use the new administrative number for the city police at 345-6444. It should be noted that all emergency calls should still go through 911.

Genesee County sheriff's deputies were kept busy at last night's concert at Darien Lake. (Not that that should come as much of a surprise. It was the "Rockstar Energy Mayhem Concert," after all. Oh the capacities for loud rock to incite unsublimated aggressions!)

And aggressions there were aplenty: four charges of disorderly conduct, five charges of harassment, and one attempted assault on a police officer. One trespass, eight charges of underage possession of alcohol, one charge of unlawful possession of marijuana and three more of criminal possession of marijuana round out the list.

Jeremy P. Telvock, 32, of Auburn, is accused of attacking a sheriff's deputy while being escorted out of the venue. Telvock was charged with attempted assault on a police officer, resisting arrest and second-degree harassment. He was sent to Genesee County jail in lieu of $10,000 bail.

David M. Collandra, 23, of Renssalaer, was charged with trespass and sent to the jail in lieu of $500 bail. Collandra allegedly refused to leave the property.

The following were charged with disorderly conduct: Simon B. Gilly, 19, of Rochester; Patrick J. Brink, 34, of Auburn; Christopher R. Smith, 22, of Rochester; and Amy L. Sink, 32, of Yorkshire. Gilly and Brink were both sent to the jail in lieu of $500 bail.

The following were charged with second-degree harassment: Michael B. Mustillo, 26, of Depew; John D. Drexler, 42, of Webster; Thomas E. Leith, 20, of Gowanda; and Andrew D. Schoff, 25, of Brockport.