A Darien resident who wants to open a small business for auto repairs and sell a few cars at 606 Broadway got a little push back from the Genesee County Planning Board.

On Thursday, the board disapproved the proposed business because it apparently does not have a complete site plan according to code.

However, a representative of owner Mark Bernen said the site plan was completed exactly according to instructions from the Town of Darien Planning Board.

"We went back and forth and back and forth with the Town of Darien Planning Board," said Joyce Stevens. "He did everything on plans exactly like they said."

Planning Director Jim Duval said that the county's vote is advisory and the town board has the capacity to override the vote.

In another matter, Andrew Schmieder received approval to construct a new small house at 3438 Railroad Ave., Alexander.

Schmieder purchased the property at the county auction with the intent to restore the existing home, but it was too badly damaged by flooding and had to be torn down.

He said his mother will live in the new house.

The courthouse at 1 W. Main St. has been evacuated because of a fire alarm.

The alarm may be related to construction.

City Fire arriving on scene.

UPDATE 12:30 p.m.: There was no fire. False alarm. City fire is back in service. People are back inside the building. (Didn't hear when the scene was cleared.)

It's one of the biggest games of the year. This Saturday the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-1-2-1) will host the Batavia Ice Devils (4-6-1-0) at the Falleti Ice Arena in front of an almost guaranteed sold out arena. The netcasting will begin shortly before the game that is set to faceoff at 1 p.m.

The game will be netcast live right here on The Batavian. It will include play-by-play updates and an up-to-date scoreboard and time-clock. Anyone following the netcast will also be able to participate in game polls, and get the chance to ask questions in a chat room style.

This matchup will be the first time the two teams meet this year. Notre Dame will be led by leading scorer Jack Nenni and goaltender Tom Dehr, who again this year, is ranked one of the top goaltenders in Section V. Batavia will be led by Junior forward Josh Marr, who is currently leading the team in points.

Press release from Genesee ARC:

Batavia, NY -- Family and friends of Genesee County ARC’s first PREP for Life Class gathered Thursday, Jan. 13 for a graduation ceremony at Genesee Community College’s Stuart Steiner Theatre.

Ten students walked across the stage to obtain their achievement certificate, marking completion of the program aimed at expanding their educational and vocational options.

PREP is an acronym which stands for People Realizing Education and Employment Potential. The program is a partnership between Genesee ARC and Genesee Community College and was established to improve student transition from high school to employment. It is a non-credit certificate program for individuals with developmental disabilities who desire a college experience.

The graduates are: Melissa Cook, Jesse Gray, James Grudzien, Dwight Hicks, Sherrie McKenzie, Andrew Moyles, Jason Northrup, Corinne Phelps, Christine Tinklepaugh and Janette Vick.

"PREP for Life grew out of our conversations with families who wanted their children to have access to more life experiences and skills," says Genesee ARC Executive Director Donna Saskowski.

Students learned skills in the areas of socialization, self-advocacy, time management, transportation, adaptive living skills, career exploration, job readiness and employment training. Another aspect of the curriculum included community volunteerism. Students used classroom space at the Genesee ARC Community Center, and at GCC they used the library, cafeteria, computer lab and meeting space.

According to Clifford Scutella, GCC director of Student Activities, it has been a pleasure interacting with the PREP for Life Students.

“They love life and being here brings so much joy to us and everyone at the college,” he said.

Since PREP for Life began, Mr. Scutella has always reached out to include the students in college activities. He was a speaker at Thursday’s graduation. PREP for Life Teacher and Genesee ARC Day Habilitation coordinator Kim Weber also addressed the students and guests.

“As a teacher, I believe that every day is about learning -- not just for the students, but for the teacher as well,” she said. “Each day the students have taught me something about myself, life and becoming a better person."

Graduates can now use the skills they have developed to help focus on their future. Opportunities include a new program option called AIM (Adults In Motion). It is a community-based enrichment program that gives individuals an opportunity to further explore their interests and goals.

It offers a variety of instruction and experiences designed to increase independence in various functional living skills such as safety, health and nutrition, hygiene, recreation and leisure, career exploration, and community access.

There is also the potential for training in prevocational/vocational areas through the Vocational Department at the Genesee ARC Work Center and the new Culinary Arts Program at the Genesee ARC Community Center.

Photo submitted by Sandy Konfederath.

A one-car rollover accident has been reported in the area of 40 Ellicott Ave., near the intersection at Washington Avenue.

One person is trapped and needs extrication. The victim says he's not injured.

City of Batavia Fire and Mercy EMS responding.
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The Batavia City Council will hold a budget work session beginning at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 19. It will be held in the Council Board Room on the second floor of the Batavia City Centre.

If you or someone you know is planning a wedding or even thinking about it, Terry Hills is showcasing all things bridal at a premiere extravaganza this Sunday.

Six months in the making, organizers have pulled together all local vendors to offer would-be brides, grooms, and their families, the opportunity to check out a wide array of products and services in one location.

From gorgeous gowns, modeled live, to sparkling jewelry, from scrumptious cakes made right here in Batavia to professionals who can make you look and feel your best -- they will be there.

There's no admission fee. It starts at 11 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. in the banquet room. There will be lots of door prizes, too. Terry Hills is located at 5122 Clinton St. Road in Batavia.

Sample catering selections, get personal consultations from experts, see the many choices available for creating a wedding that is memorable and beautiful, regardless of its size or your budget.

There will be 28 vendors, mostly from Genesee County, but also from Orleans and Wyoming counties.

"You're not just going to be a number," said Terry Hills Marketing Director Lisa Fickel, who co-created the event along with Tonisha Price, who owns East Bethany-based Sweet Ecstasy Bakery.

Both women are particularly proud to offer this new event in Batavia, which they hope will grow annually.

"I'm so proud of the fact that it is all local businesses participating and I'm thrilled for Terry Hills," Fickel said.

The idea for a centralized bridal marketing show came about when Price contacted Fickel about having one at Terry Hills, a restaurant/banquet/golfing venue which has seen an increase in wedding bookings.

Last year, 33 wedding events were held there, Fickel said, noting that the banquet room can accommodate up to 200 people.

Preparing for Sunday took Fickel back to her days at AAA, doing trade shows built around a central theme, say like a trip to Mexico. And for the wedding show, she already had a stack of contacts, thanks in part to those who booked wedding parties at Terry Hills and asked about a needed service.

Do you know who can make a chocolate ganache wedding cake? Who would you go to for unique flower arrangements? We haven't chosen rings yet, any recommendations?

On Sunday, there's sure to be some matches made in heaven.

Find out more online at www.BataviaBridalShow.com

(As Price points out in a comment to this story, you can register online and thereby avoid waiting in line at the door.)

This weekend, the Western New York Arts Society will return with a bang from a one-year hiatus with the enormously popular and acclaimed rock opera, "RENT." It's the society's first show since  "The Producers" in 2009, and one that most certainly will prove worth the wait.

"'The Producers' was just a gigantic show," said Jason Juliano, the head of the group and the producer of "RENT." It had a huge budget and a two-week run in both Batavia and Buffalo.

"We definitely needed a break after that was all done. This has a much lower budget, but that doesn't mean it's of a lower quality."

Director Ashley Bateman says the decision to do "RENT" was an easy one.

"It's always been my favorite show," she says. "And it's never done around here, so it's offering something new to the community."

The WNYAS has something of a history of producing "new" shows. "RENT" will join the ranks of the other successful, nontraditional productions that the company has performed, which include "Urinetown," "The Producers," and "Songs for a New World."

If the WNYAS name does not sound familiar, that's because the group has recently undergone a change in moniker. It was previously known as the Batavia Musical Society, but because of increasing participation from actors in the Buffalo and Rochester areas and performances in venues not in Batavia, the group felt the renaming would give them a greater opportunity to expand.

"RENT" is a modern-day version of the opera "La Boheme" set in New York City. It follows the lives of the young starving artists who live there as they struggle with HIV/AIDS. The show has won numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize and the Tony Award for Best Musical, and enjoyed a 12-year run on Broadway.  

Mark, one of the aforementioned starving artists and the show's narrator, is portrayed by Jake Bortle of Le Roy.

"He's really, really, poor," Bortle says of his character. "He's extremely pathetic."

But regardless of the "pathetic"ness of Mark, Bortle says it is a role he has always wanted to play. Bortle, 17, is a senior at Le Roy High School and an active participant in the Genesee County theater community. He plans on attending Park Point University after graduation to study musical theater and hopes to someday work as a professional actor.  

Despite the fact that Bateman describes the show as "definitely PG-13," Bortle is not the only high school student involved. The cast of 16 is comprised mainly of teenagers and college students, with only a smattering of adults.

Although some of the themes may be inappropriate for children, Juliano says the show contains an "amazing message of tolerance and acceptance. Do not take anything for granted, and live every day as if it's your last because you never know when your last day will come. Live life to the fullest."

Performances of "RENT" are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, all at the Ross Street Performing Arts Center in the Batavia Middle School, located at 96 Ross St.

Reserved-seating tickets are $15 and can be puchased online at www.wnyas.com or by calling 585-201-3750. Tickets are also available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 1 pm. Friday at the Juliano Allstate Insurance Co. (located at 590 E. Main St., across from Aldi). At-the-door tickets will be available in the lobby at 6:30 p.m., and the house will open at 7. The theater is handicap accessible.

A Vine Street resident is accused of defrauding an elderly woman of more than $58,000 from September 2009 to October 2010.

The case came to the attention of authorities after local bank employees became suspicious of $5,500 in checks the suspect was trying to cash.

Charged grand larceny, 2nd, is Myron W. Hartford, 41, of 154 Vine St., Batavia.

Hartford was jailed on $50,000 bail.

A Ferrellgas truck is reportedly on fire in the westbound lane of Route 490, possibly between exits 2 and 3.

The driver is out of the vehicle, which carries liquified petroleum. Bergen Fire Department is en route.

Monroe County has advised they have dispatched fire crews from Churchville and Chili in an effort to locate the truck.

UPDATE 1:27 p.m.: The Bergen tanker is returned to service. The incident is being handled by Churchville and Chili fire department crews.

Press release from County Treasurer Scott German:

Genesee County Treasurer Scott D. German announced today that sales tax was up in Genesee County in 2010 compared to 2009. We are up $723,777 (before distribution) over last year, German said.

We still ended up underbudget, German said. In both 2009 and 2010, the county budgeted $12,500,000 for its share of the 3 percent of sales tax. In 2009, the county ended up short of the budgeted amount by $467,000 and we will end up about $197,000 underbudget for 2010.

For the 2011 budget, the county budgeted $12,200,000 for sales tax, a $300,000 reduction from the previous two years.

Adam Richard Kopp, 20, of Bushhill Road, Farmersville, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and petit larceny. Kopp is of stealing and then possessing a quantity of Lortab tablets. Kopp was jailed on $10,000 bail.

Dana Douglas Hagen, 31, of Batavia-Byron Townline Road, Byron, is charged with DWI, moving from lane unsafely and no seat belt. Hagen was allegedly involved in a personal injury accident at 11:08 p.m., Wednesday, in the area of 7812 Fotch Road, Stafford. Hagen's car reportedly struck a utility pole at that location.

Penny S. Hofert, 45, of 11 Porter Ave., Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Hofert is accused of shoplifting from Dollar General.

Elba student Sam Lamont, who was picked to represent Genesee County as a student attending Gov. Andrew Cuomo's State of the State Speech (writing about it here), received another honor from the New York Legislature today. Assemblyman Steve Hawley presented him with a flag that has flown over the state capitol in Albany.

A Le Roy man is facing three felony charges after he allegedly lured a young acquaintance into performing sexual acts in front of a camera and then sharing those videos online. CORRECTION: Det. John Condidorio sent a note this morning saying there is no evidence that the video the suspect made was shared online.

He's also accused of downloading and sharing other sexual content involving other children through a file sharing service.

Stephen M. Smith, 21, of 41 Elm St., Le Roy, is charged with possessing a sexual performance by a child, promoting sexual performance of a child and use of a child in a sexual performance.

Smith allegedly lured a person under age 17, whom Det. John Condidorio describes as "an acquaintance" of Smith's who also lives in Le Roy, into performing a sexual act and then making the video available on the Internet through a file sharing service.

File sharing services allow person share music, video and pictures directly from his own hard drive with other people on the Internet using the same software.

Quite often such services are used to share pirated music and movies among users.

The first charge accuses Smith of possessing sexual material involving children under 16, the second accuses him of allowing such material to be shared online and the third involves luring the Le Roy minor into a sexual performance.

Condidorio said he doesn't believe any other local minors were involved in making videos with Smith.

Smith was arraigned by Justice Kermit Arrington of the Le Roy Town Court and released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

No federal charges are pending and Condidorio said Smith has been cooperative throughout the investigation.

The investigation began in March when the New York State Police Computers Crime Unit notified the Le Roy Police Department that a person at 41 Elm St. in Le Roy allegedly possessed and was sharing sexual videos of underage children via the Internet.

A joint investigation was initiated and in July of 2010, the Le Roy Police executed a search warrant at the residence and secured computers and video cameras. These were later examined at the Western Regional Computer Forensics Lab in Buffalo and allegedly possessed sexual videos of underage children.

A truck is on fire in the driveway of a house at 8077 Marble Road in Pembroke. It is close to other vehicles, the garage and the residence.

Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding. Akron is asked to stand by in its fire hall. The location is between Gabbey and Akron roads, but closer to Akron Road, across from Larry's Greenhouses.

UPDATE 5:44 p.m.: The fire appears to be out. Akron is asked to stand down. The call is being limited to the tanker en route, non-emergency mode.

State Senator Michael H. Ranzenhofer announced today that he will serve as chairman of the New York State Senate Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions.

Senator Ranzenhofer will also serve on the Banks, Judiciary, Agriculture, Education, Energy, and Racing, Gaming and Wagering committees.

He says he is eager to begin working to reduce state spending and restore trust in state government as chairman of the Corporations Committee.

"State government is so big that residents can no longer afford it and New York’s many authorities and commissions are part of the problem" Ranzenhofer said in a news release. "I plan to find ways to reduce and streamline the number of different authorities and commissions – so that New Yorkers may finally see savings in state government. Over the past few years, there have been too many examples of mismanagement among the state’s authorities and commissions.

"For too long, New Yorkers have become accustomed to a government which is dysfunctional and driven toward political patronage. As chairman, I will work to restore integrity and a higher level of professionalism to our State authorities and commissions.”

Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos said: “New York faces an enormous challenge as we work to reform state government, make it smaller and more efficient and, most importantly, cost less for taxpayers.

"Senator Mike Ranzenhofer is a very strong advocate for easing the burden on state taxpayers by making government cost less and work better. As chair of the Senate Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions, he will have a leading role in how we achieve that goal."

Ranzenhofer said he's pleased to serve again as a member of the Agriculture Committee.

"During last year’s legislative session, I worked with local farms to defeat the farm labor 'death legislation,'" the senator said. "I look forward to continuing a partnership with the Farm Bureau and local family farms to preserve the next generation of agri-business in Genesee County."

The 61st District includes part of the City of Tonawanda, the towns of Amherst, Clarence, Newstead and Tonawanda in Erie County and all of Genesee County.

Mickey Harlan DeJesus, 22, of Perry Road, Pavilion, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. DeJesus is accused of contacting a female he was ordered not to contact. The protection order was issued by Town of Le Roy Court. DeJesus was jailed on $500 bail.

Brian Richard Gombos, 21, of Britt Road, Le Roy, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, speed not reasonable and moving from lane unsafely. Gombos was arrested following a traffic accident at 2:39 a.m. today in the area of 7104 Quinlan Road, Le Roy. Gombos's car reportedly struck a utility pole. There were no injuries in the accident.

Jeffrey Allan Mooney, 57, of Quaker Road, Albion, is charged with driving with ability impaired by drugs, no license plate lamp, insufficient tail lamps and leaving scene of a property damage accident. Mooney is accused of driving a car that struck gas pumps at Yellow Goose in Elba and then leaving the scene at 4:41 p.m., Jan. 6. Following a tip from a witness, Mooney's car was spotted on Route 98 in the Town of Batavia by Deputy Cory Mower.

A two-car accident is reported on a hill just outside the Village of Alexander. It's on Route 98 in the area of Goodman Road. One man is reportedly feeling faint.

It is partially blocking the roadway. Law enforcement is called to help with traffic. Alexander Fire Department is responding along with an ambulance.

Traffic is being stopped on northbound Route 98 at the underpass. One lane of traffic is allowed southbound.