batavia

"House to House: an Epic Memoir of War," a book cowritten by Batavia resident David Bellavia and released in 2007, will get the Hollywood treatment.

Deadline Hollywood reports that Rich Middlemas, who won an Oscar this year for the  documentary Undefeated will produce the film.

Bellavia won a Bronze Star and Silver Star and the book is based on his experiences in 2004 in the second battle for Fallujah.

Currently, Bellavia is running for Congress and is locked in a GOP primary battle with Chris Collins for the NY-27 District.

Yankees ace Andy Pettitte, rehabbing from an injury, is going to make one more start for one of the Yankees' minor league teams before returning to the big club, probably on Saturday or Sunday.

Which team Pettitte will start for hasn't been announced, but one possibility is the Empire Yankees.

The Triple A farm club is playing three games at Dwyer Stadium this weekend against Pawtucket, the farm team of the Boston Red Sox.

So ... there is some chance, perhaps a good chance, that one of the premier pitchers in baseball and a likely Hall of Famer, will be pitching in Batavia on Saturday or Sunday.

Yankees -- Red Sox, maybe Pettitte, warmer weather ... it could be a very good weekend for baseball in Batavia.

Town of Batavia firefighters are scouring the Clarion Hotel on Park Road for any signs of fire after alarms sounded there about 15 minutes ago. The alarm system has been silenced and will likely be reset shortly. They have found nothing so far, other than the odor of cigarette smoke in the northwest stairwell, which a firefighter on scene said "I believe that's associated with employees."

The hotel is now allowed to "be repopulated" and people can go about their business. Alarms sounded for the fifth floor, the penthouse, the duct work and the first-floor atrium.

"Wow, and nothing showing -- how 'bout that!" said the chief in amazement.

UPDATE 5:45 p.m.: The alarm system has been reset.

UPDATE 5:57 p.m.: Town of Batavia is back in service.

Genesee Community College welcomes James Sunser, EdD, as the fourth president with inauguration ceremonies beginning at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 5. They will be held in the Stuart Steiner Theatre on the Batavia campus, located at One College Road.

The keynote address will be delivered by Onondaga Community College President Debbie Sydow, with special remarks by State University of New York Chancellor Nancy Zimpher, and greetings by numerous dignitaries.

All this week, a number of events and activities that are free and open to the public are scheduled to welcome President Sunser.

For a complete list visit: http://www.genesee.edu/gcc/inauguration/events.cfm

The auditorium at UMMC's Cary Hall (next to the YMCA) is all set up for important patient care -- with all of the care stations, instruments and devices of good medical care ready to help heal any teddy bears or dolls that are brought in today.

The event is UMMC's annual Teddy Bear and Doll Clinic, designed to give pre-schoolers, kindergarteners and first-graders an understanding of what is involved in medical care in case they or anybody else they know needs significant medical care.

The clinic is sponsored by Healthy Living Department and is open until 5 p.m.

A structure fire is reported at 4 Kibbe Ave. in the city. Batavia Fire Department is on scene.

UPDATE 7:32 a.m.: This was apparently a very small fire, which is now out. Ladder 15 and Engine 12 are back in service.

Voters in the Batavia City School District will be asked to approve a 1.99-percent increase in the tax levy May 15, Superintendent Margaret Puzio said Tuesday following a public hearing on the proposed 2012-13 school district budget.

The budget -- at least on paper -- increases spending to $40,086,732, up $720,687 over the previous year.

But Puzio said the increase can really be attributed to changes in accounting rules.

In fact, district spending will decrease, according to Gary Stich (top photo), who made part of the budget presentation.

The 1.99-percent increase in the levy is still well under -- according to state formulas -- the property tax cap. The district could have increased the levy by 2.59 percent and still been below the cap, Puzio said.

The budget will include an allocation of $330,000 in anticipated state aid to cash reserves, which have beed depleted in recent years because of increased mandated costs and less state aid.

At one time, the reserve was $1.5 million. This year it dropped to $55,000.

The reserve is necessary to help cover expenses when there's no revenue coming in during the summer months, or to deal with budget-breaking, unannounced cuts in state aid, which has happened at least once in recent years.

One of the biggest mandated expenses for the district is payment into the state's teacher retirement fund, which in recent years has gone from a $916,000 contribution to a $1.9 million contribution.

"That's almost $2 million in expense and it has a huge impact on the district," Stich said. "Again, we have no control over it."

About 45 percent of the district's funding comes from state aid, and another 45 percent from local taxes. 

Last year, a big part of the difference was made up by dipping into reserves.

The district will realize cost savings this year from school consolidation, Puzio said.

At the same time, the distirct is restoring some programs cut in the past year, include the Accelerated College Enrollment (ACE) program and some music programs.

To help students compete in the fast-evolving job market where written communication skills are more critical than ever, the district will focus more education resources on core state standards, which means more text study in all classrooms.

New teacher and principal accountability standards are also being implemented, by state mandate, including a requirement that principals spend 70 percent of their time with teachers in classrooms.

Also on the ballot May 15 is a measure to change student transportation rules, putting all middle-school students on the same transportation eligibility standard.

This will mean an additional 120 students will be eligible for bus transportation, but only about half of the current eligible students use school transportation, so the district doesn't know yet how many new riders will use the bus.

The change is necessary because of the school consolidation plan.

There are also five candidates in the election for three school board positions. The candidates are Gretchen DiFante, Phill Ricci, Gail Stevens, Gary Stich and Dennis Warner.

Polls on May 15 are open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and locations are John Kennedy Elementary School and Batavia High School.

An oven fire is reported at 232 N. Spruce St., Apt. B. City firefighters are responding.

UPDATE 7:29: The fire is out. Mercy medics are called to the address for a victim(s) of smoke inhalation. Ladder 15 is back in service.

UPDATE 7:45 p.m.: City fire command and Engine 12 are back in service.

Suzanne E. L. Dizak, 39, of Windmill Road, Pittsford, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property, 4th, a felony. Dizak was initially arrested for allegedly stealing $800 in jewelry from Target on April 1 and charged with petit larceny. During a search of her vehicle, proceeds from an alleged larceny the day before uncovered another $300 worth of allegedly stolen jewelry from Target. Dizak was arraigned and jailed on $2,000 bail.

Jayson Michael Connolly, 38, no current address, is charged with falsifying business records, 1st. Connolly is an inmate in the Genesee County Jail and is accused of using another inmate's personal identification number to place a phone call to a person protected from contact by Connolly by court order. Connolly is being held on the charge without bail.

Lawrence T. Zielinski, 38, of Davey Street, Buffalo, is charged with petit larceny. Zielinski was arrested after he reportedly fled the parking lot of Kmart when he was spotted allegedly stealing a television, valued at $500. Following his arrest, Zielinski was turned over to the Cheektowaga PD on an outstanding bench warrant.

Mercy medics and Batavia firefighters are responding to 18 1/2 Ellicott St. for a pizza box fire that is believed to be out; however, the resident reportedly suffered burns to her hands while dealing with the fire.

The pizza box was in the oven.

UPDATE 6:08 p.m.: Engine 12 back in service.

Many people in the Batavia area are mourning after a well-known mother has passed away after a long battle with breast cancer. Forty-four-year-old Deborah J. Dancy, died Monday at her residence on Shepard Road.

Deb, who is the mother of Lindsey Penders and Nicole Dancy of Batavia, was well known in the Batavia area and school district and liked by both students, teachers, parents and athletes.

Deb was very involved with Batavia cheerleading events and became a friend to many in the area throughout her time. 

Many high school and college students, parents and teachers expressed their love for Deb on Facebook late Monday night and all day today.

One posted "You have touched so many hearts with your amazing strength" while another student added "So many hearts are broken today but God gained an amazing angel." Others posted the lone letters "YOLO" meaning "You Only Live Once" -- the phrase that Deb and many close to her used during her long courageous battle. 

Deb was born Nov. 19, 1967 in Warsaw, NY, the daughter of Richard and Donna McCaughey Ellis. Deborah was a graduate of York Central School. She was a secretary for Upstate Auto Transportation Corporation in Batavia.

Visitation will be held at the Rector-Hicks Funeral Home, 111 Main St. in Geneseo on Thursday, May 3, 2012 from 4-8 p.m.

Funeral Services will be held Friday, May 4, 2012 at 10 a.m. at St. Lucy's Church in Retsof with Walt Purtell officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant Valley Cemetery in York. 

Memorials may be made to the Highland Hospital Oncology Unit, 1000 South Ave. Box 67, Rochester, NY 14620.

Divine Chaos Tattoo in Rochester is planning a tattoo benefit for Deb and Pink Gorilla Tees & Graphics has printed T-shirts to benefit the family.

It's one of those situations where everybody wins -- people dependent on Meals on Wheels will once again get five days of meal delivery, Genesee ARC is able to expand the services it provides the county, and the county's budget won't be severely impacted.

On Monday, the Public Service Committee approved a contract with Genesee ARC to handle the Meals on Wheels program for the Office of Aging.

The cost to the county will be about the same -- $186,425 annually -- as the current program, which delivers meals only three days a week.

The new program will also deliver hot meals, instead of cold dishes.

"We think it will be a nice service for people, with the personal check for people and they get a nice hot meal," said Pam Whitmore, director of Office for the Aging.

The previous meal provider was the American Red Cross out of Rochester.

The cost works out to about the same because it was costing nearly a $1 per meal just for delivery of meals from Rochester. That $1 will now go toward increased service and improved meals.

The meals will be prepared by Genesee ARC staff and clients at its renovated facility at 38 Woodrow Road, Batavia.

Whitmore said one reason Genesee ARC won the contract is the organization's emphasis on customer service.

"Being part of Genesee County, they really wanted to do what was best for the people in the program," Whitmore said.

WBTA's Dan Fischer contributed to this story.

A 29-year-old Batavia resident has been charged with a hate crime after he allegedly hurled homosexual insults and got into a fight with an acquaintance.

John Gerald Crosby, of Wood Street, Batavia, was charged under section 240.30 (3) of the NYS penal law, which makes it a crime to get into a physical altercation with a person because of the person's real or perceived "race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation."

Aggravated harassment is a Class A misdemeanor with a possible sentence of up to one year in jail.

Deputy Chief Gordon Dibble said according to the report, Crosby's conduct could be described as "direct and in your face and repeated," but declined to provide details citing the ongoing legal process.

"It was pretty intense from what I read in the report," Dibble said. "It's certainly not something somebody should have to put up with."

While hate crime charges in Genesee County are rare, they do happen from time to time, Dibble said.

The incident is alleged to have occurred at 11:45 p.m., April 20, at a location on Lewiston Road, Batavia.

Crosby was arraigned Friday in Town of Batavia Court and released on his own recognizance pending an appearance May 21.

Gorge L. Correa, 19, of 72 Ward St., F, Rochester, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, 4th, trespass and possession of marijuana; Arami Morales, 16, of 72 Ward St., F, Rochester, is charged with harassment, 2nd, resisting arrest and trespass; Markeef H. Royal, 23, of 9 Beechwood St., Rochester, is charged with trespass; Joshua L. Burris, 22, of 21 Baumen St., Rochester, is charged with trespass; Malik J. Johnson, 19, of 916 Plymouth Ave., Rochester, is charged with trespass. The five suspects were arrested after Batavia PD responded at 6:40 a.m., Sunday, to a report of a disturbance at the Batavia Gardens Apartments, 679 E. Main St., Batavia. Morales is accused of hitting Officer Darryl Streeter. Further investigation led to the alleged discovery of a handgun and marijuana in the vehicle of Correa. Burris was turned over to Rochester PD on an arrest warrant. Correa and Morales were arraigned in Batavia City Court and jailed on $5,000 bail each.

Joel D. Prouty, 25, of Maple Avenue, Oakfield, is charged criminal contempt, 1st, unlawful imprisonment, 2nd, and criminal mischief, 4th. Prouty is accused of violating an order of protection by slammng a woman who is seven-months pregnant into a doorway and threatening to punch her in the stomach. Prouty also allegedly smashed the woman's mobile phone while she tried to call 9-1-1 and restrained her against her will. Prouty was jailed on $5,000 bail.

Gary Robert Dean, 61, of Buffalo Street, Alexander, is charged with felony aggravated unlicensed operation, DWI and a violation of unlicensed operation. Dean was stopped at 9:32 p.m., April 4, on Broadway Road, Alexander, by Deputy Howard Carlson.

Marquis Kwanaine Saddler, 21, of Brockport-Spencerport Road, Sweden, is charged with violation of sentencing conditions. Saddler was arrested by Village of Brockport PD on a warrant out of Batavia City Drug Court and jailed on $100,000 bail.

Raymond Kyle Jonathan, 23, of Bloomingdale Road, Alabama, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, aggravated unlicensed operation, 2nd, unlicensed operator and failure to stop at stop sign. Jonathan was arrested by Deputy Kevin McCarthy following an investigation into a rollover accident at 3:17 a.m., Sunday, at 890 Judge Road, Basom.

Tara L. Hall, 33, of 132 State St., lower, Batavia, is charged with two counts of harassment, 2nd. Hall is accused of threatening two people.

Jennifer L. Stack, 25, of 5861 Walkers Corners Road, is charged with failure to appear. Stack was arrested after being located at an apartment on South Main Street during a disturbance at that location. Stack was jailed on $500 bail.

Sky M. Lewis, 18, of 38 Walnut St., lower, Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Lewis is accused of fighting with another person while in the presence of two young children.

Shawn Michael Kwiatek, 33, of Alleghany Road, Darien, is charged with unlawful dealing with a child. Kwiatek is accused of bringing alcohol to a party and serving it to people under age 21.

Genesee County children were invited to the YMCA today to kick-off spring and summer with Healthy Kids Day, a free community event where children could play, exercise, meet firemen, the Muckdog's mascot and learn about healthy choices.

Today you can get rid of outdated or unneeded medications safely with no questions asked at drug drop-off points throughout the county.

There is one behind the Batavia PD station, one at the Le Roy PD and Pembroke Town Highway barn on routes 5 and 77.

Drugs can be dropped off until 2 p.m.

Dozens of local residents walked through downtown late this evening in memory of crime victims as part of Crime Victims Week. After the walk, people gathered at City Centre for a talk by Sandie Bellows, a survivor of a harrowing crime.

Coffee Culture won the Spirit of Downtown Business Award on Friday, presented by the Business Improvement District.

Brenda Richardson (center in the photo above), manager of Coffee Culture, accepted the award and was praised for her efforts to make Coffee Culture a vital part of downtown life and business. 

Another Spirit of Downtown Business Award went to Tonawanda Valley Federal Credit Union and the BID Volunteer Award went to Susan Blanchard. Blanchard is out of town and accepting on her behalf were Travis Minor and Carolyn Pratt.

Dorian Ely, of the Genesee County Office for the Aging, was also presented with a BID Volunteer Award, for her the time and effort she volunteers for the BID.

BID Director Don Burkel

BID President John Roche

Design Committee Chair Victor Gautieri

Promotion Commitee Chair Mary Valle