More than 2,300 National Grid customers are without power in the City and the Town of Batavia.
The outage area is north of East Main Street to about Clinton Street and goes as far north as Starowitz Road.
A crew has been assigned but there is no ETA for power restoration.
The trouble may have started at about 10 p.m. with a utility pole on State Street Road.
Billie and I are taking a little vacation -- some might call it a "staycation" since we're going to the Batavia Downs Hotel.
It's race night tonight and we'll have a good view.
But we'll also be without a scanner. That's the vacation part.
Ed Rath, candidate for the 61st State Senate District, up for election in November, visited Genesee County this week and met with local farmers to find out more about what issues they face in New York.
A two-car collision is reported in Darien at Broadway and Harlow roads. One of the vehicles went off the roadway and into the woods. Unknown injuries. Darien fire and EMS are responding.
UPDATE (By Howard) 1:34 p.m.: Two vehicles, not blocking, minor MVA with no injuries, a first-responder reports.
Demolition on a group of homes and businesses on East Main Street in Batavia began on this way to make a 55-unit, four-story apartment building to be known as Liberty Square.
The construction is being led by Home Leasing LLC, of Rochester, which specializes in providing low-income housing in the Finger Lakes region.
Twenty-eight of the apartments will be set aside for homeless veterans with the remainder designated as affordable for lower-income residents.
The properties are at 552, 554 and 556 E. Main St.
The total cost of the development is expected to exceed $12 million.
There will be 39 one-bedroom apartments, eight two-bedrooms targeting people with a household income of 60 percent of the area's median income.
Eagle Star Homes, a group serving veterans, is partnering with Home Leasing.
Amenities include a community room, fitness center, on-site laundry, raised garden beds, laptops for residents' use, and private outdoor space with every apartment. Rent will include all utilities. There will be an on-site "community leader" 24/7.
NYS Homes and Community Renewal is assisting with the project but attempts this afternoon to find out from various sources the amount of that assistance were unsuccessful. We were told there would be a press release with more information about the project next week.
Rendering of what the complex is expected to look like when completed.
A pair of large fields of sunflowers are in full bloom off of Wortendyke Road, at South Pearl Street Road, in the Town of Batavia.
A sign on a driveway between the two fields says that stems can be purchased for $1 each and payment can be made at a business at 9 Apollo Drive. The other side of the sign provides information for making an online payment.
We stopped by the business on Apollo Drive late today to try and find out more about the sunflower fields but nobody was in.
If the Native American casinos are able to conduct business in New York, then why can’t the privately owned and Regional Off-Track Betting gaming locations do the same?
“That’s certainly the argument that we have been making and, hopefully, we’ll have that answer very soon,” said Henry Wojtaszek, president and chief executive officer of Western Regional OTB, owner of Batavia Downs Gaming and Batavia Downs harness horse racing track.
Speaking by telephone today, Wojtaszek said he is cautiously optimistic that Gov. Andrew Cuomo will be revealing guidelines for the reopening of casinos in the near future.
“I think the news is that we will have guidelines soon, and we’ve done a lot to get our facility ready in anticipation of it. But we don’t have any time frame,” he said. “We’re optimistic -- and we use the word ‘soon’ – that we will be getting some guidelines.”
When it was mentioned that a rally organized by casino employees took place on Thursday in front of the Capitol in Albany, Wojtaszek said WROTB is in full support.
“We’ve been in touch with them but we did not have a representative there,” he said. “We certainly are with them in spirit – our workers are. It was good to see that people made the trip to Albany to let them know how important this is.”
He noted that management has been communicating with the New York State Gaming Commission on a regular basis.
The rally was led by Valerie McIntyre, table games supervisor at del Lago Resort & Casino in Seneca County, and Greg Mallette and Robin Torr, hotel managers at Vernon Downs and Tioga Downs Casino Resort, respectively.
Those casinos are privately owned and, like the OTB regions, are subject to state oversight.
McIntyre, in an excerpt from her speech, said that despite the many unknowns, the 5,200 or so casino employees in New York stand united.
“I ask Governor Cuomo on our behalf to please see us, please hear us,” she said. “We need to work, we need to support our families, we need to begin to live again, we need to cling to whatever bit of normalcy this society has left.”
Contrary to Cuomo’s opinion, McIntyre said casino employees are, indeed, essential.
“Because when our lights begin to go off and the refrigerator is empty – when our cars are parked because we cannot afford gas and when the bills pile up, we – right here – are the essential workers for our homes,” she said. “Governor Cuomo, here’s a message to you from us. Here we stand, here we ask to allow us to reopen.”
Native American-owned casinos, however, such Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino in Niagara Falls, have been open for two months.
“If the sovereign casinos can operate with a little guidance from the state, we – as 'New York Strong' casino employees – can implement and adhere to all CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and state regulations,” McIntyre said.
Reportedly, McIntyre and friends have a Facebook group with nearly 900 members and are “circulating” an online petition to reopen the casinos that has more than 2,400 signatures.
Additionally, if the Albany rally doesn’t produce any immediate results, the workers plan to hold rallies at del Lago and other casinos across the state.
Press release:
New Cases – As of 2 p.m.
Bowling center proprietors and managers are reaching out to state and local bowling association representatives and to the New York State Bowling Proprietors Association to find out what they can and cannot do when it comes to running their leagues for the 2020-21 season.
Normally, fall leagues begin just before or right after Labor Day, which is on Sept. 7th this year.
Last Friday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that bowling centers would be able to reopen on Aug. 17, ending a five-month shutdown of the state’s nearly 300 bowling establishments as New York dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The governor’s press release listed the following safety protocols for bowling centers:
Furthermore, in New York City, due to restrictions on indoor dining, food and beverage service will not be allowed in New York City bowling centers.
Still, those who operate these facilities have expressed a degree of confusion, seeking more specifics. They also have varying ideas of how they believe (to some extent, wishful thinking) things should proceed.
Proprietors and managers -- judging by initial conversations with league secretaries -- are anticipating a drop off in membership as a result of one-lane only and face covering mandates.
In an effort to answer their questions, The Batavian reached out to Paul Pettit, Genesee/Orleans public health director, with the following:
Q. Can a team in a league, let’s say of four members, bowl on a pair of lanes (as is normally the case) – having just one bowler on the approach at a time – and have the pair of lanes next to them dark? For example, one team on lanes 1-2, lanes 3-4 dark, another team on lanes 5-6, lanes 7-8 dark, another team on lanes 9-10, and so forth? This still meets the 50-percent occupancy requirement.
A. On Aug. 14, the Governor’s office published a press release outlining the stipulations for bowling alleys to safely reopen (see above). An interim guidance has yet to be released by the State. Based on the press release, every other lane must be closed.
Q. Do masks have to be worn on the approach, or can a bowler remove the mask as he or she steps onto the lane, and then put the mask back on when stepping off the approach?
A. Face masks must be work at all times.
Q. How is the 50-percent capacity determined?
A. The 50-percent capacity would be based on the establishments building occupancy (not by multiplying the number of lanes by a specific number).
Q. Is there a chance these restrictions could be eased?
A. These restrictions are set forth by the state. Locally, we do not have the jurisdiction to alter or lessen the state requirements. If the restrictions are lifted or lessened, the state would be in charge of making that formal announcement.
Q. What else can you share at this time?
A. Again, we are waiting for the state to deliver the formal guidance for bowling alleys. This is not the first time the state has allowed a business to reopen with little to no guidance.
Facilities should monitor the New York Forward website for specific guidelines when they are released. Facilities can also email specific questions to the Finger Lakes Regional Control Room at: flnyf@esd.ny.gov. We appreciate the patience of the community as we wait for the state to release the guidance.
------------
Doug Bohannon of Glens Falls, president of the New York State Bowling Proprietors Association, provided information about what is considered a “group or event”:
“We are allowed to operate at 50-percent capacity. The part in the guidance about ‘limiting the number of patrons/players to any event at the facility to no more than the current social gathering restrictions that are in effect for the region as a part of the State's phased reopening (i.e., 50 or fewer people in Phase Four 4 regions, as of Aug. 15, 2020)’ is confusing but I have obtained clarification from Albany which states that a league is not a group or event.
“This part of the guidance refers to, for example, a church group or a summer camp that wants to book an outing to your center. If that type of group wants to book an outing, then they are limited to 50 people.”
A house fire is reported at 2552 Pratt Road, Pembroke. East Pembroke fire is responding, along with the Town of Batavia fire, the city's FAST team, Oakfield, Alabama, Indian Falls, Corfu and Elba.
The city's first platoon is called to headquarters on Evans Street.
Command is calling for the road to be shut down.
UPDATE 1:18 p.m.: Stafford Fire Department is requested to stand by in Town of Batavia's Station #2.
UPDATE 1:20 p.m.: A neighbor near the blaze called dispatch to complain that fire trucks and volunteer firefighters are on his lawn.
UPDATE 1:22 p.m.: Command reports no flames at this point after attacked by interior crews; fire was heavy in the basement near the dryer; crews are venting the heavy smoke. A rehab unit is called in.
UPDATE 1:30 p.m.: Heavy char is reported on the kitchen floor, a result of fire in the basement, according to command. National Grid is called to the scene.
UPDATE 1:32 p.m.: A standby unit out of East Shelby is called to Town of Batavia's Station #1.
UPDATE 1:39 p.m.: The fire is out. Firefighters starting overhaul.
UPDATE 3:03 p.m. (photos and info from Alecia Kaus/Video News Service): According to East Pembroke Fire Chief Don Newton, the homeowner arrived on scene and found smoke coming from the house. No one was home at the time. The family dog, Camo, was found in the garage and is OK. However, Patches the family cat did not make it out. Fire investigators are on scene looking into the cause of the fire.
The financial world in which Town of Batavia leadership has governed in recent years has come to an end, Supervisor Gregory Post said Thursday.
“I have never in my wildest dreams thought I would have to use my ‘apocalypse bankroll’ that we have put together for the town in case of whatever potential disaster might come down the road,” Post said. “You put it there and plan for it – making sure that if the worst possible thing you could imagine happens, you could at least have some time to come up with a solution.”
Post and the Town Board have about five weeks to draft a preliminary budget for the 2021 fiscal year that begins in January, and projections at this point paint a bleak picture.
He said the current financial situation is the worst he’s seen in his 47 years in government, and he places the blame squarely on what he calls the “tax and spend” policies emanating from Albany.
“The people need to hear this. This is not a result of some COVID-19. The COVID-19 didn’t cause this,” Post said. “Nelson Rockefeller (New York governor from 1959-1973) started this and it has been getting progressively worse with each elected governor and Downstate politician for the last 45 years. So, here we are.”
Post said the board is struggling to figure out what the town’s tax increase is going to be for next year.
“We already know what our expenses are going to be – we can’t cut anything. We have been essential and lean as long as we have been. There’s not a lot of service that we can cut,” he said. “We only have three people in the highway department, including a highway superintendent who is making a quarter of what other highway superintendents make. It’s a part-time job for that.”
He said New York State is “probably going to be drastically short of money next year,” estimating a state deficit of $10-14 billion.
“But the thing is when we started out this year, the state was over five billion dollars in the red and the governor has the opportunity to change his reimbursement schedule and the percentages,” he said. “And he’s already reduced it by 20 percent, and I would not be surprised if it goes to more.”
Post said he expects significant reductions in revenue sharing from Genesee County, noting that the county is “going to have to come up with somewhere between $6 and $9 million that they weren’t anticipating having to come up with, and they don’t have any other means to do that (other than cut or end revenue sharing with towns and villages).”
'Well, the State is Broke'
“It’s not a failed policy of the county or the towns or the villages, it’s a failed policy of a progressive state that has been taxing and spending since Rockefeller,” Post said. “The state has never put a limit on the spending, programs and being progressive. If you look at the consequences, and I’m serious when I say this, but every smart owner of a business that I’ve done any work for in the last 30 years says the same thing – this can’t last; the state cannot keep doing what it is doing, or it’s going to go broke. Well, the state is broke.”
The supervisor also said he doesn’t foresee the federal government bailing out the state.
“That means that the state reimbursements to all the Upstate counties are probably not going to be there,” he predicted. “I think you’re going to see whatever they do have funneled to the state education department, because that is sacrosanct, and I think the counties are going to be left to hang in the wind. The counties will have no choice but to pass those reductions in revenue onto the towns and villages. Pretty much the consensus of the supervisors that I talk to is that we’re all looking at a double-digit tax increase.”
Even if a federal stimulus bill is approved with money appropriated to the New York State, it will just be a “Band-Aid” – not a long-term solution, he said.
“What about next year? Without some completely restructured reforms on these mandated expenses that counties have to pay, it’s going to snowball,” he said. “They tell the counties how many probation officers per criminal, how many people you have to have in the Department of Social Services, how many employees to dedicate to this and that. You have to do that or they won’t send you any funding."
Genesee County as 'Lean' as Can Be
Post gave Genesee County officials high marks for keeping things together during an arduous stretch.
“The county is running as lean as a county can run – too lean, in my opinion,” he said. “They haven’t funded their highway operations to the degree that they need to in order to keep up with the maintenance of the highways and the bridges. They haven’t raised the taxes because they can’t bust the (tax) cap. They refinanced everything they can refinance. And they’re managing their cash better than almost any other county in the state.”
He said that while he doesn’t fault the county, “they’re the ones getting blamed by all these local communities.”
“The sales tax money that used to just come (revenue sharing) was like a welfare check, and that’s not going to come next year. It can’t. I don’t think anyway it could come to the same degree that it has in the past,” he said.
Post said the county is unable to raise property taxes without “busting the tax cap and losing all the state reimbursement, so they’ll need the sales tax.”
“The county has been spot-on and has given us every single dime in matching funds that they’ve received on a pro-rated basis,” he said. “They have done a fabulous job, but I cannot count on New York State for next year. I would hate to be (County Manager) Matt Landers and this county legislature right now.”
Town Taxes Likely to Increase
As far as the Town of Batavia is concerned, Post said two-thirds of its total revenue comes from county revenue sharing.
“I’m probably looking at a pretty significant tax increase,” he advised. “We’ll try to not use the unexpended fund balance and we’ve already tried to cut $750,000 in spending out of this year’s budget. I thank God that the town board has worked as hard as they have worked to make sure that we have a cushion going into next year.”
Post said that using $1 million out of the unexpended fund balance to expand the Town Hall is off the table at this point.
“We’re going to try not to use that, but save it and put it towards the consequence of this state’s actions next year,” he said, adding that he plans to keep the Town Hall lobby closed and operate remotely – one of many actions being taken to cut costs.
He said he feels bad for the half-dozen town supervisors that are in their first year.
“I can’t imagine what it must be like for them,” he said. “It has gotten worse and worse every year, and we all shrug our shoulders and work harder to keep it going. But this thing is going to cause a lot of people to rethink wanting to serve in office or be involved in government ever again.”
In a couple developments from the Batavia Town Board meeting on Wednesday:
Morgan Leaton was hired as a full-time court clerk at a pay rate of $17 per hour.
Post said Baubie’s previous duties had include water/wastewater billing, but with four times the number of accounts to handle, it made sense to create the water bill collector position.
Post said he wasn’t willing to speculate on the nature of the projects since he has yet to see anything in writing. It was previously reported that HP Hood officials plan to construct an addition to the plant’s refrigeration warehouse unit.
After some sprucing up and a few upgrades, the legendary Pok-A-Dot is ready to reopen after its long coronavirus-induced hibernation.
There are new tables inside that are more socially distanced, no seating at the counter, a dining counter outside, and soon, a walk-up window for takeout orders.
But the biggest upgrade, perhaps, isn't visible inside the favorite eatery of famous authors, visiting dignitaries, and TV show producers: you can now order your beef-on-weck or eggs-and-peppers-on-toast online.
The new website is pokadotbatavia.com.
The famously cash-only diner will now also take credit cards. There's fancy new computer equipment to handle all of these modern transactions.
The Pok-A-Dot has come a long way since friends Joe Marone and Phil Pastore decided 67 years ago to open a hot-dog stand hard against Route 63.
You can once again meet at the Dot starting at 9 a.m. tomorrow (Friday).
For all of our previous Pok-A-Dot coverage, click here.
Owners Phyllis Pastore-Beers and Leona Pastore.
Online ordering and curbside pickup are strongly encouraged.
Tim Beers
A 21-year-old Alden resident has identified himself to Sheriff's Office investigators as the driver of a car that struck a motorcyclist who was down in the roadway following a collision just before 9 p.m. on Friday in Corfu.
Alexander J. Wuerch has been charged with leaving the scene of an incident without reporting resulting in serious physical injury.
Investigators believe Wuerch was the driver of a 2012 Hyundai Tucson that struck Travis R. Hartloff, 26, of Attica.
Hartloff was driving a motorcycle southbound on Route 77 when a car ahead of him slowed to turn into an ice cream shop. Hartloff's bike reportedly struck the vehicle and Hartloff was thrown from the bike into the middle of the roadway.
Another southbound vehicle then struck Harloff causing serious physical injuries. He was flown by Mercy Flight to ECMC where he is in critical condition.
Wuerch turned himself in at about 5 p.m. today.
The charge he's facing is a Class E felony. He was issued an appearance ticket and released.
The incident remains under investigation.
Previously:
Press release:
Commercial fitness-related facilities, gyms and indoor physical-activity-related classes in Genesee and Orleans counties will be allowed to reopen on Monday, Aug. 24th, announced Legislative chairs Rochelle Stein for Genesee, and Lynne Johnson for Orleans, today.
The guidelines apply to fitness activities and facilities -- including but not limited to standalone/hotel/residential/office/higher education institutions gyms and fitness centers, yoga/Pilates/barre studios, boxing/kickboxing gyms, fitness boot camps, CrossFit or other plyometric boxes, other fitness classes, dance studios, martial arts studios, spin, rowing, etc., -- will be allowed to reopen if they have completed the state requirements as noted below.
Each facility will be subject to a county health inspection within two weeks of their opening to ensure proper protocols are in place and adhere to State guidelines to protect customers and staff.
Although we are proceeding with limited guidance from the state, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments will begin inspections next week for fitness-related facilities and gyms as listed above that have completed the required documentation,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.
Prior to reopening and inspection, gym owners and managers will have to adhere to the NYS guidelines which can be found on the NY Forward websiteand completing the following steps:
1. Develop a business safety plan.
2. Have an HVAC inspection by an approved professional.
3. Complete the affirmation for each facility location that they have reviewed and understand the New York State guidelines and will implement these protocols. Click this link for the affirmation statement and choose gyms and fitness centers.
Once the business safety plan and air handling inspection are complete and an attestation form is submitted, Genesee and Orleans Counties will begin the process of scheduling inspections. These steps must be completed prior to scheduling an inspection. For Genesee County call (585) 344-2580, ext. 5555, and for Orleans County call (585) 589-3278.
“With our infection rate holding steady at or below 1 percent, we are confident we can reopen gyms and fitness facilities in a way that is both safe and responsible,” Stein said.
“Our counties are pro-business counties and we will support any business trying to open as best as we can," Johnson said. "I want to remind our residents and gym/fitness related owners that we are still in the midst of a pandemic. The tides may shift in this battle at any minute and we must do everything we can to prevent a second wave. So be smart, wear a mask, and follow all safety protocols."
Gym owners should monitor the New York Forward website to answer questions or learn of the latest updates.
Press release:
New Cases – As of 2 p.m.
A car vs. bicycle accident is reported in the city at Oak Street and Raymond Avenue. The cyclist is conscious and alert and has a leg injury. City fire and Mercy medics responding.
New Listing - 9887 South Street Road, Pavilion. Beautiful maintained home features three bedrooms, 1 1/2 Bathrooms. Custom cherry kitchen w/ granite 2012, library w/ custom built ins, fireplace in living room w/ custom mantle, fireplace in basement, patio and 10 acres! Click here for more information, call Michelle Dills today – 585-314-7269
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