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Two county residents earn honors for Garfinkel Essay Contest

By Billie Owens

Two local Genesee Community College students were recently honored for their entries in the Annual Garfinkel Essay Contest. It's sponsored by the Historical Society of the Courts of the State of New York.

GCC student Kevin Volk, of Batavia, was awarded Second Place for his essay, "A Brief Examination of the Difficulties in Finding Justice for the Victims of the Triangle Factory Fire, 1911."

Volk's essay points out the importance the 1911 Triangle Factory Fire had in New York State, and how this tragedy began the wheels of change to protect factory employees and improve working conditions.

His award-winning essay can be found on the following Historical Society of the Courts Web site: http://www.courts.state.ny.us/history/essay/2011/essay11.htm

Phyllis Washburn, of Le Roy, received an honorable mention.

The Historical Society of the Courts was chartered to preserve the legal history of New York state and foster understanding and public appreciation of court history.

Police Beat: A pair of DWIs

By Howard B. Owens

Shyqwan D. Foster, 20, of 188 Elmdorf Ave., Rochester, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, failure to dim headlights and moving from lane unsafely. Foster was stopped at 3:21 a.m. on West Main Street by Officer Darryl Streeter.

Ryan Charles Bishop, 20, of 9 Lathrop Ave., Le Roy, is charged with DWI and aggravated driving with a BAC of .18 or greater. Bishop was stopped Friday morning in the Village of Le Roy by Le Roy Police.

Ranzenhofer announces grant for Richmond Memorial Library

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

New York State Senator Michael H. Ranzenhofer has announced that Richmond Memorial Library will receive $3,500 in funding from the Public Library Construction Grant Program for a replacement window in the Children’s Room. 

“This grant will serve as a reinvestment in Richmond Memorial Library in the City of Batavia and will ultimately allow existing patrons and future generations to enjoy all the services the library has to offer,” Senator Ranzenhofer said.

The grant funds are from $14 million in capital funds for public library construction provided in the 2010 State Budget. Grants can pay up to a maximum of 50 percent of total eligible project costs and libraries must provide funds to pay for the remaining costs of the project. 

New York’s public libraries are in need of renovation and upgrading. A recent survey showed a documented need for public library construction and renovation projects totaling more than $2.5 billion. More than 40 percent of the public library buildings in communities across New York are over 60 years old. Many of New York’s local public libraries are unable to accommodate users with disabilities, are energy inefficient, cannot provide internet and computer and other electronic technologies to users because of outdated and inadequate electrical wiring. 

Project activities and expenditures eligible for grants from the $14 million Public Library Construction Grant Program include the renovation and/or rehabilitation of existing space, including roof replacement, purchase and installation of alternative energy resources and new HVAC systems, windows, doors, and lighting systems, electrical upgrades, and construction of new or replacement of old walkways and parking lots.

Sports site LeagueHound.com created by college students from Batavia

By Brittany Baker

Earlier this year, Corey Brown and a few of his college friends found themselves in a futile hunt for adult sports leagues to join in their spare time.

"We were searching around for leagues and eventually got sick of it," he said. "We wondered, 'Why can't you ever find sports leagues unless you hear about it from a friend of a friend of a friend?'"

Instead of giving up, Brown and his buddies got to work to solve the problem. They did more research and created the Web site, LeagueHound.com.

"Basically, we're doing the work for other adults like us who want to find sports leagues in their area," he explained.

Brown enlisted the help of his friends, Eric Bartz, Tyler Kossow and Candice Lymburner to get the project going. Now, LeagueHound is functioning quite well -- and is growing every day.

Although he isn't living in Batavia anymore, Brown (who is working on his master's degree at Niagara University) still has a soft spot for his hometown.

"Sports can mean a lot to someone from a small town and that's probably why this was so important to me," he said.

Brown admits that he knew nothing about creating Internet sites when he began, but by mid-February, he had learned the basics and began putting things together. When asked when the Web site would be finished, Brown laughed.

"It will never be finished. New sports leagues can always be added, and we're not trying to put something together for just Western New York or just New York state. Actually, at first we wanted to make a nationwide Web site, but we figured New York would be a good start."

After starting out in Buffalo and Rochester, Brown and his buddies have begun to branch out toward Syracuse scouting for sports leagues.

"We'll work towards the big cities and then try to fill in the gaps in between," he said.

Researching isn't easy, as the college students have found -- it takes weeks to get even a small city covered.

"You have to look in every community center and every bar...there are actually a lot of leagues out there, they are just hard to find. It's the most difficult thing to deal with but we want to be the ones to do it so our clientele doesn't have to."

LeagueHound.com is up and running -- ready for more sports leagues seeking players to send along their information and more potential players wanting some adult sports to enjoy.

Sports site, LeagueHound.com created by college students from Batavia

By Brittany Baker

Earlier this year, Corey Brown and a few of his college friends found themselves on a wild goose chase when looking for adult sports leagues to join in their spare time.


"We were searching around for leagues and eventually got sick of it," he said. "We wondered, 'Why can't you ever find sports leagues unless you hear about it from a friend of a friend of a friend?'"

Instead of throwing in the towel, Brown and his buddies got to work to solve the problem. They did some more digging and eventually created the Web site, LeagueHound.com.


"Basically, we're doing the work for other adults like us who want to find sports leagues in their area," he explained. Brown enlisted the help of his friends, Eric Bartz, Tyler Kossow and Candice Lymburner for the project.

Now, LeagueHound is growing every day. Although he isn't living in Batavia anymore, Brown (who is working on his Master's degree at Niagara University) still has a soft spot for his hometown.


"Sports can mean a lot to someone from a small town and that's probably why this was so important to me," he said.


He admits that he knew nothing about creating Internet sites when he began, but by mid-February, he had learned the basics and began putting things together. When asked when the Web site would be finished, Brown laughed.


"It will never be finished. New sports leagues can always be added, and we're not trying to put something together for just Western New York or just New York state. Actually, at first we wanted to make a nation-wide Web site, but we figured New York would be a good start."


Brown and his colleagues started with Buffalo and Rochester and have begun to branch out towards Syracuse in their search for sports leagues.


"We'll work towards the big cities and then try to fill in the gaps in between," he said.

Researching isn't easy, as the college students have found. Brown said it takes weeks to get even a small city covered.


"You have to look in every community center and every bar... there are actually a lot of leagues out there, they are just hard to find. It's the most difficult thing to deal with but we want to be the ones to do it so our clientele doesn't have to."


LeagueHound.com is up and running - ready for more sports leagues looking for players to send along their information and more potential players to look for some adult sports to enjoy.

Photo: Singer performs for residents of Washington Towers

By Howard B. Owens

Residents at Washington Towers were treated to an afternoon of music sung by Danielle DiStrefano, a classically trained soprano who performs opera, sacred songs, Broadway hits, love songs and ballads. It was part of a "Our Tribute Tea to Women" at the complex.

Concerns raised in Batavia over loose manhole covers after early morning accident

By Howard B. Owens

One of a series of loose manhole covers on Route 5 through the city damaged a truck driving on West Main Street early this morning.

The driver, Lawrence Tassone, 80, of Batavia was uninjured, but the axel on his truck was broken. 

After the manhole cover hit the truck, the truck drove up a curb near Union Street and the manhole cover flew some distance, according to WBTA's Dan Fischer, who happened upon the accident scene just before 5:30 a.m.

Route 5/Main Street, is the jurisdiction of the state Department of Transportation, but the manhole cover is owned by Verizon.

Lori Maher, spokeswoman for the DOT out of Rochester, said the DOT received a complaint from city officials about loose manhole covers in Batavia and determined these particular manhole covers were owned by Verizon, so Verizon was notifed.

This afternoon, after the manhole cover at Union Street came off again, the DOT sent a traffic safety truck to steer traffic around the loose cover and a crew was on its way to place a steel plate over the cover.

It will be up to Verizon to provide a long-term fix to the problem.

A spokesman for Verizon said a statement about the situation will be forthcoming, but The Batavian has not received it yet.

John Bonomo from Verizon released this statement: "We are aware of the situation and are working with a contractor to remedy the situation."

Maher said that as far as liability for damage to Tassone's truck, that matter has been turned over to an insurance company.

City officials say they contacted the DOT about the situation in January and that the problem isn't just with the manhole cover at Union Street, but that the problem extends with Verizon-owned manhole covers from Vine Street to Union.

The video above shows the wobbly manhole cover at Union.

 

Police Beat: Three shoplifting arrests reported at Kmart

By Howard B. Owens

Lakeshia Marie Pratt, 20, of Hazlewood Terrace, Rochester, is charged with petit larceny. Pratt is accused of shoplifting from Kmart.

Nadine Marie McClurg, 24, of Dewey Avenue, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny and unlawful possession of marijuana. McClurg is accused of shoplifting from Kmart. During her arrest, she was allegedly found in possession of marijuana.

Brianna Marie Kruppenbacher, 19, of Hutton Road, Oakfield, is charged with petit larceny. Kruppenbacher is accused of shoplifting from Kmart.

Ronald M. Gervase, 66, of 242 N. Spruce St., Batavia, is charged with DWI, aggravated DWI and improper turn. Gervase was stopped on Swan Street at 5 p.m., Wednesday, by Officer Chris Camp.

Robert G. Whitehead, 20, of 143 Walnut St., Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Whitehead is accused of harassing an acquaintance. He posted $100 bail.

Pole fire on Alexander Road

By Howard B. Owens

A utility pole is reportedly on fire in the area of 9197 Alexander Road.

This is apparently the same pole that has caught on fire at least twice before in the past few weeks.

Town of Batavia fire is responding.

UPDATE 11:00 a.m.: The pole is smoldering. National Grid requested to the scene. The pole has nothing on it, but is touching the primary pole. It needs to be insulated. Town of Batavia Fire back in service. It's not the same pole as prior calls.

UMMC maternity ward honored for preventing spread of Hepatitis B

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

The NYS Department of Health has issued a Certificate of Excellence to United Memorial for the Maternity Departments efforts to prevent the perinatal transmission of the Hepatitis B virus (Hep B).

A recent medical record review revealed 100-percent compliance with requirements under public health law mandating testing, reporting and recording of Hepatitis B status for all pregnant women and a minimum 90-percent birth dose rate of HBV vaccine was given to all newborns.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Hepatitis B is a viral infection that can lead to chronic liver infections, liver failure and liver cancer. It may be transmitted through contact with body fluids from an infected person, sharing contaminated needles and from infected mother to newborn.

The Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for all infants, older children and adolescents not previously vaccinated and adults at risk for Hepatitis B infection. The rate of infection in the United States has declined by 82 percent since 1990 when the vaccination of children for Hepatitis B was implemented.

Approximately 500 babies are delivered each year at United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia.

Photo: Harley group cleans up Route 98

By Howard B. Owens

Members of the Genesee County Harley Owners Group were out on Route 98 recently picking up trash as part of an ongoing effort to help keep local roadways clean.

The Harley club does clean-ups four times per year.  

The group is responsible for Route 98 from the Thruway to Elba.

Pictured are Paul Ballard, Bob Aiken and Fred Devore.

Photo submitted by Frank Capuano.

Man unconscious after motocross mishap at Area 51

By Billie Owens

A 30-year-old man is unconscious following a motocross accident at Area 51.

East Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy EMS are responding. Mercy Flight in Batavia is on ground standby.

Area 51 is located at 3500 Harloff Road.

UPDATE 6:05 p.m.: Mercy Flight is requested to the scene.

UPDATE 6:06: Mercy Flight is canceled.

UPDATE 6:45 p.m.: Howard was told by the manager of Area 51 that the man was knocked unconscious but provided no other details. This was not a fatality, but we have no further details about his condition, where he was transported or if he was transported.

Police Beat: Painter accused of taking money, not doing work in Le Roy

By Howard B. Owens

James D. Qutermous, 52, of 9484 Putnam Road, Batavia, is charged with grand larceny, 4th. Qutermous is accused of accepting a $1,500 down payment to paint a house in Le Roy, and cashing the check, but never returning to start the work or return the money.

Troy Anthony Hokenson, 42, of Wood Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Hokenson is accused of stealing $49.11 worth of merchandise from Kmart.

Car into tree on Oak Street near Main

By Brittany Baker

There's a one-car accident at the corner of Oak and Main streets with possible injuries. The vehicle struck a tree.

UPDATE (by Howard) 1:33 p.m.: The driver apparently lost brake power, according to police, and swerved to avoid hitting another car.  The driver was transported by Mercy EMS to UMMC for evaluation, but is not believed to be injured.  City Fire Department responded, as well.

Photos: Fishing on the Tonawanda

By Howard B. Owens

A few people seemed to find this afternoon a good time to fish the Tonawanda Creek.

Above is Kyle Kendall, 7, and a student at John Kennedy School, who had just caught a northern pike when I happened by, which his father, Dave, displays for him.

Pearl Street apartment damaged by fire

By Howard B. Owens

Amy Showler was doing a little spring cleaning in her apartment on Pearl Street this afternoon. She had just returned from taking a few things to storage and was cleaning her kitchen with bleach, so she decided she needed to open a window in her living room.

When she went into the room, she saw flames climbing up a wall.

She tried putting the fire out with water, but that didn't work, so she found her fire extinguisher, she said.

"By then the room was filling up with smoke, but I took my extinguisher and started putting out the fire," Showler said.

About that time, Cory Paris, who has a used car dealership across the street, arrived with his own fire extinguisher and started spraying the flames on the second floor exterior from the ground.

"A young man playing in the park ran over and asked to use the phone," Paris said. "When we looked, we could see the flames coming out, so we grabbed the fire extinguishers and ran over."

"The flames were pretty big," he added.

City Fire Department responded to the call and finished putting out the blaze.

The cause of the fire has not been determined.

Showler said shortly afterward that she didn't know yet how much of her property had been burned or damaged by smoke or water.

(Initial Report)

Plane lands safely at airport after distress call

By Howard B. Owens

A single-engine airplane apparently reported electrical trouble and was planning on making an emergency landing at the Genesee County Airport.

The original call gave the plane a 10 minute ETA.

Within minutes of the Town of Batavia Fire Department being dispatched, an airport official called in and said the plane made a safe landing.

All Batavia units were put back in service.

Apartment on fire on Pearl Street in the city

By Billie Owens

A fire in an upstairs apartment is reported at 107 Pearl St. City of Batavia Fire Department is responding. Medics, too.

UPDATE 12:50 p.m.: City command reports fire is knocked down. They are checking for "extensions" of the fire.

Police Beat: Darien woman accused of using fake ID to get Time Warner service

By Howard B. Owens

Rachellyn G. Burek, 29, of 4131 Broadway Road, Apt. #4, Darien, is charged with identity theft in the third degree. Burek is accused of using the identity of another person from December 2006 to August 2007 to obtain service from Time Warner Cable. Burek allegedly received more than $900 in services. The case was investigated by Det. Pat Corona, Batavia PD.

Kelly J. McMurty, 34, of Benedict Street, Perry, and Linda L. McMurty, 55, of Embury Avenue, Silver Lake, are each charged with petit larceny. The women are accused of stuffing clothing items in their purses and then walking past the last point of purchase without paying for the items. 

Edward S. Wiosinski, 60, of 1364 Rush Henrietta Townline Road, Rush, is charged with aggravated harassment, 2nd. Wioskinski was arrested by Le Roy Police for allegedly harassing another person.

Police Beat: Charges filed against woman accused of choking another person

By Howard B. Owens

Michelle DiFalco, 22, no permanent address, is charged with unlawful imprisonment, 1st, reckless endangerment, 1st, strangulation, 2nd and criminal mischief, 4th. DiFalco is accused of being involved in an incident at 3 a.m., Saturday, in which she allegedly damaged personal property, choked another person and would not allow that person to leave the residence. DiFalco was jailed without bail.

A 16-year-old from Wyoming Road, Wyoming, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. The youth, a student at Pavilion High School, was found allegedly in possession of marijuana while in the school.

David Walter Cook, 46, of Lockport Road, Elba, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, speeding and failure to keep right. Cook was stopped on Maltby Road, Elba, at 1:55 a.m., Saturday, by Deputy Jason Saile.

Ryan Eugene Davis, 27, of Mashall Road, Medina, is charged with felony DWI, aggravated driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, felony aggravated unlicensed operation, 1st, driving without an interlock ignition. Davis was stopped at 3:48 p.m., Friday, on Park Road, by Sgt. Thomas Sanfratello. Davis was allegedly driving an other person's car without the owner's permission. He was jailed on $15,000 bail.

Martin F. Jones, 40, of 4036 W. Main St. Road, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Jones is accused of stealing beer from Hess Mart at 12:30 a.m., Sunday. Following a complaint, Officer Frank Klimjack reportedly located Jones walking on West Main with beer in his possession.

Trevor M. Rich, 30, of 8943 Creek Road, Batavia, is charged with aggravated harassment and criminal contempt. Rich is accused of sending annoying text messages to a person in violation of an order of protection. Rich was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Dashawn A. Butler, 30, of Batavia, is charged with four counts of acting in a manner injurious to a child less than 17 years old. Butler was arrested by State Police and jailed on $5,000 bail. No further details released.

Jodi L. Teed, 43, of 6785 Creek Road, Mt. Morris, is charged with operating a vehicle while impaired by drugs, unlawful possession of marijuana and inadequate headlights. Teed was stopped at 10:24 p.m., Saturday, on South Jackson Street, Batavia, by Officer Matt Fleming.

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