Press release:

Over the past 10 years, nearly 35 outstanding graduates of Genesee Community College have been inducted into GCC's Alumni Hall of Fame. The College Foundation knows there are many more outstanding graduates who've made a lasting impact on their communities and invites nominations for the 2017 Alumni Hall of Fame. Submissions are due by Dec. 31.

Candidates nominated for the Alumni Hall of Fame should be individuals who've contributed significantly to their profession and have provided distinguished service to the community and/or service to Genesee Community College. Nominees must have completed their GCC degree at least ten years prior to nomination. Past inductees have represented a wide variety of career fields, from law enforcement to economic development.

Nominations may be submitted by the nominee or by friends, family, work associates or other colleagues who are familiar with the nominee. Nomination forms can be downloaded from GCC's alumni website www.genesee.edu/alumni/HallofFame/ and emailed or sent to the College's Alumni office.

A selection committee will choose honorees. New inductees will be honored at a reception in March 2017, and their photo and a short biography will be featured on a plaque displayed in the Alumni Hall of Fame, located on the second floor of the Conable Technology Building. 

"I am just beginning to appreciate the many amazing accomplishments of GCC alumni both within our local community and beyond," said Jennifer Zambito, the new assistant director of GCC's Alumni Affairs Office. "I am excited to meet, greet and promote so many kind and generous members of the GCC Cougar family.

For the full list of previously inducted Alumni Hall of Fame members please visit http://www.genesee.edu/offices/alumni/hall-of-fame/. 

For more information, contact Jennifer Zambito, assistant director of GCC's Alumni Affairs at (585) 343-0055 ext. 6265 or jmzambito@genesee.edu.

Press release:

Genesee County STOP-DWI Coordinator Matt Landers announced today that the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office and the City of Batavia Police Department will participate in a special enforcement effort to crackdown on impaired driving.

Halloween is meant to be scary, but not when it comes to driving. When it comes to drunk driving Halloween can turn the roads into a horror fest. While we spend time trick-or-treating and hosting parties with our loved ones, law enforcement officers across New York State will take to the roads in an effort to stop impaired driving, prevent injuries and save lives. The statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown efforts start on Oct. 28^th and will end on Oct. 31^st. New York State Police, County Sheriff and municipal law enforcement agencies across the state will be out in force.

Research shows that high-visibility enforcement can reduce drunk driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent. Sobriety checkpoints play a key part in raising awareness about the problem.

“Fall can be a tricky time of year to drive: driving in the rain at night, slippery leaves on the road surface, and lighting conditions, in general, all add to the challenges of fall driving,” said Genesee County Undersheriff William Sheron. “Halloween parties, football games and other social gatherings can include the consumption of alcoholic beverages. "We will have extra patrols out during the Halloween season. Plan ahead. If you’re going to drink, make sure you have a safe ride home.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Halloween is a particularly deadly night due to drunk drivers. In 2015, over half (52 percent) of all highway fatalities across the nation on Halloween night (6 p.m. Oct. 31 to 5:59 a.m. Nov. 1) involved a driver or a motorcycle rider with a BAC of .08 or higher.

The STOP-DWI Halloween Weekend Crackdown is one of many statewide enforcement initiatives promoted by the New York State STOP-DWI Association with additional funding from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and implemented by the STOP-DWI Foundation. Throughout the remainder of the year the Statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign will also target Thanksgiving and the national Holiday Season in December.

While STOP-DWI efforts across New York have led to significant reductions in the numbers of alcohol and drug related fatalities, still too many lives are being lost because of crashes caused by drunk or impaired drivers. Highly visible, highly publicized efforts like the STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving. Have a safe and happy Halloween Weekend!

During today's annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce at Rochester Club West @ Bohn's, Chamber President Tom Turnbull recapped what has been a successful and active year for the local business group.

Turnbull ran through a long list of the Chamber's activities and accomplishments.

The chamber hosted its annual awards, a home show and several business workshops, including ones on public speaking, drugs in the workplace and tax tips. The chamber, of course, attended many ribbon cuttings for new and expanding businesses. The chamber was active in pursuing public policy issues at the local and state level. It administered a small business loan program, hosted business after-hours events, and a trip to China. 

The hot and dry summer was good for tourism, but with the monetary exchange rate weakening with Canada, there were fewer Canadian visitors to the region this year, which looks like it will translate into a 4-percent decline in tourism revenue.

Still, hotels took in about $14.5 million, which translates into about $150 million in local economic impact.

The tourism agency fostered several group visits, including youth baseball tournaments, soccer events, car clubs and even a Winnebago rally at a local RV park.

There were 15,000 visitors to the county, and 1,500 room nights booked.

Turnbull said the chamber is excited to see the new hotel at Batavia Downs open, with a ribbon cutting at 5:30 p.m., Nov. 2.

The chamber will have its own grand opening to look forward to in January at its new office building on Park Road, but staff will start moving into the new facility this week.

"We'll have a have a ribbon cutting, of course," Turnbull quipped. "We're a chamber."

The new board of directors was also introduced:

Chris Suozzi, chairman, from the Genesee County Economic Development Center
Immediate Past Chair: Hiedi Librock, Town of Batavia

The directors are:
Steven Beardsley – Tompkins Bank Of Castile 
Mary Blevins – ESL Federal Credit Union
Tim Call – Empire Tractor
Jeff Cook – Liberty Pumps
Keith Conway – Z&M, Ag and Turf
Jonathan Mager – Arctic Refrigeration Co. of Batavia
Michael Nolan – Batavia Downs Gaming
Chan Patel – Quality Inn & Suites 
Michael R Rivers – Rybak, Metzler & Grasso PLLC
Danielle Rontondo – Terry Hills Golf Course & Banquet Facility
Joseph Teresi – Tompkins Insurance Agencies Inc.
Chris Thorpe – Darien Lake Theme Park
Eric Wies – Clark Patterson Lee
Jennifer Zambito – Genesee Community College Foundation
Robert Bausch – Genesee County Legislative Liaison

This information is provided by the Genesee County Chapter of  ABATE -- American Bikers Aimed Toward Education

It's almost "Baggerween"! Instead of going house to house, get candy by going from motorcycle saddlebag to motorcycle saddlebag.

Bring your kids down to a safe well-lit place place to "trick-or-treat" from 6 to 8 p.m. on Satruday, Oct. 29, in the public parking lot behind Ken's Charcoal Pits, located at 59 Main St. in Downtown Batavia.

All motorcycles are welcome as long as the riders bring candy for the kids. Load up your ride and come on down!

Anyone who would like to serve as a Bagger to help create a fun night for local children is welcome help bag candy.

For info, please e-mail Jason:    roadcaptain110@gmail.com

Happy Halloween!

Cynthia May Mack, 49, of Pearl Street Road, Batavia, is charged with harassment and false personation. Following the investigation into a domestic incident at 10:07 a.m. on Oct. 21 on East Main Road, Le Roy, Mack was arrested after allegedly punching an individual in the face while in presence of law enforcment, and she allegedly provided them with a false name. She was put in jail and is due in Le Roy Town Court on Oct. 27. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Rachel Diehl.

Danielle Marie Stewart, 18, of East Main Road, Stafford, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Following the investigation at 12:23 a.m. on Oct. 25 into a suspicious condition in a parking lot on Main Road in the Town of Stafford, Stewart was allegedly found to be in possession of marijuana. She was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Town of Stafford Court on Nov. 15. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Eric Meyer.

Press release:

Community Action of Orleans & Genesee is accepting winter coats, hats, mittens and scarves for the upcoming winter season! Please donate only items that are clean and in good (gently used), or new condition.  

We are accepting ALL SIZES for men, women and children!

A tax deductible receipt is available upon request.

Please drop off donations at: 5073 Clinton Street Road, Batavia.

Community Action of Orleans & Genesee Inc. is a nonprofit human service agency committed to serving the needs of the financially disadvantaged. Our mission is to serve others with dignity and respect, that help people become self-sufficient. 

All donations are given away free of charge to those in need.

Genesee County's unemployment rate continues to say in the low 4-percent range, according to the latest figures from the state's Department of Labor.

The September 2016 rate was 4.2 percent, compared to 4.1 percent a year earlier. 

There are 29,000 Genesee County residents with jobs, out of a labor force of 30,400. The labor force participation a year ago was 30,200.

Total non-farm jobs in Genesee County for September was reported at 23,500. A year ago, 23,600 non-farm jobs were reported in the county.

Tyler Penepent, 22, avoided a possible 25-year term by accepting a plea deal.

Co-defendant Justin Smith also entered a plea deal previously and has already been sentenced to three years in prison.

The duo was captured because a clerk in the 7-Eleven recognized Smith and they were taken into custody within hours of the robbery. 

They were charged with robbery in the first degree after entering the store at 2:30 a.m. March 14 wearing ski masks. They confronted the clerk and demanded the code to the cash register. They took off with an undetermined amount of cash.

Via our news partner WBTA.

At 84-years-old, soon to be 85, Laura Viehdeffer is likely the oldest person to ever plead guilty to a drug sales charge.

Viehdeffer, a resident of West Main Street, Batavia, was arrested May 25 for two incidents nearly a year before when she sold hydrocodone, which she had a prescription for, to an agent of the Local Drug Task Force. She entered a guilty plea in August to one count of criminal sale of a controlled substance.

She was sentenced yesterday to five years probation by Interim Judge Michael Pietruzska.

Defense attorney Jamie Welch argued that given his client's lack of criminal record and advanced age, a conditional discharge (meaning the conviction is wiped clean if she stayed out of trouble for six months) was the most appropriate sentence.

 “This is unlike the 20-, 30- or 40-year-old defendants facing these charges,” Welch said.

Pietruzska made no comment on Welch's argument before sentencing Viehdeffer.

Viehdeffer made no statement prior to being sentenced.

Photo and info via our news partner, WBTA.

Batavia Middle School was on lockdown for a brief time this morning after a caller reported hearing a gunshot a couple of blocks from the school.

The report turned out to be unfounded and the school was quickly taken off of lockdown.

A dispatcher said a caller reported seeing 'two subjects in clown costumes' about 10 minutes ago on the overpass bridge on Route 33 near Horseshoe Lake Road.

They were on the north side of the bridge.

Law enforcement is responding.

UPDATE 5:41 a.m.: An officer states he's in the area, then asks the dispatcher "Did the clowns do anything or were they just there?" The reply is that the clowns were sitting on the railing, then began walking in separate directions. ... Only one call (on this 'issue')."

UPDATE 5:54 a.m.: Law enforcement is clearing the scene; no clowns found.

A motorcycle has reportedly struck a deer in the area of 2178 Broadway Road, Darien.

That's just west of Smithley Road.

The rider is reportedly conscious and alert.

Darien fire and Darien ambulance responding.

Press release:

Congressman Chris Collins (NY-27) today released the following statement after reports found that premiums for Obamacare’s benchmark plans are set to increase by an average of 25 percent. Additionally, consumers' coverage choices will be drastically reduced in many areas.

“The implosion of this failed law was to be expected,” Collins said. “Congressional Democrats and President Obama forced this program into law, despite knowing full and well that the initial rates were artificially low and unsustainable for insurers. Families must now either find 25 percent more income to pay for these increased premiums or opt for significantly reduced health coverage for their loved ones.

“Unfortunately, this latest price increase is another slap in the face to hardworking New Yorkers that Obamacare has failed time and again. Last year, more than 200,000 New Yorkers were kicked off their health care plans after Health Republic overpromised benefits to its consumers, and left New York taxpayers with the double whammy of having to pay for the its $265 million in losses.”

Since passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, premiums and deductibles have increased substantially, the largest private health insurers in the nation have attempted to merge due to crippling losses, and more Americans are on taxpayer-funded Medicaid than ever before, according to Collins.

The collapse of CO-OPs across a variety of states has cost taxpayers more than $1.2 billion. Congressional Republicans have repeatedly proposed and voted to keep certain safeguards of the Affordable Care Act, while increasing plan flexibility and making insurance more affordable and accessible for all Americans.

Congressman Collins has been an outspoken advocate against this failed healthcare program since being elected to Congress. He currently serves on the Health Subcommittee for the Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over many aspects of Obamacare and has continuously worked to replace this flawed law.

It's been 22 years since a woman who grew up in Oakfield disappeared, but yesterday, State Police investigators took a fresh look at the case with a search of a pond on property once owned by her husband.

There's been no update on the search, but several troopers participated in the search, according to our news partner, 13WHAM.

Sandra Sollie, formerly Sandra Cervone, was nearly seven months pregnant when she disappeared after last being seen at a shopping mall in Macedon.

Sollie was a resident of Macedon and Ralph Sollie's former property on Weidrick Road, Macedon, is the subject of the search. The property has been searched several times over the years, according to 13WHAM's report.

Sandra still has family living in Genesee County.

Genesee Cancer Assistance has opened up an office inside United Memorial Medical Center, next to the Lipson Cancer Center, to help the agency better serve its clients. 

"We offer financial assistance for medical co-pays, reimbursement of travel expenses and any medical-related expenses not covered by insurance," said Sue Underwood, executive director. "The patients can use the money for whatever they may need related to their treatment."

Via our news partner, WBTA.

Are you looking to try something new? Why not take an art class? Life can be hectic at times – slow it down a little by exploring some creative pursuits. The benefits of taking an art class are numerous: self-expression, relaxation, slowing down, awakening other parts of your mind and discovering new talents are just a few.

His proposed county budget for 2017 is bare-bones and no-frills, County Manager Jay Gsell told Legislators in his annual budget message, delivered as his office wraps up putting together a tax and expense plan that meets the county's obligation to continue state-mandated programs, keeps local services in place and doesn't call on officials to raise taxes above tax cap levels.

Increasing state-manded funding obligations continue to burden local taxpayers, with no relief in sight, Gsell said.

"The continued disregard of New York State's culpability in the county tax rate increases over the past 40 years is something we have learned to live with, but to be additionally mocked by Albany for not being able to control our expenses or tax rates, and blaming us for 'living with these unfunded mandates' is disingenuous at best and necessitate county governments cutting non-mandated, quality-of-life programs, reducing funding for vital community agency programs and depleting our fund balance in lieu of 10- to 30-percent property tax levy increases, neither option of which is sustainable nor logical in tax-happy New York State," Gsell wrote.

Examples of mandated expenses without concurrent state aid is Medicaid, an expenditure equivalent to 80 percent of the county's tax levy. The county is also being forced to pick up more of the cost of legal defense for suspects unable to pay for their own attorney. Unreimbursed legal services costs now exceeds $1.2 million. The state is also mandating an increase in District Attorney pay from $152,500 to $183,350. 

Gsell's budget once again dips into the county's reserve funds, to the tune of $1 million, and transfers $1.1 million in anticipated sales tax revenue from future projects, such as road and bridges, to spend the money in 2017. It also cuts 10 percent of the funding requests for several local agencies, including Genesee County Economic Development Center, libraries, the Holland Land Office Museum, and the Soil & Water Conservation District.

Shuffling the deck chairs enables Gsell to present a balanced budget that keeps the tax levy under the tax cap level.

The proposed tax rate is $9.76 per thousand of assessed value for a total levy of $27,844,499.

Any drastic changes in Gsell's proposed budget, such as raising the tax rate above tax cap levels, or cuts to essential services, what Gsell previously called "the nuclear option," are policy decisions best left to members of the County Legislature, Gsell said.

The legislature meets at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow in the conference room of the Old Courthouse to discuss the proposed budget.

As mandated expenses continue to grow and the county facing potentially large bills for infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, and possibly a new jail, Gsell warns in his budget message that the county may have to consider in 2018 pulling back the 50/50 share of sales tax revenue with towns and the city. The county isn't required to share sales tax revenue and expenses for local roads and bridges falls almost entirely on county government.

Press release:

The Board of Directors of the Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) will consider finalizing an application for assistance from Mega Properties. The agency also will consider accepting an application for assistance from TJ Sheehan, a Massachusetts-based wholesaler at the agency’s Oct. 27 meeting.

Mega Properties is once again expanding its distribution operations in the Town of Batavia on behalf of Brantford, Ontario, Canada-based Koolatron Corporation. Mega Properties is seeking incentives for a build out of 25,000 square feet at its current warehouse at Gateway I. The expansion would increase the building to 70,000 square feet on three acres and would create six new jobs.

The GCEDC Board also will vote on whether to accept an application from Massachusetts-based wholesaler TJ Sheehan in which the company proposes converting a former 37,500-square-foot Cargill facility in Alexander to a refrigerated beverage distribution center. If the board votes to accept the application, there will be a public hearing since the incentives total more than $100,000.

The GCEDC board meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 27. The meeting will be at the MedTech Center, across from Genesee Community College, on the first floor at the Innovation Center, Suite 107. All board meetings are open to the public.

Extending a sales tax allocation agreement with Genesee County, a pact that is set to expire in February 2018, would be in the "best interest of the city and residents of the county," City Manager Jason Molino said to City Council at the governing body's Conference Meeting Monday night (Oct. 24).

Council is being asked -- via a resolution that will be considered at its next Business meeting on Nov. 14 -- to notify the county of its intent to extend the agreement without modification by Dec. 1, per terms of the contract.

The Genesee County Legislature, however, may not be so eager to continue the agreement as currently written, Molino said, and some legislators already have expressed a desire to delete this "notification clause" going forward.

"I would want to see that kept in as it serves a definite purpose -- what is your intent?" Molino said.

Molino gave a brief history of the sales tax allocation agreement, stating it originated in 1999 "in tandem" with the water treatment plant and water treatment facilities agreements and addresses the Genesee County public water supply system program, economic development and water demands in the county. 

The current terms of the sales tax agreement provide the city with 16 percent of the sales tax generated in Genesee County, with the towns and villages splitting 34 percent (based on assessed valuation) and the county receiving 50 percent. 

Molino said the city's 16-percent share is more than it would receive if the sales tax/water treatment contracts weren't in place.

He explained that the city pays the county a surcharge of 60 cents per 1,000 gallons of water used and in return the county leases the water treatment plant from the city and reimburses the city for operational costs.

Additionally, the city buys water from the county (at a discounted rate) and the county sells water outside of the city. The revenue from the sale of water goes to pay for the infrastructure needed to distribute water to the towns.

"It's a comprehensive rural approach where everybody is sharing the resources," Molino said.

Negotiations between city and county leaders are ongoing, Molino said, adding that if a "regional solution isn't obtained by July 1, 2017, that City Council may be requested to extend all three agreements for a one-year term, ending Feb. 8, 2019, to provide sufficient time to finalize and execute new agreements."

He said this would give the Office of the State Comptroller time to review, approve and process the amendment to the sales tax allocation agreement as required by state law.

Molino said that since all three agreements are "intertwined and dependent upon each other," any future accord must continue the existing relationship.

Council President Eugene Jankowski Jr. and Council Member Kathleen Briggs are representing the city in talks with the county. Jankowski said that County Legislator Marianne Clattenburg, whose district is in the City of Batavia, also is involved in the negotiations and is "protecting our interests."

In other action, Council moved to its Business meeting, resolutions to:

-- Accept a $1,500 state grant for a child safety seat program; a $3,394 grant from Genesee County STOP-DWI for road checks, saturation patrols and impaired driving crackdowns on eight specific dates starting on Halloween and ending on Labor Day 2017; and an $11,400 state grant to participate in the statewide Police Traffic Services Program. The goal of the program is to increase seat belt use and reduce dangerous driving behaviors.

-- Develop an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) transition plan. The document is a regulatory requirement, said Public Works Director Matt Worth, that identifies "noncompliance in pedestrian accessible routes and facilities in the cilty's right-of-way, and outlines a plan and schedule for corrective action."

-- Transfer $83,050 from the construction line to the right-of-way acquisition line for the Healthy Schools Corridor sidewalk project set for next year. Worth said this became necessary after it was discovered that there were three properties in which the new sidewalk would encroach on private lands requiring either a permanent easement or property taking.