The Bank of Castile celebrated 20 years in Batavia this afternoon with a community gathering at its East Main Street branch and by presenting a gift backpack with a $500 donation in it to the backpack program of United Way.

Above, Erik Fix with United Way of Genesee County accepts the basket from Diane Torcello, branch manager, and Jim Fulmer, president and CEO of the Bank of Castile.

Castile branches traditionally celebrate their anniversaries with gifts to the community, bank officials said.

Branch employees picked the backpack program for the 20th anniversary gift.

"At the Bank of Castile, we have always been a strong believer in the good that United Way does in our community," Torcello said. "We are proud to support the program with a contribution."

A former Oakfield resident admitted in County Court today that prior to his sentencing on burglary charges in March 2012, he violated his release under supervision agreement and fled the area.

Benjamin W. Muntz, 24, is currently in state prison on a burglary conviction, but the pre-sentence report done previously for his grand larceny conviction is now out of date and must be redone.

There also needs to be a new report done on his conviction for bail jumping prior to sentencing.

Sentencing on both charges was set for Sept. 4.

Muntz is currently serving three and half to seven years on his burglary, 3rd, conviction. He faces another three-plus years for burglary, which could be served either concurrently or consecutively, depending on Noonan's decision in the fall.

The sentence on the bail jumping charge, which could be from one and half to three years, must be served consecutive to any other sentence, according to state law.

Muntz was returned to Genesee County after serving a brief jail sentence in Arkansas and he is wanted in Georgia.

Rick Mancuso, left, was honored Saturday as the 2013 Genesee County Distinguished Citizen by the Iroquois Trail Council, Boy Scouts of America. He's pictured with BSA Council President Dr. Thomas Madejski

The award recognizes a local resident who has significantly advanced the cause of the greater good and has made this a better community by:

• taking an active leadership role in activities that promote positive youth development;
• promoting the cause of a healthy business community;
• having involvement and leadership in service organizations or other community-wide endeavors;
• supporting charitable endeavors that seek to improve the quality of life for our local community;
• providing a positive role model for life and business that our Scouts and other young people should aspire to emulate.

The honorees are selected by a group of community peers in each county, including several former honorees along with input from our Chairman Roger Triftshauser.

Keynote Speaker for the event was Congressman Chris Collins. An Eagle Scout, Collins spoke about his experiences as a youth and adult Scouting leader. He has taken the values of Scouting to the halls of Congress, where he displays a Scouting flag outside his Capitol Hill office. His congressional coin displays the Boy Scout motto ‘Be Prepared’ and the Cub Scout motto ‘Do Your Best’.

Other honorees included Dan Wilson (Lockport), Jim Miles (Lyndonville), Larry Rogers (Pike), and Matt Cole (Livonia).

Photos by Kevin Carlson of Carlson's Studio. Information provided by Jim McMullen.

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) joined a bipartisan push to restore funding to programs and services for the developmentally disabled. Hawley voted against the cuts in this year’s budget and supported a budget amendment to prevent the reduction from ever occurring. As a cosponsor of bipartisan legislation to restore the funding, Hawley indicated that the issue transcended party politics.

“One of our greatest obligations as New Yorkers is to support and care for our vulnerable citizens,” Hawley said. “The organizations in our community that support the developmentally disabled are led by selfless individuals who give of themselves to provide world-class care.

"As someone who has opposed these cuts since the very beginning, it breaks my heart that these programs were ever in jeopardy. However, it is great news that we are able to come together across party lines and attempt to right this wrong in a bipartisan fashion. I will continue to advocate for the programs and services that developmentally disabled New Yorkers and their families rely on.”

Here's the most viewed posts for May:

• Police looking for public's help in finding boy allegedly slammed to floor of Walmart by adult male
• Suspect accused of slamming son to the floor of Walmart tells judge, 'I was in the wrong'
• Terry Platt says he's done investing in Genesee County after city denies rooming house application
• Le Roy PD reports home invasion sexual assault
• Council to consider law to license landlords, institute fines for nuisance tenants
• Photo: Tim McGraw stops in at Next Level Fitness for workout
• The future of a Wegmans in Batavia hinges on the success of STAMP in Alabama
• Photo: Big Pauly's open for business
• Old Glory flown over Main Street to honor young Marine laid to rest this morning, by Billie Owens
• Video: Buffalo TV station airs lengthy piece on salary paid to GCEDC CEO Steve Hyde

Speaking of Muller Quaker Dairy, it was The Batavian the first news source to tell you that "Project Wave" was going to be a yogurt plant built by PepsiCo and a German company.

Over the years, we've brought you in-depth coverage that you rarely get anywhere else about Genesee County:

• An investigation into the finances of Pontillo's,
• More continuing coverage of controversy in Corfu,
• No other news agency has given you more facts about the tax breaks for COR Development than The Batavian,
• We've provided comprehensive coverage on the attempt to save and the eventual demolition of the Wiss Hotel,
• We provided region-leading coverage on bath salts last summer,
• We also broke the story about Jacquetta Simmons at Walmart on Christmas Eve 2011,
• And more recently The Batavian provided the first coverage about a man accused of slamming his son to the floor at Walmart.

Consistly for more than five years, The Batavian has brought you more breaking news coverage and more in-depth coverage than any other local news source.

And we want to keep it going, which is one reason we need you to join The Batavian Club.

Right now, we're offering a free 8x12 canvas print of a Genesee County photography by Howard Owens to new members. See the slide show below for available choices.

Don't forget: Club members get gift certificates from local businesses worth more than $320.

The prints will be made by Vinylsticks, a Batavia business that creates all manner of signs, prints, decals and stickers. 

Use the PayPal buttons below. After you complete your order, please e-mail howard@thebatavian.com with name of the picture you want (mouse over the photo in the slide show to see the name).

Or, you can phone in your credit card number and details to (585) 250-4118 during normal business hours, Monday thru Thursday.

To join by mail and pay by check or credit card, download this form and mail it to us. Be sure to specify on the form which picture you want. Titles are in the upper left.

To learn about the club, visit the club's new Web site.

Annual membership, no recurring payment, $60
(Use this button if you want to make a one-time payment through PayPal. You will be asked to renew again in a year.)
 

Annual membership with automatic recurring payment of $50 per year
(Use this button so your membership automatically renews each year and save $10 annually on your dues.)
 

A man whose DNA profile was indicted on alleged burglary charges appeared in County Court today presumably to plead guilty, but the District Attorney's Office asked for an adjournment because of a new investigation into another alleged crime.

Assistant District Attorney Will Zickl said his office had offered Samuel G. Malone, 27, of 36 Walnut St., Batavia, a chance to plea guilty to burglary, 3rd, and attempted burglary, 3rd. But with potentially new evidence of another alleged crime, he said District Attorney Lawrence Friedman wanted to make sure what all of the potential charges were before finalizing a plea arrangement.

Molone, who is out of jail under supervision, is scheduled back in court at 10:15 a.m., June 18.

A DNA profile that was later matched with Malone was indicted by a grand jury in December on counts of two counts of burglary, 3rd, and one count of attempted burglary, 2nd.

A few days after his arrest in April, he was charged with another count of burglary 3rd.

The plea arrangement contemplated by the attorneys is for Malone to plead guilty to two counts and serve a period on probation before Noonan would decide on a possible prison sentence.

Reason Mag: Supreme Court Allows Police to Collect DNA Samples from Arrestees

Throughout the 90-minute opening ceremony for the new Muller Quaker Dairy Plant in the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park, Steve Hyde sat in the second row and smiled.

Not one speaker -- and there were five of them -- mentioned Hyde by name. There was no official recognition of his work to bring this day about.

Still, he smiled.

You couldn't help but think of a proud father watching his son or daughter graduate.

Asked how he felt afterward, Hyde, as he usually does when posed such questions, demurred and praised others.

"It’s a great day for everybody in the community," Hyde said. "This was a dream of mine and a lot of other partners. It’s 10 years in the making and this is just phase one."

Hyde has his critics. Genesee County Economic Development Center, the organization he runs, has its skeptics. But the Muller Quaker plant is a big deal, especially for a county of only 57,000 people that hasn't had a big factory opening in more than five decades.

PepsiCo and Theo Muller Group invested $200 million in the facility and that dollar figure doesn't count product development, designs for new trade-secret machinery to create the Greek-style yogurt, new software to run the plant and the planning that goes into bringing a new product to market.

Ken Adams, president of Empire State Development, indicated he was a little bit awed by the idea of a global powerhouse like Pepsi and a German-based company like Theo Muller coming to Upstate New York.

"Having PepsiCo here, having Muller here, is like a global seal of approval for this park and its infrastructure," Adams said.

And he gives a lot of the credit for making it happen to Hyde.

"Steve Hyde as far as I’m concerned, he really put the agri-business park, this particular location, on the map at a statewide level," Adams said. "Steve is always in Albany working very closely with the legislators from the area, senate and assembly, working very close with the governor’s office.

"I’ve told this to him, so I'll say it to you," Adams added, "Steve Hyde is a forceful, well respected advocate for investment and economic development here in Batavia. He really put the site on the map and then he also pulls everybody together at the local and state level to make sure a project like this actually goes smoothly. That’s important for the company, for the investors, that there are no hiccups along the way."

A critical factor with Muller Quaker -- called Project Wave during the planning process -- was the speed at which all of the necessary permits could be secured. A lot of credit goes to Town of Batavia and Genesee County officials, but the GCEDC staff laid the ground work to have a shovel-ready site and push the paperwork through the process.

In his speech today, Theo Muller praised the local authorities who got approval for the plant so quickly.

"It would be unimaginable in Germany," he said with a wink. "In Germany that would have taken at the very least three years. You have to send a whole case of yogurt to them over there to get anything done."

Sen. Charles Schummer called the ag park a great idea of local leaders and said when GCEDC came to him for help, he was happy to jump in and secure federal grants for infrastructure.

"There is no better way to strengthen our dairy industry and create jobs than to build a park like this, which has helped attract this great company," Schumer said.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley, who helped with the state legislative process on the project, noted that in any big project like this, stretching, as it does, across the boundaries of local, state and federal responsibilities, there are a lot of people who deserve credit for bringing it together, but Hyde certainly provided critical leadership.

"This is a big deal," Hawley said. "It's one of the largest plants in the country. We need jobs. I hear about it every day from constituents."

It takes a lot of work, Hawley said, to untangle the regulations that can hold up a business and a lot of people had a hand in bringing it together.

"A lot of the credit goes to Steve, but it's a team effort," Hawley said.

Danny Wegman, CEO of Wegmans and president of the Finger Lakes Economic Development Council, is also a Steve Hyde fan. He believes Hyde will pull off the gargantuan task of developing WNY STAMP, the proposed 1,200-acre, high-tech manufacturing park in Alabama that could employ 9,300 people some day.

It's an audacious project, but Wegman said when there are people passionate about projects, they can make things happen.

"Steve is very excited about this," Wegman said last week during the governor's visit to Genesee Community College. "There are a lot of confidential things that can't be shared, but I feel confident that if somebody I believe in is excited about it, the chances of it happening are pretty good."

The success of the ag park only enhances the chance's of success with STAMP, Adams said.

"We’re very hopeful," Adams said. "It’s a globally competitive industry. The opportunity is at STAMP. It’s a great site. It’s much bigger than this site, the agri-business park, but Steve has done a good job at lining up all of the vital ingredients for that site -- power, water, obviously the land, permitting, all the things you need to really be shovel-ready when the right business comes along. He’s the chief marketer. He’s going to Albany tomorrow. He’s on it and he works very closely my colleagues at ESD on marketing STAMP, so we have our fingers crossed."

Hyde said it's all about building on the natural assets of Batavia and Genesee County and showing that can be done with the ag park will translate into confidence for other projects, such as STAMP.

"It helps build credibility in the eyes of some of the folks in the leadership roles in the state that we know how to do this here at the local level," Hyde said. "This (agriculture) is an industry where the regional assets were in great demand and we could make an impact, and when you look at the regional assets in the nano stuff in our region we’ve got the same situation developing."

According to Indra Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo, Batavians owe a big thank you to Danny Wegman.

No, not for promising one of his unriviled grocery stores to Genesee County, but for steering her attention toward yogurt and the need to produce it in Western New York.

"When I visited Danny in his flagship store in Rochester, Danny said to me, ‘Indra, you should get into the yogurt business because it’s growing extremely rapidly and if you do, the plant has to be located right around here in Upstate New York,' " Nooryi said. "I listened to Danny  because Danny is one of the most respected thinkers in the industry, and, Danny, we delivered on the promise.”

Wegman stood at the back of a tent crowded with local and state dignitaries and smiled broadly.

Last week, Wegman told The Batavian that it might take build out of the STAMP project in Alabama to bring a Wegmans to Batavia. Today, Wegman (top inset photo) had a slightly different take.

Coming out from a tour of the new Muller Quaker Dairy plant, he said, "more projects like this and we'll be here."

The dairy plant -- which will manufacture two brands of Greek-style yogurt, Muller FrutUp and Muller Corner -- officially opened today.

To start, it operates three production lines, employs 180 people in a 350,000-square-foot facility that could one day accommodate as many as 16 production lines.

Already, the plant produces 120,000 cups of yogurt per hour.

Sen. Charles Schumer announced during opening ceremonies that Muller Quaker has reached an agreement with the Upstate Milk Cooperative to source all of its milk from WNY dairy farmers.

The OA-TK-A plant in Batavia will produce the milk protein that Muller Quaker uses in its yogurt production (rather than strain milk as done in traditional Greek yogurt production, Muller Quaker adds protein to give its yogurt a similar rich, silky texture).

"This is an amazing shot in the arm for our economy here in Western New York and I am pledged to continue to do whatever I can do to make this the most successful venture in Western New York," Schumer said.

The project brings together two companies -- the worldwide giant in the food and beverage industry, PepsiCo, and a much smaller, but well respected, dairy company from Germany, the Theo Muller Group.

Stephan Muller, who moved to the United States to assume the reins of the new company, spoke about the entrepreneurial spirit, the risk taking of the $200 million investment by the two companies.

Muller represents the fifth generation of Mullers in the dairy business.

His father, Theo Muller, said through a translator, that the company made previous attempts to break into the U.S. market.

Stephen Muller described his father as a bit of a technophobe who never used a computer and then he got an iPhone just after Stephen Muller arrived in the U.S.

"He sent me a text message," Muller said. "I think it was his first one or one of his first ones. He said, ’520 years ago Christopher Columbus started his journey west with just three ships. Now you are our Columbus. Capital, excellent knowledge now are your ships, and one thing one cannot buy, the iron will to have success."

Nooyi (second inset photo) believes the product will be successful

PepsiCo already has a track record of success of developing a balanced portfolio of food and beverage products that she described as "fun for you, good for you and better for you."

"PepsiCo is becoming a real force in the good-for-you space," Nooyi said. "We have the best go-to-market systems and superior marketing, combined with Muller’s leadership in phenomenal dairy products, I think we’re going to become a real force in the dairy business in North America."

The success in just getting the plant open bodes well for Batavia, Schumer said. With 90 acres of available space at the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park, there will likely be more jobs coming to town.

"We could employ as many as 1,200 more people when the food processors learn of the transportation advantages, the food production advatnages and just the work force advantages that we have here in this area," Schumer said.  "Food processors from around the world are learning what we have to offer."

Ken Adams, president of Empire State Development, said the success of today's opening is something that will attract more investment in the park, especially in supply chain support for Muller.

"It’s a very powerful confirmation of this facility, the agri-business park as a center for international investment," Adams said. "One thing I’m struck with at this ceremony is you’ve got a global leader like PepsiCo partnering wth Muller and obviously Quaker, the PepsiCo brand, coming together right here in Batavia. The project confirms Batavia, Genesee County’s position, certainly in the Northeast if not North America, as a center of the yogurt universe."

To purchase prints of these photos, click here.

The Jim Kelly Celebrity Golf Classic was held at Terry Hills Golf Course today and as usual, a group of Batavia residents were positioned near the ninth fairway with free brownies for the golfers.

Above, Bills receiver Andre Reed with Kate Martin, Jean Woodcock, Diana Burroughs, Skip Bartz, Margaret Peri, Donna Gillard, Anne Barone and Kathy Leffel.

Prior to the tee-off, Kelly announced that he has cancer in his upper jaw.

Kelly told the Buffalo News that cancer is just another challenge on life's rollercoaster.

“I know I’ll beat it," he said.

The event raises money for the Kelly for Kids Foundation. Kelly for Kids serves disadvantaged and disabled youth in WNY. Past receiptents of funds have been The Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation and Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.

An ATV driver reports that a pickup truck struck his vehicle in the area of Swamp Road, Bergen, and took off.

Bergen fire and Mercy EMS were initially dispatched because it was believed the rider suffered a minor injury after his ATV rolled, however, the rider went to the Bergen Fire Hall and declined medical treatment, so the Bergen assignment is back in service.

A deputy is in the area looking for the truck.

The Richmond Memorial Library will clost at 5 p.m., Tuesday, due to sewer repairs on Ross Street.

The library will reopen at its normal hour, 9 a.m., Wednesday.

Cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the United States, starting two out of every five fires. Heating is the second-highest cause, followed by intentional fires and electrical systems/lighting equipment. Smoking is the fifth highest cause, but is the leading cause of home fire deaths. Candles are also a significant cause and are responsible for approximately 35 home fires being reported every day.

Cooking Fires
To prevent a cooking fire, follow these tips from the National Fire Protection Association site, www.nfpa.org:

• Be on the alert. If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the oven or stove.
• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you need to leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the oven or stove.
• If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly. Remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
• Keep your stovetop clear of anything that can catch fire, including oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels, or curtains.

If a cooking fire starts:

• Be prepared. Keep a lid nearby when you’re cooking on the stovetop. If a small grease fire occurs, smother it by sliding the lid over the pan. Turn off the stove and leave the pan covered until it has completely cooled.
• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
• Whenever fighting a fire, be sure others leave and that you have a clear way out.
• If the fire continues or grows, get out immediately! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire.
• Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number after you leave.

Heating Equipment
To prevent a heating equipment fire:

• Consider replacing older area or space heaters with new ones that turn off automatically when overheated or tipped. Keep them at least three feet away from anything flammable. 
• Have furnaces and chimneys professionally cleaned and inspected every year.
• All fireplaces should have a sturdy screen. Never use flammable liquids to start a fire in a fireplace. Allow ashes to cool completely and use a metal bucket for disposal.

Electrical Systems & Equipment

To prevent an electrical fire: 

• Have your home inspected by a qualified electrician, especially when purchasing an older home. 
• Use a qualified electrician when having electrical work done. 
• Protect your home against arc faults. An arc fault occurs when an electrical short produces an arc: intensely hot sparks that can set fire to nearby flammable materials. Arcs often happen in appliance or extension cords that have become frayed or cracked. To prevent arc faults, have Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) installed in your home. These devices look and work like conventional circuit breakers. When an AFCI detects an arc, it shuts off the circuit. 
• Power surges can damage appliances and even cause fires. Protect your home with a two-tiered surge protection system: a whole house surge protection device (SPD) on the main electrical service to the home, and point-of-use SPDs for all valuable electronics and appliances. 

Note: According to the National Fire Protection Association, effective Jan. 1, 2008, the National Electric Code made AFCI installation a requirement in the majority of circuits in new residential construction.

Candles
Each year, candle fires account for hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage and hundreds of unnecessary injuries and deaths. To help protect your family, please observe these safety tips:

• Only burn candles under constant supervision.
• Keep burning candles a minimum of one foot away in all directions from flammable and combustible items.
• Keep candle wicks trimmed to within ¼ inch from the top of the candle.
• Do not allow candles to burn down to the bottom of their container.
• Extinguish all candles before leaving the house or when going to bed at night.
• Place candles in safe locations, out of the reach of children or pets.
• Only place candles on secure furniture that is unlikely to tip over. 

For more information, search for “candle safety tips” at www.nfpa.org.

Smoking
To prevent a smoking accident from causing a fire, the U.S. Fire Administration recommends that you:

• Use deep, wide, sturdy ashtrays. Ashtrays should be set on something stable and hard to ignite.
• Make sure butts and ashes are out before disposing of them.
• Never smoke in a home where medical oxygen is used.
• Don’t smoke if you are sleepy, have been drinking, or have taken over-the-counter or prescription medications.
• Choose fire-safe cigarettes if they are available in your state. They usually go out by themselves if not actively smoked. Go to www.firesafecigarettes.org to learn more.

Be prepared in case of fire
Plan escape routes:

• Plan at least two ways to get out of any room.
• Agree on a meeting place outside where everyone can gather.

Get the most protection out of your smoke alarm

Alarm type

• Battery-powered alarms may use a nine-volt battery or 10-year lithium battery.
• Hard-wired smoke alarms operate on the home’s electrical system and include a battery backup in case of power failure.
• For the hearing-impaired, smoke alarms with an audible alarm and bright flashing lights are available.
• Make sure your alarm is listed or approved by an independent testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
• Replace all smoke alarms, including alarms that use 10-year batteries and hard-wired alarms, when they are 10 years old. They should also be replaced whenever they do not respond properly.

Installation

• To install a battery-powered alarm, all you need is a drill and screwdriver. Always follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions.
• Hard-wired alarms should be installed by a qualified electrician. All hard-wired smoke alarms should be interconnected: if one alarm is activated, all alarms will sound.
• Install a smoke alarm in each bedroom.
• Never install a smoke alarm too close to windows, doors, vents, or ceiling fans where drafts could blow smoke away from an alarm.
• If you have questions about where to install your alarms, contact your local fire department. Many departments will conduct home smoke alarm inspections for free or a minimal fee.

Testing/Maintenance

• If you have stand-alone battery-powered alarms, test them once a month and replace the batteries once a year.
• Make sure that everyone in your household knows the sound of the alarms.
• Never paint any part of a smoke alarm.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when cleaning your alarms. Dust and debris can usually be removed by using a vacuum cleaner attachment.

Have a fire extinguisher handy
To operate a fire extinguisher, remember the word PASS:

Pull the pin. Hold the extinguisher with the nozzle pointing away from you, and release the locking mechanism.

Aim low. Point the extinguisher at the base of the fire.

Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.

Sweep the nozzle from side to side.

• Select a multi-purpose Class ABC extinguisher that is large enough to put out a small fire, but not so heavy as to be difficult to handle.
• Read the instructions that come with the fire extinguisher and become familiar with its parts and operation before a fire breaks out. Local fire departments or fire equipment distributors often offer hands-on fire extinguisher training.
• Install fire extinguishers close to an exit and keep your back to a clear exit when you use the device so you can make an easy escape if the fire cannot be controlled. If the room fills with smoke, leave immediately.
• Know when to go. Fire extinguishers are one element of a fire response plan, but the primary element is safe escape.
• Remember that each extinguisher must be serviced annually and may need to be recharged.

Consider a home fire sprinkler system

• Residential fire sprinkler systems provide added protection above smoke alarms and fire extinguishers.
• Fire sprinklers immediately respond to a fire while it is still small—controlling the spread of deadly heat, flames, and toxic smoke whether or not the occupants have appropriately responded to the signaling smoke alarm.
• These sprinklers are smaller than commercial or industrial sprinklers and can fit in with almost any décor.
• During home construction or remodeling, a home fire sprinkler system requires minimal extra piping and labor.
• A home fire sprinkler system may qualify you for a discount on your homeowners insurance premium.

Safety can be simple
Be sure to take the basic preventative steps outlined here, and file this sheet away for future reference. Just by being aware of common fire hazards and keeping an eye out for problems, you could save your home and possessions from serious damage.

For more information or insurance coverage: please call the Mark Lewis Agency at: (585) 343-4959 or stop by -- we're located at: 8331 Lewiston Road, Batavia, NY. Visit us online at: http://www.marklewisagency.com/

From the Holland Land Office Museum:

Eight days of history-oriented fun awaits young participants in the Holland Land Office Museum's History Heroes Summer Program. This year it begins on July 15 and ends July 26, running eight days Tuesday through Friday for two weeks.

It's for children 7 through 12 and begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m.

The deadline to register is June 22.

The Underground Railroad will be highlighted. The children see firsthand some of the homes that were safe homes for fugitive slaves.

They will also visit the wonderful Le Roy House and the Jell-O Museum on Jell-O Day.

The program is divided into eight days. On the first day, the children will be introduced to a play that will culminate into a production for parents/ grandparents families on the last day. It will have some historical significance to this area.

The HLOM is also happy to announce that there will be a certified music teacher that will help with the songs for the play, a certified art teacher to entice the children to choose a home or a scene from Batavia to draw. There is also a retired college professor that taught photography at Brockport State College to take individual pictures of the children in various period clothes.

The History Heroes Summer program was established in 2011. It came about when a retired school teacher dream was to immerse children in their local history. Over the past three years the program has evolved into a history playground for young people.

Previously, the children learned how to knit with a 4-nailed loom. Last year the children were taught how to knit on a knitting loom, which could produce a scarf. This year they will learn how to weave.

Children are to bring a packed lunch; snacks and bottled water will be provided daily. They will receive a History Heroes T-shirt, too. Please check out the Holland Land office Web site and Facebook for more information.

The coordinator and teacher for the summer program is Anne Marie Starowitz, a retired school teacher from Robert Morris School.

The cost for EACH program is $22 for HLOM Members, and $25 for non-members.

July 16 -- Introduction to the Underground Railroad Day

July 17 -- Music Day / Play Parts         

July 18 -- Field Trip to Le Roy House / Jell-O Museum

July 19 -- Textile Day / Weaving & Knitting

July 23 -- Cooking Day / Costumes & Photographs

July 24 -- Art Lesson Day / Historical Photographs

July 25 -- Performing Arts Day / Play & Practice Music

July 26 -- Celebration Day / Play & Picnic                

Rhonda L. Reisman, 40, of 105 State St., is charged with dog running at large. Batavia PD received a complaint of a dog running at large on State Street. Reisman was identified as the owner.

Heather E. Schramm, 33, of 48 South Main St., Batavia, is charged with aggravated harassment, 2nd. Schramm is accused of sending a threatening message to another person.

Arron Lee Zimblis, 49, of 114 Vine St., Batavia, is charged with DWI, failure to stop, unsafe movement of a stopped motor vehicle and failure to yield right of way to an emergency vehicle. Officer Jamie Givens allegedly observed Zimblis commit traffic infractions Wednesday after receiving a report of an intoxicated person leaving a residence.

Daniel S. Anderson, 37, of 239 S. Swan St., Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, 3rd. Anderson was arrested Friday following an investigation into a prior complaint. He was ordered held pending a court appearance today.

Billy Joe Johnson, 35, of 3910 W. Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Johnson was arrested following an investigation into an alleged incident reported at 7:02 a.m., Sunday, at a location on State Street.

Shawn Allen Bush, 43, of Alleghany Road, Pembroke, is charged with two counts harassment, 2nd. Bush allegedly threatened to harm his ex-girlfriend and son while in an intoxicated condition.

Brian Russell Wilson, 24, of Back Street, Pembroke, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Wilson was allegedly found in possession of marijuana during a traffic stop at 12:58 a.m. Sunday on Main Street, Oakfield, by Deputy Patrick Reeves. Matthew Metehan Osmancikli, 20, of Lewiston Road, Basom, was also charged.

Anthony Mark Matla, 42, of Park Avenue, Oakfield, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Matla allegedly threated to harm another person Saturday during an argument at a residence on Pratt Road.

A 16-year-old resident of Warboys Road, Byron, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance. The youth was allegedly found in possession of half a hydrocodone pill while at Byron-Bergen High School.

Jennifer L. Sprague, 30, of Pringle Avenue, Batavia, was arrested on a child neglect charge out of Family Court. Sprague was arrested after a bit of an alleged confrontation with police at her residence. Deputy John Baiocco reports that Sprague slammed the door after he arrived at the residence and locked herself inside. The house was surrounded with the help of Batavia PD and following some negotiations, Baiocco was able to arrest Sprague.

Heather D. Stone, 18, of Ellwood Drive, Rochester, is charged with burglary, 3rd, and petit larceny. Stone was turned over to the Sheriff's Office after being released from the Monroe County Jail on an unrelated matter. A warrant had been issued in Town of Le Roy Court for Stone's arrest. She was jailed on $2,500 bail.

A potato chip fire is reported at Baskin Livestock, 9778 Creek Road, Bethany.

Baskin hauls in waste product from large bakery operations throughout the Northeast and converts it to cattle feed.

The fire is outside the structure.

Bethany fire is responding.

UPDATE 9:01 a.m.: The first is in a tractor-trailer. It's near a barn. A tanker out of Alexander and an engine from Town of Batavia requested to the scene.

UPDATE 9:11 a.m.: Fire is nearly out. Town of Batavia can respond non-emergency.

UPDATE 9:14 a.m.: A chief reports, "fire is out, just hot spots."

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The plant officially opens today. We'll have coverage late this afternoon.

A person in a blue pickup truck was seen on Jericho Road, Bergen, smashing mailboxes.

The caller attempted to follow the truck, but it took off at a high rate of speed and the caller was not going to attempt to keep up with it.

It was last seen on Creamery Road.