On Saturday evening, the Landmark Society of Genesee County handed out its annual architecture and preservation awards.

This year's winners were: Ben and Diane Bonarigo, adaptive reuse, for St. Mary’s Rectory, 18 Ellicott St., Batavia; William Steininger and Joan Bird for stained-glass window restoration and interior renovation, 9244 Upton Road, Batavia; Jennifer Weaver, for outstanding exterior paint treatment, 7083 N. Bergen Road, Bergen; James and Jillian Patric, outstanding exterior paint treatment, for 317 Washington Ave., Batavia; and, UMMC, Jerome Senior Apts., 16 Bank St., Batavia.

Pictures of the winners and full write-ups after the jump:

Benjamin and Diane Bonarigo
18 Ellicott St., Batavia, New York
Adaptive Reuse Award

When the former St. Mary’s rectory became available for sale, Diane Bonarigo had a vision of this building as elegant law offices for her husband, Ben, and his partner Robert McCutcheon. At the start, the Bonarigos were committed to saving and restoring the surviving architectural elements of the rectory. 

They worked closely with the City of Batavia Historic Preservation Committee and City Historian Larry Barnes to retain the building’s integrity. 

The building is located in a city-designated historic overlay district.

Built in 1857 as a private, single-family residence, it remained a private home until it was sold to St. Mary’s Church in 1905. It was used as a temporary church until St. Mary’s construction next door was completed in 1906. 

From 1906 to 1919, the maps show a change in the footprint of the building from one or more additions to the rear of the building. The footprint of the building has remained unchanged since 1919. It was used as a rectory until Bonarigo purchased the property in 2009 from the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo. The purchase had to be approved by the Diocese.

Existing architectural details are highlighted with a four-color paint treatment.   Diane worked with Mossman’s to pick out an historically appropriate color scheme that would highlight the architectural details. The exterior displays elements of the Greek Revival style: a front-gabled low-pitched roof with a narrow band of cornice trim forming a closed triangular pediment. The tympanum is decorated with a semicircular sunburst ornament. This design is repeated on a smaller scale on the front porch roof. 

The building’s front and side porches have undergone alterations throughout the years. The latest changes to the front porch were made by the Bonarigos. They replaced the wrought iron supports with turned wooden posts and replaced the iron stair railing with wood shingled knee walls. There is a two-story bay window on the west side of the building.   

The Bonarigos added unobtrusive landscaping that would not distract focus from the building. 

On the rear of the building, the trim does not form a closed triangle. Rather, the returns give the illusion of a triangular shape at the gable end. A cantilevered second-story porch graces the east side of the building. To make the building handicapped accessible, a wheelchair lift was added to the existing side porch. A new entry door was installed to accommodate the width of a wheelchair. A handicapped accessible bathroom was added on the first floor.

Inside the building, there is a harmonious blend of old and new. In the front office, a desk hand-crafted by Ben blends in with the original style. On all of the new door openings, the Bonarigos matched the bull’s eye style of the existing trim. The rooms without wall-to-wall carpeting have beautiful parquet oak floors.

Another one of Ben’s projects was taking out all of the original brass door knobs, hand cleaning each one, then replacing them in the doors.

All of the cast iron radiators were in excellent condition and functional. With a fresh coat of paint, they add a decorative touch.

The conference room paneling had water damage from a leaky roof. Diane used a toothpaste concoction and elbow grease to restore the wood’s luster.

The front staircase has a walnut wood newel post, paneling and a decorative trim along the stringers. 

When the building was a rectory, the upstairs contained three suites to house the priests. The Bonarigos reconfigured the upper floor into offices, a private conference room, another waiting room, and file rooms.

Although not as elegant, the cellar is just as interesting. The staircase leading down has a bead board wall. 

Even with the record rainfall, the basement remained completely dry! The original tree trunk support beams remain intact. The Bonarigos jacked up the floors to correct the sagging and added structural supports.  

There is even a wine cellar in the basement. Thankfully, an interesting door there was not removed -- the pipes were plumbed through one of the windows.

This stained-glass window was removed from the original front door and replaced with the scales of justice motif — much more appropriate for a law firm.

The furniture is a stately blend of old and new. The new reproduction furniture is accented with pieces original to the rectory.  

Diane worked with Mossman’s to choose paint colors and wallpaper to complement the period and tasteful style of the building. She also picked out the window treatments. McCutcheon’s office is on the first floor.

With great pleasure, it is our honor to present Ben and Diane Bonarigo with a Historic Preservation Award for the Adaptive Reuse of the St. Mary’s Rectory.

James and Jillian Patric
317 Washington Ave.
Batavia, New York
Outstanding Exterior Paint Treatment Award

(Written by Laurie Oltramari)

James and Jillian Patric bought their house in November 2006. As I was told, Jillian liked the leaded glass windows so much, it was a major reason they bought the house.

The house was built in 1918. And although its sheer massing makes its mark on Washington Avenue, its painted details gave it the facelift that make passersby stop in their tracks. A rusticated stone foundation anchors the cross-gabled house. Although this is more likely a vernacular structure, meaning it was built by local crafts-persons, it certainly has Victorian Era elements such as the Palladian window in the front gable, the bay window at the stair landing, the interesting fretwork on the porch, and the leaded glass in the transom windows.

The house was built by McBride Steel as well as the adjacent house to the east, currently owned by Jay Gsell. The former owner was Kathy Horgan whose maiden name is McBride. So the Patrics are only the third owners of the house.

Mr. Patric received his first notification from the City of Batavia regarding the state of his house, specifically some broken pieces of wood. He disregarded the letter because honestly, when you’ve moved relatively recently, you have many other pending issues to address. His second notice stated that he was in a “delinquent category” and as such would face jail time of one day for every 15 days the owners did not paint the house.

Although he had every intention of painting it anyways, it was not efficient to paint the house without first fixing some of the clapboard siding. Luckily, he saw a house on Ellicott Avenue that had replaced some of their siding, and so Mr. Patric asked if he could take the old siding. He removed some of his siding and replaced it with the Ellicott Avenue’s.

After receiving estimates of upward $8,000, the Patric’s opted to paint the house themselves. He had Sparkle Wash, Rocco Della Penna, pressure-wash the house, scrape it, prime it and caulk it. He happened upon a 40 percent off sale at Sherwin Williams in August 2010. The paint would have cost nearly $1,300, but came out to be $700. James, with some help from family and friends, hand painted the front of the house, which included the trim and detail work. He sprayed the body of the house. He rented a lift from Skyworks.

In the end, he was able to paint the house over the course of 10 grueling days, for only $3,500 (which included the lift, work done by Sparkle Wash, and the paint)! James preferred blue and Jillian, a visual merchandiser with an eye for detail, chose the accent colors. The results are stunning.

James is a teacher at Oakfield Alabama and during the summer works in landscaping. As old houses go, there is always work to be done, but there is always so much potential. The Patrics have many ideas for the future of their home, but welcoming their first child in August will be their greatest pride.

The Landmark Society is pleased to present James and Jillian Patric with this Preservation Award for Outstanding Exterior Paint Treatment.

Jennifer Weaver and Dave Kuder
The Gifford Walker House
7083 N. Bergen Road, Bergen, New York
Outstanding Exterior Paint Treatment

(Written by Loren Pflaumer)

This two-story late carpenter Gothic home was built in 1870 by Aaron Gifford, the postmaster at the time, on his 100-acre farm in North Bergen. The unknown architect incorporated classic Gothic elements such as decorative hand-sawn verge boards, steep cross-gabled rooflines and vertical board-and-batten siding.  It has been written by the early architect Andrew Jackson Downing, that the use of vertical siding was considered more in keeping with the natural surroundings; the central reason Gothic style is generally found in rural settings and is sometimes referred to as Rural Gothic. It seems the designer also had an affinity for more uncommon elements when he incorporated the unusual ogee arches and 36-pane bay window. The home also boasts fluted Corinthian columns, and a second-floor balcony with a Gothic railing.

The Giffords sold the home and farm to the Walker family in 1891 in whose hands it remained until purchased at auction by William and Bonnie Perkins in 1986. The Walker family added two smaller rear wings to the home but did little else, and the structure fell into disrepair with shrubbery covering the main entrance. The last remaining Walker to occupy the home was Alice Walker who ran a foster home at the time. Alice loved and appreciated the historic property and spent many years trying to get it listed on the National Historic Register. The Gifford Walker Farm was designated and listed in 1986; unfortunately Alice was not living in the area when her goal was realized. To this day, Alice’s former foster children continue to revisit the home where they lived as children.

When the Perkins became the third family to own the home, it was with the intent of restoring and reselling or renting it. They spent many years updating the interior, resurrecting the overgrown front of the home and rebuilding the front steps. In 1991, the remainder of the restoration project was taken over by their daughter, Jennifer, when she moved in as a renter. When the house was finally finished in 2000, everyone was invested and attached.

Fortunately, Jennifer was able to purchase the property. She lived in the home for 10 years when it was clear the home was in need of a new paint job. In June of 2010, Jennifer and her fiancé Dave Kuder hired Paramount Painters to begin the tedious process of scraping, replacing boards and trim, priming and painting. As with many older homes, many of the wood and trim pieces had rotted and needed to be replaced.

Jennifer initially chose to paint the main body of the house green and white with a contrasting accent color, but midway through painting, decided the busyness of the carpenter Gothic style would be best presented in a monochromatic color scheme. Jennifer and Dave have also taken care to preserve the barn and remaining outbuildings. A barn restoration company was brought in to review the structure. The barn now has a new roof and has been freshly painted, with care taken to highlight the lettering indicating the previous owners.

Genesee County currently has only 19 listings on The National Register of Historic Places. The Landmark Society of Genesee County presents the Award for Outstanding Paint Treatment as well as our sincerest gratitude and thanks to Dave and Jennifer and her parents for rescuing and maintaining this important piece of local history.

United Memorial Medical Center Jerome Senior Apartments
16 Bank St., Batavia, New York
Adaptive Reuse 

(Written by Jill Babinski)

St. Jerome’s Hospital was constructed in the 1920s and operated as a hospital until 2000. On Jan. 1, 2000, St. Jerome’s Hospital and Genesee Memorial merged to form United Memorial Medical Center. Since the merger, the majority of the former St. Jerome’s hospital was underutilized. In 2007, United Memorial Medical Center opened the Jerome Center. The Jerome Center houses comprehensive outpatient diagnostic services, occupational medicine, as well as specialty and primary care services on the ground floor of the former hospital.

Noting that there was still a large portion of the former hospital that was not being used, as well as an anticipated increase in the senior population, United Memorial Medical Center began to explore the possibility of adapting the hospital to be reused as apartments for senior members of the community. This process began after a private company chose not to purchase the hospital for use as a nursing home and conversations soon took place with the Genesee County Economic Development Center with regard to development of housing for the needs of the senior population.

Conifer Development, a local development firm that specializes in adaptive reuse of old buildings such as hospital and schools, took on the project. Construction of the project began in October of 2009. Conifer Development renovated and adapted the top four floors of the former St. Jerome’s Hospital into a modern apartment building. As with any adaptive reuse project, surprises were many, but Conifer Development was able to keep the project on time and on budget.

Jerome Senior Apartments were remodeled to feature both one- and two-bedroom apartments for a total of 37 apartments. Amenities available include intercom access entry, fully equipped kitchens with energy efficient appliances, central air conditioning, elevator, community room, exercise room and a computer room. Support services are provided by United Memorial Medical Center. It should be noted that the apartments are within walking distance to the Senior Center, shopping, financial institutions and restaurants. 

For one walking by the Jerome Apartments, much appears to be the same as when the hospital was in full operation. One addition has been made to the south portion of the building. There is now an entrance way to the apartments near to the YMCA. 

Perhaps most importantly, the addition of senior housing in the community met a need both for living space and preservation and continuation of a neighborhood landmark.

Joan Bird and William Steininger
9244 Upton Road
Batavia, New York
Interior Renovation and Stained Glass Window Restoration Award

(Written by Cheryl Chmielowic)

Bill Steininger and Joan Bird purchased their home at 9244 Upton Road in the Town of Batavia in 2006. The original house was built in 1823 by Daniel and Electa Upton. The Upton’s daughter, Sarah Upton Edwards, updated the house in 1890 to the shingle style we now see.

As the story is told, Sarah didn’t want the railroad through her property and gave the New York Central a hard time about it. She finally agreed to hand over the land with the stipulation that they bring her trees she could plant. She ended up with quite a varied bunch including, Ginko, Katalba, Tulip, Chestnut, Kentucky Coffee, Sweet Gum, Tamerak and Austrian Pines.

The house changed ownership several times since, including a 78-year period in the Frink family. When Bill and Joan took ownership, the house was in a state of repair and restoration but had enough left to finish, keeping them busy for quite awhile!

Upon approaching the house, the hand carved wood panel on the front porch roof announces its name, Whitethorn, represented by the white thorn locust trees along the driveway. The carved wood panels appear in several locations around the exterior of the house and some that were removed have been assimilated into the newer construction of the workshop. The complex roof lines, multiple porches, porte-cocheres, and leaded and stained-glass windows give it a Victorian identity.

Details on the interior include a tin ceiling in the living room that is a reproduction of an 1890 pattern, installed by Bill. The dining room ceiling is a Bradbury & Bradbury design of hand-screened paper and in the center is a reproduction of a turn-of-the-century light fixture. Joan and Bill have restored the Eastlake style door hardware. Note the shape of the radiator -- it's round!

The absolute gems of this house are its windows. The beveled, clear leaded panes in the dining and living rooms were found out to be leaded crystal. These were still in good repair. Joan says that on a sunny day they shoot rainbows all around the room. There is a lovely stained-glass piece in the dining room with a quarter sawn oak hutch built around it. This window off the living room has also been restored.

The large stained-glass window in the foyer tells quite a story. The first winter Bill and Joan owned the house, Bill had to cover the entire window with Styrofoam insulation to keep the air from pouring in through the openings created by sinking panes. The wood had rotted and the caming had warped. There were no storm windows to protect it. Bill contacted Brennan Stained Glass Studio in Syracuse to see if they would be interested in the restoration. It just so happened that they were doing a job in Buffalo and could stop to look at it on their way back home.  They agreed to do the glass if Bill would take care of rebuilding the wood frame. 

The panes were taped to secure the glass and then laid on plywood doors for transport. All the glazing was removed with dental tools from the original lead caming. The bowed pieces were flattened. Everything was cleaned and re-glazed. 

The 12-light window is stunning in its shades of light golds, blues and pinks. Through force of will, skill, and quite a few dollars, Joan and Bill managed to do what many could not. The Landmark Society of Genesee County recognizes their efforts with an award for the Interior Renovation and Restoration of the Window, but the true reward comes every time they behold the beauty of leaded light.

Deputy Tim Wescott spent a few hours at Target on Saturday creating ID cards for children. The session includes getting their weight and height, getting fingerprints and snapping a picture. The parents receive (within seconds) a plastic, driver's license type of card with the identifying information of their children. The information is kept on file by the Sheriff's Office should it ever be needed to help identify the child in a crisis.

Wescott and other members of the Sheriff's Office have been out at many community events providing the ID service. Wescott said being in a retail store was the first time they had tried it in such location and he said the first couple of hours were pretty busy.

A car is off the road on the Thruway in the area of mile marker 396, which puts it about 8/10 of a mile east of the Slusser Road overpass.

Unknown injuries.

East Pembroke fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 9:28 p.m.: Another caller indicates a vehicle is on its side. No person is seen outside the vehicle.

UPDATE 9:32 p.m.: First responder reports car on all four wheels. Mercy EMS can respond non-emergency.

A tractor-trailer fire has been reported on the Thruway in the area of mile marker 389.8.

The driver reported engine trouble. The turbo was revving fast and he was unable to power it down.

The fire is contained to the engine compartment at this time.

Unknown what cargo the truck is hauling.

Town of Batavia Fire Department responding.

UPDATE 9:17 p.m.: The location is just west of the State Street overpass. The visible fire is out. The driver reports the engine has seized up. The truck is hauling welding rods.

As part of our ongoing series of questions for candidates, we close with questions about "intellectual life."

From my perspective, to be qualified for office, it's not just about your policy positions, it's also about what you know, how you think and how you learn, because elected officials are asked to deal with problems that aren't always easily grasped by political ideology. Being intellectually curious is important to any job that's essentially a job of the mind.

The deadline for questions was Thursday at 11 a.m. None of the candidates, perhaps understandably, met the deadline. Kathy Hochul and Ian Murphy turned in answers Thursday evening.

In effort to get answers from either Jane Corwin or Jack Davis, I waited until Friday afternoon to post the questions and answers, but then we had a big breaking news story.

Jack eventually turned in partial answers. Jane Corwin, despite repeated calls and emails to Matthew Harakal, including one conversation in which he promised the answers "soon," we have yet to receive any answers. We requested them again today.

Below are the questions, after the jump, answers in the order received.

Perhaps write-in candidates Jeff Allen and JoAnne Rock would like to provide their answers in the comments.

What three books first published in the past 100 years have been most meaningful to you?

Name your three favorite songwriters and pick one song from one of those writers and tell us what that song has meant to you?

If you were asked to read a poem on the floor of the House of Representatives, what poem would it be and why?

Tell us about a museum you’ve visited any time in your life and how it had a lasting impact on your intellectual life or imagination.

Who is your favorite Western New York writer, musician or artist (any genre/style/medium)?

Do you have any hidden artistic talent? What is it (sing, draw, photography, etc.)?  If not, is there anything along those lines you aspire to -- ‘I really wish I could .... ?’

Kathy Hochul:

Q: What three books first published in the past 100 years have been most meaningful to you?

A: The three books that have been most meaningful to me are “American Tragedy” by Theodore Dreiser, “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, and “Profiles in Courage” by John F. Kennedy.

Q: Name your three favorite songwriters and pick one song from one of those writers and tell us what that song has meant to you?

A: I actually have four favorite songwriters - Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, The Goo Goo Dolls, and Simon & Garfunkel. Simon & Garfunkel’s “Sounds of Silence” always reminds me of people less fortunate who don’t have a voice.

Q: If you were asked to read a poem on the floor of the House of Representatives, what poem would it be and why?

A: I would read “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost. I have an independent streak and identify with the individualism of the poem.

Q: Tell us about a museum you’ve visited any time in your life and how it had a lasting impact on your intellectual life or imagination?

A: When I was 10-years-old I visited the National Archives on a trip to Washington with my family. I remember seeing the Constitution and The Declaration of Independence and being inspired by the tremendous challenges faced by our forefathers as they created the foundation for our country.

Q: Who is your favorite Western New York writer, musician or artist (any genre/style/medium)?

A: My favorite Western New York playwright is Tom Dudzick, who wrote the “Over the Tavern” series.

Q: Do you have any hidden artistic talent? What is it (sing, draw, photography, etc? If not, is there anything along those lines you aspire—‘I really wish I could…?’

A: I aspire to write short stories about the lives of the fascinating people I have come to meet in my life.

Ian Murphy:

What three books first published in the past 100 years have been most meaningful to you?

A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn, The Ancestor's Tale by Richard Dawkins, and Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism by Naomi Klein.

Name your three favorite songwriters and pick one song from one of those writers and tell us what that song has meant to you?

Otis Redding, Jimi Hendrix, and Tampa Red. Anything by Tampa Red means something to me because he plays the kazoo. There has never been a more perfect folk instrument than the kazoo.

If you were asked to read a poem on the floor of the House of Representatives, what poem would it be and why?

I would read Carl Sandburg's I Am the People, the Mob:

I am the people—the mob—the crowd—the mass.

Do you know that all the great work of the world is done through me?
I am the workingman, the inventor, the maker of the world’s food and clothes.
I am the audience that witnesses history. The Napoleons come from me and the Lincolns. They die. And then I send forth more Napoleons and Lincolns.
I am the seed ground. I am a prairie that will stand for much plowing. Terrible storms pass over me. I forget. The best of me is sucked out and wasted. I forget. Everything but Death comes to me and makes me work and give up what I have. And I forget.
Sometimes I growl, shake myself and spatter a few red drops for history to remember. Then—I forget.
When I, the People, learn to remember, when I, the People, use the lessons of yesterday and no longer forget who robbed me last year, who played me for a fool—then there will be no speaker in all the world say the name: “The People,” with any fleck of a sneer in his voice or any far-off smile of derision.
The mob—the crowd—the mass—will arrive then.

 ----

I'd read that piece to remind all the corporate flunkies who they really work for, and to remind the American people that they are ultimately in charge.

Tell us about a museum you’ve visited any time in your life and how it had a lasting impact on your intellectual life or imagination.

The Kazoo Museum in Eden, NY, sparked my life-long appreciation for the kazoo.

Who is your favorite Western New York writer, musician or artist (any genre/style/medium)?

Folk-blues singer Jackson C. Frank.

Do you have any hidden artistic talent?  What is it (sing, draw, photography, etc.)?  If not, is there anything along those lines you aspire to -- ‘I really wish I could .... ?’

I really wish I could play the kazoo.

Jack Davis

What three books first published in the past 100 years have been most meaningful to you?

Atlas Shrugged, the engineering textbook from UB are the first two. I'll get back to you on the third.

Do you have any hidden artistic talent?  What is it (sing, draw, photography, etc.)?  If not, is there anything along those lines you aspire to -- ‘I really wish I could .... ?’

I play trombone. (Though I admit I'm a bit out of practice.)

There is report of smoke in the hallway of an apartment at 106 State St.

City fire responding.

UPDATE 10:58 p.m.: Burnt food. City fire back in service.

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The annual day of renewal in Bergen -- where community members come out to plant flowers and spruce up parks -- became a time for reflection this morning as the small village honored the memory of Eric C. Wall.

The 16-year-old Bergen resident was struck and killed by a train on Friday afternoon.

Pastors Matt Farrell of the United Methodist Church and Michael Merry of the Presbyterian Church led a short service and Mayor Ralph Marsocci said a few works of condolences.

Merry spoke briefly before singing a song, but said he didn't know what to say on an occasion such as this.

"We have a high school that’s in shock, a community that is in shock," Merry said. "We have people of all different walks of life and none of us know, and I don’t know, how to comfort all of you, but I do know, there is always hope. What I know of Eric and the Wall family, they would want us to continue. They would want us to plant flowers."

Farrell also spoke of hope, the hope that is in the community and the hope promised by Jesus Christ.

After the service, Merry said he's spoken with his own child about the dangers of the train tracks going through the village before, and he wished he had included the same thoughts in his own remarks.

"We have to be careful around the trains," Merry said. "They go by here all the time and so it’s easy to forget about taking basic precautions. We can take them for granted but they are dangerous. By the time a conductor sees you, it's too late. They can't stop quickly at all.

"What I tell my own child," he added,  "is if you see the arms start to come down, stop immediately -- even if you're 20 feet away. You’re not invincible. If you see the arms come down, stop and wait."

After the ceremony, Eric's 12-year-old brother, Grady, helped plant an apple tree in the fountain park less than 50 yards from where Eric was killed. The memorial tree was a gift from the community to young Grady.

Joe Gerace, left, Dorothy Schlaggel and Justin Calarco-Smith share a passion for helping cancer victims. As members of the Genesee Cancer Assistance Board of Directors, they took time to speak with me today about the upcoming Festival of Hope and 5K walk/run, the organization's major annual fundraiser.

Batavia Downs, at 8315 Park Road in Batavia, will host the event on Friday, June 3.

The 5k walk/run

The 5k walk/run is a new feature that was added to the Festival of Hope two years ago.

Registration starts at 4 p.m., followed by a "Lap of Honor" for cancer survivors at 5:45 and the official race at 6:15.

Schlaggel, an honorary board member and founder of Genesee Cancer Assistance, said this is not really going to be a "race," per se.

Calarco-Smith agreed.

"The competitiveness is still there," he said, "but it will be a competition to see who can raise the most money, not who gets to the finish line first."

People can run in teams or individually, and they can have people sponsor them or sponsor themselves.

Kids and adults of all ages are encouraged to participate.

"It's a family oriented event," Schlaggel said. "We want families to get involved because we help families."

Gerace, who is the Treasurer of Genesee Cancer Assistance, said that they welcome people from all different walks of life.

"We'd like to have school groups, church groups, business groups...anybody," he said.

Winners will be organized according to two overall categories: male and female. They won't be grouped by age.

Awards will be given to the following people (taken from the event flier):

• Individual walker and runner raising most in donations
• Team walkers and runners raising most in donations
• Team walkers and runners with most participants

Jogging strollers are allowed, so parents of small children should feel free to participate.

Admission is $25 for people 18 and over, $15 for people under 18.

"That money doesn't have to come out of your own pocket," Schlaggel said, having especially kids in mind. "You can go to your friends, your neighbors, or anybody you want and ask if they'll help you get into the race."

Registrants will get a T-shirt along with admission. There is no formal deadline, and people can register any time right up to, and including, the night of the race.

Additionally, for $5, kids will be able to do a "fun run" inside the track.

The festival

The Festival of Hope started in November 1995 and, in Schlaggel's words, has "just gotten bigger and bigger every year."

People don't have to run or walk to come to the festival. Anyone can go just to hang out or check out the activities for free -- although there will be costs for specific activities and for the food.

Features of this year's festival include:

• A Chinese auction
• Outdoor raffles, which will include jerseys signed by Buffalo Sabres Derek Roy and Jason Pominville
• $10 haircuts from licensed practitioners
• Massages
• Manicures from BOCES students
• Face-painting for the kids
• A "kids' zone," where, among other things, kids will get to make their own ice cream sundaes
• Free pizza from all of the local pizzerias in Batavia (served in the evening)
• Luminaria (candles), and possibly also a video, commemorating cancer victims and survivors

Calarco-Smith said they also hope to get Sabretooth, the Sabres' mascot, to make an appearance.

Gerace, Schlaggel and Calarco-Smith are inviting everyone to come, even if they don't plan to participate in the race.

"Genesee Cancer Assistance is always there when you need them," Calarco-Smith said. "We invite people to come spend an evening with us, and just see what we're all about."

"Once you're out there," Gerace said, "you'll be hooked, and you'll want to come back every year."

Schlaggel responded to this by recalling a little girl with leukemia who started coming to the festival years ago.

"Now she's about 24 years old, and she comes every year with her mom and grandmother."

All of the money raised through the festival and the race will stay right here in Genesee County.

Genesee Cancer Assistance

After the American Cancer Society closed its Batavia chapter about 20 years ago, Schlaggel, who used to serve on their board, wanted to form a local organization to address the difficulties facing families and individuals battling cancer.

She's had a couple of personal brushes with cancer herself. Her brother died of cancer in the early 1980s, and she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1989.

"At some point in their lives, everyone is somehow affected by cancer," Calarco-Smith said.

Schlaggel was lucky enough to survive her bout with breast cancer, and is being honored this year as a survivor.

"A lot of people think I'm dead," she commented, "because it says, 'In honor of Dorothy Schlaggel.' I'd like everyone to know that I'm very much alive."

Calarco-Smith said the local assistance group wouldn't exist if not for her.

"It all started with her," Calarco-Smith said. "It's time she gets recognized for everything she's done for the people here in Genesee County."

Assistance given by Genesee Cancer Assistance -- which is an entirely local organization with no administrators and only one paid employee -- varies from case to case. Some of their most common provisions are assistance with co-pays and the purchase of wigs for patients going through chemotherapy.

In cases where people need to travel to receive treatment, Genesee Cancer Assistance will also pay for gas mileage and, if necessary, for babysitters. There was even a case where a woman living in a second-floor apartment couldn't stand the summer heat while undergoing chemo, so they paid for an air conditioner.

"(Assistance) is need-based," Schlaggel said.

Whatever a person or family's needs are, the demand for such a group can't be denied.

"Cancer is our number one killer (in the United States)," Gerace said. "But Genesee Cancer Assistance just keeps getting better, bigger and stronger."

"We won't go away until cancer goes away," Schlaggel said.

Some other important notes

If anyone needs a break during the evening, Gerace said Batavia Downs is permitting people to set up "comfort stations" on the grounds.

"People can bring chairs and pitch a tent if they want to get out of the sun for a minute. We want them to be comfortable."

Gerace also wants to assure people that alcohol will not be allowed at the event, which will take place in the downstairs portion of the Downs and outside.

"If anyone wants to drink or gamble, they'll have to go to the second floor."

If you have any questions or would like more information, call Justin Calarco-Smith at 356-1668 or email manumana@aol.com.

To learn more about Genesee Cancer Assistance, go to www.geneseecancerassistance.com.

Supplemental Video: Lincoln Tunnel Challenge (NYC)

Speaking of races, here's some "home video" footage I took while walking/running the Lincoln Tunnel Challenge with my cousins and siblings about a month ago. Hopefully, this will give people some inspiration and "pep."

This race through the Lincoln Tunnel, which takes runners from the New Jersey side to the New York City side and back again, is held every year to raise money for the Special Olympics.

A two-car motor accident with minor injuries is reported at 10705 Alexander Road in Alexander.

Alexander Fire Department on scene along with Mercy medics.

UPDATE 1:15 p.m.: Patient declined medical treatment. All units back in service.

Here's a news release from Assemblyman Steve Hawley.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,I,C – Batavia) recently responded to the introduction of a new income tax on business owners and individuals, expressing his frustration that the Assembly Majority insists on beating a dead horse with an extension of the income surcharge on New York’s job creators and high earners. The measure has consistently been opposed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the Senate Majority, and the Assembly Minority.

“Trying to force new income taxes through the Legislature is like trying to pound a square peg into a round hole,” said Hawley. “The Governor doesn’t support it. The Senate doesn’t support it. Our Assembly Minority conference doesn’t support it.

“This is a dead issue. During this year’s budget process, state government made a commitment to New Yorkers that we were not going to continue the broken process of tax-and-spend that has pushed businesses and families across state lines for years. We should be focusing on providing property tax relief to homeowners and mandate relief for local governments, rather than finding new ways to kill jobs and punish success.”

According to data from the Treasury Department released in 2009, 71 percent of similarly structured income taxes come from business owners and investors.

Jon "Bowzer" Bauman, star of Sha-Na-Na, stopped by 400 Towers on Friday evening to talk with residents about Medicare, Social Security and his career in music and television.

Though Bauman's appearance was sponsored by Kathy Hochul, his talk was pretty non-political. Bauman mostly stuck to the facts of the programs and proposals, at least as he sees them.

Above, Bea McManis escorts Bauman into 400 Towers as Bauman displays Bowzer's trademark muscle flex.

A 16-year-old Byron-Bergen High School student apparently tried to dash across train tracks on the north side of Lake Avenue on Friday afternoon and was struck by a westbound Amtrak train.

The youth was then hit by an eastbound CSX train.

Pronounced dead at the scene by Coroner Robert Yungfleish was Eric C. Wall, of Bergen.

Eric walked home from school with two friends Friday. At some point on Lake Avenue, Eric and his friends went their separate ways and Eric started running north, toward home. He went under a pedestrian gate at the train crossing even while warning bells were clanging, according to witnesses.

Deputy Chief Gordon Dibble said it's impossible to know what Eric's intentions were or if he was aware that not just one, but two trains were bearing down on the intersection.

One village resident said there has been a problem recently with the crossing gates going down and the bells ringing even though no train was coming.

Eric made it across one pair of tracks before being struck, Dibble said.

After he was struck, Eric's body was apparently thrown across Lake Avenue, landing on the south shoulder of the roadway near the train tracks.

The accident was reported at 2:47 p.m. By 3:15 p.m., dozens of students from Byron-Bergen were in the village, all seemingly aware of what had happened and who had been killed. Many students were in tears.

At least six school officials, a few wearing "crisis team" badges, were on scene.

Mayor Ralph Marsocci said he knew Eric. Like many Byron-Bergen students, Eric would stop into Ralph and Rosie's delicatessen after school for a slice of pizza.

"He was a wonderful kid, as most of them are," Marsocci said. "He was always very polite, always said 'thank you.'"

In a village of only 1,200 people, Eric's tragic death would be felt by the whole community, Marsocci said.

"People are devastated," Marsocci.

Friends of Eric's who spoke with the media said that Eric was fun to be around.

"He was really funny," Nicole Adams said. "He was like awkward funny. He would make stupid jokes, but everybody would laugh. Whoever was with him was always happy because he was always funny."

Her sister, Shauna, added, "I barely knew him and every time I talked to him he made me laugh."

The girls said they found out about the accident because a friend was on a school bus that was in the area and saw the whole thing and called them immediately.

Dibble said investigators gathered a number of statements from eyewitnesses. 

The investigation is ongoing.

Assisting at the scene were the Bergen Fire Department and State Police.

A train conductor has called in a train-vs.-pedestrian accident at the North Lake Avenue railroad crossing in Bergen.

Bergen Fire and Mercy EMS responding.

Dispatchers checking on the availability of Mercy Flight.

UPDATE 2:56 p.m.: Emergency medical response canceled.

UPDATE 3:38 p.m.: On scene, confirmed fatality.

UPDATE 6:30 p.m.: A student of Byron-Bergen High School was killed in the accident. His name has not yet been released. The youth was apparently headed northbound on the east side of North Lake Avenue when he decided to try crossing the tracks. There was an eastbound CSX training coming and a westbound Amtrak train. He was struck by the Amtrak train. There were several eyewitnesses to the accident, according to Deputy Chief Gordon Dibble. He said investigators are still determining the details and comparing statements. Dozens of Byron-Bergen students were on scene within minutes of the accident, many of them in tears. Students we spoke to described the youth as popular and fun to be around. The accident apparently happened right in front of a school bus with students on board. At least a half-dozen school officials were on scene, many of them wearing "crisis team" badges. We'll have a complete story later tonight. The roadway is just now being reopened.

UPDATE 6:45 p.m.: Also, grief counselors are at the school tonight starting at 7 p.m. for anyone in the community who needs to talk.

After 17 years of selling and servicing farm equipment at 5563 E. Main St. Road, Batavia, Empire Tractor (former Tri-County Tractor at that location) is moving into a much bigger space about a mile down the road.

The move will allow the company to expand its main building from 8,400 sq. ft. to 22,000 sq. ft., according to company president Tim Call.

"The thing is, farm equipment is getting much bigger," said Call, one of six owners of Empire Tractor, which has locations throughout Western New York. "We couldn't even get some of it into our shop."

The new shop will allow for more repairs to be handled simultaneously and for the bigger equipment to be worked on no matter what the weather.

In anticipation of the move, Empire Tractor has hired three more employees and will hire two or three more after the move is completed.

The new location, formerly a Ford dealership owned by Mike Ognibene, is 5.5 acres and includes two additional buildings (matching in size and function to the buildings at Empire Tractor's current location).

The contiguous space will allow Empire Tractor to consolidate its display and parking space on a single lot. At the current location, for example, some new equipment for sale must be parked across a very busy Route 5.

"This is a lot nicer," Call said. "It's all one side of the road, all blacktop, cleaner, neater. This is a lot nicer."

The location is a bit of a homecoming for Call. One of the buildings on the lot is where his father opened Batavia Farm Equipment in 1960.

Call acquired Tri-County Tractor 17 years ago and eventually merged his company with other farm equipment outlets to form Empire Tractor.  

He is anticipating a big year for Empire Tractor. With corn going from $3 a bushel to $7 and milk from $12 to $19, Call said he anticipates the market for farm equipment will increase. He said the company anticipates a 20 to 25 percent increase in sales.

Press Release:

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is urging U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke to approve the application submitted by the Genesee County Economic Development Corporation (GCEDC) and the Genesee Gateway Local Development Corporation (GCLDC) for a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ), a measure that could help attract more businesses to the region, help local businesses find new markets, and create more local jobs. 

In her letter to Secretary Locke, Senator Gillibrand wrote, “This designation would allow for important incentives that could help reduce the cost of doing business for participating companies, increase their competitiveness, and help them access new opportunities to expand their markets. The foreign trade zone designation will also minimize the need for businesses to shift their operations to foreign countries to be nearer to new markets, keeping more jobs within the United States.”

“A foreign trade zone designation for Genesee County will allow existing companies to compete in the global marketplace and attract new companies to Western New York,” stated Steve Hyde, President and CEO of the GCEDC. “Many existing companies will save money on parts they import allowing them to hire more local employees.”

Specifically, an FTZ designation allows for substantial cost savings for businesses on import duties, merchandise processing fees, faster delivery, and higher security. Thousands of businesses use FTZs to handle both foreign and domestic products each year, with more than $30 billion in merchandise exported from FTZs to foreign markets.

The GCEDC is an organization devoted to fostering increased economic activity in local communities throughout the Genesee County region. The GCEDC’s efforts include actively marketing the county to businesses and facilitating capital investment that contributes to the creation of jobs in the region. In fact, GCEDC has sponsored 160 projects, leveraging nearly $45 million in private investment into local businesses, and helping to create or save nearly 6,000 local jobs in the last six years alone.

A trailer owned by an ardent Jack Davis supporter in Darien that was badly damaged in a fire on May 9 is being investigated as an arson, according to Chief Deputy Jerome Brewster.

But the torching is not considered a political act, Brewster said.

It's probably related to an April 1 fire in an unoccupied fire at 9427 Alexander Road, Alexander.

In both cases, holes were found in the floors of the trailers, which is consistent with somebody setting a fire and using an accelerant.

In both cases, no other cause -- electrical, natural gas, lightning, etc. -- could be uncovered.

"When there's nothing there that is believed to have been able to cause it to catch fire, then we have to look at possible human involvement," Brewster said.

No suspects have been identified.  

Brewster said investigators have little to go on -- no gas can left behind with finger prints, no witnesses, no physical evidence.

"Bottom line, unless you have something that connects somebody to that fire, you’re stuck," Brewster said. "It's very difficult. Arsons are very difficult."

Brewster said investigators have been canvassing the neighborhoods looking for witnesses.

He said there's no indication the owner of either trailer had somebody motivated to damage their property for personal reasons.

The May 9 fire was at 11198 Tinkham Road, Darien. The property is owned by Charlie Flagg, a local artist who had planted 5,000 Jack Davis signs in his yard.

"When you have a structure that is not being used and all the sudden it catches on fire, all the sudden your eyebrows are going to go up," Brewster said.

Anybody with information that might assist in the investigation are asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 343-5000.

The Jack Davis campaign is claiming that their own polling numbers show Kathy Hochul ahead in the NY-26 special election race with Jane Corwin coming in a distant third.

In the words of the Davis campaign press release, "it appears support for Jane Corwin is collapsing."

The Davis campaign claims that Corwin's numbers have dropped to 17 percent, with Hochul polling 44 percent. Davis, in the Davis poll, is at 27 percent.

According to the press release, 4,602 "frequent voters" were surveyed. The poll was conducted between May 18 and May 19.

Seventeen percent were undecided.

From the press release:

“It’s clear that if conservatives, Republicans and Tea Party patriots want to keep Kathy Hochul, a Nancy Pelosi Democrat, from representing this district, they must vote for Jack Davis,” said Jack Davis campaign manager Curtis Ellis.

Late last night, I emailed both the Corwin and Hochul campaigns for a response.

Fabien Levy, with Kathy Hochul, replied but has not provided a response for publication yet and we haven't heard from Matthew Harakal with Jane Corwin's campaign at all. This post will be updated with any responses.

UPDATE 8:16 a.m.: Statement from Levy: "Every poll shows Kathy Hochul garnering the support of more and more voters in the 26th District. Voters here know Kathy is the only candidate in this race fighting to protect both Social Security and Medicare, which is why they are running away from her two conservatives opponents."

Three or four years ago I was in Washington, D.C. to speak at some journalism conference and I stopped into the office of Reason, the libertarian magazine. A good friend of mine, Matt Welch, had recently moved to D.C. to become editor-in-chief of Reason.

I ended up going to dinner with the entire Reason crew, which included, at the time Dave Weigel, which is how we met.

Dave is now a national political correspondent for Slate Magazine (an online magazine).

Because of a piece Dave did about Jack Davis, I figured out that Dave was apparently hanging out in WNY. I got in touch with Dave and said, "You really need to come out to Batavia, the heartland of the district."

Late yesterday afternoon, I got a call from Dave. He was on his way to Rochester for yet another dreary campaign event but decided his limited amount of time might be better spent in Batavia.

I called Bill Kauffman, Elba resident, nationally known political/history author and former Reason editor, and it was agreed we'd all meet at O'Lacy's (I would have loved to have taken Dave around to more places and shown him more of the town (though I did show him our "urban renewal" project), but he was on a tight schedule.

Dave interviewed co-owner Kent Ewell, above. Below center is Bill Dougherty with Bill Kauffman.

That's a long way of saying -- yup, the eyes of the nation are on the NY-26.

And our goal is to get the people in Genesee County out to vote on May 24. Let's show the nation we care about who is elected to represent us.

It's a close special election, every vote counts, so vote.

If Genesee County leads the district in voter turn out, The Batavian will donate $100 to Genesee Justice.  

Other pledges made so far: 

Jeff Allen has offered to match it with $100 to Care-A-Van Ministries; Dan Jones has offered to match it with $26 dollars to Care-A-Van ministries and another $26 dollars to the USO; and Dave Olsen is offer a $25 matching donation for GJ plus donate $50 to The Loyola Recovery Foundation.

Lorie Longhany has pledged $26 to the Child Advocacy Center wing of Genesee Justice; Ricky G. Hale, a local plumber, has pledged $100 to Genesee Justice and challenged other business owners to step forward with pledges; JoAnne Rock has pledged $25 to Genesee Justice.

District Attorney Lawrence Friedman has pledged $1,000 -- with $500 going to the Genesee Justice Foundation and $500 going to Justice For Children GLOW Foundation. Any other members of the legal community like to step forward?

Ken Mistler pledged $100 for Volunteers for Animals.

County Clerk Don Read has pledged $100 for Crossroads House. 

In round numbers, we're up to $1,650 in donations. Who wants to step forward today and make it $2,000?

Late this afternoon, I returned to my office and no sooner had I sat down and put my fingers on the keyboard of my laptop then I hear a voice from downstairs, "Howard?"

You know, sometimes how you think you hear somebody calling your name but nobody is? This wasn't one of those times.

I walked over to the top of the stairs and Jim Lewis tells me his son, 10-year-old Nick, spotted me walking into the office and wanted to say hello.

So I invited the Lewis trio up to the office, and with a fan of The Batavian like Nick, well, I thought he should get his picture on The Batavian.

With Nick and Jim is Adrianna, 8. Both Nick and Adrianna are students at John Kennedy.