batavia

Vic Marchese was at his popular Batavia restaurant early this morning washing dishes and waiting for a cleaning crew to arrive following last night's fire that caused an estimated $30,000 damage.

He expects to be open to serve customers by tomorrow, he said.

He won't be able to cook with charcoal immediately, since that's the vent system damaged by the fire, but the rest of the kitchen remains in good shape and ready to serve up pizza, pasta, wings, subs, salads and just about everything else on Vic's menu.

Marchese said he had been away from the restaurant most of the day and returned at 9 p.m. About three minutes later a lady came in and asked about all the smoke in the back parking lot. Vic said he went outside, saw the smoke and immediately called 911.

Fire crews were on scene within minutes. 

The fire was just beginning to poke out of the vent, Marchese said. The flames were doused quickly.

"Good thing," Marchese said. "These old buildings, the whole block could have gone up."

Four alleged illegal immigrants from Guatemala were apprehended by Batavia police at a Bank Street DWI check point Friday night.

One of the men arrested, Edwin O. Perez-Hernandez, 36, of Varysburg, allegedly tried to flee the scene on foot and faces a resisting arrest charge. He is held on $2,500 bail.

Oscar U. Perez-Hernandez was reportedly the driver of the vehicle and faces numerous traffic violation charges, according to police. He is held on $1,000 bail.

Two women in the vehicle were issued appearance tickets for immigration court.

James F. Kempisty, 48, of Batavia, drove through a DWI check point on Bank Street Friday night around 10:30 and BPD officers determined that he was apparently intoxicated. He was charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Kempisty was issued an appearance ticket and released.

Dustin R. Collinge, 24, of Wheatland, faces two felony counts following a traffic stop in Stafford early Sunday morning. Collinge is charged with DWI and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Collinge reportedly has a prior DWI conviction. He is accused of driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Collinge was released pending arraignment.

Keith Whitney, 21, of Churchville, is charged with two felony counts of criminal possession of a weapon and a misdemeanor count of menacing following an alleged domestic dispute with his girlfriend in Bergen early Sunday morning. Whitney allegedly brandished an assault rifle "with the intent to use it against his girlfriend," according Sheriff's deputies. He is being held on $5,000 bail.

Robert Brown, 47, of Darien, is accused of pushing an acquaintance to the floor.  He is charged with harassment in the second degree.

Richard Synder, 43, of Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana following a traffic stop for allegedly speeding in Elba. Snyder was issued an appearance ticket and released.

Erick R. Horning, 19, of Batavia, is accused of hosting an under-age drinking party at his house on Wilkenson Road early Saturday morning. Horning was charged with unlawful dealing with a child, issued a ticket and released.

Robert  Piechocki, 45, of Attica, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon. Deputies allegedly found six unregistered pistols in his residence while investigating a reported domestic incident.

Last night we reported word of a fire at Main St. Pizza Company, 200 E. Main Street, Batavia, but information at the time made it sound relatively minor.

It turns out there the fire caused $30,000 in damage -- $25,000 to the structure and $5,000 to contents of the building, according a report released by the Batavia Fire Department late last night.

The fire was contained mostly to a exhaust duct at the rear of the building, with a "minor extension into the building."

The report states that owner Victor Marchese became aware of the fire when he smelled smoke. He immediately evacuated the customers and called 911.

When city fire crews arrived, they found heavy smoke coming from the duct and quickly dosed the fire with the use of chemical extinquishers and water hoses.

A reader sent an e-mail and said she heard an Main Street business in Batavia is on fire and Main Street is shut down.

I tried calling the dispatch center and the conversation went like this:

"I'm Howard Owens with The Batavian."

"I'm sorry, sir, we're really busy."

"I hear there is a fire on Main Street."

"I'm sorry, sir, we don't have time to talk."

Click.

I spoke to somebody at T.F. Brown's who said he heard something about a fire but didn't really know.

If you know anything, please fill us in.

Brian Hillabush is on his way to the scene, but won't be there for 40 minutes or so (he was out of town, too).

UPDATE:  Dan Jones went to the scene and confirmed there were fire trucks on the scene. The business that we had been tipped to was Main St. Pizza Company. I just called Main St. Pizza and it turned out to be a real minor fire. It was extinquished quickly and no real damage was done.

Today's deal: We have one give certificate for each, T.F. Brown's and Herbly Wonderful, valued at $25 each, and we're offering them for $12.50 (Half off) each (plus a $1 service fee).

Herbly Wonderful. Located at 3701 Pearl Street Road, Herbly Wonderful features a fine variety of teas, herbs, blends, spices and seasoning, plus a range of other items for home and garden.  See the ad on the left side of the page and click on it for more information.

T.F. Browns, at 214 E. Main St., 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. The patio is now open. It's also a great place to host group events.  See the ad on the left side of the page for contact information.

Rules: The gift certificate must be used by within 30 days of purchase. It is not valid with other offers and has no cash value.  People who have won a certificate in the past 30 days are not eligible to win a certificate from the same business as before.  By state law, gift certificates cannot be used for alcohol purchase.

How to Win: Purchase using the PayPal "Buy Now" button below. After the first person to hit the "buy now" button completes the purchase, PayPal will let you know that the item has been sold. Ideally, the winner will arrange to stop by my office on Main Street before 5:00 p.m. (today or tomorrow) to pick up gift certificate. Mail is an option, but it would be better to hand you the gift certificate. 

If you want to be notified via e-mail of future Deals of the Day, sign up for the Deals of the Day e-mail list by clicking here.

Merchants: If you would like your business featured in Deal of the Day, call Howard Owens at 260-6970.

Herbly Wonderful

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T.F. Brown's

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Michael Hamilton makes candles.  He makes quite a few of them in a variety of shapes, fragrances and colors.  Then he makes them available to you in his store at 201 Liberty St.

Today's Deal: A $25 gift certificate for Essence of Candles at HALF OFF -- $12.50 (plus a $1 service fee).

Rules: The gift certificate must be used by within 30 days of purchase. It is not valid with other offers and has no cash value.  People who have won a certificate in the past 30 days are not eligible to win a certificate from the same business as before.  By state law, gift certificates cannot be used for alcohol purchase.

How to Win: Purchase using the PayPal "Buy Now" button below. After the first person to hit the "buy now" button completes the purchase, PayPal will let you know that the item has been sold. Ideally, the winner will arrange to stop by my office on Main Street before 5:00 p.m. (today or tomorrow) to pick up gift certificate. Mail is an option, but it would be better to hand you the gift certificate. 

If you want to be notified via e-mail of future Deals of the Day, sign up for the Deals of the Day e-mail list by clicking here.

Merchants: If you would like your business featured in Deal of the Day, call Howard Owens at 260-6970.

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Apparently, a quality organization like Mercy Flight taking over the ambulance service in the county and expressing a desire to hire all of the city ambulance employees isn't enough for union president Greg Ireland. He wants his pound of flesh, too.

The union has filed a "improper practices claim" against the city for an alleged Taylor Law violation in deciding to discontinue the city-backed ambulance service.

The claim is, the city has taken steps to "subcontract" the ambulance jobs by discontinuing the city service.

"Our stance hasn't changed," Ireland said Friday. "The city can't do what they're doing because of the Taylor Law. The city took the steps to change (ambulance service) without negotiating" with the union, he said.

Ireland said a change in ambulance service can't be made legally.

"And it's not going to be if we can help it," he said. "This could have been avoided but the city never approached us. It's too bad it's come to this."

Charlie Mallow said he doesn't believe there is a Taylor Law violation.

But are we to understand from Mallow that the city doesn't intend to sign a contract with Mercy Flight:

"It's something we've discontinued. We are not signing an agreement with whomever the county has selected," he said. "Unions file grievances. This makes it difficult to do what is fiscally prudent." (emphasis added)

So who will provide city ambulance service? Is the union tactic forcing the city into a position where it can't contract with Mercy Flight?

It looks like the fight isn't over. It's just move from one ring to another.

Dispatcher: "Another one at the Cedar Street Bridge didn't make."

Need we say more?

UPDATE: The driver is identified as Aziz A. Razikov, with a Washinton State drivers license.

I happened by this small accident on Main Street in Batavia just a minute or so after it happened. It occurred about 20 minutes ago.  The street is already clear.

Take some time out for a meal and entertainment at Batavia Downs.

We have a $25 gift certificate available for $12.50 -- HALF OFF! -- to Batavia Downs Grandstands Bar & Grille ($1 service fee applies).

To find out more about what's going on at Batavia Downs this Memorial Day weekend or next week, visit BataviaDownsCasino.com

Rules: The gift certificate must be used by within 30 days of purchase. It is not valid with other offers and has no cash value.  People who have won a certificate in the past 30 days are not eligible to win a certificate from the same business as before.  By state law, gift certificates cannot be used for alcohol purchase.

How to Win: Purchase using the PayPal "Buy Now" button below. After the first person to hit the "buy now" button completes the purchase, PayPal will let you know that the item has been sold. Ideally, the winner will arrange to stop by my office on Main Street before 5:00 p.m. (today or tomorrow) to pick up gift certificate. Mail is an option, but it would be better to hand you the gift certificate. 

If you want to be notified via e-mail of future Deals of the Day, sign up for the Deals of the Day e-mail list by clicking here.

Merchants: If you would like your business featured in Deal of the Day, call Howard Owens at 260-6970.

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The title of an anticipated report on consolidation of the City and Town of Batavia seems to indicate the committee studying the issue sees it as a positive move.

"First Report to the Community -- A Vision for One Batavia."

The Consolidation Study Committee will discuss the report at a public meeting at 7 p.m. June 1 in Batavia Town Hall, 3833 W. Main St.

Serving on the study committee: Lynn Freeman, Sally Kuzon, Steven Lockwood, Beverly Mancuso, Jason Molino, Steven Mountain and Jeffery Scott.

Mercy Flight, which won the nod of the Genesee County Ambulance Task Force, intends to buy the existing city ambulances, according to Vice President and CFO Margie Ferrentino.

City ambulance staff will also be given an opportunity to work for the new service. They will have to go through a pre-employment screening process, but Ferrentino indicated it's Mercy Flight's preference to retain existing staff when possible.

Ferrentino also said this morning that even though the not-for-profit Mercy Flight has not operated street ambulance services before, the leadership and staff of Mercy Flight has hundreds of years of cumulative experience in the ambulance business.

The organization is planning to base two ambulances on North Street and one at the airport.

Here is a four-minute audio interview with Ferrentino.

Ferrentino also supplied two documents outlining the experience of CEO Douglas H. Baker and the rest of the senior staff.

UPDATE: Here's a three-minute audio interview with CEO Doug Baker. Baker says how excited Mercy Flight is to get the opportunity to serve Genesee County with ground ambulance service and notes that there will be local residents on the board of directors. Current Batavia ambulance personnel are their first choice to join the new service. "We hope that all of them will come on board," Baker said.

UPDATE II: Tim Yaeger, coordinator for Emergency Management Services, and head of the task force discusses the Mercy Flight selection in this audio interview. He said he's happy the long process has come to an end. He said Mercy Flight came out on top because the organization clearly understands Genesee County, with its unique needs due to having an urban area and very rural areas.

Bradley R. Jordan, 16, of Bethany, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property. Jordan is allegedly involved with the theft of a 2004 Polaris Sportsman Pro H.O. Four-Wheel ATV from a residence in Stafford. Deputy P.J. Reeves reported he found Jordan in possession of the ATV, which went missing March 11. Previously, we reported Steven Peckenpaugh, 17, of Attica, had been arrested and charged with the theft of the vehicle. Jordan is held on $10,000 bail. The value of the ATV was placed at $3,700.

Abdullah H. Shareef, 27, of Rochester, is accused of damaging a door to City Centre on May 4. He was taken into custody by Batavia PD at 8:05 p.m last night. He is being held in Genesee County Jail on $1,000 bail.

Jarred Brannan, 24, of Churchville, was taken into custody based on a bench warrant. No details are provided on the nature of the warrant. He is held in Genesee County Jail on $1,000 bail.

About 25 people attending a seminar this evening at City Hall on how the new roundabout on Oak Street will work.

Because of another event I attended, I only arrived near the end of the meeting.  Reporter Joanne Beck was there and I'm sure she'll have a full report for the Daily.

The information seemed well received by those who attended. Council member Kathy Briggs said it was very imformative.

Below are two videos. One of Howard McCulloch, roundabout design specialist for the state, discussing how best to navigate a roundabout, and then I shot a few sections of an animation of the Oak Street roundabout with cars going through it. The full, clearer, version of this video will appear on the City's web site within a couple of weeks.

To all of you who shared in the Red's Taxi post, and especially Bea who initiated it, I found some very interesting pictures this evening.  I am not trying to promote a business, but it just happened I went out for ice cream this evening and ended up out at Dave's.  (and it was sugar-free and good). On the walls inside, were pictures of old Batavia (and I mean old)!  I saw a picture of Sacred Heart Church during the flood of 1942, I saw a picture of the Bus Station, the old railroad Depot that was where Salvation Army is now,  the Kendall gas station, Joy's Liquor Store, Dean's Drugs, Sloat's Tire Shop and there were others!  I just can't remember them all. 

I just wanted to share this with all that took that short trip down memory lane the beginning of the week.  I and I thought the bar idea was a good one.

 Lu

City Manager Jason Molino announced this afternoon that he's found an interim fire chief.

It's Ralph Hyde, who served the Batavia Fire Department from 1959 to 1992, taking on the role of chief in 1971.

While Hyde is drawing a pension, Molino said he does not anticipate a 211 waiver problem like the one that forced Tom Dillon to quit the job two weeks ago.  Hyde's position is clearly temporary.  Dillon's appointment was temporary, but then when the decision was made ot keep him in a permanent role, a 211 waiver was required.

For further details and comments from Molino, tune into WBTA 1490-AM at 12:30.

UPDATE: Joanne Beck has posted a nice story about Hyde taking over as chief.

''I'm getting back in the game; I'm good and healthy. I'm excited; I always enjoyed the challenge of the job,'' he said Thursday afternoon from his city home. ''If I didn't love this, I wouldn't be coming back.''

He has been working in surveillance at Batavia Downs Gaming part-time and is anxious to begin his duties Tuesday.

"I am pleased that Chief Hyde has responded to the call of duty for the community for a second time,'' City Manager Jason Molino said. ''Chief Hyde brings a life time of commitment and leadership to Batavia."

The Rotary Flower Sale is going on today until 5 p.m. and tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. outside Tonawanda Federal Credit Union.

Pictured are Rotarians Joseph Gerace, Committee Chair, Anne Garlock and Justin Colarco-Smith.

Everybody loves Adam Miller Toy and Bicycles and Herbly Wonderful. Today we have gift certificates from both popular stores valued at $12.50 each, which we're selling for HALF OFF, $12.50, plus a $1 service fee.

Adam Miller is located on Center Street and features a fine line of vintage toys and games, models and a range of bicycle styles.

Herbly Wonderful a great local source of teas, herbs, flowers and more. It's located on Pearl St.

For more information on each of these businesses, click on their ads on the right side of this page.

Rules: The gift certificate must be used by within 30 days of purchase. It is not valid with other offers and has no cash value.  People who have won a certificate in the past 30 days are not eligible to win a certificate from the same business as before.  By state law, gift certificates cannot be used for alcohol purchase.

How to Win: Purchase using the PayPal "Buy Now" button below. After the first person to hit the "buy now" button completes the purchase, PayPal will let you know that the item has been sold. Ideally, the winner will arrange to stop by my office on Main Street before 5:00 p.m. (today or tomorrow) to pick up gift certificate. Mail is an option, but it would be better to hand you the gift certificate. 

If you want to be notified via e-mail of future Deals of the Day, sign up for the Deals of the Day e-mail list by clicking here.

Merchants: If you would like your business featured in Deal of the Day, call Howard Owens at 260-6970.

Adam Miller Toy and Bicycles

SOLD

Herbly Wonderful

SOLD

An Oakfield couple was allegedly found last night to posses a substantial amount of crack cocaine after the Genesee County Drug Enforcement Task Force obtained a search warrant for 26 S. Pearl St., Apt. 2.

Investigators reportedly found $300 in crack cocaine and $300 in marijuana during the search of the residence and related vehicles.

Taken into custody were Dennis "Dookie" R. Lloyd-Butler, 27, and Mandy Lloyd, 29.

Investigators reportedly found marijuana in the glove box of Mandy Lloyd's car.

Lloyd-Butler was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony, and criminal possession of marijuana. Mandy Lloyd was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana.

Lloyd-Butler is being held in Genesee County Jail without bail. Mandy Lloyd was issued an appearance ticket.

The Sheriff's Office reports additional charges are pending.

Assisting in the investigation were the Genesee County District Attorney's office, City of Batavia's Emergency Response Team, Genesee County Sherif's deputies, New York State Police officers and K-9 "Jay."

Patrick W. Collins, 46, of Batavia, is being held on $2,500 bail after allegedly attacking his wife. Collins reportedly threw his wife against a wall, put his hands around her neck and threatened to kill her. He is charged with menacing in the third degree. The alleged incident occurred last night around 11:30 p.m.

Martin G. Pacer, 29, of Corfu, allegedly violated an order of protection by punching another person in the face Wednesday night around 11 p.m. The incident occurred in Pembroke. He is charged with criminal contempt and harassment. Pacer is held in Genesee County Jail on $5,000 bail.

An Angus calf has been roaming around Batavia-Townline Road for two days, according to Jonathan Lamb.

Lamb and neighbors have tried to capture the young animal, but it runs any time anybody approaches it.

"Maybe you remember Woody from last year -- I don't know if we have another Woody on our hands, but I've called all the neighbors and nobody knows who it belongs to," Lamb said.

The calf is wandering in a field near the road, Lamb said.

If anybody is missing an Angus calf, Lamb said the owner should e-mail him at jonathanl (at) lambfarmsinc dot net.