Fr. Gus Calvo has been all over the place. He was born in Cuba, lived in Spain and Puerto Rico after his parents fled Cuba's Communist dictatorship, and finally settled with his family in Long Island as a child. He has done missionary work in countries like Argentina, Bolivia, Honduras, Nigeria, Peru and Sudan. And now his journey has led him to the Anglican Community Church in Batavia!

Fr. Gus was assigned to the 101 Richmond Ave. church after having served at St. John's Episcopal Church in Stockport. He is no stranger to the area, having lived in Buffalo for two years in the early 1990s and having spent time in Brockport, where he met his wife, Noel.

At the opening of his first sermon this morning, Fr. Gus told the congregation how happy he was to be a part of their community and how much he looked forward to the "good things that God has in store for us."

Fr. Gus said that his overall mission and hope for his pastorate and for the ACC reflects today's gospel reading, Luke 4:14-21.

"Our mission as Christians," Fr. Gus said, "is to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ, to bring hope to people, to really live out our call as people of faith and to discern our identity as children of God."

His lively, enthusiastic and highly personal first sermon made a clear impression on the parishioners, one of whom called him "a welcome addition to our community."

Fr. Gus attributes his worship and life styles - including how he relates to others - to what he calls a "sacramental" view of the world.

"My faith helps me to see God's presence in the world and in other people," he said. "To me people are not just beings who exist for no reason -- they matter. And my goal is to reflect the inward grace of God to them in my life."

Anyone interested in the mission and activities of the ACC may visit their website by clicking on the ad featured on the left-hand margin of The Batavian's home page.

Snow melt combined with heavy rains later tonight could lead to flooding, according to a Flood Watch issued by the National Weather Service.

The watch is in effect starting at 9 p.m. through early Monday evening.

Creeks will start to run over first, possibly impacting the morning commute.  Small streams may run high as well.

Le Roy police are continuing to investigate a possible fight in the area of 31 Myrtle Street early Saturday morning.

The initial reports of the 1:15 a.m. incident indicated there may have been shots fired, but none of the three men injured in the fracas suffered gunshot wounds.

The alleged fight seems to have involved five or six young men.

All three men who were injured were cut by a sharp object. One man was cut in the chest and treated at UMMC. Two other men were treated at Strong Memorial Hospital, one for a neck wound and the other for an arm wound.

No names have been released and no arrests have been reported.

Det. John Condidorio said in a statement:

As of this time it has been determined that there were two groups involved in an altercation in the area of 31 Myrtle Street, however the investigation is continuing to attempt to determine what actually transpired and no further information is available for release at this time.

The Le Roy Police Department is being assisted in the investigation by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department, Genesee County Drug Task Force, New York State Police and the Genesee County District Attorney’s Office.

Anyone having any information relating to this investigation is encouraged to contact the Village of Le Roy Police Department.

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The PW-A Batavia Ramparts hockey team recently won the Batavia Winter Classic Tournament at the Falleti Ice Arena. The Ramparts were guaranteed to play 3 games in the tournament and were able to advance to the championship game by getting the top seed in the round robin play.

They defeated Monroe County 1-0, the Rochester Sabres 6-5 and the Buffalo Hornets 5-0. They were victorious in the championship game 6-4 against the Rochester Sabres.

Tyler Andrews had 2 hat-tricks in the tournament and goaltender Connor Hamilton recorded 2 shutouts.

Hamilton, Andrews and Aaron Feary received player of the game honors throughout the tournament for Batavia.

The ongoing success of Pizza Pantry has made the national press.

A trade industry magazine, Pizza Today (yes, pizza shop owners have their own trade magazine), featured the Corfu pizza parlor in its latest edition.

The article details how Bev Snider (at first with her sister and mother as partners) took a low-budget pizza shop in the village and turned it into a thriving business that draws a crowd throughout the year.

Snider started the company with her mother and sister in 1983 in the middle of the village of Corfu, having bought the take-out shop on the cheap. “The woman who owned it, she said, ‘Sundays are your good days. I made $34 Sunday.’ That’s what we grew from.”

In 2000, Snider’s sister left the business and she took it over full time. Three years ago, they gutted an empty bowling alley turned bar and grill nearby and converted it into a 120-seat freestanding restaurant that afforded them much needed additional parking. “I’ve always wanted a dine-in place, but we just didn’t have room for it,” Snider says.

Pizza Pantry Manager Adam Kahabka said he suggested the article to Pizza Today a year ago after the business made an obviously successful transition to the much larger location.

"It's (the article) is a pretty big for us," Kahabka said. "For a small business to grow that much in such a small community, especially some place as small as Corfu, we thought was exceptional."

Pizza Pantry has flirted with disaster a couple of times in the past year and come out unscathed. First, there was the tornado that blew right by its parking lot. Then there was a small fire in the basement on Jan. 10.

The fire, Kahabak said, did minimal damage and the restaurant was open for business at its usual time the next day.

Hey y'all I'm Ellie, a blue-tick adult, female hound that was turned into the pound. Don't really know why, 'cuz I'm great with young'uns and other critters, 'spechly dawgs. Plus, I like lollygaggin' on the sofer with mah kin. Don't worry none, I'm spayed. I may sound none too highbrow, but that's overrated anyhaow. I'm pert near cute as a speckled pup and I'm housebroken and leash trained, yessiree, Bob. They tol' me to take an ol' cold tater 'n' wait, so that's what I'ma doin'. Y'all come down heah, ya heah! Kennel 14.

I'm very pretty, am I not? My name is Tawny and I'm a calico, domestic long hair, adult, spayed female. I have long silky fur, purr, and beautiful eyes, purr, that enticingly and coyly say "pet me, love me, hold me, want me...purr." There, I've cast my mesmerizing spell. If you can hear its silken entreaties echoing inside your head and heart, please come meet me soon. You know I won't last long. Let's rendezvous forever! Cage 68.

 
Volunteers For Animals
PO Box 1621
Batavia, NY   14021
www.vol4animals.org <http://www.vol4animals.org>

Working in partnership with:
Genesee County Animal Shelter
3841 W. Main Street Road
Batavia, NY   14020
(585)343-6410

Adoption Hours:
Sunday - Friday 1 - 3 pm (closed on Thursdays)
Wednesday 7 - 9 pm
Saturday 11 - 1 pm

Adopt a New Friend at the Genesee County Animal Shelter!

That’s Tim Sawyer  rerigging his fishing gear. Minutes earlier, something inhaled the Spin ‘N Glo tied to the end of his line and raced downstream a ways before breaking water. When the  fish breached the surface, we saw that it was a big king salmon, tinted red with age, and boy, did it launch itself out of the water. It didn’t flop about, but rather had its body perfectly parallel to the river surface, high above the water and facing downstream. Kind of looked like a big muscle with fins - then it crashed back into the river and kept going. The fish had no doubt spawned in this same stream, spent the next 4-5 years at sea gorging itself on anchovies and the like. Its biological clock said it was time to return to the place of its origin and procreate. Chasing down Tim’s lure had put a temporary halt to those plans. The fish made one long run and the battle was at a standstill. The line was still taught, but there was no movement. The big fish had wrapped the line around submerged brush before continuing on its way.

It was a Thursday afternoon, only a few hours since we launched a two-man Zodiac, into a narrow stretch of the Little Susitna River. Originating in a place called Hatcher Pass in the Talkeetna Mountains, the Little Su flows southward for approximately eighty miles before emptying into Cook Inlet. The plan was to float a 47 mile stretch of the river between Parks Highway and the inlet.

We stowed the fishing gear and alternately paddled and drifted with the current several more miles downstream before finding a sandbar on a bend in the river, an ideal location to pitch the tent. We arose early the following morning, had a quick breakfast and were on our way. The scenery along the river was different, the bank lined with a wide variety of flora: evergreens and birch trees, wildflowers and plants I’ve not seen before or since. Occasionally we’d see an eagle gliding high, or sometimes precariously perched atop a Sitka spruce. Many times, while drifting quietly, rustling sounds could be heard in the thick brush of the river bank, but unable to see through the dense growth.

At one point during the afternoon we had stopped to fish – or snooze – when we saw an unusual sight. A member of the gull family called a Kittiwake plummeted into the river along the opposite bank. The Kittiwake is the only gull that occasionally dives and swims underwater to capture its food. It hit the water for what seemed like a split second, and came up flapping its wings. It was quickly airborne, clutching what looked like a large eel. In its haste to make off with its dinner, the Kittiwake flew into an overhanging branch, and dropped its prey back into the river.

In its lower reaches, the river widened, the sand and gravel bars, replaced by shallow, rocky stretches. It was in such a location where the raft sprang a leak. Fortunately, Tim had the foresight to bring along a patch kit. The repairs took only minutes and we were once again on our way. At 1 a.m. Saturday morning, 47 miles downstream from our take off point, we beached the raft. The next day we’d venture north to Montana Creek for another go at the King Salmon, bringing an end to my Alaska visit.   

Le Roy Fire is being dispatched to 11 Mill St. for the report of a sparking and smoking dryer at the dry cleaners at that location.

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City Fire is being dispatched -- non-emergency -- to 130 Bank St., the scene of yesterday's fire for the smell of propane.

"The caller believes it's from a tank she relocated," according to the dispatcher.

T.F. Brown's, at 214 E. Main St., Batavia, NY: T.F. Brown's is a great place for a good meal, good friends and to catch up on what's going on in the sports world. "If it happensin sports, it happens at Brown's." We have a $20 gift card for $10.

Alex's Place, 8322 Park Road, Batavia, NY: People come from all over the region for a fine dining experience at Alex's. It's best known for its ribs, of course, but Alex's seafood is also a favorite of the restaurant's diners. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

Center Street Smoke House, 20 Center St., Batavia, NY: Authentic Southern BBQ, from ribs to brisket with all the fixin's. We have a $25 gift card for $12.50.

Belladessa's Pizzeria/Jackson St. Grill, 9 Jackson St., Batavia, NY: Here's a deal -- half off on a Family Meal Deal from Belladessa's, which is a large 1 topping pizza, 24 wings and 2-liter bottle of soda. It's a $25 value for $12.50.

Sallome's Italian Deli, 40 Oak St., Batavia, NY: Wraps, subs, paninis and pasta as well as pizzas -- Sallome's offers a tasty variety of Italian deli items for eat-in or take-out.

Delavan's Restaurant and Tavern, 107 Evans St., Batavia, NY: To me, Delavan's is one of those restaurants where you want to eat frequently until you try everything on the menu. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Oliver's Candies, 211 W. Main St., Batavia, NY. Oliver's, a Batavia landmark, offers the finest chocolate and confections in the area. We have a $20 gift card for $10. Just in time for Valentine's!

Margarita's Mexican Restaurant, 15 Jackson St., Batavia, NY: When you're looking for an authentic Mexican meal, Margarita's is the place to go. The food and atmosphere are perfect and the service is always outstanding. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

NOTE: If you've never bought Deal of the Day before, or are otherwise unfamiliar with the rules and process, click here.

There was apparently a report of shots fired on or around Clay Street in Le Roy last night -- according to readers who contacted The Batavian -- at about 1:30 a.m.

Chief Chris Hayward of the Le Roy Police Department responded to our request for more information with this message: "We are currently conducting an investigation but at this point I have no further comment."

In a follow up e-mail, Chief Hayward confirmed that two people were taken to the hospital, but they did not have gunshot wounds.

"Can't tell you a lot at this point because we are getting different stories," Hayward wrote.

UPDATE 4:21 p.m.: Det. John Condidorio issued the following statement on behalf of the Le Roy Police Department:

On 01/23/2010 at about 1:15 A.M., The LeRoy Police Department received a report of a disturbance or break-in at a residence in the Village. Subsequently three persons required medical assistance and were sent to the hospital for treatment. Two of the three have been released and the status of the third is unknown.

A fire at 130 Bank St., Batavia, destroyed an old garage and the items inside and partially damaged a neighbor's garage.

The fire was reported about 10:45 a.m. when a resident came home and saw smoke coming from the garage. By the time fire crews were on scene, flames were visible.

The homeowner, a 47-year resident, said he lost an ATV, snow blower, two bikes and other equipment. While Chief Ralph Hyde said he suspected a wood-burning stove in the garage, the owner said he had recently cleaned the stove and it wasn't in use at the time. He suspected it was an electrical fire.

Kelly Herold, a claims supervisor for Tompkins Insurance, was on scene quickly meeting with her clients. She watched the City's firefighters move quickly to dose the flames.

“The Fire Department did a great job," Herold observed. "It was a good save. They were able to contain the fire to the barn with limited damage to the surrounding homes."

The photo was submitted by reader Tricia Zdep. The bottom two photos were submitted by another reader.

The spring of 1997 had been quite damp in Batavia, gloomy even by Western New York standards. Still, I was surprised to get my first tan of the year inside the Arctic Circle. Not to be confused with the polar ice cap at its northern extreme, much of the Arctic Circle is full of lush growth, crystal-clear rivers, mountains and, during the month of June, 24 hours of sunlight. During our stay the sun was visible 24 hours. Each morning, between midnight and one a.m., the sun would skim the horizon before once again beginning its ascent. 

Not being used to catching shuteye in the daytime, the constant sunlight made sleeping difficult, even in the confines of a tent. There were times when I felt physically exhausted, but mentally the wheels were still turning. And the mosquitoes didn’t help. Lying inside the tent, you could hear their non-stop drone. They seemed to be just waiting for us to exit the tent. It seems the farther north you go, the bigger - and bolder - the mosquitoes.

Even the caribou find the mosquitoes annoying. The Alaskan Pipeline runs parallel with the Dalton Highway and Mike Bilbee, a game warden who patrols the Dalton Highway from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay, said he’s seen caribou literally get beneath the pipeline and use it to scratch their backs.   

We arrived at our destination by traveling north on the Dalton Highway, a 414 mile long, two-lane gravel road beginning outside of Fairbanks and stretching to the Prudhoe Bay on the Arctic Ocean. In between are three settlements: Coldfoot (pop. 13), Wiseman (pop.22) and Deadhorse (25 permanent residents). After reaching the 66^th parallel, the southern edge of the Arctic Circle, we stopped for pictures before pushing onward. We stopped outside of Coldfoot,  setting up camp on the south fork of the Koyokuk River.

The Koyokuk’s south fork is a rocky bottomed, swift-flowing river, noted for its arctic char. While we were a bit early for the char migration, we did manage to supplement our diet with Arctic Grayling. Considered one of the arctic’s most sought after game fish – lake trout & arctic char being the others – grayling are small in comparison. A grayling of one pound is average, anything 2-3 pounds is a good catch and four pounds is world class. Noted for their tall dorsal fin, the grayling of the Koyokuk River were accommodating and feisty on light spinning gear. We caught enough to sate our appetites. Stuffed with butter, wrapped in tin foil and cooked over an open fire, they proved quite tasty.

While the fishing was good, we had to stay on our toes at all times. Fresh bear prints were visible in the soft, bare earth along the river. At one point I tried to bathe in the river, but after wading ankle deep into the Koyokuk I changed my mind. I’ve bathed in the lakes and rivers of the far north, but nothing like this. The water was cold it numbed my ankles – I as afraid to submerge. I left the bar of soap on a rock, returned to camp, grabbed a washcloth, a five gallon pail and took a sponge bath.

It was on the return trip, about two in the morning, when Tim and I caught sight of wolf near the side of the road. Black as coal, the wolf looked our way, almost as if our approaching vehicle was of interest. Then just like that, it was gone.     

Next: Floating the Little Susitna River

The final two defendants suspected of taking part in a meth lab operation at 28 Clay St., Le Roy, have gotten their get-out-jail-free cards.

Christopher J. Elmore and Koree R. Stephenson appeared in court this afternoon and Judge Robert C. Noonan granted First Assistant District Attorney David Gann's request to release both pending dismissal of the State charges against them by a lower court.

Like their three other co-defendants, Elmore and Stephenson are facing Federal drug charges and will be on supervised release under Federal jurisdiction. Elmore is also facing charges out of Le Roy for allegedly passing fake $10 bills. No bail had been set in that case, and it was not a factor in today's short hearing.

Bail had originally been set at $75,000 on all five defendants. The original state charge against all five was criminal possession of a controlled substance 2nd.

Yesterday afternoon Kari L. Riggi was released in the afternoon and Nathan D. Bernard was granted release in the morning on the State drug charges, though he's still serving a 90-day sentence on another charge. Joshua A. Miller, who appeared in court with his attorney, was already free pending trial but under a noon to 8 a.m. home curfew, which only allows him time to go to work.

At the federal level, all five are charged with conspiracy to manufacture, distribute or dispense 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Elmore also faces an enhanced weapons charge.

NOTE: This post confirms what we first reported yesterday that all five were due for release and that local charges are in the process of being dismissed.

(Billie Owens contributed to this story.)

Last night in Oakfield, the Oakfield-Alabama boys basketball team beat Elba 65-43.

A.J. Kehlenbeck had 27 points and 15 rebounds for O-A and Sam McCracken scored 18 points.

Zack Beechler scored 16 points for Elba. Matthew Ramsey, 11.

Both teams are now 6-5

More pictures after the jump:

The Batavia City Church's "City Gals" - featuring women and girls of all ages - display the cards they made for area veterans on Monday as part of an ongoing project.

Valentine's Day is still weeks away, but the City Gals made 80 cards on Monday for the men and women at the New York State Veteran's Home and the VA Hospital. Each attendee decorated cards with hearts, flowers and other designs while writing messages of love and encouragement. The cards will be sent to both facilities on Valentine's Day.

The idea for this project came from City Church member and volunteer Sue Gagne, who is also a member of the Genesee Veteran's Support Network. After talking to GVSN chairman Jim Neider, who wanted to see a community project of this kind undertaken for the residents of area Veterans' Homes, Gagne felt that the City Church's Women's Ministry (which is coordinating the City Gals project) would be "the perfect venue."

"Our church likes to get involved in the community," Gagne said. "This is the first time we've done [a Valentine's Day project for Veterans], so I look forward to seeing where it goes."

Gagne also said that the ladies are looking to schedule another "work party" (in her own words) in the coming weeks in order to meet the quota they set for themselves.

"We sure could use some help," she adds.

Women and girls of all ages are welcome to come in and help, regardless of whether or not they are members of the City Church.

A Rochester man with 12 prior convictions, including five felonies, rejected a plea offer Wednesday from the Genesee County District Attorney and will go to trial instead.

Reginald Wilson was arrested back in September for allegedly breaking into a home on State Street and was charged with burglary in the 2nd and criminal possession of stolen property. He was reportedly caught driving a vehicle stolen from the residence.

Because of his priors, Judge Robert Noonan initially refused bail to Wilson. But in November, Noonan offered him $100,000 bail or $200,000 bond. He remains in custody.

Yesterday, District Attorney Lawrence Friedman offered Wilson the chance to plead guilty to a class D violent felony in the second degree with sentencing as a second felony offender instead of a persistent offender. If convicted as a persistent offender, Wilson could serve a life sentence.

Wilson nixed the offer and a trial date was set for March 29, with a pretrial conference at 9:30 a.m. and jury selection at 10.

Shackled, wearing orange jail garb, his hair in tiny dreadlock braids, Wilson looked over his right shoulder a couple of times during his brief courtroom appearance. He scanned the gallery for friends or family but there were none.

The judge set a cut-off time at which the DA's offer is off the table for good. It's 11 a.m. Feb. 26.

BATAVIA, NY -- A Town of Pembroke board member was fined $200 yesterday following a bench trial in City Court for allowing fireworks to be detonated during a party at his house in June.

Several hundred people attended the party at Gary DeWind's house, according to Michael Mohun, his attorney. Mohun said the party was thrown in honor of DeWind's son, a major in the Army who was being sent to Afghanistan.

The casings for a total of eight rocket-type fireworks were recovered, Mohun said. "Not hundreds, but eight."

The trial was moved from Town of Pembroke Court to City Court because of DeWind's status as a board member and to avoid any possible conflict of interest. Judge Robert Balbick presided.

The charge was an infraction and carried fine of $80 plus a $120 surcharge.

"There was no property damage and nobody was hurt," Mohun said.

A blue Pontiac Trans Am is on fire with flames coming from the engine on the eastbound side of East Main Street between 400 Towers and Pizza Hut.