batavia

Thomas Joseph Mitchell, 21, of Oak Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance (oxycodone), unlawful possession of marijuana and aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd. Mitchell was arrested following a traffic stop at 5:45 p.m., Thursday, on State Street Road, Batavia, by Deputy Brian Thompson.

Patrick Joseph Crawford, 17, of Bridge Road, Elba, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, 4th. Patrick was allegedly found in possession of two firearms in his vehicle while on school grounds.

Ryan Christopher Riggi, 16, of Transit Road, Elba, is charged with criminal contempt, 1st, menacing, 2nd, criminal mischief, 4th, and harassment, 2nd. Ryan is also accused of violating an order of protection. He was jailed on $1,000 bail. No further details were released.

Robert James Caplick III, 36, of E. Main St. Road, Attica, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, unreasonable speed and failure to keep right. Caplick was taken into custody by Deputy Jason Saile following a report at 2:45 a.m., Thursday, of a vehicle stuck on the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks on Spring Road, Alexander.

A 6-year-old child on South Main Street fell down a flight of stairs, about 15 feet, and was unconscious but breathing when Mercy EMS arrived.

With a storm coming, a Mercy ambulance is hurrying to the airport so that the child can be taken to a hospital by Mercy Flight before a storm hits the area.

There is a 10-minute window available.

The child was reportedly reviving during transport.

UPDATE 10:07 p.m.: Mercy Flight in route to Strong Memorial Hospital.

Above, President Stuart Steiner delivers his commencement speech to the 2011 graduates of Gensee Community College.

Steiner is finishing out his final academic year as president of GCC.

After the jump, a list of graduates highlighted by the college.

UPDATE: We've added Dr. Steiner's speech after the jump.

Djibril Gueye -- An international student from Dakar, Senegal, Djibril came to GCC for a degree in Sports Management and to learn how to apply business principals to the vast sport industry. After graduation, Djibril plans to transfer his credits to Brooklyn College and continue his education. Ultimately, he wants to use his education along with his love of sports to become a professional athlete’s agent. Djibril played on the Men’s Soccer team at GCC, proudly wearing #24 on his jersey throughout their victorious 15-1 season. His favorite instructor at GCC was Business Professor Barb Shine, and his favorite class will remain BUS 225, Entrepreneurship. After graduation, he says he will miss spending time in the college’s library.

Krystie Mary Laurey -- A stellar student-athlete, Krystie hails from Horseheads, NY, where she graduated from high school with Honors and was a member of the National Honor’s Society. She is earning her General Studies degree from GCC also with Honors, and she plans to transfer to a yet-to-be-named four-year college or university. Alongside her academic achievements, Krystie has made significant contributions to the Lady Cougars Basketball team where she played guard and small forward with the team going 18-12 this past season. She was awarded “Player of the Year” in 2011, and received the Coaches Award, Scholar Athlete Award and was the 2nd Team All-American Nominee. While her dream is to play with the Women’s NBA, she also has her sights on becoming a sports agent.

Lori A. Mould -- As a nontraditional student at age 48, Lori embraces every educational opportunity that comes her way. With dual GCC degrees in Communication and Media Arts and Fine Arts, Lori has been involved with numerous college activities and received numerous awards. She currently is the student representative to the college’s Board of Trustees, but previously she served as SGA president. She received: the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence 2009-2010; GCC Board of Trustees Award; SGA Award; Phi Theta Kappa International Most Distinguished Regional Officer (2009-2010); Phi Theta Kappa International Most Distinguished Regional Officer Team (2009-2010); Phi Theta Kappa International Most Distinguished Chapter Officer (2010-2011); Phi Theta Kappa International Most Distinguished Chapter Officer Team; Omega Nu Chapter Award for the Quiet Hero; New York Phi Theta Most Distinguished Regional Officer (2009-2010); and All-USA New York All Academic First Team. She was on the President's List for all eight semesters; Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges for seven semesters; RACCE Outstanding Adult Student for two years; GCC Student of the Month, Student of the Semester, and  Volunteer of the Month. She plans to continue her education at Empire State College as well as her volunteer work in Louisiana, which includes increasing awareness about the environmental and social issues in that area.

Thao Hoang Phuong -- An international student from Ha Noi, Viet Nam, Thao is earning a degree in Business Administration from GCC. She has remained on the President’s List since the Fall of 2009. Thao is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, undertaking responsibilities of the Public Relations secretary. She was also a founding member and the vice president of Education for the college’s newly formed Toastmasters International Club. She is a member of Who’s Who Among American Students in American Universities and Colleges. Thao completed the Leadership Certificate program along with the Student Development Series for which she received the Student Development Award. As a resident assistant at College Village and a member of the Student Government Association, Thao was given the Respect Award at the college for her trustworthiness, dependability, cheerfulness and willingness to go above and beyond expected tasks. She plans to transfer to a four-year school to major in Finance and one day return to Viet Nam to continue to develop her family’s business while working in finance, banking and education.

Leah Reino -- As the first Biotechnology student from GCC to study in Brisbane, Australia, Leah is an overachiever with numerous accomplishments, including several honors for her writing skills. She gives credit to her first English professor at GCC for challenging her to be a better writer. Last year, her entry was chosen for First Place in the David A. Garfinkel Essay Contest, sponsored by the New York State Court of Appeals. She’s a two-time winner of the GCC Student Poetry Contest and also took home First Place in the Literary Art Category in the Earth Day Art Contest. She placed in the top 10 (out of 1,300) in the nationwide NISOD Student Essay Contest for her piece, “Professor Weston and the Last Crusade.” Leah has been in Who’s Who in American Universities and colleges from 2009 to 2011. She’s made the President’s list and the Dean’s list for a number of semesters during her studies, and was awarded Student of the Semester in the spring of 2008 at the Arcade Campus Center. Perhaps most prestigiously, was her receiving the SUNY Chancellor’s Award this spring. Formerly a homeschooled student in Franklinville, Leah came to GCC for the Abilities to Benefit program, which allowed her to get her high-school equivalency. She plans to transfer to a four-year school to ultimately earn a Ph.D and pursue a career in biomedical sciences, cancer, and/or genetic research. Leah is also a graduate of GCC’s Honors Program, which prompted her to complete a number of projects including a paper on World War II, an anthology of poetry and artwork, and a research project on the genetic diversity of red-tailed hawks. Her blog -- including some stellar photos from her travels in Australia and New Zealand -- are available at: http://gccblogs.wordpress.com/

Joseff James Brockmann Smith – As his family is from Albion, NY, Joseff came to GCC because he wanted to stay close to home to remain involved in local church ministries. While Joseff remains open to change, for now, he plans to transfer to a four-year school to obtain his bachelor’s degree after studying at GCC for Teacher Education with a Coaching Certificate. Along with his faith, Joseff has dedicated himself to being a scholar-athlete, earning Male Scholar Athlete of the Year and Academic Athlete of the Week awards. Although he’s quite humble about his achievements, Joseff has also been Student of the Month, NJCAA Academic All American, Academic All Region, and named to the NYS 2nd All Academic Team. He is also a recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award as well as the Nicolas J. Georgian Scholarship Award. As a member of the Men’s Soccer Team and the Christian Students United group, Joseff says he always does his best to serve others, practice his faith, and consistently looks for opportunities to make a positive difference. He has three siblings who have also chosen to study at GCC.

Dr. Steiner's speech:

GENESEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
COMMENCEMENT 2011
KEYNOTE SPEAKER:  DR. STUART STEINER
MAY 22, 2011

FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE GRADUATING CLASS FOR INVITING ME TO BE THIS YEAR’S COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER.  THERE ARE FEW HONORS THAT A COLLEGE PRESIDENT CHERISHES MORE THAN RECEIVING THIS TYPE OF INVITATION.  IT IS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL TO ME AS I CONCLUDE MY FORTY-FOURTH YEAR AT GCC AND MY THIRTY-SIXTH YEAR AS PRESIDENT.

SINCE THIS IS YOUR GRADUATION, I ASKED A NUMBER OF YOU WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO TALK ABOUT.  MANY OF YOU ASKED ME TO TELL YOU ABOUT MY TIME AND EXPERIENCES AT THE COLLEGE AND OTHERS ASKED ME TO SHARE THE ROAD MAP I FOLLOWED IN MY LIFE AND CAREER.

SO, I WILL SHARE SOME OF MY STORY WITH YOU.   BUT I WILL ALSO TELL YOU THAT I DID NOT HAVE A ROADMAP AND I NEVER EXPECTED TO HAVE A CAREER IN HIGHER EDUCATION, AND I CERTAINLY NEVER EXPECTED TO BE A COLLEGE PRESIDENT.

LET ME SHARE SOME FAMILY BACKGROUND WITH YOU SO YOU MIGHT BETTER UNDERSTAND WHY MY PARENTS PLACED SUCH A HIGH VALUE ON EDUCATION.   MY MOTHER’S PARENTS IMMIGRATED TO THE US FROM RUSSIA IN THE LATER PART OF THE 19TH CENTURY.  THEY CAME THROUGH ELLIS ISLAND AND LATER SETTLED IN BALTIMORE.  THEY LIVED AND WORKED IN WHAT WAS CALLED A “BLUE COLLAR” NEIGHBORHOOD.  MY FATHER’S PARENTS LIVED IN AUSTRIA AND WHEN HE WAS TEN YEARS OLD, THERE WAS MUCH POLITICAL UNREST IN HIS TOWN.  THE SITUATION BECAME SO BAD THAT HIS PARENTS PUT HIM ON A SHIP, ALONE, SO HE COULD COME TO THE UNITED STATES AND LIVE WITH AN UNCLE.  HE GREW UP IN CHICAGO AND AS A TEEN ENLISTED IN THE US ARMY.

MY MOM’S PARENTS WERE WORKING CLASS PEOPLE AND MY MOM AND DAD WERE THE SAME, DOING HARD WORK AND WORKING LONG HOURS.  HOWEVER, THEY ALWAYS EXPRESSED TWO DEEP BELIEFS THAT I WOULD CONTINUALLY HEAR AND I NOW PASS ON TO YOU – FIRST, EDUCATION IS THE KEY FOUNDATION FOR WHATEVER YOU DECIDE TO DO,  AND WHATEVER YOU DECIDE TO DO – DO SOMETHING THAT YOU FEEL IS SATISFYING AND THAT YOU HAVE A PASSION FOR DOING. 

I WAS THE YOUNGER OF TWO BOYS, BORN DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION.  WE HAD VERY MODEST RESOURCES – BUT I NEVER FELT “POOR” SINCE ALL OF OUR FRIENDS LIVED IN A SIMILAR FASHION.  WE DIDN’T HAVE ANY CENTRAL HEATING, BUT WE HAD A COAL STOVE.  I THOUGHT THAT WAS HOW MOST FAMILIES LIVED.  WE DIDN’T HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY SO WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND LATER IN COLLEGE, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK IN A BREWERY DURING SUMMERS, SELL NEWSPAPERS, SELL PROGRAMS AT THE NAVY FOOTBALL GAMES, WORK IN A PHARMACY, WORK AT THE POST OFFICE AND, BEST OF ALL, BE A SCORECARD VENDOR WHEN THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES RETURNED TO THE MAJOR LEAGUES TO PLAY BASEBALL IN THE MID 1950’S.  THERE WAS NO PATTERN OF PLANNING HERE.  WE DID WHAT WAS NECESSARY TO GET TO THE NEXT DAY, WEEK OR MONTH.

WHEN I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL, I HAD NO IDEA OF WHAT I WANTED TO DO BUT MANY OF MY FRIENDS WERE EITHER GETTING THE TYPE OF JOBS THAT DIDN’T ESPECIALLY APPEAL TO ME OR GOING OFF TO COLLEGE.  COLLEGE SEEMED THE BETTER OPTION AND, AT A COST OF LESS THAN $100 A SEMESTER, I ENROLLED AT BALTIMORE JUNIOR COLLEGE – NOW BALTIMORE CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE.  I STILL DIDN’T KNOW WHAT I WANTED TO DO, BUT WHAT I DID ACCOMPLISH WAS TO MAKE MY PARENTS VERY HAPPY --- THEIR SON WAS GOING TO COLLEGE – AND SEEING THEM HAPPY ABOUT THIS GAVE ME A DEEP SENSE OF PRIDE AND SATISFACTION. 

GRADUATION FROM BJC WAS AN EXCITING TIME FOR MY FAMILY.  MY BROTHER HAD JOINED THE AIR FORCE AND NOW I WAS NOT ONLY THE FIRST ONE IN THE FAMILY TO GO TO COLLEGE, BUT I WAS THE FIRST COLLEGE GRADUATE IN THE FAMILY.  I THINK BEING THE FIRST PERSON IN THE FAMILY TO GRADUATE COLLEGE MAY BE A SIMILAR STORY FOR MANY OF YOU WHO ARE GRADUATING TODAY.

NOW I WAS FOCUSED IN ON A PLAN – RIGHT.  SAD TO SAY THE ANSWER WAS STILL NO.  I WAS NOW LOOKING AT MY OPTIONS.  I WAS FORTUNATE – I HAD DONE WELL ACADEMICALLY AT BJC WHILE ALSO PLAYING ON THE BASKETBALL AND TENNIS TEAMS.  AS A RESULT, I RECEIVED SOME SCHOLARSHIP MONEY OFFERS AND SINCE I HAD FRIENDS THAT WERE GOING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND AND MARYLAND WAS WILLING TO TRANSFER ALL OF MY CREDITS AND ACCEPT ME WITH THIRD YEAR STANDING AS A BUSINESS MAJOR, I ENTHUSIASTICALLY ACCEPTED THE OFFER.  I WAS NOW 20 – AND I STILL LACKED A CLEAR PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.  TWO YEARS LATER, I WAS GRADUATING FROM THE UNIVERSITY – WITH MUCH EXCITEMENT AND THE PLEASURE OF ONCE AGAIN SEEING MY PARENTS SO EXCITED AND PROUD OF THAT MOMENT.  I THINK THEY ENJOYED THIS SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF MY COLLEGE WORK SO MUCH BECAUSE IT WAS SOMETHING THEY HAD TALKED ABOUT MY ENTIRE LIFE. 

NOW HERE IS WHERE CIRCUMSTANCES CAME IN AND IMPACTED ON MY FUTURE FAR MORE THAN ANY DETAILED PLANNING ON MY PART.  THE DRAFT WAS IN EFFECT AT THE TIME I GRADUATED, AND I HAD BEEN SERVING IN THE ARMY RESERVES AND AT SOME POINT I HAD TO GO INTO THE ARMY FOR SIX MONTHS OF ACTIVE ARMY DUTY – BUT THEY COULDN’T TELL ME WHEN I WOULD BE CALLED TO SERVE.

I LIKED WORKING WITH PEOPLE SO, WHILE WAITING FOR THE CALL TO ACTIVE DUTY, BECAUSE I NOW HAD A DEGREE IN HAND, I WAS OFFERED AND I TOOK A JOB AS A SOCIAL SERVICE WORKER IN THE CHILDREN’S DIVISION OF WHAT WAS THEN CALLED THE BALTIMORE WELFARE DEPARTMENT.  I ENJOYED THE WORK I WAS DOING THERE, ESPECIALLY WORKING WITH THE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.  AFTER TAKING A LEAVE FROM MY JOB TO DO MY SIX MONTHS OF ACTIVE ARMY DUTY, I RETURNED TO MY WORK AT THE WELFARE DEPARTMENT.  I WANTED TO DO MORE THAN JUST BE A CASE WORKER BUT FOUND THAT TO HAVE ANY POSITION THAT COULD HAVE REAL IMPACT IN TRYING TO CHANGE SOME BASIC THINGS AND OPERATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT, YOU NEEDED TO HAVE YOUR MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK DEGREE.  NOW A PLAN WAS STARTING TO FORM.

I ENROLLED IN GRADUATE SCHOOL AND EARNED MY MSW FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA.  GRADUATION DAY AND CEREMONIES ONCE AGAIN BROUGHT GREAT JOY TO MY PARENTS AND MY WIFE ROZ WHO I HAD MARRIED A YEAR EARLIER.  WITH MY NEW DEGREE, I WAS NOW QUALIFIED TO ASSUME A POSITION WITH INCREASED RESPONSIBILITY AND WAS ASKED TO SERVE AS THE DEPARTMENT’S DIRECTOR OF JUVENILE COURT SERVICES.  WITH MY NEW RESPONSIBILITIES, I WAS BEING URGED TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL AND TAKE AT LEAST SOME LAW CLASSES IF I REALLY WANTED TO HAVE A LARGER IMPACT IN HELPING THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THAT WERE MOVING THROUGH THE SOCIAL SERVICE AND COURT SYSTEM.  MY PARENTS ALWAYS SAID TOO MUCH EDUCATION WILL NEVER HARM YOU – BUT TOO LITTLE COULD POSSIBLY LIMIT YOUR OPPORTUNITIES AND, IN MY CASE, THEY WERE RIGHT AGAIN.  I STARTED TO TAKE LAW COURSES IN THE EVENING WHILE MAINTAINING MY JOB IN THE DAY –THEN CHANCE STEPPED IN AGAIN.  ON A TRAIN RIDE TO A MEETING IN PHILADELPHIA, I MET UP WITH A PERSON THAT WAS THE DEAN OF STUDENTS AT BALTIMORE JUNIOR COLLEGE WHEN I WENT THERE.  SHE INTRODUCED ME TO A FRIEND WHO WAS THE DIRECTOR OF THE BALTIMORE JUNIOR COLLEGE’S EVENING PROGRAM.  HE SAID IF I WAS INTERESTED, HE HAD SOME PART-TIME TEACHING OPENINGS FOR SOMEONE TO TEACH INTRODUCTORY SOCIOLOGY COURSES. 

I TOOK HIM UP ON HIS OFFER AND WAS NOW TEACHING AN EVENING SOCIOLOGY COURSE, TAKING EVENING COURSES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BALTIMORE LAW SCHOOL, AND DOING MY WORK AS THE DIRECTOR OF JUVENILE COURT SERVICES.  MY WIFE’S PATIENCE AND TOLERANCE IN AGREEING TO ALLOW ME TO DO ALL OF THESE THINGS MADE IT ALL POSSIBLE. 

AS A SIDE NOTE, THE PERSON THAT I MET ON THE TRAIN AND WHO HIRED ME WAS DR. ALFRED C. O’CONNELL, WHO LATER BECAME THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF GCC.  I TAUGHT FOR SEVERAL YEARS AT BJC AND ONE DAY RECEIVED A CALL FROM DR. O’CONNELL ASKING IF I WOULD CONSIDER CHANGING MY CAREER DIRECTION AND JOINING HIM AT HIS NEW COLLEGE IN MARYLAND WHERE HE WAS JUST APPOINTED PRESIDENT.  HE OFFERED ME A POSITION AS DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS AND PLACEMENT.  WE NOW HAD TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND IT WAS GOING TO BE A SERIOUS CAREER MOVE, BUT I ACCEPTED THE JOB.  I FINISHED MY LAW SCHOOL CLASSES, AND GRADUATED FROM LAW SCHOOL AND WAS CONTEMPLATING EITHER A LAW CAREER OR CONTINUING TO WORK IN THE STUDENT SERVICE AREA.  I LATER EARNED MY MASTERS AND DOCTORATE IN HIGHER EDUCATION FROM COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY.  NOW I HAD A CLEAR CAREER PLAN – RIGHT.   WELL, NOT EXACTLY.  THE OPTIONS FOR MY FUTURE PLANS BROADENED WHEN DR. O’CONNELL TOOK A NEW POSITION AS THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF GENESEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND ASKED ME TO JOIN HIM AS GENESEE’S FIRST DEAN OF STUDENTS.  I NOW HAD THREE PRESCHOOLERS, HAD NEVER WORKED IN NEW YORK, AND HAD NO IDEA WHERE BATAVIA, NEW YORK WAS LOCATED.  DR. O’CONNELL WAS A MASTER SALESPERSON AND HE CONVINCED MYSELF AND ROZ THAT THE CHANCE TO BE PART OF STARTING A NEW COLLEGE WAS THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME.  HE WAS CORRECT ABOUT THAT.

A YEAR AFTER GENESEE STARTED OPERATIONS, DR. O’CONNELL ASKED ME TO ACCEPT THE POSITION OF CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER AND EXECUTIVE DEAN.  IT WAS AN EXCITING TIME.  SEVEN YEARS LATER, IN 1975 WHEN THE PRESIDENT RESIGNED TO TAKE ANOTHER POSITION, THE BOARD SELECTED ME TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF GENESEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.  ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WERE SEEMINGLY UNRELATED, SUCH AS MY PAST WORK EXPERIENCE AND MY EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND HAD NOW COME TOGETHER. 

NOW, STANDING UP HERE TODAY, 36 YEARS LATER, I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT THIS EVENT WAS TRULY BEYOND ANY EXPECTATIONS THAT I HAD FOR MYSELF WHEN I TOOK MY FIRST JOB IN A COMMUNITY COLLEGE.  MY DEEPEST HOPE IS THAT EACH OF YOU WILL ALWAYS BE READY TO REACH BEYOND THE INITIAL GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ESTABLISHED FOR YOURSELF.

YOU ARE PART OF A COLLEGE THAT HAS SUCCEEDED AND GROWN BEYOND THE WILDEST EXPECTATIONS OF ITS FOUNDERS.  SUCCEEDING BEYOND EXPECTATIONS IS PART OF OUR HERITAGE.

TALK ABOUT GOING WELL BEYOND EXPECTATIONS – LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF GENESEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.  ALMOST NO ONE, EXCEPT COMMITTED CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS, THOUGHT THAT GENESEE COUNTY WOULD APPROVE FUNDING FOR A COLLEGE OR THAT IT WOULD BE A SUCCESS.  WHEN I MOVED HERE IN 1967 AND MY FIRST OFFICE WAS IN A CONDEMNED URBAN RENEWAL BUILDING IN A FORMER LIQUOR STORE, I WAS STILL EXCITED ABOUT RECRUITING STUDENTS FOR OUR FIRST CLASS BUT MY EXPECTATIONS WERE VERY MODEST.  WHEN WE CONVERTED A FORMER DISCOUNT STORE INTO OUR FIRST COLLEGE CAMPUS BUILDING, MY EXPECTATIONS WERE STILL MODEST – BUT I WAS GETTING EXCITED.  THEN WE OPENED OUR DOORS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SEPTEMBER 1967 AND 378 FULL-TIME STUDENTS AND 217 PART-TIME STUDENTS ENROLLED FOR THAT FIRST SEMESTER.  AT THAT POINT BOTH MY EXCITEMENT AND MY EXPECTATIONS BEGAN TO GROW.

IN THOSE FIRST FEW YEARS, SOME OF MY FRIENDS IN HIGHER EDUCATION AND EVEN IN THE STATE UNIVERSITY’S CENTRAL OFFICE TOLD ME IN CONFIDENCE THAT THEY HAD NO EXPECTATION THAT THIS NEW COLLEGE WOULD GENERATE ENOUGH STUDENTS OR FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO SUCCEED.  THAT’S WHAT THE ‘EXPERTS’ SAID.  BUT MY EXPECTATIONS KEPT GROWING – WITH OUR FIRST GRADUATING CLASS OF 78 STUDENTS IN 1969, THEN WITH APPROVAL OF FUNDING FOR OUR NEW CAMPUS, NEW PROGRAMS, AND ENROLLMENT GROWTH WITH STUDENTS ENROLLED FROM COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD THAT TODAY MAKES US THE 16TH LARGEST SUNY COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN TERMS OF SIZE.  I AM PROUD THAT TODAY’S GRADUATING CLASS IS MADE UP OF CITIZENS OF NINETEEN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD – THE FLAGS BEHIND ME REPRESENT EACH OF THOSE 19 COUNTRIES. 

THE AWARDS AND RECOGNITION THAT OUR FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS HAVE EARNED NATIONALLY, STATEWIDE, AND LOCALLY EXCEEDED THE EXPECTATIONS OF EVEN THE MOST ENTHUSIASTIC COLLEGE SUPPORTERS.  ALL OF THESE THINGS AND MANY MORE WERE BEYOND EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL BUT A FEW TRUE BELIEVERS.  AS I SAID, MY SELECTION AS PRESIDENT IN 1975 AND MY INAUGURATION WERE WAY BEYOND THE EARLY EXPECTATIONS THAT I HAD FOR MYSELF WHEN I BECAME INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY COLLEGES.  FOR MY PARENTS, IT WAS ONCE AGAIN A CONFIRMATION THAT A GOOD EDUCATION FOUNDATION CAN HELP TAKE YOU TO THE TOP OF YOUR PROFESSION.  IT WAS ALSO A TIME THAT MY WIFE AND FOUR CHILDREN COULD ENJOY. 

I ONLY REGRET THAT MY WIFE ROZ, WHO PASSED AWAY SEVERAL YEARS AGO, IS NOT HERE TO ENJOY ALL OF THE ACCOLADES THAT HER UNSELFISH SUPPORT OF ME AND THE COLLEGE HELPED TO GENERATE.

I ALSO WISH WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE SPACE TO BRING ALL 22,500 OF OUR GRADUATES TOGETHER TO HEAR ABOUT HOW THEY PLANNED AND USED THEIR GENESEE EDUCATION AS A FOUNDATION FOR THEIR LIVES.  YES, I SAID OVER 22,500 GRADUATES AND THIS YEAR YOU ARE PART OF THE LARGEST GRADUATING CLASS IN THE HISTORY OF THE COLLEGE – TOTALING ALMOST 900 GRADUATES. 

WHILE I WILL LEAVE MY JOB AS PRESIDENT OF GENESEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE,   I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT I WILL FIND MY WAY BACK TO THE PING PONG TABLES IN THE STUDENT UNION, AND MY MEMORIES OF YOU, THE STUDENTS, WILL NEVER FADE NOR WILL THE MEMORIES OF THE 39 BOARD MEMBERS I HAVE WORKED WITH OR OF THE HUNDREDS OF FACULTY AND STAFF MEMBERS THAT HELPED BUILD THE COLLEGE.  BUT WHEN EVERYTHING IS SAID AND DONE, IT IS YOU, THOSE GRADUATING TODAY, AND YOUR PREDECESSORS THAT HAVE MADE LIFE FOR MYSELF AND THE OTHERS THAT HAVE WORKED WITH YOU SO

ENJOYABLE.  I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT YOUR EDUCATION WILL SERVE AS THE FOUNDATION FOR HELPING YOU SUCCEED IN LIFE, GOING INTO A FIELD OF WORK THAT YOU FIND ENJOYABLE AND WORKING AT SOMETHING THAT NOT ONLY EARNS YOU A LIVING, BUT SOMETHING YOU ENJOY AND HAVE A PASSION FOR DOING.

REMEMBER, YOUR GRADUATION TODAY FROM GCC, LIKE MY GRADUATION FROM BALTIMORE JUNIOR COLLEGE, OVER FIFTY YEARS AGO, SHOULD NOT BE LOOKED AT AS THE END OF YOUR FORMAL EDUCATION, BUT MERELY AS A FOUNDATION UPON WHICH TO BUILD YOUR FUTURE CAREER.  

HOW DO I KNOW?   BECAUSE MY MOM TOLD ME THAT SAME THING 54 YEARS AGO AND SHE REMINDED ME OF THAT ON THE EVENING OF MY INAUGURATION – VERY SUBTLY AND ONLY AS A MOTHER COULD DO IT.  I SAID YES MOM, YOU WERE RIGHT. 

EACH OF YOU HAS GOOD REASON TO TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TODAY.  MANY OF YOU HAVE MET OR EVEN EXCEEDED YOUR OWN EXPECTATIONS AND, THUS, YOU HAVE A SPECIAL REASON TO CELEBRATE.  MAY THIS DAY BE THE BEGINNING OF THE FULFILLMENT OF THE GREAT EXPECTATIONS THAT YOU HAVE FOR YOURSELF AND THAT WE HAVE FOR EACH OF YOU.  WE WISH EACH OF YOU MUCH SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS.

I THANK YOU AGAIN FOR GIVING ME THE PRIVILEGE OF SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY AND ALLOWING ME TO SHARE SOME MEMORIES WITH YOU.

Erika L. Brumsted, 24, of 5079 Batavia-Bethany Townline Road, East Bethany, and Steven C. Shaw, 24, of 2692 Dunham Road, Varysburg, are charged with petit larceny. Brumsted and Shaw are accused of shoplifting from Tops Market.

Terry David Czworka, 48, of Black St. Road, Pavilion, is charged with DWI, aggravated driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, failure to keep right, moved from lane unsafely, possession/consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle. Czworka was stopped at 1:19 a.m., Saturday, on Asbury Road, Pavilion, by Sgt. Brian Frieday.

Timothy John Hagen, 27, of Walden Creek, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Hagen is accused of violating and order of protection.

Brian P. O'Grady, 46, of Lymon Road, Bergen, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. O'Grady is accused of violating an order of protection. O'Grady allegedly made several phone calls to his estranged wife that did not pertain to their child.

Robert K. Geandreau, 38, of 404 Ellicott St., Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, failure to keep right and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle. Geandreau was stopped at 7:54 p.m., Saturday, on Ellicott Street by Officer Kevin DeFelice.

Brenden M. Mullen, 26, of 11 Holmes Ave., Batavia, is charged with DWI, no inspection and refusal to take a breath test. Mullen was stopped at 2:38 a.m., Saturday, by Officer Eric Dibble.

On Saturday evening, the Landmark Society of Genesee County handed out its annual architecture and preservation awards.

This year's winners were: Ben and Diane Bonarigo, adaptive reuse, for St. Mary’s Rectory, 18 Ellicott St., Batavia; William Steininger and Joan Bird for stained-glass window restoration and interior renovation, 9244 Upton Road, Batavia; Jennifer Weaver, for outstanding exterior paint treatment, 7083 N. Bergen Road, Bergen; James and Jillian Patric, outstanding exterior paint treatment, for 317 Washington Ave., Batavia; and, UMMC, Jerome Senior Apts., 16 Bank St., Batavia.

Pictures of the winners and full write-ups after the jump:

Benjamin and Diane Bonarigo
18 Ellicott St., Batavia, New York
Adaptive Reuse Award

When the former St. Mary’s rectory became available for sale, Diane Bonarigo had a vision of this building as elegant law offices for her husband, Ben, and his partner Robert McCutcheon. At the start, the Bonarigos were committed to saving and restoring the surviving architectural elements of the rectory. 

They worked closely with the City of Batavia Historic Preservation Committee and City Historian Larry Barnes to retain the building’s integrity. 

The building is located in a city-designated historic overlay district.

Built in 1857 as a private, single-family residence, it remained a private home until it was sold to St. Mary’s Church in 1905. It was used as a temporary church until St. Mary’s construction next door was completed in 1906. 

From 1906 to 1919, the maps show a change in the footprint of the building from one or more additions to the rear of the building. The footprint of the building has remained unchanged since 1919. It was used as a rectory until Bonarigo purchased the property in 2009 from the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo. The purchase had to be approved by the Diocese.

Existing architectural details are highlighted with a four-color paint treatment.   Diane worked with Mossman’s to pick out an historically appropriate color scheme that would highlight the architectural details. The exterior displays elements of the Greek Revival style: a front-gabled low-pitched roof with a narrow band of cornice trim forming a closed triangular pediment. The tympanum is decorated with a semicircular sunburst ornament. This design is repeated on a smaller scale on the front porch roof. 

The building’s front and side porches have undergone alterations throughout the years. The latest changes to the front porch were made by the Bonarigos. They replaced the wrought iron supports with turned wooden posts and replaced the iron stair railing with wood shingled knee walls. There is a two-story bay window on the west side of the building.   

The Bonarigos added unobtrusive landscaping that would not distract focus from the building. 

On the rear of the building, the trim does not form a closed triangle. Rather, the returns give the illusion of a triangular shape at the gable end. A cantilevered second-story porch graces the east side of the building. To make the building handicapped accessible, a wheelchair lift was added to the existing side porch. A new entry door was installed to accommodate the width of a wheelchair. A handicapped accessible bathroom was added on the first floor.

Inside the building, there is a harmonious blend of old and new. In the front office, a desk hand-crafted by Ben blends in with the original style. On all of the new door openings, the Bonarigos matched the bull’s eye style of the existing trim. The rooms without wall-to-wall carpeting have beautiful parquet oak floors.

Another one of Ben’s projects was taking out all of the original brass door knobs, hand cleaning each one, then replacing them in the doors.

All of the cast iron radiators were in excellent condition and functional. With a fresh coat of paint, they add a decorative touch.

The conference room paneling had water damage from a leaky roof. Diane used a toothpaste concoction and elbow grease to restore the wood’s luster.

The front staircase has a walnut wood newel post, paneling and a decorative trim along the stringers. 

When the building was a rectory, the upstairs contained three suites to house the priests. The Bonarigos reconfigured the upper floor into offices, a private conference room, another waiting room, and file rooms.

Although not as elegant, the cellar is just as interesting. The staircase leading down has a bead board wall. 

Even with the record rainfall, the basement remained completely dry! The original tree trunk support beams remain intact. The Bonarigos jacked up the floors to correct the sagging and added structural supports.  

There is even a wine cellar in the basement. Thankfully, an interesting door there was not removed -- the pipes were plumbed through one of the windows.

This stained-glass window was removed from the original front door and replaced with the scales of justice motif — much more appropriate for a law firm.

The furniture is a stately blend of old and new. The new reproduction furniture is accented with pieces original to the rectory.  

Diane worked with Mossman’s to choose paint colors and wallpaper to complement the period and tasteful style of the building. She also picked out the window treatments. McCutcheon’s office is on the first floor.

With great pleasure, it is our honor to present Ben and Diane Bonarigo with a Historic Preservation Award for the Adaptive Reuse of the St. Mary’s Rectory.

James and Jillian Patric
317 Washington Ave.
Batavia, New York
Outstanding Exterior Paint Treatment Award

(Written by Laurie Oltramari)

James and Jillian Patric bought their house in November 2006. As I was told, Jillian liked the leaded glass windows so much, it was a major reason they bought the house.

The house was built in 1918. And although its sheer massing makes its mark on Washington Avenue, its painted details gave it the facelift that make passersby stop in their tracks. A rusticated stone foundation anchors the cross-gabled house. Although this is more likely a vernacular structure, meaning it was built by local crafts-persons, it certainly has Victorian Era elements such as the Palladian window in the front gable, the bay window at the stair landing, the interesting fretwork on the porch, and the leaded glass in the transom windows.

The house was built by McBride Steel as well as the adjacent house to the east, currently owned by Jay Gsell. The former owner was Kathy Horgan whose maiden name is McBride. So the Patrics are only the third owners of the house.

Mr. Patric received his first notification from the City of Batavia regarding the state of his house, specifically some broken pieces of wood. He disregarded the letter because honestly, when you’ve moved relatively recently, you have many other pending issues to address. His second notice stated that he was in a “delinquent category” and as such would face jail time of one day for every 15 days the owners did not paint the house.

Although he had every intention of painting it anyways, it was not efficient to paint the house without first fixing some of the clapboard siding. Luckily, he saw a house on Ellicott Avenue that had replaced some of their siding, and so Mr. Patric asked if he could take the old siding. He removed some of his siding and replaced it with the Ellicott Avenue’s.

After receiving estimates of upward $8,000, the Patric’s opted to paint the house themselves. He had Sparkle Wash, Rocco Della Penna, pressure-wash the house, scrape it, prime it and caulk it. He happened upon a 40 percent off sale at Sherwin Williams in August 2010. The paint would have cost nearly $1,300, but came out to be $700. James, with some help from family and friends, hand painted the front of the house, which included the trim and detail work. He sprayed the body of the house. He rented a lift from Skyworks.

In the end, he was able to paint the house over the course of 10 grueling days, for only $3,500 (which included the lift, work done by Sparkle Wash, and the paint)! James preferred blue and Jillian, a visual merchandiser with an eye for detail, chose the accent colors. The results are stunning.

James is a teacher at Oakfield Alabama and during the summer works in landscaping. As old houses go, there is always work to be done, but there is always so much potential. The Patrics have many ideas for the future of their home, but welcoming their first child in August will be their greatest pride.

The Landmark Society is pleased to present James and Jillian Patric with this Preservation Award for Outstanding Exterior Paint Treatment.

Jennifer Weaver and Dave Kuder
The Gifford Walker House
7083 N. Bergen Road, Bergen, New York
Outstanding Exterior Paint Treatment

(Written by Loren Pflaumer)

This two-story late carpenter Gothic home was built in 1870 by Aaron Gifford, the postmaster at the time, on his 100-acre farm in North Bergen. The unknown architect incorporated classic Gothic elements such as decorative hand-sawn verge boards, steep cross-gabled rooflines and vertical board-and-batten siding.  It has been written by the early architect Andrew Jackson Downing, that the use of vertical siding was considered more in keeping with the natural surroundings; the central reason Gothic style is generally found in rural settings and is sometimes referred to as Rural Gothic. It seems the designer also had an affinity for more uncommon elements when he incorporated the unusual ogee arches and 36-pane bay window. The home also boasts fluted Corinthian columns, and a second-floor balcony with a Gothic railing.

The Giffords sold the home and farm to the Walker family in 1891 in whose hands it remained until purchased at auction by William and Bonnie Perkins in 1986. The Walker family added two smaller rear wings to the home but did little else, and the structure fell into disrepair with shrubbery covering the main entrance. The last remaining Walker to occupy the home was Alice Walker who ran a foster home at the time. Alice loved and appreciated the historic property and spent many years trying to get it listed on the National Historic Register. The Gifford Walker Farm was designated and listed in 1986; unfortunately Alice was not living in the area when her goal was realized. To this day, Alice’s former foster children continue to revisit the home where they lived as children.

When the Perkins became the third family to own the home, it was with the intent of restoring and reselling or renting it. They spent many years updating the interior, resurrecting the overgrown front of the home and rebuilding the front steps. In 1991, the remainder of the restoration project was taken over by their daughter, Jennifer, when she moved in as a renter. When the house was finally finished in 2000, everyone was invested and attached.

Fortunately, Jennifer was able to purchase the property. She lived in the home for 10 years when it was clear the home was in need of a new paint job. In June of 2010, Jennifer and her fiancé Dave Kuder hired Paramount Painters to begin the tedious process of scraping, replacing boards and trim, priming and painting. As with many older homes, many of the wood and trim pieces had rotted and needed to be replaced.

Jennifer initially chose to paint the main body of the house green and white with a contrasting accent color, but midway through painting, decided the busyness of the carpenter Gothic style would be best presented in a monochromatic color scheme. Jennifer and Dave have also taken care to preserve the barn and remaining outbuildings. A barn restoration company was brought in to review the structure. The barn now has a new roof and has been freshly painted, with care taken to highlight the lettering indicating the previous owners.

Genesee County currently has only 19 listings on The National Register of Historic Places. The Landmark Society of Genesee County presents the Award for Outstanding Paint Treatment as well as our sincerest gratitude and thanks to Dave and Jennifer and her parents for rescuing and maintaining this important piece of local history.

United Memorial Medical Center Jerome Senior Apartments
16 Bank St., Batavia, New York
Adaptive Reuse 

(Written by Jill Babinski)

St. Jerome’s Hospital was constructed in the 1920s and operated as a hospital until 2000. On Jan. 1, 2000, St. Jerome’s Hospital and Genesee Memorial merged to form United Memorial Medical Center. Since the merger, the majority of the former St. Jerome’s hospital was underutilized. In 2007, United Memorial Medical Center opened the Jerome Center. The Jerome Center houses comprehensive outpatient diagnostic services, occupational medicine, as well as specialty and primary care services on the ground floor of the former hospital.

Noting that there was still a large portion of the former hospital that was not being used, as well as an anticipated increase in the senior population, United Memorial Medical Center began to explore the possibility of adapting the hospital to be reused as apartments for senior members of the community. This process began after a private company chose not to purchase the hospital for use as a nursing home and conversations soon took place with the Genesee County Economic Development Center with regard to development of housing for the needs of the senior population.

Conifer Development, a local development firm that specializes in adaptive reuse of old buildings such as hospital and schools, took on the project. Construction of the project began in October of 2009. Conifer Development renovated and adapted the top four floors of the former St. Jerome’s Hospital into a modern apartment building. As with any adaptive reuse project, surprises were many, but Conifer Development was able to keep the project on time and on budget.

Jerome Senior Apartments were remodeled to feature both one- and two-bedroom apartments for a total of 37 apartments. Amenities available include intercom access entry, fully equipped kitchens with energy efficient appliances, central air conditioning, elevator, community room, exercise room and a computer room. Support services are provided by United Memorial Medical Center. It should be noted that the apartments are within walking distance to the Senior Center, shopping, financial institutions and restaurants. 

For one walking by the Jerome Apartments, much appears to be the same as when the hospital was in full operation. One addition has been made to the south portion of the building. There is now an entrance way to the apartments near to the YMCA. 

Perhaps most importantly, the addition of senior housing in the community met a need both for living space and preservation and continuation of a neighborhood landmark.

Joan Bird and William Steininger
9244 Upton Road
Batavia, New York
Interior Renovation and Stained Glass Window Restoration Award

(Written by Cheryl Chmielowic)

Bill Steininger and Joan Bird purchased their home at 9244 Upton Road in the Town of Batavia in 2006. The original house was built in 1823 by Daniel and Electa Upton. The Upton’s daughter, Sarah Upton Edwards, updated the house in 1890 to the shingle style we now see.

As the story is told, Sarah didn’t want the railroad through her property and gave the New York Central a hard time about it. She finally agreed to hand over the land with the stipulation that they bring her trees she could plant. She ended up with quite a varied bunch including, Ginko, Katalba, Tulip, Chestnut, Kentucky Coffee, Sweet Gum, Tamerak and Austrian Pines.

The house changed ownership several times since, including a 78-year period in the Frink family. When Bill and Joan took ownership, the house was in a state of repair and restoration but had enough left to finish, keeping them busy for quite awhile!

Upon approaching the house, the hand carved wood panel on the front porch roof announces its name, Whitethorn, represented by the white thorn locust trees along the driveway. The carved wood panels appear in several locations around the exterior of the house and some that were removed have been assimilated into the newer construction of the workshop. The complex roof lines, multiple porches, porte-cocheres, and leaded and stained-glass windows give it a Victorian identity.

Details on the interior include a tin ceiling in the living room that is a reproduction of an 1890 pattern, installed by Bill. The dining room ceiling is a Bradbury & Bradbury design of hand-screened paper and in the center is a reproduction of a turn-of-the-century light fixture. Joan and Bill have restored the Eastlake style door hardware. Note the shape of the radiator -- it's round!

The absolute gems of this house are its windows. The beveled, clear leaded panes in the dining and living rooms were found out to be leaded crystal. These were still in good repair. Joan says that on a sunny day they shoot rainbows all around the room. There is a lovely stained-glass piece in the dining room with a quarter sawn oak hutch built around it. This window off the living room has also been restored.

The large stained-glass window in the foyer tells quite a story. The first winter Bill and Joan owned the house, Bill had to cover the entire window with Styrofoam insulation to keep the air from pouring in through the openings created by sinking panes. The wood had rotted and the caming had warped. There were no storm windows to protect it. Bill contacted Brennan Stained Glass Studio in Syracuse to see if they would be interested in the restoration. It just so happened that they were doing a job in Buffalo and could stop to look at it on their way back home.  They agreed to do the glass if Bill would take care of rebuilding the wood frame. 

The panes were taped to secure the glass and then laid on plywood doors for transport. All the glazing was removed with dental tools from the original lead caming. The bowed pieces were flattened. Everything was cleaned and re-glazed. 

The 12-light window is stunning in its shades of light golds, blues and pinks. Through force of will, skill, and quite a few dollars, Joan and Bill managed to do what many could not. The Landmark Society of Genesee County recognizes their efforts with an award for the Interior Renovation and Restoration of the Window, but the true reward comes every time they behold the beauty of leaded light.

Deputy Tim Wescott spent a few hours at Target on Saturday creating ID cards for children. The session includes getting their weight and height, getting fingerprints and snapping a picture. The parents receive (within seconds) a plastic, driver's license type of card with the identifying information of their children. The information is kept on file by the Sheriff's Office should it ever be needed to help identify the child in a crisis.

Wescott and other members of the Sheriff's Office have been out at many community events providing the ID service. Wescott said being in a retail store was the first time they had tried it in such location and he said the first couple of hours were pretty busy.

A tractor-trailer fire has been reported on the Thruway in the area of mile marker 389.8.

The driver reported engine trouble. The turbo was revving fast and he was unable to power it down.

The fire is contained to the engine compartment at this time.

Unknown what cargo the truck is hauling.

Town of Batavia Fire Department responding.

UPDATE 9:17 p.m.: The location is just west of the State Street overpass. The visible fire is out. The driver reports the engine has seized up. The truck is hauling welding rods.

There is report of smoke in the hallway of an apartment at 106 State St.

City fire responding.

UPDATE 10:58 p.m.: Burnt food. City fire back in service.

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Jon "Bowzer" Bauman, star of Sha-Na-Na, stopped by 400 Towers on Friday evening to talk with residents about Medicare, Social Security and his career in music and television.

Though Bauman's appearance was sponsored by Kathy Hochul, his talk was pretty non-political. Bauman mostly stuck to the facts of the programs and proposals, at least as he sees them.

Above, Bea McManis escorts Bauman into 400 Towers as Bauman displays Bowzer's trademark muscle flex.

After 17 years of selling and servicing farm equipment at 5563 E. Main St. Road, Batavia, Empire Tractor (former Tri-County Tractor at that location) is moving into a much bigger space about a mile down the road.

The move will allow the company to expand its main building from 8,400 sq. ft. to 22,000 sq. ft., according to company president Tim Call.

"The thing is, farm equipment is getting much bigger," said Call, one of six owners of Empire Tractor, which has locations throughout Western New York. "We couldn't even get some of it into our shop."

The new shop will allow for more repairs to be handled simultaneously and for the bigger equipment to be worked on no matter what the weather.

In anticipation of the move, Empire Tractor has hired three more employees and will hire two or three more after the move is completed.

The new location, formerly a Ford dealership owned by Mike Ognibene, is 5.5 acres and includes two additional buildings (matching in size and function to the buildings at Empire Tractor's current location).

The contiguous space will allow Empire Tractor to consolidate its display and parking space on a single lot. At the current location, for example, some new equipment for sale must be parked across a very busy Route 5.

"This is a lot nicer," Call said. "It's all one side of the road, all blacktop, cleaner, neater. This is a lot nicer."

The location is a bit of a homecoming for Call. One of the buildings on the lot is where his father opened Batavia Farm Equipment in 1960.

Call acquired Tri-County Tractor 17 years ago and eventually merged his company with other farm equipment outlets to form Empire Tractor.  

He is anticipating a big year for Empire Tractor. With corn going from $3 a bushel to $7 and milk from $12 to $19, Call said he anticipates the market for farm equipment will increase. He said the company anticipates a 20 to 25 percent increase in sales.

A reward offered for the arrest the person suspected of tagging downtown buildings won't be collected because none of the tips that led to the arrest of an Albion man came from people who seemed aware of the reward offer.

In fact, the primary witness in the case wasn't even somebody who came forward, according to Det. Todd Crossett.

Police found the witness through a tip from a community member and made the arrest after getting a statement from the witness, Crossett said.

Taken into custody Wednesday evening was Mark Shareiko Jr., 23, of 413 W. Bank St., Albion.

While Shareiko wasn't living in Batavia at the time of the alleged tagging, around Feb. 15, he was spending a lot of time in town at the time, according to Crossett.

While graffiti can be associated with gang members, Crossett said Shareiko has no known gang affiliation.

Ken Mistler, a downtown business owner who offered a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the tagger, said that even though no reward will be claimed, he's glad a suspect was caught.

"I'm glad to hear it," Mistler said. "It's too bad it didn't happen sooner."

Even though none of the community members who offered information in the case mentioned the reward, Crossett said, "I'm sure they would all be interested in the reward."

Mark Shareiko Jr., 23, of 413 W. Bank St., Albion, is charged with six counts of making graffiti. Shareiko was taken into custody Wednesday and accused of tagging several downtown businesses on Feb. 15. Det. Todd Crossett requests any other downtown business owners who wish to press charges call him at 345-6353.

Francis Carr, 50, of Washington Avenue, Batavia, is charged with obstructing governmental administration. Carr was also arrested on a parole warrant. NYS Parole officers located Carr on Washington Avenue near Willow Street and allegedly observed Carr flee into a residence on Washington Avenue. Batavia PD and Deputy Chris Parker responded. As Parker arrived on scene, he observed the suspect attempting to exit from a second story window. Parker established a perimeter with the assistance of Officer Jay Andrews. After an extensive search of the residence by parole officers and Lt. Eugene Jankowski, Det. Todd Crossett and Det. Kevin Czora, Carr was located by Officer Dan Coffey hiding underneath the porch. Carr was jailed without bail.

Gregory Joseph Warfle, 41, of Chapel Street, lower, Elba, is charged with assault, 3rd, and endangering the welfare of a child. Warfle is accused of striking his 15-year-old son several times in the face with his open hand during a domestic dispute. The alleged incident took place in the presence of his 8-year-old daughter. Warfle was jailed on $1,000 bail.

A 16-year-old resident of Transit Road, Elba, is charged with harassment, 2nd. The youth allegedly threw a pair of glasses at another male striking that person on the side of the neck during an argument. 

John Terry Boyce Jr., 22, of Maple Avenue, Oakfield, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Boyce is accused of sending text messages to his estranged girlfriend in violation of an order of protection.

Justin Robert Dunn, 20, of Indian Falls Road, Akron, and Jennifer Marie Dauer, 36, of North Lake Street, Bergen, are charged with nine counts of grand larceny, 4th, and petit larceny. Dunn and Dauer are accused of purse snatching at 4133 Veterans Memorial Drive at 2:30 p.m., May 12. For Dunn, bail was set at $10,000 and bail for Dauer was set at $5,000.

A Level 3 sex offender accused of sexually abusing a child under 11, less than four months after being released from prison, turned down a plea offer today that would have given him the minimum sentence available under statute.

Ronald Smith, 18, last of 679 E. Main St., Batavia, turned down both plea offers.

Smith is charged with three counts of sexual abuse and failure to register a change of address.

The two sets of charges have been separated and today was the plea cutoff for the failure to register charge.

By turning down the plea offer, Smith will go to trial on the failure to register charge on June 20.

The offer was for one-and-a-half to two years in state prison on the failure to register charge and five years minimum on the sex abuse charges with the sentences served concurrently.

After Smith's attorney, Public Defender Gary Horton, told District Attorney Lawrence Friedman that Smith wouldn't accept the offer, Friedman offered one-and-half to three years on the failure to register charge.

Today, Smith turned down that offer with an admonishment from Judge Robert Noonan that once he walked out of the court there would be no second chance to accept the offer. His case would proceed to trial.

No court date has been set yet for the sexual abuse charges.

• Level 3 sex offender accused of sexual contact with a child in the city
• Level 3 sex offender out of prison less than four months before new allegation
• Grand Jury Report: Level 3 sex offender indicted on new charges
• Level 3 offender pleads not guilty to new abuse charges

Up until January, Genesee County's Job Development Bureau was the lead agency on a lease for office space at the corner of East Main and Clinton streets, but with funding for the bureau getting less certain, director Scott Gage asked the NYS Department of Labor to take over the lease.

A new lease was negotiated, but still hasn't been approved by the state, so the landlord hasn't been paid since February, according to Gage.

"It's not a good situation," Gage told the Ways & Means Committee today.

It's unclear when or how the situation will be resolved.

A special use permit and site plan were approved for a proposed Holiday Inn Express on Tuesday night by the Town of Batavia Planning Board and a spokesman for the hotel owner said the only step remaining is to secure a building permit.

However, an attorney for a group of hotel owners who oppose the project say the fight isn't over.

Attorney Thomas Warth said the conditional use permit may not be valid because for approval, a project on this particular piece of property must be compatible with an industrial park, not overly increase traffic on local roads and not be on a road ill-suited to retail operations.

“It fails on all those counts," Warth said.

But with the approval in hand, Buffalo attorney Corey Auerbach said his client is ready to apply for a building permit and start construction in June.

There had also been objections raised about the lack of a left-turn lane on Route 98, but Kenmore-based architect Mark Tiedemann said the turn lane is not required.

"We have a credible expert who says it’s not a requirement and doesn’t need to be mitigated at this time," Tiedemann said. "There was a traffic report done in 2007 that said no turn lane was required and there's been nothing added (to the complex) since then."

Warth said the site plan is also open to challenge because it shouldn't have been approved without a variance for parking.

"I think this planning board approval is invalid until they address the parking issue," Warth said.

As for next steps, Warth said he would rather not take the matter to court, but instead try to talk the matter through to a suitable resolution.

"Right now their approval is very vulnerable if it were to go to a court action, but I’d rather save the time and money and address it by having them do the right thing at the board level," Warth said.

The Holiday Inn Expres, being developed by Michael Patel, would add 80 rooms to the current hotel stock and the other owners say they already have too many vacancies.

Tiedemann said he's been involved with previous hotel projects in the area and each time one comes up, the occupancy rate is about the same as it is now, and after each new hotel is built, it doesn't go down. He also noted that in the past two years, two hotels have changed hands.

"I know all of the Patels and they don't invest in things that lose money," he said.

The Children's Charity of Buffalo & Western New York in cooperation with FreedomConcepts donated an adaptive bike to Genesee ARC on Tuesday that will allow Genesee ARC members with special needs to ride a bike, many for the first time.

The bike is valued at $3,700.

Pictured are Riley, 14, Ken Scibetta, Donna Saskowski, Todd Owlet, Nicole, 14, and on the bike, Wesley, 15.

Lisa Barrett, of Batavia, is very grateful to everyone who voted for her song in the international contest, "Best Original Song." Thanks to her voters, she has made it to round four and is now a top 12 finalist.

Voting for this round starts at 8 p.m. on May 23 and runs through May 30. To vote, follow these simple steps:

1. Go to www.bestoriginalsong.com

2. Click on either of the two bars on the homepage that read "Click Here to Listen."

3. Select Show #1 -- May 23rd Show Date

4. Vote for and/or download "When You Look at Me."

This information was submitted by Barrett. If she makes it to the next round, she will be one of six finalists and have only two more rounds to go before she wins the competition.

See the April 29 article, "Batavia singer/songwriter has high hopes for very personal song," for previous coverage.

Nearly 250 people braved a little wet weather this morning to show up at Dwyer Stadium to kick off the Day of Caring, sponsored by United Way.

The event sends people out into the community to perform a variety of volunteer tasks for nonprofit organizations, such as painting, cleaning, gardening and minor construction projects.

The organizers this year are (in no particular order): Jamie Rada, Chris Fix, Jane Scott, Susie Boyce, Debbie Fischer, Theresa DeMars, Lori Stupp, Shelley Fallitico (not pictured), Dave Cecere, Katie Betters, Scott Neff, Sue Boss, Carol Boshart, Jay Gsell, Erik Fix, Susan Schuler and Donna Saskowski.

A car has reportedly struck at pole in the area of 128 Vine St., Batavia.

If there are injuries, they are apparently minor.

No wires are reported down.

City fire and Mercy EMS asked to respond non-emergency. City police are on scene.

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