NOTE: Starting today, Adopt-A-Pet and Pet of the Week have a new sponsor -- Neptune's Garden, a pet shop right in the heart of Batavia, at 33 Liberty St. With Pet of the Week, winners will now receive a $10 gift certificate from Neptune Garden. To submit your pet for Pet of the Week, send an e-mail with information about your pet and a picture to (pets [at] thebatavian dot com).

I am a handsome, sweet, family kind of guy. Unfortunately, my previous owners moved away and couldn't take me with them, so they put me up for adoption. Same with my companion dog, Shelby.

My name is Piston, as you can see I'm a big black and white dog, an adult, neutered male, St. Bernard mix. I am everything you could possibly want in a family dog -- housebroken, good with children, cats and female dogs, and well behaved on a leash.

I'm a sweetie (so is Shelby!), come and see me soon! Kennel 19.

I have an odd but memorable moniker -- kinda like the Johnny Cash song "A boy Named Sue" -- I'm a cat named Mouse (but definately not a "mouser").

I like things quiet. All I really want is a small, calm abode and, ideally, someone who will let me sleep on the bed. I like to be cozy. I'm a young, spayed, female, calico domestic shorthair. Although I'm shy at first, I'm easily won over after a few days of hand-fed salmon cat food. I also get along well with other felines, provided they are willing to share your affections.

Given my druthers, I would like to become the companion of someone with long fingernails and/or someone who owns a soft brush. I just adore being scratched and rubbed and brushed. Find me in Cage 68.

Volunteers For Animals
P.O. Box 1621
Batavia, NY  14021
www.vol4animals.org <http://www.vol4animals.org>

Working in partnership with:
Genesee County Animal Shelter
3841 W. Main Street Road
Batavia, NY  14020
(585) 343-6410

Adoption Hours:
Sunday - Friday 1 - 3 pm (closed on Thursdays)
Wednesday 7 - 9 pm
Saturday 11 - 1 pm

Adopt a New Friend at the Genesee County Animal Shelter!

Genesee ARC Executive Director Donna Saskowski was named Social Worker of the Year by the Western Division of the New York State Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).

She was selected for her service to people with developmental disabilities, her leadership skills and commitment to community development. Her award nomination was submitted by Barbara Demerest, of Amherst, a former aide to New York State Senator Mary Lou Rath.

“Community leaders and families served by ARC continually note the major positive impact that Donna’s leadership has on the lives of the individuals and families her agency serves, and on the larger community," Demerest said.

During the awards presentation, Demerest said, “Donna particularly has forged partnerships and collaborations, not only strengthening services but integrating persons with disabilities into their communities and maximizing their opportunities for full participation.

"Among the many initiatives she has led are a recreational partnership with the YMCA and a major fundraising effort for the Genesee ARC Community Center (formerly St. Mary’s School).”

Saskowski, a lifelong resident of the town of Darien, received her bachelor's and master's degrees in Social Work from the University of Buffalo School of Social Work and has been on staff at Genesee ARC since 1989 and Executive Director since 2004.

In addition to her affiliation with NASW, Saskowski is a member of the Batavia Rotary Club and the Genesee County United Way Board of Directors. She is president of the Finger Lakes Collaborative, and belongs to NYSARC’s Executive Directors’ Association and Developmental Disabilities Alliance of Western New York. In 2006, she was a member of the Community Health Foundation Leadership Fellows and she is a member of Leadership Genesee’s Class of 2005.

Darshawn T. Johnson, 30, of 106 Lake Street, Le Roy, is charged by a Monroe County Grand Jury with failing to register a change of address, a Class D felony. Johnson, a convicted rapist, allegedly failed to notify New York State of his change of address. Det. John Condidorio reports that a member of the community tipped Le Roy Police to Johnson's status. After further investigation, Condidorio located Johnson walking on Lake Street and arrested him. Johnson is a Level 2 sex offender. He was convicted of sexual abuse, 1st. Following his arrest, Johnson was transferred to the Monroe County Sheriff's Department.

Robert J. Macklem, 20, 1 Prospect Ave., Batavia, is charged with DWI, aggravated DWI (driving with a BAC of .08 or greater) and moving from lane unsafely. Macklem was taken into custody by Officer Thad Mart at 9:50 p.m., Thursday.

Jolin Nicholas Donnelly, 21, 1925 Nesbitt Road, Attica, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Following a traffic stop at 8:19 p.m., Sunday, by Deputy Patrick Reeves, Donnelly was allegedly found in possession of a small quantity of marijuana.

Brian K. Dyer, 43, of 106 North Street, Batavia, is charged with two counts of criminal contempt, 2nd, harassment, 2nd, and endangering the welfare of a child. Dyer was taken into custody at 4:47 p.m., Sunday, by Officer Thad Mart, after Dyer allegedly became involved in a fight with a woman reportedly protected by a court order from "offensive conduct" by him. There was reportedly a child present during the altercation. Dyer was also arrested on an outstanding warrant for allegedly violating a "stay away" order on Feb. 23 during an incident on Dewey Avenue, regarding the same woman. Dyer was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Kenneth M. Gray, Jr., 18, of 77 Myrtle St., Le Roy, is charged with unlawful possession of alcohol under 21. Gray was reportedly found by Officer Dan Coffey in the area of 500 East Street in a state of intoxication. Gray was reportedly carrying seven cans of beer at the time.

Timothy P. Dailey, 40, of Rochester, is charged with criminal mischief. Dailey was arrested by state police in Elba at 2:29 a.m., Saturday. Dailey was jailed. No further details available.

In an awards ceremony themed "Simply Elegant," the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce honored its Class of 2009 with a dinner and presentation at a local hotel on Saturday night.  

Pictured above are, front row, Billie Owens, Naomi Silver, Chris Sardou, Mary Sardou, Christine Adamczak; back, Howard Owens, Gary Larde, Buddy Brasky, Tom Sardou, Steve Tufts,  Bill Dougherty, Tony Kutter and Travis Sick.

UPDATE 8:22 p.m., Monday: I should note, it was The Batavian's turn this year  to write, and WBTA to broadcast, profiles of this year's award recipients. I'd like to thank Genesee Graphics for printing, and Bill Mosman, a L.C. Mosman for framing the prints. Bill did an excellent job on was by necessity a rush order.

More pictures after the jump:

Dan "The Voice of Genesee County" Fischer, of WBTA, delivered a few opening remarks.

Tony Kutter accepts the award for Kutter's Factory Cheese Store.

Naomi Silver of Rochester Community Baseball with daughter, Desiree, 8.

Steve Tufts of the Batavia Area Jaycees with Tara Pariso and Cathryn Colby.

Chris, Tom and Mary Sardou of Viking Valhalla/Rose Garden Bowl, the Business of the Year.

Myron "Buddy" Brasky, Batavia High basketball coach (and JV baseball coach), the Geneseean of the Year.

ADDED: Thanks to Melissa George from the Chamber for the picture below.

Late in the third quarter, the Fighting Irish seemed to have their Section V title game well in hand.

And then something strange happened.

The baskets stopped dropping, and turnovers and penalties all seemed to take a Fillmore tilt.

With seconds left in the third, Notre Dame turned over the ball and Fillmore struck for a quick three points, cutting the Irish lead from nine to six.

"The little things ad up," said head coach Mike Rapone. "They did the little things better in about the last 12 minutes of the game."

The game changer, Rapone said, was a six-minute stretch in which the Irish didn't drop a single shot.

"I don’t think we scored from 33-24 until they actually took the lead," Rapone said. "We had a long scoring drought. I thought we were getting decent shots, they just weren’t falling. That happens."

To start the fourth quarter, Fillmore hit two three-point goals, tying the game, and another three-pointer gave Fillmore a lead that Notre Dame would never get back.

The fourth quarter ended in a tie, putting the game into overtime, but Fillmore struck quickly and held the lead through the final four minutes.

"I feel bad for the kids because they’ve been so close in football and now basketball," Rapone said.

Fillmore was sparked in the 4th quarter by Chase Rangel, who came off the bench and scored 14 points, including 4 three-point goals.  He added another key three-point goal in the 4th quarter.

Vinny Zambito led Notre Dame with 13 points, Gianni Zambito, 11, Matt Thompson, 9, and Tom Rapone, 6.

More pictures after the jump:

If you are going to be in the Sarasota, Fla., area on March 21 or you'd like to go there and enjoy a big party of people who graduated from Genesee County high schools, then this announcement is for you.

Nick and Mary Ann Figlow are hosting a Reunion Party at their home at 3617 White Sulphur Place in Sarasota. Starts at 1 p.m. and lasts as long as its lasts!

Bring a dish of something to eat and share plus your favorite beverages.

Grads from Batavia, Bergen, Elba, Le Roy, Notre Dame, Oakfield, Stafford, Corfu, Alexander, Bethany, Pembroke, Pavilion, Darien, Alabama and Attica are invited.

"This is going to be a blast!" the Figlows say.

Use Google Maps, or try Nick and Mary Ann's directions: The house is off Beneva Road, -- south of Fruitville Road, south of Bahia Vista Road, north of Webber Street -- head east off Beneva. It's the second house on the right, the one with 50 or 60 or more cars parked around it. (Again, just a suggestion...use Google Maps or Map Works online.)

Phone numbers to call are (home) (941) 922-2277 or (941) 376-1375.

Don Desjarlais, a representative of Oregon Cutting Systems out of Raleigh, N.C., talks about the differences in chain saw teeth during a chain saw safety clinic at Cedar Street Sales and Rentals.

The annual clinic provides area highway department workers and others who use chainsaws frequently detailed information on the operation of chain saws and their safe use.

Undefeated sectional champions isn't a bad label to have. That's what all the excitement was about Friday night in Letchworth as the Elba girls basketball team defeated Jasper-Troupsburg 47-37 in the Class DD final.

Freshman McKenzie Bezon, sophomore Meg Stucko and senior Cassie Engel were the offensive power in the game.

"This is everything that I could dream of," Engel said. "It was a great win and one that I will always remember."

The Lancers came out with the mentality to get it done and get the lead quickly as they took an early 13-2 jump with the support of 3-pointers by Engal and senior Missy Call.

In a desperate attempt to get back in the game, the Wildcats' were able to close the gap to 16-12, but it was all Elba from then on as the Wildcats (18-3) couldn't get a formula together to shut down the Lancers.

Heading into the final quarter of the game up 36-21, the Wildcats turned it up a notch in a last attempt to take the lead but managed only to close the gap to 42-34.

Bezon ended the game posting 14 points, while Stucko put up two 3-pointers to total six points. She had a big day under the basket as she pulled down 27 rebounds.

Brittany Hadley led Jasper-Troupsburg with nine points and Taylor Button and Meghan Wyant added eight points each.

"This was huge for the kids and we will take whatever we get from now on," says Head Coach Tom Nowak. "We'd like to win another one and get on to the regional game."

Nowak was named the Class DD Coach of the Year.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Reader Robin Walters was also at the game, and posted this report.

Thirteen and under. Thirteen and under. It's the phrase that Batavia Head Coach Buddy Brasky has pounded into the head of his players all season. Just hold the opponent to 13 or fewer points per quarter, and you're going to win basketball games.

Friday night at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, it was more like 10 and under as the Blue Devils secured a Section V title with a 65-38 victory over #3 seed Livonia.

It was the first time in four Section V titles for Batavia under the leadership of Brasky that an opponent was held to fewer than 40 points.

More significantly, it is the first time in Batavia history that a varsity basketball team won back-to-back Section V titles.

"All the alumni, all of them that talk, but we’ve got that on them," said Junior Andrew Hoy. "They all had sectional titles, but we got two."

Hoy, who got to 1,000 career points, scored faster than any player in Batavia history, with 11 against Livonia and was named the tournament's MVP.

But for all of his offensive prowess, after the game, Hoy talked about defense.

"Defense got us the win," Hoy said. "Coach told us if we hold them to 13 and under per quarter we’d get the win, we would be sectional champs. We came out in the third quarter and won that quarter 25-2."

Their lopsided quarter allowed Batavia to run away with the game. After falling behind 13-0 against Batavia to start in the first quarter, Livonia was never really able to get into the game. The squad never pulled closer than 8 points.

"I showed them the past sectional championship pictures and I showed them score boards, because I always take a picture of the score board if we win and I hang it up in the trophy case, and all the scores were in the 40s for the other teams," Brasky said. "This the first year we got them under 40. We got them at 38, so they were pretty excited about that."

Coach Brasky gave credit to Josh Budlong for the quick start. Budlong finished the game with 21 points. Co Co Irvin scored 15 and Justin Washington added 8.

Bobby Schuster was the leading scorer for Livonia with 18 points. He was the only Livonia player to reach double digits.

The Sportsmanship Award went to Lou Stoller.

Batavia players who made the All-Tournament Team were Washington, Irvin, Budlong and Hoy.

Next, on Wednesday Batavia plays the qualifying game for the state championship series.

UPDATE: More pictures after the jump (nearly 70 more)

More Pictures:

A man wearing a hoodie and a mask entered the Le Roy Rite Aid on Friday night and demanded a clerk give him drugs.

The man claimed to have a gun, according to Le Roy Police.

The armed robbery at 151 West Main Street occurred at 8:55 p.m.

The suspect is described as a white male, about 5' 7".

When he entered the store, he reportedly approached the pharmacists and demanded drugs. He claimed to have a weapon, but no weapon was displayed.

The suspect was wearing blue jeans and a yellow hooded sweatshirt.

After exiting the store, he fled on foot, but police believe he had a car nearby.

Anybody with information that might help solve the case are asked to contact the Le Roy Police Department.

Batavia Police have arrested a man apparently working three jobs for allegedly using his access to credit cards as a gas station attendent to buy material at a building supply company and then selling what he bought as a contractor, but pocketing the proceeds.

Dustin Hurlburt, 32, of 21 Elm St., Warsaw, is charged with four counts of grand larceny, 3rd, and two counts of grand larceny, 4th.

He was jailed on $10,000 bail.

Hurlburt allegedly made more than $22,000 in purchases at Armor Building Supply, where he worked, using credit card numbers he obtained while working as a full-service gas station attendant. 

The purchases were allegedly made for a local building site, where Hurlburt acted as a contractor. He then allegedly billed the customers for the items he purchased using the stolen credit card numbers.

The alleged purchases were made between October 2009 and December 2009. There were reportedly six different transactions ranging from $1,800 to more than $5,000 each.

Det. Kevin Czora spent three months investigating the case and arrested Hurlburt on Friday.

An Oakfield woman is accused of thinking her ex-husband's bank account was still hers for the taking.

Michelle Parker, 39, of 14 Cary Ave., is charged with grand larceny, 4th, grand larceny, 3rd, and perjury, 1st, after allegedly stealing $8,000 from her ex-husband's account.

Parker allegedly gave false testimony about the accounts while under oath in Genesee County Superior Court.

She was released on her own recognizance following her arraignment.

The case was investigated by by Det. Todd Crossett of the Batavia Police Department.

Dan Fisher at WBTA was kind enough to air a story today about The Batavian, interviewing me and Billie, with Pachuco in the studio.

Ameka Cooper at Carlson's Studio shot the portrait picture.

You can listen to Dan's story here (mp3).

The awards will be handed out Saturday night at the Holiday Inn.

Previously, The Batavian ran the following stories on our fellow award winners:

• Genesee County Business of the Year: Viking Valhalla Restaurant
• Geneseean of the Year: Buddy Brasky
• Kutter's Cheese Factory Store: 2009 Agricultural Business of the Year
• Special Recognition Award: Rochester Community Baseball
• Special Service Recognition Award: The Batavia Area Jaycees

It's called a "cost recovery fee," and critics say it is damaging the ability of Industrial Development Agencies to create jobs.

The fee is a tax on operating revenue and is calculated before IDA expenses are deducted, according to this story Star-Gazette in Elmira.

Albany stuck the cost recovery fee in the 2009-10 budget as a line item and many IDAs were surprised to get bills for 5 percent of their revenue.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley introduced legislation this week to repeal the fee.

"To add these assessments during this difficult economy will only lead to further job losses across New York, especially in the Upstate region.," Hawley said in a press release. "Albany needs to wake up and understand that job creation for New Yorkers should be their number one priority, not more unfair taxes and fees.”

Albany expects the IDA fee to generate $5 million in revenue for the State.

Hawley's legislation, if passed, would repeal the fee and reimburse IDAs for any fees already paid.

IDAs are set up in regions throughout the state to spur business development through tax breaks and other incentives, as well as organizing and promoting development opportunities.

One of the most requested additional features we get for The Batavian is obituaries. But we can only publish obituaries if funeral directors submit the notices.

The H.E. Turner & Company, Inc. family of funeral homes became one of The Batavian's newest sponsors this week and will now post obituaries for people who have passed when one of their homes -- H.E. Turner in Batavia and Bergen, Bohm-Calarco-Smith in Batavia, and Burdett & Sanford in Oakfield -- handle the arrangements.

If you do not find the obituary for your loved one, please notify the funeral director handling arrangements for your friend or family member and ask him to contact The Batavian about posting the obituary on the Web site.

Tom Rivers is a reporter of boundless energy. He's run in marathons and worked day-long shifts in local farm fields.

Now he's published a book.

The Batavia Daily News staff writer wrote an award-winning series 2008 about his laborious research into just want it takes to work at local farms in Western New York. Those articles are the basis of Farm Hands: Hard work and hard lessons from Western New York fields.

"Books have a little more permanence," Rivers said. "You can read about the titans of industry, such as Dean Richmond, in books, but there aren't a lot of books about the people doing the work. I just think the farmworkers make a great contribution to our community. They deserve the recognition (of being in a book)."

The stories of Tom's days and nights in the fields of Genesee, Wyoming and Orleans counties picking apples and chopping and throwing cabbage give the reader a great sense of just how hard farm work is.

Although he knew it would be challenging, Rivers said he was surprised by how taxing it really is. And it takes training, experience and dedication to ensure that the produce isn't damaged before it's delivered to market.

"There's this feeling that we can just throw anybody into farm work, but not just anybody can do this," Rivers said. "Buyers could reject 40 tons of cabbage if it's not just perfect, if the heads are bruised. There's more pressure on the workers than there is in my job or in most people's jobs. They have to aim for perfection."

The book contains additional material not included in the original newspaper series, Rivers said.

Rivers self-published the book and had it printed at Hodgkins Printing in the Harvester Center.

The full-color book came out looking great, Rivers said. Daily News Publisher Tom Turnbull didn't hesitate to give Rivers permission, without fee, to reprint his own articles as well as the color photos that ran with the series.

"I like that it says, 'Printed in Batavia,' but I don't feel like I was working with a second-rate company," Rivers said. "They were great over there."

The book is for sale locally at the Holland Land Office Museum and Present Tense Books on Washington Avenue.

A bit of confirmation of rumors that Sam Pontillo is working on a deal to reopen the legendary pizzeria on East Main Street came out of the Genesee County Economic Development Center today.

Pontillo's potential landlord, BP Properties out of Rochester, was granted a $6,875 property-tax exemption by the GCEDC.

GCEDC officials said BP Properties and Sam Pontillo are trying to secure refinancing on $500,000 in debt left over from the previous operation.

(via WBTA)

Previously:

• Could uncovered Pontillo's neon be a sign of what's to come?
• Could Pontillo's in Batavia soon be a Pontillo's again?

A Batavia woman wanted connection with alleged drug dealing at two strip clubs in Erie County has been arrested.

Cynthia Sims, 25, was initially considered a fugitive following the FBI investigation, but Sims was reportedly taken into custody yesterday.

Twenty-five other suspects have also been charged in connection with the investigation.

The exact charges against Sims have not been released yet.

(via WBTA)

A Pittsford firetruck that was apparently in Genesee County for repairs seems to have lost a long stretch of four-inch fire hose on West Saile Drive.

Monroe County dispatch was contacted in order to notify the firetruck driver so the crew can return and retrieve the hose.

Meanwhile, a county official is watching over the hose to ensure it's safe retrieval.

UPDATE  1:10 p.m: OK, it wasn't a Pittsford Fire crew that was with the truck -- the truck is still out for repairs. The hose apparently fell off while a mechanic took it out for a test drive.