The Blue Devils erased a 14-0 fourth-quarter deficit only to see a shot at victory slip past them. With less than 30 second to go in the game, Bath's Matt Nevius connected with Dan Leonard on a 47-yard TD pass.
In the season opener, Batavia's John DiFante connected with Brett Scheurline on a 65-yard pass to put the Blue Devils on the board.
In their next offensive series, the Blue Devils converted on fourth down to keep the drive alive and then scored on another fourth-down play, a three-yard run by Alex Ianita. Batavia's conversion attempt was a run by Codee Gangarossa, who managed to just get the ball across the goal line to tie up the game.
On Bath's next drive, the Blue Devil's defense looked like it might have a chance to stop Bath, but Leonard managed to sneak past a defender. Once he secured the pass from Nevius, there was nothing between him and the goal line.
The Blue Devils are at home again, 7:30 p.m., Friday, against Bishop Timon-St. Jude HS.
In other Genesee County football action on Friday: Way-Co beat Le Roy 28-8; Notre Dame beat Attica 27-7; Pembroke beat Alexander 21-14.
NOTE: About the video -- I shot the first half with the same video camera I've used each of the past two seasons, but it wouldn't stay in focus for some reason. At the half, I decided to switch to my DSLR and use its video function. I decided not to even bother processing the first-half video, so the video above is only from half-time on.Ironically, during one of the key plays of the game, the tripod slipped, causing the camera to lose focus, but I included it in the video anyway.
Notre Dame scored 20 first-quarter points in route to a 27-14 victory over Attica in the opening week of high school football.
Quarterback Tim McCully tossed two TD passes to his brother Doane. Doane had four catches on the night for 90 yards. Doane also had a kick return for a touchdown.
Nick Conklin scored on a 10-yard run for the Fighting Irish in the first quarter and in the fourth quarter, Tim MCully connected with Nick Taylor on a 24-yard TD pass.
Photos submitted by Bare Antolos. His web site is bareantolos.com
The family of 86-year-old Thomas L. Dufford is concerned about his whereabouts.
Dufford was last seen leaving the residence of one of his daughters on Pratt Road at noon, Friday.
He has not been heard from since, according to another daughter, Bonnie Dufford.
Dufford drives a white Lincoln Continental
"We are worried," Bonnie said. "This is not like him and he needs his heart medication."
She's hoping a reader may have some information to share.
According to Sgt. Greg Walker, law enforcement agencies throughout the state have been notified to be on the look out for Dufford's car, a white Lincoln Continental, model year 1996, with New York registration EDW 3680.
Dufford resides in the northeast part of Town of Alexander.
Walker said the Sheriff's Office has no specific leads on where to look for him since nobody knows where he might have decided to go after leaving Pratt Road.
If you have information to share, call the Emergency Dispatch Center at (585) 343-5000.
UPDATE 1:01 a.m.: Thomas Dufford was been located. He is safe. Dufford was stopped by a Sheriff's unit in Ontario County. His family is in route to Ontario County now to pick up him. He had apparently become disoriented and lost, according to Walker.
A two-car accident, blocking traffic, is reported at the intersection of Veterans Memorial Drive and Lewiston Road. There are minor injuries. Town of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.
UPDATE 8:14 p.m.: There are three patients, one of whom has chest pain and the other two are diabetic.
UPDATE 8:16 p.m.: The actual location is Lewiston and Park roads.
UPDATE 8:28 p.m.: So far, two patients are being transported to UMMC in separate ambulances, one for chest pain, the other for low blood sugar. The Town of Batavia fire assignment is back in service.
UPDATE 8:33 p.m.: The last patient is transported to UMMC.
This is the Remembering 9/11 display set up at City Centre by the NYS Museum, one of several 9/11 artifact displays set up in various municipalities throughout New York. The car is an unmarked NYC Port Authority sedan that was found under the rubble of the Twin Towers. The display is outside the mall-side entrance to Batavia City Hall.
Scaffolding was erected this week around the tower of the St. Jame's Episcopal Church on East Main Street, Batavia. St. Jame's is undergoing renovation and restoration work to help preserve the church.
Sorry for the lack of posts today -- it's been such a busy week I haven't had time to do the things that, you know, actually get money into our bank account.
At one point, I did pop down Evans Street and saw city firefighters spraying a little water on the ice arena parking lot.
The newly formed Pembroke Boys Varsity Soccer Team started its season at the Holly soccer tournament Thursday night. Playing in their very first game together, the boys played with great heart against the very powerful Holly Hawks team. Despite losing to the host team by a 5-0 score, coach Aaron Burch was very happy with the boys' effort. Go here to see more photos of the game.
Batavia High School JV cheerleaders are washing cars today to raise money for new warm-up uniforms. They've set up their hoses and buckets on West Main Street, Batavia, in between Beverly's Flowers & Gifts and IR Systems/DirecTV.
A city Department of Public Works employee operating a street sweeper thinks he may have hit a car at Ellicott and Liberty streets. But he's not sure.
The worker told a police officer over the radio that "I was swinging out and he made a turn right in front of me. I think I hit him, but I'm not sure. He drove off."
A city police officer is responding to investigate.
An all-terrain vehicle accident with a female with spinal injuries is reported in Elba. The subject was able to be brought up to the railroad bed "so you should have access to the patient." Mercy Flight is on in-air standby. The accident is reportedly near the old railroad bed just west of Transit Road, north of Route 262.
Mercy Flight was on in-air standby and then cancelled.
The Barker Brothers, jailed in June on drug charges, are accused of using their time behind bars to plot murder.
The brothers, Derick, at left, and Justin, allegedly arranged for a friend from Georgia to travel to New York and snuff out an unidentified target. But when the would-be killer couldn't make the trip, the brothers allegedly asked another person to do the deed.
According to the Genesee County Sheriff's Office, money changed hands and an agreement was reached.
The potential target, who was notified by law enforcement about the plot, was never in danger of harm, according to the Sheriff's Office.
Derick W. Barker, 26, of Tera Boulevard, Jonesboro, Ga., and Justin Z. Barker, 22, of North Lyon Street, Batavia, where both charged with one count of conspiracy in the second degree.
The investigation into the alleged conspiracy began two months ago, according to the news release.
Separate from the conspiracy investigation, Justin Barker is also charged with 303 counts of aggravated harassment, 2nd, and one count of criminal contempt, 1st.
Justin is accused of contacting a person protected by court order 303 times by telephone and U.S. Mail between June 1 and Aug. 31.
The order of protection was issued by Justice Thomas Graham in Oakfield Town Court.
Justin is also charged with three counts of forgery and three counts of offering a false instrument for filing, 1st.
Justin and Derick were arraigned in Batavia City Court and jailed without bail.
The Barker Brothers made news in June when police were called to a local hotel where a trio of young men were accused of not paying their bill and refusing to leave a hotel room.
Derick reportedly fled the hotel and was eventually flushed out of a farm field on the opposite side of the Thruway.
The drug charges that put them in the Genesee County Jail in the first place, along with other charges, stemmed from the June 1 incident.
A possible vehicle fire is reported on the westbound Thruway near mile marker 384.0. Le Roy Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. The vehicle reportedly went off the roadway and then began to smell like something was burning inside.
Dispatch advises that the accident happened awhile ago and now the driver is complaining of pain.
UPDATE 7:39 p.m.: The Le Roy chief put his units back in service, since apparently there was no fire.
UPDATE 7:52 p.m.: Mercy medics are headed to UMMC with the driver.
On Tuesday, Jim DiSalvo invited me to his house on Fargo Road, Stafford, to meet his son, Jason, and Jason's racing team. I thought I'd get a picture and share a little bit about the great season Jason is having.
I set up a shot with a couple of bikes in the background and just as we were getting ready to make a photograph, Jason asked, "When will your picture run?" I told him, "probably tonight."
Well, that would never do. See that Triumph in the background -- the racing world didn't yet know that Jason would be running it this week at the final race of the season in New Jersey.
I agreed to hold the picture until the bike change was officially announced, and I also redesigned the shot to better include the bike in the picture.
This evening, the DiSalvo team officially announced that for the last race as well as next season, Jason will race a Triumph 675 Triple in Daytona Sportbike class races.
Jason said the team felt they would get great support from Triumph and he was excited about the switch.
Race 1 on Saturday will start at 2 p.m., and Sunday's race starts at 2:15 p.m. Live timing for both events can be viewed at www.amaproracing.com.
Speed TV will air the races at 11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Jason is currently third this season in points standing with three wins and four pole positions.
Pictured with Jason are Jordan Fielder, left, Bubba Evoy, Chase McFarland and Ronnie Saner.
A pair of paving contractors from New Hampshire were jailed yesterday after being accused of soliciting without a permit.
Taken into custody where Stephen C. Batchelder, 31, of Mammoth Road, Hooksett, N.H., and Robert J. Batchelder, 33, of Thorpe Street, Manchester.
The duo was allegedly observed on North Lyons Street in the city soliciting driveway paving jobs. A short time later, Stephen and Robert reportedly arrived at an address on North Lyons to pave the driveway of a resident.
Sgt. Thomas Sanfratello interviewed the subjects and learned they worked for Affordable Asphalt but allegedly did not have a permit to solicit in the City of Batavia. Sanfratello reports that he learned the duo had been ordered out of service by the federal government.
A State Police inspector was called to the scene. He inspected the vehicle and trailer being used by Stephen and Robert. As a result, Stephen was issued 15 additional license, registration and equipment violations.
Stephen was jailed on $2,500 bail and Robert was jailed on $750 bail.
According to the Nashua Telegraph, Robert and Stephen are tied to the Stanley Paving Company. As The Batavian reported in 2010, some local residents felt they might have been scammed by Stanley Paving.
As we reported in April, Stanley Paving was again reportedly working in Genesee County this summer.
Photos: Stephen Batchelder, top; Robert Batchelder, bottom.
Raymond S. Woeller, 51, of 66 Lake St., Apt. 2, Le Roy, is charged with possession of a forged instrument, 2nd, and grand larceny, 4th. Woeller is accused of forging a friend's signature and withdrawing money from that person's bank account. Woeller was picked up at 11:26 p.m., Wednesday, on a warrant out of Batavia City Court. He was jailed without bail.
A 16-year-old of Mechanic Street, Byron, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. The youth allegedly ran away from a foster home with two juvenile females. The youth was jailed on $250 bail.
A 16-year-old of Spencer Court, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. The youth is accused of stealing $52.58 worth of merchandise from Kmart.
Russell Ray Miles, 43, of East Main Street, Le Roy, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Miles is accused of pushing another person during an argument in the parking lot of the Le Roy Country Club. The incident was reported at 8:11 p.m., Wednesday.
Kayla L. Rapone, 20, of 24 Holland Ave., Batavia, is charged with person under 21 purchasing alcohol. Rapone is accused of using a fake ID to purchase beer at a local store.
Kurt H. Hawkins, 18, of 3 Tracy Ave., Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Hawkins is accused of punching another person in the face.
It's a place teeming with wildlife, a bit of a birder's paradise. It's 400 acres of accessible open space where local residents can walk their dogs, go for a jog or just enjoy a stroll along well-maintained paths.
Some might call it a park.
We call it the Batavia Wastewater Treatment Plant.
A lot of area residents, even if they know of the plant, may not know it's open to the public, or appreciate its natural aesthetics.
"It's great that the city is able to provide access to this great resource," said Tom O'Donnell, president of the Buffalo Ornithological Society. "It's a unique place to view waterfowl and shore birds."
Some 180 different species of birds have been spotted on the property during its 21-year history, including herons, loons, egrets, hawks, terns, swans and, of course, a variety of ducks and geese.
Birders from throughout the region know of the facility and have even traveled from as far away as Finland specifically to go birding in Batavia.
What makes the plant unique is the lack of reeds and trees between the birder and the birds, said O'Donnell. The vantage point, with the raised berms around the lagoons, give birders an exceptional angle to view waterfowl and shore birds.
It's tempting to call the fenced-in treatment plant a bird sanctuary, but it's prime function is to treat the city's effluent and turn it into something environmentally safe to pump back into the Tonawanda Creek.
The process is all natural -- no chemicals -- and it takes six to nine months for a molecule of water to pass from the facility's mechanical screen to the gravity outflow pipe near the pedestrian bridge at Walnut Street on the Tonawanda.
According to City Manager Jason Molino, the treatment plant is the largest lagoon system east of the Mississippi.
"That plant is a resource that I don’t think people understand," Molino said following a city council meeting last week. "It’s a special plant. It’s 400 acres. It doesn’t use chemical treatment. It’s natural treatment, so there’s no chemical cost. Only four people run it, seven days a week. You find me a sewer plant that has low labor costs like that, low treatment costs -- that's why our sewer rates are some of the lowest in Western New York."
And the plant is paid for. A combination of federal grants and municipal bonds helped get the plant constructed and the bonds are all paid off.
It even generates a little revenue (besides sewer-rate fees). A contractor pays up to $6,000 a year to harvest fat head minnows from some of the ponds. The minnows were brought in to help balance the treatment of the water, and while birds feast on the little fish, they breed faster than even the hungriest herons can consume them.
The plant's natural treatment process is not without precedent, according to Rick Volk, chief operator of the wastewater plant.
"The idea of lagoon treatment is as old as Egypt," Volk said. "What we did in Batavia is take a system that is as old as Egypt and apply new technology."
From 2.5 to 3.5 million gallons of raw sewage arrives at the plant daily (capacity is 5 million gallons per day). It is pumped into a screening process that removes everything larger than a cigarette butt, then goes through an aerated grit chamber to remove sand and dirt (this is the one part of the plant that produces any real stench).
After screening, the effluent is pumped into aerated ponds. The ponds provide oxygen treatment that consumes matter in the wastewater. Air is pumped into the water by 200 horsepower compressors. This process takes about a month.
The aerated ponds are popular with ducks who can be found by the dozens either in the water or resting on the long, black aeration pipes that float on the surface of the water.
The wastewater is then fed alum to assist in phosphorus removal as it flows into two secondary ponds. The 45-acre ponds are up to 8-feet deep where biological activity and settling removes more waste. The process takes up to 42 days.
Next, a lift station hoists the water up above the four tertiary ponds, which are from 25 to 35 acres each and have an adjustable depth of 3 to 12 feet. At this point, most of the suspended solids are removed.
This is where you'll find minnows and the waterfowl who feed on them, as well as a variety of other birds flitting through the air, from northern flickers to least flycatchers.
The final step on a molecule of water's journey is to pass through one of three wetlands -- ponds with reeds and other aquatic plants that help "put the final polish," as Volk said, on the wastewater.
The largest of the ponds is popular with ducks, geese, herons and snowy egrets.
The whole process is designed to ensure that only water that is safe for people, crops, fowl and fish is piped back into the Tonawanda.
Plant staff conduct frequent tests -- regulated by the state -- in a lab at the facility to ensure each step of the process is cleaning the waste as it should and that the final product shipped out to the Tonawanda is up to environmental standards.
Staff is on duty from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., which is the only time the ponds are accessible to the public.
The current four staff members are about half of what the city needed to run its pre-1990s wastewater plant, according to Volk.
While not officially a park, as long as the plant is open, area residents are welcome to visit anytime during plant hours, Volk said.
Guests are asked to sign a registry in the main building, but are then free to wander the property. With permission, guests can drive their cars -- it can be a long, long walk to the tertiary ponds -- on the well-maintained gravel roads that surround the ponds.
Volk said there are times when work being performed by staff will prevent guests from driving on the roads, which is why it is necessary to ask first.
And if you go, you really want to get back to either the tertiary ponds or the larger of the three wetlands. This is where you will see the greatest variety of birds.
There's also a park of sorts on the west end of the facility, along Donahue Road. There's a small parking lot and footpaths that allow, at points, for visitors to view the tertiary ponds as well as a reconstructed wetland -- abatement for a wetland destroyed when the plant was built. The area is open to the public at all times, but no hunting or trapping is allowed.
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