batavia

Eight local volunteer fire companies are holding open houses this weekend and I was able to drop in on a couple of them today, though by the time I got to Stafford, things were just wrapping up. But the Perkins kids were still there, so we thought, we'll get a picture of them inside one of the fire trucks.

Carter, 4, was pretty done for the day and not really into it. One-year-old Elli was having none of it, but older sister Leyna, 7, was all smiles.

Below are pictures from Bethany and Town of Batavia.

Here's a list of tomorrow's open houses:

Byron Fire Department
6357 E. Main St., Byron
Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Fire-related demonstrations; mutual aid exercises, plus blood pressure checks, truck tours and trying on gear.

East Pembroke Fire Dept.
2623 Main Road, East Pembroke
Sunday, 9 a.m. to noon

Elba Fire Department
4 S. Main St., Elba
Sunday
Equipment displays and station tours.

To find out more about supporting your local fire department, visit ReadyGenesee.com.

Press release:

The Batavia Muckdogs today announced the start of their reading program, designed to promote reading amongst the youth of the local communities. Along with the help of New York’s 529 College Savings Program, 2017 will mark the fifth year of the “HIT THE BOOKS with the Batavia Muckdogs” reading program.   

As part of this program, the Muckdogs have provided various schools and libraries across local counties with customized bookmarks. On the back of these bookmarks, children can have a parent, guardian, teacher or librarian initial each time they complete a book. When a child completes 10 books, they can redeem the bookmark at the Dwyer Stadium box office for a FREE TICKET to any Sunday-Thursday Batavia Muckdogs’ game!

In addition to the free ticket, the child will also receive a prize courtesy of New York’s 529 College Savings Program. If a child reads 20 books, they will be entered into a drawing to win a backpack with school supplies, provided by New York’s 529 College Savings Program; along with the opportunity to throw out the first pitch at a Muckdogs game. 

In addition to the many participating schools, bookmarks will be made available to children at the following local libraries:

·         Richmond Library (Batavia)

·         Lee-Whedon Memorial Library (Medina)

·         Byron-Bergen Public Library

·         Haxton Memorial Library (Oakfield)

·         Hoag Library (Albion)

·         Pavilion Public Library

·         Woodward Memorial Library (Le Roy)

·         Holley Community Free Library

Any questions about the reading program or redeeming for tickets can be answered by Josh Swan, at 585-343-5454, ext. 1005.

The shuttering of the Muller Quaker Dairy opened doors for Michael Welch.

The part-time pastor always wanted to own his own business, be his own boss, and with a three-month severance package and a program through the unemployment office aimed to help the unemployed start companies, Welch decided it was time to turn dream into reality.

"I’m a pastor and I believe in God and I just asked the Lord if this what we’re supposed to do, just let the doors all be open," Welch said. "And if it’s not, just stop, stop it. All of the doors have been open all along the way, not to say it hasn’t been hard work. It’s been extremely hard work, especially at the end here."

At first, his wife, Paula, was skeptical, even though she also enjoyed his hobby of garage sales, estate sales, and auctions. But as doors along the way kept staying open, she realized a retail store of their own might be exactly what God wanted them to do.

Tomorrow, they open Welch and Craine Trading Post, 60 Liberty St., Batavia (the main entrance is really on Liberty, behind the Pok-A-Dot).  

The store features home furniture and decor, architectural salvage, handcrafted and repurposed furniture and household items.

 Welch added "trading post" to the business name because he wanted people to know the store sold a variety of items.

"We’re not just going to have like 100 beds, or 100 dressers," Welch said "We’re going to have a whole different mix of things. Some of it is going to be old. Some of it is going to be new."

Michael and Paula long enjoyed going to garage sales together and then about six years ago, Michael discovered auctions. He enjoyed the hunt for antiques and the rush of bidding and winning on favorite pieces.

"At first, I was bringing pieces home and it fit perfectly, and then I was bringing more pieces home and then it didn’t fit too perfectly," Welch said. "Finally, Paula is like, ‘this stuff, you’ve got to do something with this. There is too much stuff.’ "

That's when he started to think his hobby could maybe someday become a business.

As he was going through the unemployment business program, he mentioned some of his ideas to Brian Kemp, co-owner of T-Shirts Etc., and Kemp loved his ideas.

"I'd like to do something like that," Welch said Kemp said.

As they talked, Kemp told Welch about the Batavia Development Corp. and how they have low-interest loans and grants to help small businesses get started in Batavia.

That started a whole other long process. He had to write a business plan and the BDC Board had him revise it a few times before his plan was approved and the project was approved for assistance.

Tomorrow, the grand opening is at 11 a.m. and then from 7 to 11 p.m., the Tommy Z Band, out of Buffalo, plays a free blues concert.

Ray Cianfrini, recipient of Distinguished Service Award from the Genesee County Bar Association.

Press release:

Kiwanis Club President Jocelyn Sikorski and Genesee County Bar Association President Peter Casey announced the awards during an annual dinner held at Batavia Country Club on Thursday, April 27. The speaker at the dinner was Lewis R. Robinson, Secret Service Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office.

Kiwanis Criminal Justice Award

The Kiwanis Club of Batavia Criminal Justice Award is presented to a member or members of the community, law enforcement, or a criminal justice agency serving the citizens of Genesee County whose exceptional career achievements and conscientiousness to citizenship have demonstrated a spirit of selfless public service or demonstrated an act of exceptional valor or heroism.

THE 2017 AWARD RECIPIENTS ARE:
Investigator Ronald “Pete” G. Welker, Genesee County Sheriff’s Office
Ronald “Pete” Welker started his career with the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office on May 11, 1994, as a Correction Officer.  He was promoted to Deputy Sheriff on Feb. 3, 1996, and then promoted to the rank of Investigator on April 1, 2000. As an Investigator, Pete has been assigned to the Local Drug Task Force where he has tirelessly conducted investigations into the sale and distribution of drugs throughout Genesee County and effected arrests against those who use and sell illegal drugs. Due to the nexus between drugs and crime, Investigator Welker has also proven himself to be an extremely valuable information resource for perpetrator identification that has resulted in the apprehension of criminals for felony crimes such as robbery, burglary, attempted murder, and assault. During his 22-plus years as a member of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, Investigator Welker has received numerous letters of appreciation from the public. In 2009, Pete received the “Deputy of the Year Award” by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office and is also the recipient of four Commendation Awards and two Meritorious Awards. Investigator Welker was nominated for this award by Sheriff William A. Sheron Jr.

Court Attorney William G. Zickl, Genesee County Court
Prior to assuming his current position as the Court Attorney for the Genesee County Court on Jan. 1, 2017, William G. Zickl devoted 29 years of service to the Genesee County District Attorney’s Office, the local Law Enforcement Community and the citizens of Genesee County. Zickl prosecuted hundreds of cases and represented the People of the State of New York in numerous appeals and post-judgment applications. He represented the District Attorney’s Office in all violation of probation cases in the Genesee County Court and in various treatment courts, prosecuted firearms cases, and provided legal counsel to the DA’s Office. He handled the County’s pistol permit revocation/suspension proceedings for a number of years, worked closely with the Genesee County Local Drug Enforcement Task Force, and prepared search warrants 24 hours a day, seven days a week when needed. In addition, he also found the time to volunteer many hours as an attorney-advisor and as a judge in the NYS Bar Association’s High School Mock Trial Tournament, addressed various community groups on the topics of firearms and use-of-force laws, participated in several in-service law enforcement training programs and also organized and participated in mock trials for police officers through the Rural Police Training Institute based at Genesee Community College. Court Attorney William Zickl was nominated for this award by District Attorney Lawrence Friedman.

Officers Marc Lawrence and Matthew Wojtaszczyk, Batavia Police Department
Officers Lawrence and Wojtaszczyk were integral in creating the first ever Batavia Police Department Explorer Post. Both officers identified a need to get younger people involved in policing at an early age. They spent countless hours of their own time researching what an Explorer Post is and what the benefits to, not only the individual involved but also the benefits to the agency and community are. Marc and Matt reached out to the Boy Scouts of America to form a partnership and to guide the process along. They completed several recruitment drives in conjunction with the Batavia City School District, spending many hours speaking with youth in the community about the benefits of the Explorer Program and police work in general. Their efforts finally came to fruition on Jan. 25 with the first meeting of the Batavia Police Department Explorer Post #2017. The first class consists of approximately 15 youths, ages 14 to 18 years old, who have demonstrated an interest in law enforcement or a related field. This program will help to foster good relationships between law enforcement and the community and will serve as a model to other departments looking to begin such a program. Officers Marc Lawrence and Matthew Wojtaszczyk were nominated for this award by Chief Shawn Heubusch.

Charles L. Mancuso Mock Trial Award
The “Charles L. Mancuso Award” was presented to the members of the Pembroke High School Mock Trial Team as winners of the 2017 GLOW (Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming counties) District Competition in the New York State Bar Association High School Mock Trial Tournament. The award reads “Dedicated to the Memory of an Outstanding Attorney-Citizen,” Charles Mancuso, a Batavia lawyer, served as coordinator of the local competition until his untimely death ten years ago. The Pembroke High School team members honored at the dinner include: Seth R. Librock, Rachel J. Tebor, Tyler Indiana Wood, Kassandra E. Sanner, Eli J. Fox, Aiden J. Costich, Matthew K. Reeb, Bethany M. Zwolinski, Sophia R. Zwolinski, Theodore O. Pintabona, Coach Paul L. Schuler Jr., and attorney-advisors Mary Ann Wiater and David Saleh. Coordinator of the local Mock Trial Program, Kristie DeFreze, and Genesee County Bar Association President Peter Casey presented the award.

Genesee County Bar Association DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

Raymond Cianfrini

Genesee County Clerk Michael Cianfrini made a special presentation to Raymond Cianfrini on behalf of the Genesee County Bar Association. Attorney Raymond F. Cianfrini will retire May 1 after a distinguished 45-year career practicing law in Oakfield. A graduate of Oakfield-Alabama High School, and later a member of its Hall of Fame, he went on to college and was drafted after completing his first year of law school and served our country in the Army from 1968-1970. Cianfrini started out as a young lawyer in 1972, first working with Oakfield attorney Albert Avery. During his tenure thereafter, he has served as an Assistant County Attorney and Assistant District Attorney. However, his devotion to his Oakfield law practice and clients is undoubtedly the hallmark of his legal career. His service and dedication to the community have likewise been exemplary. He was elected to, and has held positions as, OACS School Board Member, Village Trustee, Mayor of the Village of Oakfield from 2000-2007, and County Legislator from 2008 until the present time. He has been chairman of the Genesee County Legislature since 2014. Cianfrini has also contributed countless hours to the Oakfield Historical Society, Oakfield Betterment Committee, Oakfield youth sports, and other local nonprofit groups. He and his wife, Karen, raised their three children, Christy, Mike, and Steve in Oakfield. Together, they remain devoted to their children and grandchildren. The Genesee County Bar Association is honored to present Raymond F. Cianfrini, member and past president, with the award for Distinguished Service to the legal community.

William Zickl

Keynote Speaker Lewis Robinson, with the Secret Service. Robinson spoke about the history of the agency and its activities since its founding and how it operates today. 

Batavia PD: Assistant Chief Todd Crossett, officers Matthew Wojtaszczyk and Marc Lawrence, and Chief Shawn Heubusch.

Genesee County Sheriff's Office: Sheriff William Sheron, Investigator Pete Welker, Undersheriff Greg Walker, and Chief Deputy Jerome Brewster

Pembroke's winning mock trial team.

With creek water running high, Capt. Bob Fix wanted to use the opportunity this week for swift water training for City of Batavia firefighters.

This morning, a crew assembled on the banks of the Tonawanda just off South Lyon Street to first practice keeping themselves safe in the water and then work at grabbing a floating person and hauling him to shore.

The safety training involved floating down the stream feet first and then trying to climb over a boom (simulating a log in the water). Fix wanted firefighters to see that if they encountered such an obstacle in a real-life situation, they could never pull themselves over it. On the next evolution, the firefighters swam hard right at the "log" and then propelled themselves over it.

Submitted photo: Batavia CTE Center FFA members, from left: Alex Morales (Batavia), Rebecca Meyers (Batavia), MacKenzie Fox (Byron-Bergen), Melissa Keller (Pembroke), Tracy Rudgers (Attica), Stella Glosser (Warsaw), Cherie Glosser (Warsaw), Rebecca Semmel (Warsaw), Elizabeth Jurs (Elba), Allison Pajda (Attica), Rachel Smith (Churchville-Chili), and Tyler Curbelo (Batavia).

Press release:

Two Batavia Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center students will be representing the Western Region at the New York State FFA Convention in Leadership Development Events on May 11-13 at the State University of New York at Morrisville.

While competing at the FFA sub-states competition on March 18 at Pioneer High School, Allison Pajda, an Attica High School junior in the Animal Science program, placed first in the People in Agriculture Leadership Development Competition, and Melissa Keller, a Pembroke High School senior in the Agri-Business Academy, placed second in the Employment Interview Skills competition.

In the Employment Interview Skills competition, students had to complete a phone interview, an in-person interview with three evaluators, and write a follow up letter. In addition, students’ resumes, cover letters, and applications were also evaluated. The judges’ scores in all of the above areas were averaged to determine the overall placing. For the People in Agriculture competition, Allison had to research and present on five different careers in agriculture and choose one career to write an essay about. Allison interviewed a local livestock producer and wrote her essay on his career.

New York State has three different sub-state regions and the top two students in each region move on to compete at the State Convention for the Leadership Development Competitions. Prior to the sub-states competition, 12 Batavia CTE Center students competed at the district competition, which was held at Springville High School on Feb. 28. Those 12 students scored high enough to advance to the sub-states competition.

The Batavia CTE Center FFA program focuses on premier leadership, personal growth and career success. The advisors are Holly Partridge, Animal Science instructor, and Kerri Richardson, Agri-Business Academy instructor.

Sub-states Competition Results:
Employment Interview Skills -- Melissa Keller (Pembroke), second
People in Agriculture -- Allison Pajda (Attica), first
People in Agriculture -- Tyler Curbelo (Batavia), third
Parliamentary Procedure Team -- third

District Competition Results:

Prepared Public Speaking -- Melissa Keller (Pembroke), first
Prepared Public Speaking -- Rebecca Meyers (Batavia), sixth
Extemporaneous Public Speaking -- Tracy Rudgers (Attica), fifth
Extemporaneous Public Speaking -- Cherie Glosser (Warsaw), ninth
FFA Creed -- Liz Jurs (Elba), third
FFA Creed -- Alex Morales (Batavia), fourth
Employment Interview -- Tracy Rudgers (Attica), second
Employment Interview -- Melissa Keller (Pembroke), third
Employment Interview -- Stella Glosser (Warsaw), fifth

People in Agriculture -- Allison Pajda (Attica), first
People in Agriculture -- Tyler Curbelo (Batavia), second
Agricultural Issues – MacKenzie Fox (Byron-Bergen), Rachel Smith (Churchville-Chili, and Rebecca Myers (Batavia), second
Parliamentary Procedure -- Rebecca Semmel (Warsaw), Melissa Keller (Pembroke), Tracy Rudgers (Attica), Cherie Glosser (Warsaw), Elizabeth Jurs (Elba), and Stella Glosser (Warsaw), second

About the Batavia Career and Technical Education Center

The Batavia Career and Technical Education Centeris a program of the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership. The Partnership operates as a Board of Cooperative Educational Services providing shared programs and services to 22 component school districts located in Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston and Steuben counties in New York.

Glenn H. Quintern is indicted for the crime of second-degree burglary, a Class C violent felony. It is alleged that on Nov. 5 Quintern knowingly entered or remained unlawfully within a dwelling on Central Avenue in the City of Batavia with the intent to commit a crime.

The Genesee County Women's Republican Club will hold its annual Spring Breakfast beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 13, at the Dibble Family Center.

Cost is $20 per member, or $25 for nonmembers. If you like, you can sign up to become a member at the breakfast.

RSVP and payment must be received by May 8. Contact Michele Smith at msmith1548@frontier.net or mail to her at 20 Canterbury Lane, Bergen NY 14416.

The Dibble Family Center is located at 4110 W. Main Street Road, Batavia.

The full breakfast will include eggs, fresh fruit, Danish, muffins, bacon, potatoes, and a carving station.

GO ART! will present a collection of photographs depicting the lives and sacrifices of Latino workers in this country along the U.S.-Mexican border and the families they left behind in Mexico in a special exhibit next month.

"DREAM of America: Separation & Sacrifice in the Lives of North Country Latino Immigrants" is the title of the collection by Lisa Catalfamo-Flores.

The opening reception is from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 16, at GO ART!, located at 201 E. Main St. in Downtown Batavia.

The exhibit will be subsequently available for viewing during these gallery hours:

Tuesday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., 6 – 8 p.m.
Saturday: 10  – 11 a.m.

Contact:
Gregory Hallock, assistant director
(585) 343-9313
ghallock@goart.org

Most of this information is from Katherine Bunting-Howarth, New York Sea Grant associate director, Cornell University, the rest is from GLOW Solid Waste:

Twice a year New York residents can take their unused pharmaceuticals back to collection sites statewide --  "no questions asked." It's part of the National Presecription Drug Take Back Day. The first such event for 2017 is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday, April 29.

In Genesee County, the drop-off sites set up outside (for drive-by drop-offs) for this occasion are at:

• the Batavia Police Department parking lot, 10 W. Main St. in the City of Batavia;
• the Pembroke Town Highway barns at the junction of routes 5 and 77, East Pembroke, the drop-off site will be manned by the Sheriff's Office
• Le Roy PD

In addition, drop boxes are located at the NY State Police -- Batavia Barracks, 4525 W. Saile Drive, Batavia; the GC Sheriff's Office at 165 Park Road, Batavia; and the Village of Le Roy Police Department, 3 W. Main St. (The Le Roy location also accepts sharps, according to GLOW Region Solid Waste.)

Why people should properly dispose of unwanted medications -- both presription and over-the-counter -- is highlighted in the "Undo the Environmental Chemical Brew: Keep Unwanted Medications and Chemicals Out of the Great Lakes" guide developed by New York Sea Grant.

The guide is posted online at www.nyseagrant.org/unwantedmeds.

The guide written by New York Sea Grant Coastal Education Specialist Helen Domske, associate director of the Great Lakes Program at the University of Buffalo, Buffalo, includes tips on how citizens can keep unwanted pharmaceuticals and personal care products, also called PPCPs, out of local waters and out of the Great Lakes system.

"Taking unused prescription drugs to collection sites helps reduce the impact of unwanted substances on the water resource that provides drinking water to 42 million people in the United States and Canada and aquatic habitat for a host of fishes and other wildlife," Domske said.

The Undo the Chemical Brew guide lists 17 different types of PPCPs, including antibiotics, hormones, contraceptives, antidepressants, cosmetics, and vitamins, that are finding their way into the Great Lakes, the source of drinking water for 42 million people in the United States and Canada.

Research by New York Sea Grant and other science organizations has tracked the feminization of fish populations downstream from wastewater treatment plants to estrogen and its components found in prescription drugs.

"Researchers are increasingly documenting the impact of bioactive chemical substances in PPCPs throughout the aquatic food web on fishes, frogs, mussels and other freshwater organisms. We do not want people flushing unwanted and unused medicines down the toilet or drain," Domske said.

A New York Sea Grant-funded, two-year research project that began in February 2016 is examining the effectiveness of advanced water treatment options, environmental levels and potential effects of pharmaceuticals in New York waters.

The biannual National Prescription Drug Take Back Days are an initiative of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency in cooperation with law enforcement agencies nationwide. Authorized collection sites are posted on the website at https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/. 

New York Sea Grant, a cooperative program of Cornell University and the State University of New York, is one of 33 university-based programs under the National Sea Grant Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. New York Sea Grant has Great Lakes offices in Buffalo, Newark and Oswego.

Press release:

Calling all eighth-11^th graders in Genesee County and any other individuals interested in Youth Court! On May 2, Genesee County Youth Court will be celebrating Law Day from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Old Court House (7 Main St., Batavia) to show the community how our court operates.

Applications and brochures will be available along with program staff to answer questions for anyone who is interested in joining.

Youth Court is a voluntary alternative for young people who face disciplinary action through school or law enforcement. Youth who are referred admit to the charge and appear before a court of their peers. There are three youth judges who listen to both sides of the issue and determine an appropriate disposition.  The goal of youth court is to improve youth citizenship skills and decrease problematic behavior. 

Youth Court members learn about the judicial process and law enforcement, group decision making and develop their public speaking skills, participate in a great leadership opportunity, and learn and participate in all roles of the courtroom: judge, prosecution, defense, and bailiff. 

Eighth-11^th graders who are interested can attend Law Day on May 2 or go online to download an application from the Genesee County website www.co.genesee.ny.us , where you will find a link on the Youth Bureau page. Applications are due by July 28. Interviews of potential candidates will take place in August with the training to begin in October. 

For more information on the Genesee County Youth Court, please contact Chelsea Elliott at the Genesee County Youth Bureau, 344-3960.

Roamer, who went missing two days ago after escaping from his owner when charged by another dog, was spotted today by Councilwoman Rose Mary Christian on Clifton Avenue.

Christian called Batavia PD and Animal Control Officer Jimmy Shefflin responded, but he couldn't find him.

At 5 p.m., Rose Mary and her daughter Raelene went looking again. Raelene spotted Roamer behind a house on Clifton Avenue. She didn't try to approach Roamer, she said, because he seemed really scared. She called Don Mengs who came over right away with his wife and Roamer's brother Elvis. 

From the video, you can see, Roamer was definitely happy to see Don.

Raelene said she and Rose Mary only knew about Roamer because they had seen the posts on The Batavian.