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Statement from city on North and Ross sewer project

By Howard B. Owens

Statement from City Manager Jason Molino:

The City fully understands the inconvenience and delays this project has caused the households and families affected by the construction, and we are very appreciative for your patience. I want to ensure the residents that the City is taking every step to make certain that the contractor completes the project this construction season, work is performed properly and in the best interests of the City's residents.

The contractor has advised the City that milling and paving North and Ross Streets are scheduled to take place this Thursday, Friday and Monday.  Please be reassured that the City is taking all possible action to vigorously protect the City’s interests.

Accordingly, should any resident have any concerns or complaints regarding the project, work performed, contractor or subcontractors on the job, please contact the City Manager’s Office at 345-6330 and we will address your issue as promptly as possible.

It is not the City’s policy to comment publicly on legal matters.

Planning under way for food processing plant on 81 acres at agri-business park

By Howard B. Owens

Town of Batavia officials are going to work as quickly as possible to get development plans reviewed and approved for a food processing facility on an 81-acre parcel at the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park.

Sources tell The Batavian that a company is planning a large facility that could employee from 200 to 300 people. But when asked for confirmation on details Tuesday night, GCEDC CEO Steve Hyde said confidentiality agreements prevent him from discussing both the name of the company and the nature of the processing plant.

While Hyde cautioned that the deal is "not 100 percent," it's clear from the discussion of planning board and zoning board members Tuesday night that the company is serious about building its new plant in Batavia.

"This project is going to move very fast," said Gary Diegelman, chairman of the zoning board.

It must, Hyde said.

"They want to move very fast," Hyde said. "There is some extended time frame for negotiations, but they want to get moving in advance to take advantage of the good weather before it gets nasty."

The zoning board will meet Nov. 7 to discuss three requested variances to the zoning code.

The company is requesting permission to build a warehouse higher than the 40 feet allowed by the zoning code, Diegelman said. The initial request is to build a 45-foot-high warehouse, but the company anticipates eventually expanding to 120 feet high.

Diegelman suggested the board just consider approving the 120-foot high variance now to save the company the trouble of coming back later for a new variance.

Because of the Monroe County water towers on the other side of Route 5, and variance already granted for the O-AT-KA Milk Products plant, the variance shouldn't be a problem, Diegelman indicated.

The company also wants to provide parking based on three shifts of workers, rather than a number of parking spaces dictated by the total square feet of the facility.

And they want parking spaces that are 9' x 18' rather than the code of 10' x 20', but the variance request is not unusual in the town.

As for the planning board, it will hold a meeting to discuss any changes in the SEQR process. The ag park already has been through environmental review, but the 81-acre project could have additional or different environmental impacts that need to be considered.

On Nov. 14, the board will discuss a proposal to change parcel boundaries in the park to create the 81-acre project.

Hyde indicated that while the project isn't completely locked down, Genesee County is the frontrunner, well ahead of sites considered in Pennsylvania and even Livingston County.

"I think there’s a lot of excitement (about the project), not just in Genesee County, but across the region and the state. People recognize that the Finger Lakes and Western New York are primed for growth in food processing, a recession-proof industry, because people have to eat and our country continues to grow."

Photo: GCEDC's Mark Masse, VP of business development, shows site map plans for parcel changes to the agri-business park to members of the planning and zoning boards.

Photo: A fall day in the Batavia Cemetery

By Howard B. Owens

While on Harvester Avenue this morning, I took a short walk through the Batavia Cemetery, because it's always possible to find a picture in the Batavia Cemetery on a clear fall day.

Photos: Fire-damaged house on Harvester knocked down

By Howard B. Owens

What was once the home to a father, mother and their six children on Harvester Avenue was reduced to rubble Tuesday morning.

The house was badly damaged in a fire Sunday afternoon that started after one of the children was reportedly playing with a lighter in a back bedroom.

The family lost almost all of their belongings.

Owner and landlord Andy Young said the structure was insured. He doesn't have plans to rebuild on the property at 23 Harvester Ave.

Ag park about to land another big food processing plant

By Howard B. Owens

It's been the talk of the town for a couple of months -- a big food processing plant is being planned for the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park.

The plant has been described as "O-AT-KA-sized" and could employ from 200 to 300 people.

Sources tell The Batavian it's now pretty much a done deal and more information should be coming out soon.

This is the second big-win for the GCEDC's agri-business park off of Route 5 in the Town of Batavia.

Last month, Colombia-based Alpina Products broke ground on a yogurt processing plant that will start out employing 50 people.

There's an item on the Town of Batavia's Planning Board agenda tonight that deals with further subdivision of the agri-park. We may find out more at this meeting.

Harvester Avenue being closed

By Howard B. Owens

Harvester Avenue is being closed for the time being for a building to be torn down.

That could mean the house involved in a fire on Sunday or another house on the street that is boarded up, or ... 

Halloween at the Park

By Robin Walters

Every year Care-A-Van Ministries has a celebration to share the love of Jesus on Halloween night. The famous Care-A-Van brownies are served along with hot cider, cold cider, hot chocolate, donut holes, candy and of course lots of prayer!

Tonight more than 900 brownies were served. Everyone had a great time stopping by and many took advantage of available tours of the vehicles. Thank you to all who volunteered and gave donations to help make this event possible.

Photos: Halloween on Ellicott Avenue

By Howard B. Owens

It seemed like half the kids in Batavia were on Ellicott Avenue tonight for Halloween trick or treat. Most of the homes on the street had treats available. A couple of residents said they prepare for at least 500 children to visit each year.

I fyou can't view the slide show below, click here

To purchase photos from this event, click here.

Results of Drug Drop-off Day

By Howard B. Owens

On Saturday, three local law enforcement agencies collected prescription drugs that were no longer needed in order to sure safe destruction of the drugs.

Here's the results of the drop off:

  • Batavia PD: 169 vehicles, and a total of 487.5 lbs;
  • Le Roy PD:  46 vehicles, and a total of 144.8 lbs;
  • Sheriff's Office, in Pembroke: 36 vehicles, and a total of 53.5 lbs.

Law and Order: Man accused of eating pizza in Tops and not paying for it

By Howard B. Owens

Aaron J. Wood, 20, of Iroquois Road, Caledonia, is charged with petit larceny. Wood is accused of unwrapping and eating a $3 pizza while in the Tops Market in Le Roy. Wood allegedly tried to leave the store without paying for the pizza.

Joseph Dennis Vendetta, 30, of Tracy Avenue, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, tinted windows and driver's view obstructed. Vendetta was stopped at 2:21 a.m., Saturday, on Richmond Avenue by Deputy Patrick Reeves.

Billy Joe Budziszewski, 20, of Alleghany Road, Corfu, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, 3rd, and criminal mischief, 4th. Budziszewski is accused of getting into a dispute with his father Friday morning. During the dispute, Budziszewski allegedly became verbally abusive and punched the kitchen wall and front door, causing some damage during the argument. Budziszewski also allegedly had a pair of metal knuckles in his bedroom dresser.

Luis Geraldo Pacheco, 49, of Webster Avenue, Rochester, is charged with three counts of criminal contempt, 2nd. Pacheco is accused of violating a stay away order on three separate occasions.

Melvin Gaylord Draper, 30, of Webber Avenue, Oakfield, is charged with felony DWI, aggravated DWI (BAC of .18 or greater), aggravated unlicensed operation, 1st, and improper signal. Draper was stopped at 12:47 a.m., Saturday, on Bank Street Road, Batavia, by Sgt. Brian Frieday.

Gene Robert Schmidt, 44, of Dodgeson Road, Alexander, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 and failure to keep right. Schmidt was stopped at 1:33 a.m., Saturday, on Bowen Road, Alexander, by Deputy Jason Saile.

Trent H. Burgess, 39, of West Avenue Brockport, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 and speeding (89 mph in a 55 mph zone). Burgess was stopped at 12:26 a.m., Sunday, on Clinton Street Road, Stafford, by Deputy Howard Carlson.

Brian James Nelson, 24, of Grove Street, Painted Post, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, failure to keep right and driving left of pavement markings in a no-passing zone. Nelson was arrested following the investigation by Deputy Jason Saile into a one-car accident at 6:04 a.m., Sunday, on Route 77 in Darien. 

Daniel L. Cone, 51, of 6380 Clinton St. Road, Bergen, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, speed not reasonable and prudent, following too closely and moving unsafely from lane. Cone was stopped at 5:55 p.m., Saturday, on East Main Street, Batavia, by Officer Dan Coffey.

Lawrence D. Williams, 51, of 148 Hutchins St., Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. Williams was allegedly found in possession of a small quantity of cocaine following a traffic stop.

Scott G. Tooley, 26, of 199 S. Main St., Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Tooley is accused of leaving a young child at home without adequate supervision.

Driver suffers minor injury after losing control of car on Lewiston Road bridge

By Howard B. Owens

A driver was hospitalized Sunday morning after a one-car crash on the Lewiston Road bridge over the Thruway in Batavia.

The driver, Staci L. Casper, 24, of 7599 Lewiston Road, Oakfield, was taken by ambulance to UMMC with minor injuries.

A toddler in the car, Dominic R. Davies, was not injured.

Casper was southbound on Lewiston Road at 7:30 a.m., Sunday, when for an unknown reason she lost control of her 1995 Honda. Her car struck the east side guard rail.

No citations were issued.

The accident was investigated by Deputy Brian Thompson.

Icy bridge blamed for accident on Route 98

By Howard B. Owens

Icy conditions are being blamed for a two-car accident at 7 a.m., Friday, that sent one person to the hospital with minor injuries.

The accident occurred on the Route 98 bridge over the Thruway.

Matthew A. Button, 28, of 7703 Lewiston Road, Batavia, was northbound on Route 98 when his 2007 Toyota spun out of control, sliding into the southbound lane and striking a 2005 Jeep driven by William P. Shelhorse, 67, of 23 West Ave., Elba.

Button's car then slide over to the west side guard rail.

Shelhorse was taken by a Mercy EMS ambulance to UMMC.

Button was cited for alleged failure to slow for hazardous conditions.

The accident was investigated by Deputy Brian Thompson.

(Initial Report)

Photos: A beautiful fall morning in Genesee County

By Howard B. Owens

Before heading to Rochester for the Elba/Byron-Bergen playoff game, I was able to take advantage of a beautiful morning sky and what's left of fall colors.

The photo above actually began with an idea yesterday. Not satisfied with the shots from yesterday (which I didn't publish), I went back this morning with a different idea of how to get the shot I originally imagined. That involved standing across the street and using a telephoto lens. The funny part was the group of youths who walked by clearly puzzled by what I might be photographing.

The back of the old fire house on Main Street.

This is on Clinton Street Road in Bergen, taken on my way to Rochester. I've driven by this tree many times thinking it could make a great shot in the right circumstances. This is almost it.

House fire on Harvester Avenue in the city

By Billie Owens

A house fire is reported at 23 Harvester Ave. in the City of Batavia. Everyone has been evacuated. A State Trooper on scene reports smoke and flames are showing. City Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 1:53 p.m.: Everyone who was inside has been accounted for. The second and fourth platoons are called in. The fire began in the back bedroom of the wood-framed house. City firefighters have a convenient water hydrant nearby.

UPDATE 2:04 p.m.: There is "heavy fire" inside the structure says the chief.

UPDATE 2:10 p.m.: A responder (but not the chief) asks dispatch if a police officer can come to the scene and he's told that two are already there. But they're handling traffic, he says, and he needs someone to talk with the family. The family has information that "this is arson." An officer is responding to speak with the family.

UPDATE 2:39 p.m.: National Grid is called to the scene. No ETA given. Firefighters are continuing to battle the blaze. The American Red Cross is being contacted and will need to provide assistance to two adults and six children who have been rendered homeless by the fire.

UPDATE 2:44 p.m.: The Red Cross estimates it will be at the scene in about a half hour.

UPDATE 2:52 p.m.: National Grid is on location.

UPDATE 3:43 p.m.: The home is a total loss, according to a statement made by city fire Chief James Maxwell to WTBA's Dan Fischer, who was at the scene. Although the investigation is continuing, the initial indication is that the fire was started in a rear bedroom by a child playing with a lighter, Maxwell told Fischer.

UPDATE 4:25 p.m.: City firefighters are back in service.

UPDATE 4:55 p.m.: Harvester Avenue is open to traffic now.

Photos by Dan Fischer, WBTA.

Auto repair shop in Batavia part of effort to feed local families

By Billie Owens

Grease Lightning & Castrol Premium Lube have created a food drive called “Give To Live” to feed families this November.

The Grease Lightning/Castrol Premium Lube auto repair shop in Batavia is one of sites which will be asking customers to donate non-perishable food items and/or money to benefit a local food bank/soup kitchen.

Starting Nov. 1 through the 30th, customers can bring food items to 50 Liberty Street and 4003 West Main Street Road in Batavia to put in collection bins and/or also have a portion of the proceeds from an oil change donated to feed local families in need.

Good oil change -- $5 donation

Better oil change -- $10 donation

Best oil change -- $15 donation

High mileage oil change -- $10 donation

The company's Director of Marketing Jimi Jamm is no stranger to events of this kind.

“During my previous career in the broadcast industry, I participated or directed numerous events aimed at feeding the less fortunate in our community," Jamm said. "Hunger is a year round concern, not just during the holidays and the ones most affected are the children of families who can't provide the basic nutrition they need.

"The best thing about our launch of this new initiative is that the donated food and money will stay locally in each market.”

To view a two minute music video on the promotion: http://youtu.be/0C7e94FCtI4
For questions and further information, you can contact Jimi Jamm at 631-704-9711 or
jimi@premiumlube.net.

Local Neighborhood Sends Get Well Wishes To Local Woman

By Robin Walters

http://youtu.be/heJF0mZ9CRc

 

The children of Holland Avenue and members of the Seventh Day Adventist gathered together to send get well wishes to Sharon Strong. Sharon is the wife of Mitch Strong. She is currently in a hospital in Florida and had emergency surgery and is expected to have more surgery.

Sharon is a member of Seventh Day Adventist church. Her church has adopted Holland Avenue. For the past several years, the  church has been holding regular street church services and actvities and events for the neighborhood.  Sharon can often be found spending times with the families ministering to them and praying for them.

Care-A-Van Ministries of Batavia provides their vehicles to the church to use for their outings to the neighborhood. The kids and their families truly missed Sharon at their most recent outing. Mitch Strong has been sending regular updated emails with Sharon's condition to family and friends. He thanks everyone for their continued prayers.

Cards can be sent to Sharon at :

CrestonHouse 2E
5930 A1A South
St Augustine, FL  32080

 

 

 

 

 

Photos: Playtime in the fall leaves on Walnut Street

By Howard B. Owens

Walnut Street residents Jeremy and Cassie decided to rake up their fall leaves Saturday, and got some extra "help" from their sons Ethan, 7, and Matthew, 4, who found it was great fun to play in the big pile of leaves.

Photos: Farm equipment auction at Empire Tractor

By Howard B. Owens

Farmers and farm equipment buyers from throughout the area were at the old Empire Tractor location on East Main Road (the business moved at the beginning of the month to a new location on East Main Road) to get bargains on used farm implements, from combines to tractors and even riding mowers. Empire Tractor was selling off used equipment from the longtime East Main Road location, but brought in used equipment from its other locations as well. President Tim Call said it was a chance to clear out some unsold inventory. 

Photo: Shoppers flock to Lowe's for 30-percent off

By Howard B. Owens

Saturday was the first day of 30-percent off prices at Lowe's for its close-out sale and it probably seemed like all of Genesee County turned out. The parking lot was full and the aisles around the checkout counters were wall-to-wall people and shopping carts. (I have no pictures from inside the store because I did the polite thing and asked the manager for permission, even though legally I could have just snapped away until told to stop, and he said no (at which point, I had to comply) -- so just take my word for it, the place was jammed.)

Photos: Batavia Kiwanis Pancake Day

By Howard B. Owens

There was another big turn out Saturday for the Batavia Kiwanis Club's annual Pancake Day breakfast at the Presbyterian Church in Batavia.

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