batavia

Press release from the city's Maintenance Bureau:

Paving operations on North Street have been rescheduled due to delays outside our area. Work originally scheduled for today will take place on Friday. North Street -- from Ross Street to Naramore Drive -- will experience traffic delays between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.on July 24.

Traffic will be reduced to a single lane for paving operations. The following side streets that intersect with North Street will see temporary traffic closures preventing access to North Street while paving operations are ongoing:

• Manhatten Avenue
• Columbia Avenue
• Vine Street
• Trumbull Parkway
• North Spruce Street
• Allenview Drive
• Naramore Drive

Residents and businesses are not to park on the roadway during paving operations.

Residents and businesses of North Street, from Ross Street to Naramore Drive, will have access to their properties, but should expect delays when paving operations are in front of their properties. If work is postponed by weather, work will be rescheduled for the next calendar day.

All other traffic is asked to avoid this area and seek alternate routes. Thank you for your cooperation.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 22ND - CHILDREN’S DAY / 4H FAMILY NIGHT

All Day - Wade Henry - Entertainment Tent
9am - 4-H Dairy Goat Show & Showmanship    - Show Ring
9am - Draft Horse Halter Classes - Arena
9am - Regional Tunis/Shropshire Sheep Show - Open Dairy Barn
11am - EXHIBIT HALLS & BUILDINGS OPEN
11:30am - GPS & Solar Fun Fest- Merton Building
12-3pm - MIDWAY OPEN for SPECIAL KID'S DAY $5 Ride Wrist Bands - Amusement Area
12pm - CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES - Exhibition Building
1:30pm - 4-H Sheep Show, Showmanship & Breed Show - Show Ring
  Followed by 4-H Sheep Leadline Classes and 4-H Sheep Costume Class
2-4pm - Balloon Animal Demonstration - Exhibition Building
3pm - Small Fry Tractor Pull - Exhibition Building
5-10pm - MIDWAY Re-OPENS - Amusement Area
5pm - Draft Horse Show Hitch Classes - Arena
6pm - 4-H & Open Swine Breeds & Showmanship - Show Ring
6pm - 4-H Rabbit Show & Sportsmanship - Merton Building
7pm - Beer Tent Opens - Beer Tent
7-11pm - In The House - Band - Beer Tent
7pm - Fair Queen Crowning - Entertainment Tent Stage
  Karaoke (Following Fair Queen) - Entertainment Tent Stage
10pm - EXHIBIT HALLS & BUILDINGS CLOSE
For more information on this year's fair and daily events, please click here to visit our site!

Press release:

The Batavia Improvement District’s Summer in the City festival presents GO ART!’s Chalk the Walk. As part of the bash that is Summer in the City, which is sponsored by the Batavia Improvement District, there will be some extra artistry and competition.

GO ART! will be presenting the second annual Chalk the Walk on Aug. 15th from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Artists, professional and amateur and young and old, will be able to purchase a square section of concrete by the City Center to decorate with chalk pastels. There will also be a children’s section for fun scribbling. Using materials available, artists will follow the theme “GO ART!...Where does art take YOU?” to create inspired pieces for a crowd of at least 2,000 people.

Prizes will be awarded to those whose pieces are most outstanding. Adult First Prize will be $250. People’s Choice Award will be a $20 Alex’s Place gift card, two T-shirts, and two mugs. The Youth Prize will be a basket of goodies worth more than $50.

A jury will select the winners for Adult First Prize and the Youth Prize. People’s Choice will be chosen by the general public by way of donation voting (ie: the art piece that receives the most donation money will be the People’s Choice winner). All donations collected for the People’s Choice Award will go to funding GO ART! youth programming.

To sign-up for this event, people need to register online at http://www.goart.org/chalk-the-walk/ or register in person at GO ART!, 201 E. Main St., Batavia, from Tuesday through Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. People can also sign up and pay the day of the event but it is highly encouraged to do so ahead of time. Remember, no one is officially registered until payment is received.

Fees are $20 for adults (18+) and $10 for Youths (17 & under). Every registered artists will receive a box of chalks and a drink to get them started. There will be a chalk swap area where people can trade out their chalks for other colors they need. Artists are encouraged to bring their own chalks as well.

It is important to assure that each artist and their work, as well as the event itself, is respected, so there will be rules and regulations. These are available on the Web site at at http://www.goart.org/chalk-the-walk/.

People can find updates on Chalk the Walk by going to the Web site: http://www.goart.org/chalk-the-walk/ or by following Chalk the Walk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BataviaStreetPaintingFestival.

Chalk the Walk is currently seeking financial sponsors to make this exciting event happen and those interested should e-mail or call Gena Korn at americorps@goart.org or at (585) 343-9313.

CONTACT PERSON: GENA KORN
PHONE #: 585.343.9313
E-MAIL: americorps@GOart.org

July 21st - EMERGENCY RESPONDER NIGHT

All Day - Wade Henry - Entertainment Tent
8am-12pm - Final Set-up of Merton & Kennedy Building - Merton Building

    4-H Club Exhibits in place
    4-H Community Service, Promotional & Project Displays

9am - 4-H Market Swine Show & Showmanship - Show Ring
10am - Open Class Rabbit & Chicken Show    - Merton Building
12pm - 4-H Market Goat Show & Showmanship - Show Ring
2:30pm - 4-H Market Sheep Show & Showmanship - Show Ring
2:30pm - 4-H Meat Goat Show & Showmanship - Open Dairy Building
2-8pm - Mr. Scribbles - Exhibition Building
5-10pm - MIDWAY OPENS - Amusement Area
5:30pm - PARADE LINE-UP, Raceway 5 Pits - Fairgrounds
6pm - 4-H Beef Show & Showmanship - Show Ring
6:30pm - GENESEE CO. FAIR GRAND PARADE through the Fairgrounds
7:30pm - Barrel Racing - Horse Arena
8pm - Fair Queen Part 1 - Entertainment Tent Stage
10pm - EXHIBIT HALLS & BUILDINGS CLOSE 

For more information on this year's fair and daily events, please click here to visit our site!

Guy Clark Jr., owner of Cedar Street Sales and Rentals, said that as far as he knows, he has the only test-drive lawn for lawnmowers in the area.

Over a period of months, Clark and his sons Connor (pictured with Guy) and Adam transformed what had just been a strip of weeds next to the store's building into a well-manicured lawn where customers can test drive the complete line of Cub Cadet riding mowers.

Clark went all local in designing and building the test drive area. Jon Ehrmentraut of Le Roy designed the yard. The grass came from Batavia Turf. Tri-County Glass and Armor Building Supply provided materials for a new door from the shop into the yard. Sterling Tent made the awning over the door, and the landscaping was purchased from local nurseries.

Clark figures the little park-like addition to his business will also be suitable for community after-work parties.

Press release:

The City of Batavia recently ranked as the 14th best city to start a business in New York State, according to NerdWallet, a finance Web site which provides information and comparison tools to consumers preparing to make financial decisions.

The analysis was conducted in connection to a dramatic increase in revenue by New York-based businesses, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. It evaluated many factors, including total population, number of businesses with paid employees and unemployment rates. NerdWallet analyzed 83 cities throughout New York State.

“Batavia’s high ranking as one of the best communities in New York to start a business is reflective of tremendous growth of entrepreneurship and economic development in our region,” said Steve Hyde, president and CEO of Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC). “There are a wide range of small business resources made available to entrepreneurs by GCEDC and our partners at the Batavia Development Corporation, the City of Batavia and the Batavia Business Improvement District (BID).”  

According to NerdWallet, Batavia’s strengths include an above-average economy, a significant number of existing businesses and a relatively low cost of living.

The ranking included criteria gathered for a total of 83 communities in New York State, each with a population of at least 10,000. The analysis calculated the overall score for each location based on each city’s business climate and economic health using data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Additionally, results from the analysis indicate that college towns are “good for business,” noting that most of the top-ranking cities are home to at least one college or university, many of which are campuses of the SUNY system.

“Batavia and Genesee County are fortunate to be located geographically between (the) two major metropolitan regions of Buffalo and Rochester, both of which have a number of prestigious centers of higher education,” Hyde said. “This exposes our residents to many educational and employment opportunities that often are the result of the education and training provided through Genesee Community College.”

Earlier this year, Batavia/Genesee County was also ranked by Site Selection Magazine as one of the top micropolitans in the United States. The ranking recognized the GCEDC for achieving $58.07 million in new capital investments for Genesee County and the creation of more than 140 new jobs in 2014.

Kim M. Mobley, 52, of Hutchins Street, Batavia, is charged with two counts of grand larceny, 4th, criminal possession of a weapon, 3rd, menacing, 2nd, and obstruction of governmental administration. Mobley allegedly possessed a knife and menaced several individuals during an altercation on Hutchins Street. Mobley is also accused of stealing money from an officer who had seized it from an arrestee as property or evidence. She was put in the Genesee County Jail without bail.

Bobby L. Mobley Jr., 40, of Hutchins Street, Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and obstruction of governmental administration. Mobley is accused of attempting to interfere with a police investigation. The incident occurred on Hutchins Street. He was held in the Genesee County Jail on $1,000 bail.

A 17-year-old is charged with grand larceny, 4th. The youth allegedly broke into vehicles parked in a lot at 56 Harvester Ave., Batavia, and stole items. The youth was put in the Genesee County Jail on $100,000 bail for an unrelated matter.

Christopher D. Hallas, 28, of York Road, Le Roy, is charged with aggravated DWI, DWI, aggravated unlicensed operation, 1st, use of a loaned vehicle without an interlock device, and leaving the scene of a property damage accident. Hallas was the operator of a one-car accident that occurred in Le Roy. He allegedly has two prior DWI convictions in 10 years. He was put in the Genesee County Jail on $15,000 bail.

Jason P. Wickson, 33, of Cedar Street, Batavia, is charged with assault, 3rd, criminal obstruction of breathing and menacing, 3rd, following an alleged domestic incident on Cedar Street. Wickson is accused of choking, threatening and causing injury to the victim. He was held at the Genesee County Jail on $10,000 bail.

Joseph M. Marranco Jr., 44, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny and resisting arrest following an investigation into a shoplifting incident at Tops Market in Batavia. Marranco allegedly fled the store on a bicycle and was located on Redfield Parkway by Batavia Police. After a brief foot chase, he was arrested. He was put in the Genesee County Jail on $2,500 bail.

Dain O. Kilian, 31, of Livingstion Street, Warsaw, is charged with criminal impersonation, 2nd, aggravated unlicensed operation, 2nd, and dark tinted side windows. Kilian was pulled over on Route 77 in Pembroke by Deputy Patrick Reeves. Kilian allegedly gave a fictitious name and was found to have a suspended driver's license. He was put in Gensee County Jail on $1,000 bail.

Julie L. Dutton, 20 of Ellicott Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon with the intent to use, criminal mischief with the intent to damage property and second-degree menacing with a weapon. Dutton is accused of brandishing a knife and attempting to cause serious physical injury to another person during an altercation at her residence. Dutton also allegedly damaged the victim's cell phone. She was issued an appearance ticket and was already in custody on another matter.

Richard M. Schiersing, 39, of Sand Hill Road, Caledonia, is charged with petit larceny, obstructing governmental administration, 2nd, concealing or destroying physical evidence and criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. Schiersing allegedly stole and discarded evidence from a pending arrest while in custody. The incident occurred on West Main Street in Batavia. He was put in the Genesee County Jail.

Albert W. Donovan II, 32, of North Lake Road, Bergen, is charged with aggravated DWI, DWI, failure to keep right, moving from a lane unsafely and operation of an unregistered motor vehicle on a highway. Donovan was pulled over on North Lake Road in Bergen by Deputy Joseph Corona.

Latiqua S. Jackson, 21, of East Main Street, Batavia, was arrested inside the courtroom of Batavia City Court on a warrant for a petit larceny charge and unlawful possession of marijuana. Jackson is accused of stealing a computer tablet from a residence on Hutchins Street in April. She was put in the Genesee County Jail on $1,000 bail.

Justine D. McWethy, 28, of Fairway Drive, Batavia, was arrested on the execution of a bench warrant. McWethy allegedly failed to abide by the contract of her release. She was put in Genesee County Jail on $2,500 bail.

Two dogs are reportedly locked inside a vehicle parked outside of Denny's restaurant on Main Street in Batavia. An animal control officer is called to respond. It's about 83 degrees.

A car has reportedly hit a pedestrian in the area of 42 Clinton Ave., Batavia.

The car has left the area.

City fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 5:04 p.m.: City fire back in service.

(Pictured: Vanessa Andrews, Jim Andrews, Bob Mullen, Gina Mullen, Peg Patterson, director of development at Crossroads House, Anthony LoCastro, Paul Ohlson, founder of Care-A-Van Ministries, and Jeff Allen, executive director at Crossroads House.)

Proceeds from the fifth annual Jerry "Rat" Cone Memorial Run were donated to Crossroads House this afternoon. The total amount raised from the bike run was $1,192. CMA Barnabas Riders put on the pancake breakfast and Care-A-Van Ministries provided tailgate grilling for the event.

The way District Attorney Lawrence Friedman sees it, Kasean Shannon is a dangerous sexual predator who is unable to comprehend the damage he does to his victims and therefore should spend the maximum amount of time available in his plea deal in prison.

That is 15 years.

Judge Robert C. Noonan agreed.

"The defendant says he made a mistake," Friedman said. "That's how he characterized his sexual assault on five females. He said he never intended to hurt them. I think that shows his total lack of understanding of what he's been doing over the years."

Before handing down the 15-year sentence on his guilty plea to attempted first-degree rape, Noonan told Shannon, "You're a predator and a serial sex offender. You don't seem to have any regard for the female person on this earth when you want what you want."

Shannon was also sentenced on his guilty pleas to sexual abuse, incest and criminal contempt. 

None of Shannon's victim's appeared in court, as they could have, to plead for a stringent sentence, but the mother of his child did speak to the court, urging Noonan to not issue an order of protection in her name or the name of their child.

"I am very much in love with him and wish to get married to him as soon as I can," the woman said. "I know what he did is awful, but I want our daughter to know him. She needs to know what he did, but she also needs to know him and make up her own mind about him and not what everybody says about him."

Rarick urged Noonan to sentence Shannon to only five years, giving him time to learn from his mistakes and turn his life around.

Shannon told Noonan that he knows what he did is wrong.

"I'm willing to learn from what I've done," Shannon said. "I will enter any program I need to enter in. I want to be there for my daughter."

Once released, Shannon will be on parole for 15 years.

A 30-year-old Attica resident will spend at least the next year of his life in state prison for a burglary in Batavia last November, though he would rather spend the time with his young son.

Jason L. Cramer Sr., told Genesee County Court Judge Robert C. Noonan that he knows he has a drug problem, but that's no excuse of his criminal activity.

"I know what I did is wrong," Cramer said. "I intend to use whatever time you give me as a time to better myself and become a better man."

His attorney, Fred Rarick, said Cramer started using heroin when he was 16.

"He continued to use heroin even though he knew it might lead to his death, even though he knew that it might lead, as it could today, to time in prison," Rarick said. "In spite of that, he's been unable to combat his addiction."

Rarick said he thought his client would benefit from rehabilitation programs available through the Department of Corrections. 

Noonan sentenced Cramer to an indeterminate one to three years, which is a slightly less than the maximum sentence available to the judge.

Tonight's Jackson Square concert, featuring Penny Whiskey, is being moved to City Centre because there may be rain.

The show is at 7 p.m.