In a few hours I'll get on a plane headed toward California.

I'll be in San Francisco tonight through Saturday evening, and then fly down to Bakersfield, visit my parents, and return to Batavia on Tuesday.

While I'm gone, Billie will be here, monitoring the scanner, of course, and covering anything that needs covering, plus we'll have help from our usual correspondents and our news partner, WBTA. And I'll be able to do a little news coverage from California. So while the coverage changes a bit with me gone, there will still be news about our community.

On Thursday I'll speak on two panels -- one on advertising sales, and another on running a small online start-up -- at the annual Online News Association conference.

ONA has become the largest trade association for online news in the world and will be attended by representatives from a lot of large news organizations. I've never spoken at the conference before and the last time I attended was in Toronto about four or five years ago. In 2004, the news site I ran then, for the Ventura County Star, won the ONA's General Excellence Award.

The industry has changed a lot in the past few years though, and when I looked at the roster of attendees the other day, I realized I will actually know very few people who will be there.

I don't expect to attend the entire conference. This will be my first trip to San Francisco since I took to photography in a serious way, so I expect to get out and wander around a bit with my camera.

This is the second of three closely timed out-of-town trips. Billie and I still look forward to a trip together to visit family in California this autumn, but we have no idea when that trip can be booked. We're still waiting for the funds to pay for it.

Press release:

Town Justice of Darien, the Honorable Gary A. Graber, was sworn in as the president of the New York State Magistrates Association on September 11th during the 103rd Annual Conference and Certified Advanced Training Program of the New York State Magistrates Association held at the Sheraton University Hotel and Conference Center, Syracuse, New York, Sept. 9-12, 2012.

More than 250 local judges from all areas of New York State took part in the four day event, which combines the State Magistrates Association Annual Meeting and Conference with the Advanced Training Courses which are required by New York State for all town and village justices in the Unified Court System.

The Honorable Timothy Cooper, past president and town justice of Evans was the toastmaster for the Intallation Banquet. Honorable Gary Graber was sworn in by his co-judge the Honorable Michael S. Davis.

Among the many in attendance were: President Graber’s father, Donald Graber; brother, Tim Graber; son, Sgt. 1st Class Matthew A. Graber of the Army; daughter-in-law, Capt. Emily Graber of the Army; grandson, Ian Graber; son, Capt. Jason P. Graber of the Virginia Metropolitan Airport Authority Fire Department; and daughter-in-law Kelly Graber. Also recognized for attending the swearing-in ceremonies were Retired Justice Edgar Hollwedel, Retired Justice Charles Dusen, Retired Justice Gary Davis and his wife, Diane.

The keynote speaker at the banquet was Senator John A. DeFrancisco who proudly represents the 50th District in the New York State Senate. During the banquet, Senator DeFrancisco was presented the “New York State Magistrates Association’s Amicus Curiae Award,” which recognizes individuals other than members of the judiciary for extraordinary contributions to the Courts of New York State.

The major purposes of NYSMA are the maintenance and support of the local judiciary through education and coordination with the New York State agencies regarding laws and other matters affecting local courts, “The Courts Closest to The People.” NYSMA works closely with the Office of Court Administration to assure the training enhances the professional development of the judges and is relevant to the practical situations encountered in the local courts.

Presentations over the four-day event were made by the Office of Justice Court Support, City, Town and Village Resource Center, The 5th Judicial District, Peter Gerstenzang, Esq., Onondaga Commissioner of Jurors, Onondaga District Attorneys Office, Commission of Judicial Conduct, Gary T. Kelder, Esq. Professor of Law for the Syracuse University College of Law, Office of Court Administration, NYS DEC Outreach Program, NYS OASAS, many town and village judges, as well as many of our officers and directors of the New York State Magistrates Association.

Submitted photo: Graber, right, is congratulated after being sworn in by Darien Town Justice Michael Davis.

Lori L. Mullen, 45, of 101 State St., Batavia, is charged with grand larceny, 3rd, and four counts of possession of a forged instrument, 2nd. Mullen is accused of taking the checks of an acquaintance, the forging the checks and cashing them. Mullen allegedly received more than $5,000. Mullen was released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

Cynthia Owens, 37, of 28 Buell St., Batavia, is charged with criminal trespass, 2nd, criminal mischief, 4th, harassment, 2nd and endangering the welfare of a child. Owens alleged forced her way into the apartment of an acquaintance on Ross Street, damaging the door in the process. She allegedly hit the resident in the presence of a child. Owens was jailed on $1,500 bail.

Shane Zimblis, 41, of Hutchins Street, Batavia, is charged with promoting prison contraband. Zimblis is accused of bringing "dangerous contraband" into the Genesee County Jail while serving a weekend sentence. No further information provided.

Ryan Nicholas Bartholomew, 18, of Adams Street, Batavia, is charged with trespass. Bartholomew allegedly entered private property on Kelsey Road, Batavia, without permission and caused car alarms to sound with the intent of disturbing the property owner. Also charged with trespass was Kyle James Bump, 19, of West Main Street Road, Batavia.

Jeremy Adam Schultz, 22, of Buffalo Street, Attica, is charged with criminal mischief, 3rd, and petit larceny. Schultz is accused of damaging an umbrella stand and stealing a security camera by prying it off a building on Attica Road in Alexander, damaging the camera and the wall.

New York Times: A Faded Piece of Papyrus Refers to Jesus' Wife

A three-car accident with minor injuries is reported in the area of 8111 E. Main Road, Le Roy.

That's near Linwood Road.

Le Roy Fire Department and Le Roy Ambulance Service dispatched.

The roadway is blocked.

It will take $125,000 of donated money, but Tom Lichtenthal, assistant town engineer and highway superintendent, hopes the community will come together to support a project that will be unique in Genesee County.

Lichtenthal is supporting a proposal to transform Kiwanis Park into a facility full of fun and activities for children with disabilities.

Central to the plan is a set of playground equipment built to accommodate children with disabilities, though can also be used by children without disabilities.

The plan also includes accessible paths and a small fishing pier on the Tonawanda Creek that is wheel-chair accessible and has guard rails.

The playground with wheel-chair swings, a tub-like marry-go-round, a conveyor-belt type of play set and a wheel-chair accessible glider would be built near the new boat launch, in an area well shaded by big, old trees.

On the opposite end of the park, to the east, would be an area of berms, sand, logs and rocks. Lichtenthal described it as "a natural play area."

The proposal was shared with the Town of Batavia Planning Board on Tuesday, but no action by the board is required at this time.

Genesee ARC supports the project, Lichtenthal said.

Town of Batavia planners are pushing forward with a proposal to add a second roadway into the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park, connecting the park with Route 63.

Town Engineer Steve Mountain said the need and opportunity for the roadway is driven by the requirement of the Muller Quaker yogurt plan for a gas main into the park and a $1 million grant for infrastructure upgrades from state's Office of Community Renewal.

The roadway was always part of the plan, Mountain said, but not until Phase 3.

In the nearer term, the town was going to construct an emergency vehicle access road through the County Highway Department's lot on Cedar Street, but it is more cost effective, Mountain said, just to build the connector to Route 63 now.

The design of the roadway needed to coincide with the gas main design for Muller Quaker, and Muller Quaker wanted to bring the line in through vacant property to save costs.

The vacant land is primarily made up of parcels owned by O-AT-KA Milk Products and local farmer Don Partridge.

The town is negotiating now with both property owners for a right-of-way access, but all of that land (in green on the map) was always intended to be part of the Phase 3 development of the agri-business park (and has already been through the environmental review process).

Mountain said Phase I of the park is already nearly full and it's his understanding that Partridge has received offers on his land.

Currently, the only developed roadway into the park is from Route 5.

Alpina Products will hold a ribbon-cutting Monday for its new facility, which will initially employ 50 people.

Next year, the Muller Quaker plant, a joint venture between PepsiCo and the Theo Muller Group, will open with an original staff requirement of about 200 people. A mushroom farm and labeling facility (already open) are also among the park's first announced tenants.

Initially, Phase 2 of the development was to extend the rail line into the park, but there's been no demand for it yet from potential tenants.

Among the benefits of the Route 62 access point is that O-AT-KA will be able to use the roadway for truck traffic to his own facility, making the intersection of Route 63 and Cedar Street safer.

A public hearing on the revised planning map is set for Tuesday, Oct. 16, at Batavia Town Hall. More details of the project will be revealed then.

A Niagara Falls police officer accused of hitting a fellow concertgoer inside a women's room at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on Aug. 25 could face a Class A misdemeanor charge of assault in the third degree, according to her attorney.

Attorney Norm Effman, out of Warsaw, said he was retained today to represent Kelly L. Alcorn (top photo), a 23-year veteran of the police force, who was initially arrested on a Class B misdemeanor charge of harassment, 2nd.

A woman who claims she was the victim of Alcorn has reportedly contacted the District Attorney's Office requesting more serious charges be levied against Alcorn.

Elizabeth R. Dake, 45, of Farmington, reportedly told the Buffalo News that she suffered a concussion and bruises and that she missed nine days of work as a result of the confrontation.

The fight, according to court documents, appears to have involved at least four women and may have escalated after Dake intervened on behalf of a woman Alcorn was yelling at, according to her statement, for cutting in line.

Dake reportedly told Alcorn to relax and stop yelling.

Alcorn then allegedly turned on Dake and punched her and threw her into a bathroom wall. Dake fell to the ground and Alcorn allegedly began hitting Dake while she was down.

An uninvolved witness reportedly told Deputy Lonnie Nati that Alcorn was "flailing her arms like a windmill throwing wild punches."

Another witness reported seeing Alcorn use a closed fist to allegedly strike Dake.

Also arrested that night was Karen M. Walker, 35, of Niagara Falls, on a charge of harassment, 2nd. Walker allegedly hit another patron who tried to prevent Alcorn from allegedly hitting Dake.

Effman told Darien Town Justice Gary Graber that he was informed today that a new charge of third-degree assault could be filed against his client.

Outside of court, Effman said it's his understanding the investigation is still open, which means Alcorn may yet face a felony charge.

A felony charge, such as assault ,2nd, would likely jeopardize Alcorn's law enforcement career.

Effman said both the prosecution and defense are awaiting medical reports, which will provide details on the seriousness of the alleged injuries and determine the charge to file against Alcorn.

Assault, 3rd, requires only injury to the victim and assault, 2nd, requires serious physical injury.

Today, hours prior to Alcorn's appearance in Darien, District Attorney Lawrence Friedman said no decision has been made yet on what charges Alcorn may face.

In court, while waiting for her case to be called, Alcorn sat with Walker. After her case was over, Alcorn waited for Walker's case to be heard -- Walker also pled not guilty -- and the two women left the courthouse together.

Alcorn is scheduled to reappear in Darien Town Court on Oct. 23 and Walker on Sept. 25.

Asked if there are two sides this story as there are to every story, Effman said, "There’s always three sides to every story. It depends on how many people and how they view events. We don’t really know what’s going to happen. We haven’t seen any medical evidence. We’re simply at the beginning of the process. We’ve entered a plea of not guilty and that’s our position."

County Highway Superintendent Tim Hens made a presentation Monday to the Public Service Committee.  We asked him to write a summary of his presenation to go along with the slide show he created.

Click here to view the slide show.

Here's Tim's message:

I took time from my annual department review yesterday to make a presentation that focused on some of the funding challenges we face as well as some of the brighter highlights from the year so far.

The initial portion of the presentation focused on the difference between capital improvements and preventative maintenance.  Generally speaking, a capital improvement is a significant improvement or total reconstruction of the roadway, whereas preventative maintenance is only a surface treatment or temporary improvement meant to extend the service life of the underlying pavement.  Preventative maintenance is used to keep "good roads good" and it is the best bang for the buck when applied at the appropriate time.  If you were to plot a line of pavement conditions over time, it would gradually drop, and after about 7-8 years, it would start to fall away quite quickly.  The goal with preventative maintenance is to catch the pavement before that line starts to get too steep.  That way we can take a typical 15 year pavement life and extend it out to maybe 30-35 years before it needs a capital improvement, which is very expensive in comparison.

The next phase of the conversation moved on to the cost of materials and construction in general.  Higher material prices have impacted both preventative maintenance and capital improvement costs, limiting the amount of work that can be performed each year.

The presentation then moved back to a quick overview of techniques that are used for preventative maintenance, a comparison of their costs, and a comparison of what was performed in 2012 versus what we should be doing to improve the condition ratings of our system.  As it stands we are generally treading water with our highway system and we are losing ground with regard to our bridges, especially the shorter span bridges which are not eligible for federal aid.  Tighter budgets as a result of unfunded mandates on the county and increasing material prices (mostly due to the cost of oil) are requiring the county to defer maintenance and improvements.  For every dollar deferred, the county will need to spend between $4 and $6 to get the same result (road condition) down the road.  We are falling further and further behind.

When is comes to bridges; the deficencies are significant.  The county owns and maintains 341 bridges.  Of these bridges, only 95 are eligible for federal aid.  The remainder are completely reliant upon local funding and very limited state aid.  More than half the bridges were built prior to 1960 and 53% of the bridges are considered functionally obsolete or structurally deficient by federal standards.  Our average bridge condition rating stands at 4.98 (out of 7) where anything below a 5 is considered in poor condition.  The cost just to support federal aid subsidized replacements is likely to exceed $600,000 per year if we replace the two bridges per year to stay ahead of the deterioration.  Factoring in the cost to replace short-span bridges and the total cost over the next ten years is likely to exceed $10-15 million.  The county currently does not have the capability to fund this need .

The Highway Department will be engaging engineering consultants this winter to analyze the inventory of short span structures the county owns, develop a plan of attack and design a few cookie-cutter solutions so that some of these smaller bridges may be replaced in-house to save money.  There is a need to bond some of the replacments over the long-term so that future taxpayers who will benefit from today's improvements may share in the cost as well.

Some quick slides were shown on the cost of Snow & Ice Control for the county.  A majority of county milage is plowed by Town Highway Departments under contract.  The contract rate is determined using a formula based off the three year average snowfall for the area.  The warm winter in 2011-12 adjusted this rate significantly and the proposed rate to the Towns for the 2012-13 season is much lower.  A quick history of rate adjustments waas presented; as well as a slide showing the limited amount of overtime expended by the county versus what was budgeted as a result of the warm weather.

The presentation ended with a few slides of the DeWitt Recreation Area and the improvements made there as a result of the open winter and available labor and equipment from the Highway Department.

A 22-year-old man admitted in Genesee County Court today to illegal sexual intercourse with a girl age 15 years of age or younger.

Jonathan Garcia entered a guilty plea to rape in the second degree with no sentence cap in satisfaction of charges that also included rape in the first degree (forcible rape) and sexual abuse.

Garcia faces a sentence of up to seven years in prison and will be sentenced Nov. 15.

When Garcia was asked to admit to factual allegations by Judge Robert C. Noonan, Garcia balked admitting to sexual intercourse on May 16.

"I was there, but there are witnesses who were there who said I didn't do it," Garcia said.

Under questioning, however, Garcia admitted to sexual intercourse with the girl at another, unspecified, time.

District Attorney Lawrence Friedman suggested the charging document be amended to cover the time frame of May through June rather than specifically May 16.

The crime took place in the City of Batavia.

A pole fire and possible transformer fire are reported at 7323 Kenyon Ave. Alabama Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 8:05 p.m.: The scene has been turned over to National Grid. Alabama is back in service.

A Pavilion man who was arrested multiple times in early spring will serve two to six years in state prison on a third-degree-burglary conviction.

Joshua Lanair Webster, 25, of 7882 York Road, Pavilion, admitted to the burglary charge June 28 and was sentenced in Genesee County Court on Monday.

Webster was identified as the suspect in one crime after a picture of him walking through Batavia Downs was posted on The Batavian.

In April and May, in various unrelated incidents, Webster was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation, 2nd, leaving the scene of a property damage accident and failure to yield right-of-way, burglary, 3rd, grand larceny and criminal mischief, 4th, and criminal possession of a controlled substance.

ROOF CLEANING?

Now, I think I've heard it all! A clean roof is a healthy roof, according to local businessman Eric von Kramer.

Those ugly black stains and discoloration are more than just an eyesore ruining the curb appeal of your home. They're actually a form of airborne algae called gloeocapsa magma, and it's ruining your roof. This algae actually feeds off the limestone in your shingles, von Kramer said, and it will eat away the stone causing premature failure of your roof.

Eric is in his third year of using a low-pressure chemical application to kill and remove the mold, mildew and algae, a process recommended by the Shingle Manufacturers Association.

The algae usually grows on a north-facing roof that does not get enough direct sunlight. The growth is usually mistaken for tree droppings or road dirt, but it is alive and feeding off your roof. Low-pressure roof cleaning is relatively new to the Northeast. It is very common, however, in other parts of the country where humidity and shade encourage its spread.

The process can usually be done in a morning with no disruption of your day, von Kramer assures. The cleaning mix is applied with a low-pressure 12-volt pump, so as not to damage the roof. This can usually be done from a ladder or bucket truck; very seldom is it necessary to step on a roof. The results are immediate, stunning and your satisfaction is fully guaranteed.

FYI -- von Kramer and his wife, Donna, have been in business in the area for 30 years.

Visitonline: www.roofcleaningbatavia.com

This will give you more information and many before-and-after pictures and a link to our Facebook page. You may call either 762-9075 or cell (716) 474-0938.

There are a few openings left, and so the Batavia City School District has extended the deadline to submit an application for participation in the Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) program for the 2012-2013 school year.

UPK provides an opportunity for 4-year-old children to be involved in half-day, developmentally appropriate educational classes at no cost to their families. The district offers morning and afternoon programs at Jackson Primary School and partners with the Batavia YMCA to provide Pre-Kindergarten at the YMCA.

Children who are residents of the district, are 4 years of age on or before Dec. 1 and who are not enrolled in a special education program with the GV Educational Partnership are eligible to apply.

Letters/applications were mailed to all known eligible families, but also are available for pick-up at the administra­tion building, by calling Julie Tybor at 343-2480, ext. 7516, and requesting that one be mailed, or on the district’s Web site: <http://towww.bataviacsd.org>, use the pull-down menu under “District,” click on the link for Curriculum and Instruction, then the link for Universal Pre-K Information.

Applications for the remaining openings will continue to be processed through early October and students placed in the order that they are received. Please return the completed application to the information/regis­tration office (39 Washington Ave., Batavia, NY, 14020, Atten­tion: Julie Tybor).

YWCA of Genesee County is seeking nominations for this year's Fabulous Female.

The recipient will be honored during the annual Fabulous Females brunch, which has moved to a new venue. It is set for noon, Saturday, Nov. 17, in the Paddock Room at Batavia Downs & Casino, 8315 Park Road.

Deadline for nominations is Oct. 1.

Criteria to be considered includes the candidate's background, interests, achievement and/or any unique obstacles that she has overcome; how she actively serves as a role model for women and girls, contributes to her community (volunteer, civic or in other ways) and how her background or achievements are consistent with the YWCA's mission. That is, to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

The committee represents a cross-section of business and community leaders. They will review all nominations and announce the honoree(s) prior to the event date.

Cost is $25 a person or $160 for a table of eight. That includes a sit-down brunch, entertainment and entry for a door prize. Sponsors are invited to participate and promote your business for $250 a table, which includes four seats at no charge.

Nomination forms are available at YWCA, 301 North St., in the City of Batavia, or at www.ywcagenesee.org.

For more information or to reserve your seat, call 343-5808.

The steps of the Old County Courthouse will be the site of gathering for local lawyers, judges and legal professionals, along with several dignitaries, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Genesee County Bar Association (GCBA) on Thursday.

Thursday's ceremony will last from 4 to 6 p.m. at 7 Main St. in Batavia.

GCBA President Durin Rogers said it is free and open to the public, and that "everyone is encouraged to attend" (a gala event at Terry Hill's will follow, but according to Rogers, and it's already sold out).

Notables scheduled to attend include:

• Hon. Eugene F. Pigott Jr. (keynote speaker), Court of Appeals justice

• Hon. Paula L. Feroleto, Eighth Judicial District administrative judge;

• David M. Schraver, president-elect of the New York State Bar Association;

• Michael Ranzenhofer, New York State senator;

• Stephen Hawley, New York State assemblyman; and

• Mary Pat Hancock, Genesee County Legislature chairperson and New York State Association of Counties president.

GCBA is a voluntary association of professionals in the justice system working together to benefit Genesee County and to improve the practice of law locally.

According to a press release, the association was founded in 1912 and quickly got to work to address "a widespread feeling of discontent with the judicial system and the manner in which justice was being administered."

"We are very proud of where we have been, and even more excited about where the GCBA will go over the next several years," Rogers said.

According to Rogers, GCBA has grown tremendously over the past several years, making new initiatives possible for both members and the community.

Some of the association's offerings include continuing legal education (CLE) seminars for members, philanthropic efforts with local agencies, and the "People's Law Series," which Rogers described as "a forum for local residents to become more knowledgeable on particular areas of law."

"GCBA intends to continue its present offerings and is always looking for new ways to benefit its members and the public," he said. "My time is limited; however, having spoken with the president-elect of the association, Mary Kay Yanik, esquire, I know that she intends to focus on several civic functions that give back to the community during her presidency."

Here are some past GCBA members (photos courtesy of Lisa Scott, of the Batavia law firm Bonarigo & McCutcheon):

Barber B. Conable Jr. would go on to become a New York State senator and congressman, serve as a confidante to three U.S. presidents (Nixon, Reagan and Bush), and be appointed president of the World Bank, a position he held for five years.

Honorable Robert E. Noonan Sr. who served on the Supreme Court in the Eighth Judicial District from 1949 until the early 1960s. Afterwards, he was permanently appointed (after two temporary appointments) by Nelson Rockefeller, then-governor of New York State, to the Fourth Department of the Appellate Division.

Alice Day Gardner was the first woman to practice law in Genesee County. She graduated from the University of Buffalo Law Department in 1901, being the fourth woman in history to do so and the only woman in her class. As a female lawyer in the early part of the 20th Century, she was a pioneer. The article about her above was published in the Batavia Daily News in 1985.

For more information on Thursday's ceremony, call Rogers at 345-1205 or visit www.gcbany.com.

Newsday: Mitt Romney: 'Victims' comment not elegantly stated

UPDATED Tuesday, 8:36 a.m. with additional info from Sheriff's Office press release.

A Finger Lakes-area woman has reportedly written the District Attorney's Office and requested charges against a woman arrested at the Aug. 25 Jason Aldean concert be upgraded to a felony.

The suspect, 47-year-old Kelly Alcorn, is a 23-year veteran of the Niagara Falls Police Department, according to the Buffalo News.

Alcorn, of Town Hall Terrace West, Grand Island, was arrested at the concert for second-degree harassment, but Elizabeth Dake, 45, in a letter she sent to the News, describes a more serious attack.

Dake said she suffered a concussion and bruises and she missed nine days of work.

According to the News article, Dake accuses Alcorn of slamming her into a cement wall, punching her in the head, neck, arm and back.

A Sheriff's Office press release alleges that Alcorn punched a female in the face several times. Alcon was issued an appearance ticket returnable to Darien Town Court at 5 p.m. today.

Niagara Falls Police Superintendent John R. Chella said the department is awaiting a determination on whether the charges will be upgraded. A felony charge could cost Alcorn her job.

Full Story from the Buffalo News.

Information from the city school district:

The voters of the Batavia City School District on Monday overwhelmingly approved the sale of the District Administration Building. Those in favor numbered 272 (95.4%) compared to 13 who voted no (4.6%).

On July 23, the board of education authorized the transfer of the property, located at 39 Washington Ave., for $500,000 to Reed Batavia Properties LLC, pending voter approval.

The property was identified as surplus during the consolidation analysis process the district undertook in 2011, which also resulted in the closure of Robert Morris Elementary School. The administrative offices will be relocated to Batavia High and Jackson Elementary schools.

Now that the public has approved the sale of property, Reed Batavia Properties will need to complete its due diligence process in order for the transaction to be finalized. It is expected that the transfer will take place by Nov. 1.

Superintendent Margaret Puzio expressed her appreciation of the vote outcome. 

“The taxpayers and the children of the school district are both winners as a result of the vote. The extra funds will be used to reduce the tax burden along with maintaining the educational program.”

To help address a possible shortage of primary care physicians in the future, UMMC today announced a partnership with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine to transform the local hospital into a teaching hospital.

UMMC completed a credentialing process by American Osteopathic Association in August and will begin accepting medical students in residence in 2013.

“This is an exciting moment for United Memorial Medical Center,” said President and CEO Mark C. Schoell (top photo). “As a teaching hospital, United Memorial will be at the forefront of the latest medical developments and be able to provide improved quality of care; advanced treatment therapies; a shorter length of stay for major illnesses; and achieve superior outcomes and survival rates for our patients.”

Dr. Anna Lamb, herself an osteopathic doctor, said the announcement today is "awesome" news for Batavia.

"We need to grow our own," Lamb said. "We’re going to have significant primary care shortage in the next few years as some of our physicians are getting a little older. We have to grow our own. Batavia is just not on people’s radar, so we have to get people in here to see it, to like it, and as Dr. Terry said, 'if we grow our own, they’ll stay here.'"

Dr. Richard Terry also said that local kids with medical aspirations will now have a way to complete their education locally and stay in their hometown, if they choose that route.

UMMC will use a variety of incentives, such as student loan repayment, to help convince residents to stay in Batavia and become primary care physicians.

Many young doctors, Schoell said, no longer want to go into private practice and would rather work for a medical institution.

The reason, he said, are reductions in government medical reimbursements, increasing regulation and the difficulty inherent in owning and running your own business.

There will be four residents accepted for each year of the program (for an eventual total of 12). They will reside in the community and receive compensation and benefits from United Memorial while participating in the program.

Serving as program director for United Memorial is Laurie Kilbury-Taylor, D.O.  Dr. Kilbury-Taylor is an emergency room physician at United Memorial with the group FDR Medical. She is a graduate of the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and holds additional degrees including a master of science degree from the State University of New York-Roswell Park Division, and bachelor of science degrees in Biology and Engineering.

The first year of residency emphasizes the inpatient experience. For second-year residents,a significant emphasis is placed on taking more clinical responsibilities and enhancing decision-making skills. There are four months of inpatient medicine where residents are the primary physicians for their patients.

Each resident will manage his/her own inpatient service with supervision by an attending physician. The third-year resident has a significant role in teaching and supervising junior residents and assumes direct responsibility for leading the Medicine Teaching Service and Family Medicine Inpatient Teaching Service.

Individuals who have completed a baccalaureate program and wish to pursue a career as a physician in the United States must be accepted to and complete an additional four-year course of study at an accredited osteopathic medical school in order to continue in the osteopathic residency program.