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Oakfield teen's first deer bow hunting is an albino

By Howard B. Owens

Emily Staniszewski, a 14-year-old Oakfield resident, killed her first deer this week bow hunting, but not just any deer. It's an albino buck.

She made the kill of the three pointer in Chautauqua County.

Kimberly Staniszewski said the deer is quite the trophy for her daughter.

"Needless to say we are planning on having a full mount of this unique animal to admire for many years to come," Kimberly said.

High wind warning issued for tomorrow night

By Howard B. Owens

Sustained winds up to 30 mph with gusts of 60 mph are predicted for Sunday night in Genesee County.

A high wind warning has been issued for 7 p.m. through 1 p.m., Monday.

Residence on State Street reportedly filling with smoke

By Howard B. Owens

The lower apartment at 142 State St., Batavia, is reportedly filling with smoke.

City fire responding.

The occupants have been advised to evacuate.

Engine 11 is on scene with light smoke showing.

UPDATE 7:30 p.m.: Small fire in bathroom. Fire knocked out. Checking for extensions.

UPDATE 7:55 p.m.: City assignment back in service.

Car wreck at Meadville and Salt Works roads, West Alabama

By Billie Owens

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported at Meadville and Salt Works roads in West Alabama. Alabama Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 5:22 p.m.: A responder on scene says all parties involved will be sign-offs. Two flatbed tow trucks are called.

UPDATE 5:43 p.m.: The Alabama assignment is back in service.

Owner of one of Stafford's historic buildings says neighbor preventing restoration work

By Howard B. Owens

It's a beautiful day. Maybe one of the last great days to get outdoor projects done before winter hits. At least that's what James Pontillo had in mind when he pulled a high lift into the parking lot of Stafford Trading Post (he says with the shop owner's permission) so he could work on his building at the corner of Main and Morganville roads.

By now, today's roof work and gutter repair would be done, Pontillo said, if not for the trespassing complaint leveled at him by neighboring property owner Tom Englerth.

A deputy has been to the property twice today. The first time after Pontillo parked the high lift in the parking lot, the second time after he parked it in front of the parking lot. Pontillo contends that area is owned by the State of New York, not Englerth. Englerth apparently contends he controls it.

Englerth was no longer on site by the time The Batavian arrived this afternoon.

Pontillo half expected to be arrested and charged with trespassing.

Deputy Brad Mazur told Pontillo it's a complex situation given the nature of the property and the state highway right-of-way issue. He said he would need to consult with the District Attorney's Office.

Meanwhile, Pontillo has a storm drain he is worried might fall and hurt somebody, and a roof he wants to finish replacing on an arguably historically significant building and he's being prevented, he said, from getting the work done.

Previously: Fences, and more, divide business neighbors in Stafford

Stove fire at Alex's Place

By Billie Owens

Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding to a stove fire at Alex's Place restaurant, located at 8322 Park Road. Darien's rescue truck is requested to stand by in quarters.

UPDATE 10:45 a.m.: Fire is out. The assignment is back in service.

Lathan Tree Service donating 30-foot Christmas Tree to Le Roy community to be placed at Wiss site

By Howard B. Owens

Where the Wiss Hotel once stood this holiday season will stand a huge amount of Christmas cheer thanks to Andrew Lathan, owner of Lathan Tree Service, and his family.

The Lathans are donating a 30-foot tall artificial Christmas tree to the community.

Businesses and families are asked to provide ornaments to the tree. The ornament should have a name or business logo on it.

Ornaments can be dropped off at Town Hall by the end of November.

Ornaments should be at least 6-inches tall. 

"This is a very large tree," the Lathans note. It will be as tall as the existing buildings on the west end of Main Street.

The tree will be lit Dec. 7 as part of the community's holiday celebration.

Pictured are Jack, Jay, Aubrey and Carrie Lathan with the unassembled tree.

Sponsored Post: Let Sweet Ecstasy Bakery, Bistro, and Banquets help with your holiday needs!

By Lisa Ace

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, our to do lists get longer and longer, from planning holiday parties to shopping for Christmas. This year why not have Sweet Ecstasy Bakery, Bistro, and Banquets help with your holiday needs? There is a wide selection of services available to cater to you.
 
BAKERY
For Thanksgiving, we are offering a couple of specials including pies and cheesecakes. Choose from fruit or cream, and all homemade pies are made with the freshest ingredients. This year we are offering to bake it in your pie dishes! Take your homemade pie in your own dish!
 
BISTRO
Lots of shopping to do on Saturday? Let us make you breakfast. We are now open for breakfast on Saturdays from 7 to 11 a.m. Our breakfast menu includes jumbo stuffed French toast served with a fruit kabob, your choice of meat or how about a large omelette made with fresh oven-roasted potatoes, a croissant and a fruit kabob. We also have weekly specials like pumpkin spice pancakes and red velvet Belgian waffles. Don't have time to eat it here, how about taking a quiche home? Order a fresh quiche with your choice of ingredients. 
 
BANQUETS
Let's make the holiday parties even easier. We will set up, cook and clean it up so all you have to do is enjoy. Our minimum is only 10 people and we can hold parties up to 50 in one room or 100 in multiple rooms.  
  • Able to integrate a menu that suits your company's special considerations while maintaining and enhancing the holiday spirit.
  • Tasteful, classic, and elegant holiday decorations.
  • Traditional Friday & Saturday nights available along with the increasingly popular weekday events.
Many holiday parties are postponing their employee events into January and February when it's less hectic. Ask and we will try to accommodate you! Limited number of prime dates are still available!
 
Sweet Ecstasy Bakery | Bistro | Banquets
Tonisha M. Price, owner
Monday-Friday 10am-6pm -- Lunch Served 11am-2pm
Saturdays 7am-2pm -- Breakfast Served 7am-11am 

Car fire on Thruway, Le Roy responding

By Billie Owens

A car fire is reported on the eastbound Route 90 at mile marker 379. Le Roy fire and medics are responding. State Troopers are on scene. Several people were seen running away from the vehicle. Responders are told to stage at the toll booth.

Letter to the Editor: No Media Bias In Genesee County

By Dave Olsen

At the close of our first election season as a party, I am thinking about lessons learned and successes achieved by the Genesee County Libertarian Party. Being novices to politics, we expected surprises along the way and we had some. Pleasantly, the inclusion and interest toward our party and candidates by the local media did not surprise us. In the national media and statewide as well, candidates not from the 2 largest political parties are shunned, ignored and outright ridiculed. Not so here in Genesee County. The Daily News, The Batavian and WBTA were always interested in including the three Libertarians, Jim Rosenbeck, Lisa Whitehead and Robert Brown and independents Rosemary Christian and Esther Leadley in their respective interview series. All 3 media organizations were represented at our election night reception, same as the other parties.

The message of the GCLP is “Educate, Advocate and Choice." We know, without question that The Daily News, The Batavian and WBTA believe in choice as well. All 3 sought to get you, the voter, information from all the candidates. That will always benefit us all. As a voter in Genesee County I want to learn as much as I can before I vote for anyone or anything; I believe most folks will agree.

As we continue to grow, and form town and village committees within Genesee County; it is encouraging to know that local media will continue to let you know what’s happening around your county.

David Olsen
Vice-Chairman, Genesee County Libertarian Party

ARC announces annual Chili & Chowder Fest

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

Community members, area businesses, ARC families and staff have donated more than 100 baskets for Genesee ARC’s 3rd Annual Chili & Chowder Fest and theme basket raffle.  The event is scheduled for Saturday, November 16 at the Genesee ARC Community Center, 38 Woodrow Road, and runs from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

“We have a wide range of themes this year ranging from movies and tools, to candles and restaurants and everything in between,” said Shelley Falitico, ARC Development Director and event chair.

With every $10 ticket, participants will have 25 chances to win, along with a chance to win one of two door prizes. There is a group of specialty baskets, valued at $50 or more with 10 tickets at $15. Featured specialty items include Sabres baskets with tickets and parking passes and a wheeled trash can full of cleaning supplies.

This year’s grand prize is a chest freezer that comes with gift cards to area grocers and meat markets, so the winner can fill the freezer. Grand prize chances are $2 each, 3 chances/$5.00 and 8 chances/$10.

A baked goods sale is also planned along with chili and chowder in bowls, to eat in or quarts to take home.

Winners need not be present. The drawings will begin promptly at 1:30 p.m. Funds raised will benefit disability services in our community.

New this year is a ticket-only sale on Friday, November 15 from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.

“We know this is a busy time of year with a lot of weekend events,” Falitico said. “The Committee wanted to offer everyone a chance to win, even if they cannot attend the actual event."

Community members with questions may call Shelley Falitico at the Genesee ARC Community Relations office at (585) 343-4203, ext. 222.

ND's QB named Section V Class D Player of the Year

By Howard B. Owens

Notre Dame's Tim McCulley was honored Saturday in Rochester with the Section V Player of the Year award. McCulley, a senior QB, led his team to the Section V semi-finals this year and threw for 25 TDs, setting a school record and placing him at #5 in Section V single-season record list. He's 55 career TDs are #4 all-time in Section V. Tim is pictured with his father Michael and mother Carolyn.

Also honored in their respective classes were Curtis Haught from Cal Mum and Ritchie Welch from Avon, pictured below with McCulley and Section V officials.

UPDATE: Here's some of McCulley's stats and accomplishments. He made GR League all team in 2011, 2012 and 2013. He was the team's MVP 2011 and 2013. Team offensive MVP in 2012. His starting career varsity team record was 20-7 with the team making sectionals all three years, winning the title in 2012. In 2013, he completed 83 passes in 164 attempts for 1,390 yards and 25 TDs with only two interceptions. His QB rating was 170. He rushed for 471 yards and six TDs. career, he had 197 completions in 385 attempts for 3,441 yards and 55 TDs and only 11 interceptions over three seasons.  He had 216 carries for 970 yards and 14 TDs.

McCulley has served his church in a number of capacities; referring games and coaching at the now closed Holy Family School, St Joseph’s Elementary youth basketball program,  working at St. Peter’s Church and the St. Francis Cemetery. He has actively volunteered to complete his school service hours at a number of events and venues.  Tim is a 3.0 student and hopes to continue his playing career and is undecided in his major.

Photos submitted by Michael McCulley.

Collins responds to president's fix for Obamacare

By Howard B. Owens

Press release from Rep. Chris Collins (NY-27):

“The administrative fix announced today by the President is just the latest example how misguided and unmanageable ObamaCare really is. After being intentionally misled by the White House in an attempt to sell ObamaCare, 137,000 people in Western New York alone recently learned their insurance policy would be canceled under the healthcare law. Now under immense political pressure from his own party, the President is making yet another unilateral decision to change a key provision of his healthcare law.

I believe that significant changes to legislation should be made through the legislative process and that is why tomorrow the House will vote on the ‘Keep Your Health Plan Act.' While there are significant challenges to reinstate these canceled plans by the new year, we should be doing everything we can to make sure people can keep their coverage and not be forced to buy more expensive plans they do not want or need.”

Hoops Preview: Coach Brasky confident young team can pull it together to make run at league title

By Howard B. Owens

In recent years, even on the first day of practice, Buddy Brasky said he was eager for go-time. He thought his teams were ready for their first regular season game.

This year, with six seniors graduating and a roster stocked with sophomores and juniors, it's going to take a little time to get the team into championship form.

"We've got to get better throughout the year," Brasky said following a practice at Batavia High School today. "We get a little bit better, a little better, a little bit better, and hopefully we peak by the end of the year. Where in the past couple of years we've been really good right from the beginning, I think it's going to take a little while this year."

The core of the starting squad appears to be Justice Fagan, a senior guard, and Jeff Redband, a junior forward whose clutch buzzer beater in last year's regional championship helped send the Blue Devils to the state championship semi-finals.

"We've got two really good players, two first-team, all-league type of players," Brasky said. "If we can get the guys around them to step up, yes, we can win the league title and then the next step from there is sectionals."

It's a little bit of a setback, Brasky said, that Redband is sitting out pre-season wth an injured ankle. He's already been sidelined for three weeks and is at least two weeks away from returning for action. He may not be ready for the opening tip-off.

Also missing a big chunk of practice time is starting senior guard Andrew Turner, who will miss the next 10 days of practice after suffering a mild concussion.

Brasky is also expecting a big contribution from sophomore forward Malachi Chenault, who made the varsity last year as a freshman.

Coming up from JV is that squad's second-leading scorer last year, guard Jerrett Laskett, a junior.

"These are good kids," Brasky said. "They listen. They're coachable. Our schemes are pretty complicated. Our defenses are not easy to pick up, so little by little, I see improvement every day. I'm pretty pleased with how they're working right now."

The Blue Devils, in Class A-II this year, opens the season Dec. 7 against Williamsville South at Niagara Falls HS. There are no home games scheduled before the Lions Tournament, Dec. 27 and Dec. 30 at Genesee Community College.

To purchase prints of photos, click here.

Police receive reports of gunshot sound on Southside

By Howard B. Owens

Two callers, one on Wood Street, report hearing the sound of a gunshot.

The sound was a single boom with a sustained echo (we heard it, too).

Batavia PD is responding to the area.

UPDATE 8:56  p.m.: A reader e-mails saying he heard what sounded to him like a 12-gauge shotgun in the area of Cherry/Wood/Jackson.

UPDATE (by Billie) 9:02 p.m.: An off-duty police officer told dispatch it sounded like a pop from a blown transformer. Subesequently, a police officer reported that people interviewed on Wood Street say the noise came from Cherry Street. Officers are now scouring the area of Cherry and Pringle Avenue to try and determine the cause of the sound.

UPDATE 9:11 p.m. (by Howard): An officer I spoke with over on Pringle said the sound I described sounds more like a wire arcing than a shotgun, especially since the sound has reportedly been heard over a wide area of the city, not just the Southside. He said a gunshot sound would not carry to such a wide area. Also, another caller reports seeing a bottle rocket in the area of Cherry and Liberty. One officer expresses skepticism that that was the cause and another recalls there were reports of fireworks from that area over the summer.

UPDATE 9:28 p.m.: Officers are clearing the call. "It's probably a power arcing issue," reports an officer. "Nothing else has been found."

Outdoors with Tate & Ernie

By JIM NIGRO

That's Tate, our chocolate lab and his sidekick Ernie, a feisty little mix-breed. Like most dogs, they love to hear the magic words, "wanna go outside?" Better yet, once outside, these two long to hear the words, "let's go out back." With that, they're off and running for the creek bank.

Tate's routine never deviates -- he sniffs his way along the small woodlot before working his way along the creek, stopping only briefly to wonder at the occassional green blur that darts through the grass at his feet. Tate poses no threat to the leopard frogs -- he's only interested investigating the numerous scents he comes across.

Ernie, while feisty at times, likes to relax when out back. He does seem to take an interest in the  wood ducks, watching intently as they take flight upon our arrival.

He's content to watch the world go by, paying no mind to the gray squirrels that like to feed on the mast from our hickory trees.

When I say, "let's go" and start walking back toward the house, as you might guess by his expression, Tate appears to be thinking..,"but we just got here!" 

Meanwhile, Ernie becomes invisible!

It's hard to figure which they like better, a run out by the creek or a roadtrip!

New auto shop owner says experience will help him provide customers with quality care

By Howard B. Owens

With 25 years in the auto repair business -- a career that took him from mechanic to district manager and vp of operations for other people's businesses -- Steve Getty says he's found a place he wants to put down roots, in Batavia.

Getty has acquired a former oil change and auto repair location at 4003 W. Main St. and opened up Syd's Automotive.

"It feels really good to own my own business," Getty said, "especially being where I live."

Asked what will set his business apart, he said, "quality."

"Most companies in the industry I'm in focus on the fast," Getty said. "We'll be quality first, fast second. It's still a fast oil change, but you're getting a quality oil change, quality repair work."

Photo: Getty left with Scott Levensailor, who is also working in the shop.

Ask the Local Doctor: What are my options for a torn meniscus?

By Press Release

Question: Last June I accidentally rolled over my left foot while standing on uneven ground. There was an audible pop from the knee and I felt something let go. To make a long story short, I have seen a local doctor and had X-rays taken. They showed a torn meniscus in the left knee. I was given a shot of cortisone in the knee joint and not much else. I have been taking NSAID on a daily basis and an occasional hydrocodone pill for the pain. The joint gets sore and stiff at night after being on it during the day. Rubbing it down at night and in the morning with Bengay does help. My question is: What is the short-term and long-term diagnoses of this condition in the terms of healing. Can this condition heal itself without surgery? If not, can this condition be corrected through an arthroscopic procedure? I am a 65-year-old male and have been told, my knee joints are pretty much worn out. I don't look forward to spending the rest of my life limping around. It has slowed me down, but has not stopped me from my normal daily activities.

Answer: As with any injury in the body, when the meniscus is damaged, irritation occurs. If the surface that allows the bones to glide over each other in the knee joint is no longer smooth, pain can occur with each flexion or extension. The meniscus can be damaged because of a single event or it can gradually wear out because of age and overuse.

A torn meniscus is damage to the cartilage that sits on top of the tibia and allows the femur to glide when the knee joint moves. Physical examination and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the test of choice to confirm the diagnosis of torn meniscus.

Because there is different blood supply to each part of the meniscus, knowing where the tear is located may help decide how easily an injury might heal (with or without surgery). The better the blood supply, the better the potential for recovery. Blood supply to knee cartilage also decreases with age, and up to 20 percent of normal blood supply is lost by age 40.

The risk of developing a torn meniscus increases with age because cartilage begins to gradually wear, lose its blood supply and its resilience. Increasing body weight also puts more stress on the meniscus. Routine daily activities like walking and climbing stairs increase the potential for wear, degeneration, and tearing.

Some meniscus tears can be treated conservatively without an operation (less than 5 percent) using anti-inflammatory medications and rehabilitation to strengthen muscles around the knee to prevent joint instability. Orthotics may be useful to distribute the forces generated by walking and running.

If conservative therapy fails, surgery may be a consideration. Knee arthroscopy allows the orthopedic surgeon to assess the tear within the meniscus and repair it. Options include sewing the torn edges together or trimming the torn area and smoothing the injury site.

In older patients with degenerative joint disease (alo known as osteoarthritis), where the cartilage wears out, treatment options may be considered over a longer timetable. Exercise and muscle strengthening may be an option to protect the joint and maintain range of motion. As well, anti-inflammatory medications may be considered to decrease swelling and pain arising from the knee joint.

Cortisone medication injections into the knee joint may be used to decrease joint inflammation and to bring temporary symptom relief that can last weeks or months. A variety of hyaluronan preparations are approved for mild to moderate knee arthritis and include hylan G-F 20 (Synvisc) and hyaluronan (Orthovisc).

As a last resort, joint replacement may be an option with substantial degeneration of the knee if conservative measures fail and symptoms of pain and decreasing joint range of motion affect quality of life and prevent the patient from performing routine daily activities.

There is no cookie-cutter approach: The treatment of a meniscus tear depends on its severity, location, and underlying disease within the knee joint, as well as patient circumstances. Consult your doctor to determine what’s the best course of action for you.

Todd Lorenc, M.D.

Ask the Local Doctor is sponsored by Insource Urgent Care, 35 Batavia City Centre, Batavia, (585) 250-4201. To submit a question to Ask the Local Doctor, e-mail askthedoc@thebatavian.com. To submit your question anonymously, if you wish, you can use our online form.

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