Meet the Muckdogs: David Kington
Sorry about the darkness.
Sorry about the darkness.
We received this news release today from Dean Norton, president of the New York Farm Bureau.
Sen. Michael Ranzenhofer last week cast a vote in favor of our local family farmers. He voted to defeat the Omnibus Farmworker Labor bill that threatened to devastate agriculture as we know it here in Upstate New York.
In turn, the bill would have had an equal impact on the overall local economy. It would have dramatically increased our costs and made it impossible for us to keep producing food in this area.
Sen. Ranzenhofer recognized that Albany should be coming up with ways to help agriculture, not hinder it. Like so many times before, Sen. Ranzenhofer cast a vote in favor of our local farmers and the rural economy.
New York Farm Bureau is grateful for the senator's leadership and looks forward to the continued support of our local farmers.
The criminal case of a Bergen woman accused of stealing $35,000 from a former Rochester resident has been dismissed, but Judge Robert C. Noonan's order dismissing the charges is being hidden in the defendant's now-sealed court file.
A court official said as a routine matter, case files are sealed when charges are dismissed.
Noonan's order would possibly include his findings in the matter and explain any deficiencies in the government's case and possibly include exculpatory information favoring the defendant.
Michele Case, 45, of 7100 N. Bergen Road, Bergen, was subjected to a criminal investigation by State Police after allegations arose that she improperly obtained funds the woman's accounts while caring for the ailing, elderly woman.
Here's a news release from Chris Barons, Democratic candidate for the 139th Assembly District.
The Returning Vet: A Tale of Two EAPs
Our state prepares to welcome home tens-of-thousands of military personnel who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Once the joy of reunion has subsided, our vets will be challenged to reintegrate into the civilian world.
Aside from the dramatic change in duty, our vets return to a highly competitive, repressed job market. Even for those with awaiting jobs, the transition to civilian life promises the strain of adaptive decision-making.
As a gloss, one might presume that veteran transitioning responsibility resides with the federal government. Limited to chronic needs and benefit administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs is the go-to agency.
However, transitioning thousands of returning veterans into an economically depressed setting demands a well-thought-out, comprehensive plan.
New York State has a highly developed Employee Assistance Program that offers a wide, a la carte array of services to participants. The public EAP program draws on public agencies to offer comprehensive support services to public employees. Private businesses typically contract EAP programs through private agencies and insurance carriers.
Their programs are Return On Investment (ROI) modeled and tend toward short-term interventions aimed at improving job performance and lowering absenteeism. Private focus is on the top three performance issues: stress, substance abuse and interpersonal relationships.
New York’s public EAPs offer participants long-term counseling and intervention opportunities. They are publicly funded and draw on public resources, though they serve the public employee workforce. The state EAPs also network with public agencies to provide accessible and diverse services.
Our returning vets will require specialized attention to successfully merge into civilian life. New York State has the existing agencies and networks to assist in that transition.
Now is the time to prepare for embracing our service men and women -- to have a mechanism in place for reintegrating them into our ranks. They have earned a proactive effort on their behalf. Adding our returning military personnel to the list of eligible NYS Employee Assistance Program service recipients is practical and deserved.
There were no arrests at Thursday's Green Day concert at Darien Lake Theme Park.
Five people received citations for alleged underage drinking:
Anne R. Mesmer, 20, of Woodstock Avenue, Tonawanda
Laura E. Hanzly, 20, of Pheasant Run Road, Amherst
Katelyn M. Kibler, 20, of Monarch Drive, Amherst
Melissa S. Deck, 20, of Vine Lane, Amherst
Joelle E. Breidenstein, 20, of Broadmoor Drive, Tonawanda
Darren M. Brooks, 24, of Hawkmeadow Drive, Irving, is charged with criminal contempt,1st, and harassment, 2nd. Brooks was allegedly involved in a fight with a woman while leaving a bar in the area of Sandhill Road, Alexander. Brooks is allegedly barred from having contact with that woman. He was jailed on $5,000 bail or $10,000 bond.
Elysia Marie Summers, 26, of South Main Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Summers is accused of attempting to shoplift from Kmart. She allegedly filled a large diaper bag with merchandise totaling $332.81.
Saul D. Standsblack, 32, of Parker Road, Alabama, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Standsblack was allegedly involved in a fight at Jim & Bob's Automotive. There are no charges from that altercation; however, Standsblack allegedly had contact with a person he was barred from contacting during the incident.
Lisa Marie Franks, 38, of McDonald Street, Greensville, N.C., is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Franks was allegedly observed leaving the Green Day concert at Darien Lake Theme Park driving in an erratic manner. Franks was followed by a citizen who phoned in a complaint about Franks' driving.
Buffalo Sabres legend Danny Gare has an important Genesee County tie -- his daughter and son-in-law live in Le Roy. And now he has a grandchild. His daughter just gave birth at UMMC, so he was in Batavia tonight and stopped in at South Beach for dinner with his son-in-law.
Above, South Beach owner Ken Mistler takes a mobile phone picture of Mary Kline with Gare. Below, Chef Arvin Ortiz -- a HUGE Sabres fan -- poses with Gare.
A car has smashed into a utility pole at Colby Road and Route 33 in Corfu. The pole is damaged and wires are across the roadway. There are no injuries. Corfu and Darien fire are responding.
UPDATE (7:45 p.m.): A National Grid worker is responding to the scene with about a 15 minute ETA.
A dishwasher fire is reported at 9227 Robbins Road in Le Roy. The building is evacuated. Le Roy Fire Department and an ambulance are responding.
UPDATE (7:35 p.m.): A homeowner reports a cat is in the building. The fire is out. Crews are checking extension wires. A person from county Emergency Management is en route.
UPDATE (7:41 p.m.): Firefighters are in the basement making sure it is safe.
UPDATE (7:50 p.m.): A fire official on scene reports "The family cat has been located and secured and is in good health."
A fully involved car fire is reported at 4658 Route 20 in Bethany, near Francis Road.
It's off the roadway. Bethany Fire Department is responding.
Elba resident Chantal Zambito and her family will be parading through Elba this weekend at the Elba Onion Festival. Their vehicle: a LEGO float promoting the town's FIRST LEGO League team.
FIRST ("For Inspiration and Recognition in Science & Technology") LEGO League is an international organization that partners with experts in the fields of science and technology to get kids ages 9 to 14 involved in working with robotics and engineering.
The float will showcase robots made by the kids in Elba's FIRST team, which Zambito coaches along with Evelyn Hunt. These 'bots are connected with very simple tools and can be made to move by being hooked up to laptop computers.
Zambito says her goal is not only to promote Elba's team, but also to encourage other kids to join the leagues and form their own teams -- which can be associated with towns, local organizations, etc.
Zambito has been working closely with Genesee County communities and school districts for this purpose.
"Right now I think there are only three teams in Genesee County," she said. "I'd like to see at least six to eight teams -- that way we'll have enough teams that we can build a Genesee County Region section for the leagues."
At this time, Genesee County teams need to go to Monroe County -- which has 72 teams -- in order to compete.
"I hope to change that," Zambito said.
Zambito has been in talks with technology personnel at GCC, and they are very interested in doing this in conjunction with their Tech Wars program for high schoolers.
Each year, a different challenge is issued to the teams in terms of building their robots. This year's challenge is called "Body Forward" and will have the kids exploring the world of biomedical engineering.
Zambito and her family will be handing out informational brochures as the float passes along the parade. These brochures will include contact information.
The LEGO float will be featured in Friday night's parade -- which starts around 7 p.m. at Oak Orchard Road and lasts until about 8:30. It will also be in Saturday's "Kiddie Parade," which starts at noon on Maple Avenue and lasts about a half-hour.
Photos submitted by Chantal Zambito
Four speakers, two opinions -- that was what it came down to at a public hearing Wednesday night on the issue of changing the terms of service for the County Legislature.
Former legislator John Sackett dislikes the idea so much he doesn't even think it should appear on the ballot. But another former legislator, Richard Rudolph, thinks it's a good idea that the people deserve to vote on.
Steve Ferry, who has been championing the idea, of course spoke in favor of it, and Bob Zegler spoke against it.
The proposal is to make legislative terms four years and stagger district elections so every seat isn't up for election every two years.
"I believe that you cannot have representative government by having longer terms of office," Sackett said.
Perry believes that four-year terms will reduce the sense of constant campaigning for legislators and encourage more people to run, making elections more competitive.
"If you do not get challenged in life, in business, as a legislator, then you do no fulfill the dreams of the public," Perry said.
Zegler spoke against the current proposal, but said he would like to see the County Legislature abolished and return county government to the hands of a Board of Supervisors.
On Wednesday, the Legislature will be asked to vote on a resolution authorizing a ballot initiative on the proposal.
A possible electrical problem is reportedly creating smoke in the house at 32 Canterbury Lane, Bergen.
Bergen Fire and Le Roy's ladder truck are being dispatched.
Mutual aid requested from Churchville.
Michele Case, 45, of North Bergen Road, Bergen, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Case is accused of failing to provide supervision for her juvenile son when he got off the bus at his residence.
John H. Holliday, 47, of Batavia, is charged with offering a false instrument for filing. Holliday was charged by State Police for an alleged incident on July 21. No further details were released.
Ray E. Baker, 46, of Batavia, is charged with DWI and aggravated DWI. Baker was stopped by State Police at 8:38 p.m., Sunday, in Stafford.
From inside the County Legislature's chambers.
The 86th season for the Batavia Concert Band is drawing to a close. Tonight, the group of experienced professionals and enthusiastic amatuers presented its second-to-last show of the summer at Centennial Park.
More than 200 people were on hand in the warm, beautiful evening to hear a mix of classic and popular tunes.
The Concert Band performs its finale of the season at 7 p.m. next Wednesday in Centennial Park.
An apparent attempt to steal DVDs from an adult product store on Ellicott Street led to a search of the Buell Street neighborhood this afternoon.
A Batavia Police officer believed the man ran into a wooded area near train tracks off of Edward Street and the search was called off.
A short time later, the owner of Pandora's Boxxx, 4818 Ellicott St., Batavia, drove down Edward and spotted a man fitting the description of the suspect.
The store owner remained in his car, called 9-1-1 and followed the suspect down Edward and into the Elmwood/St. Joseph Cemetery.
Uniformed and plain clothes officers from the Sheriff's Office and the Batavia Police Department arrived on scene and at about that time the suspect decided to try to run.
He was apprehended quickly.
The man is identified as Micahel J. Piasta, 30, of East Main Street, Batavia.
He is charged with attempted petit larceny.
The store owner praised his employee for providing an exact description of the suspect to Deputy Chris Parker, who handled the investigation.
Batavia resident Frank VanApeldoorn was positioned on Ellicott Street this afternoon with his religious sign. VanApeldoorn said today wasn't the first time he's stood in front of the former Dellapenna building with his sign. He's also travelled around the region, and even around the country, with his sign. VanApeldoorn, a member of Calvary Baptist Church on Galloway Road, said he likes the Dellapenna's location because it's visible, but still out of people's way and, "It's where God put me."
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