batavia

A Batavia man is accused of entering the home of a friend on Washington Avenue and trying to steal booze, and when confronted, the man allegedly returned to the house with a shotgun.

Taken into custody early Sunday morning was Andrew J. Rock, 24, of 206 State St. Batavia.

Rock is charged with burglary, 2nd, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal criminal use of a firearm, 2nd, and menacing, 2nd.

According to Batavia police, Rock entered the home on Washington Avenue, took alcohol and then was confronted by the resident outside. The resident retrieved his property.

A short time later, a little before 1 a.m., Rock allegedly returned to the residence and knocked on the door and when the resident opened the door, Rock was standing on the porch holding a shotgun.

Rock fled the scene before police arrived and was arrested at his house soon afterward.

He was jailed without bail.

Reader Doug Veltz submitted pictures of this morning's one-car accident on Union Street. At this point, we have no further information on the accident (initial report).

Eric J. Bratcher, 22, of North Street, Le Roy, is charged with disorderly conduct. Bratcher is accused of shouting numerous profanities while outside a residence. At the time, there were many other individuals, according to Le Roy police, who were capable of overhearing the vulgar language Bratcher was allegedly using.

Ryan Thomas Covell, 20, of Polish Place, Buffalo, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Covell was allegedly found in possession of a partially smoked marijuana blunt during a traffic stop on Route 63 in Pavilion at 11:35 p.m., Friday, by Deputy Chad Minuto.

Kenyon Hanks Barnes, 26, of Clinton Street, Batavia, and Lisa Marie Horn, 21, of Clinton Street, Batavia, are charged with endangering the welfare of a child and unlawfully dealing with a child. Barnes and Horn are accused of providing alcohol to a 17-year-old girl while at their residence, 5100 Clinton St., Lot #4.

Stephany Marie Demorcy, 21, of East 161 St., Bronx, is charged with petit larceny. Demorcy is accused of shoplifting at Walmart.

Mazariegos Rene Roblero, 26, of McGregor Street, Corfu, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, failure to dim headlights, unlicensed driver and unsafe tire. Roblero was stopped at 2:20 a.m., Saturday, on Main Street, Village of Oakfield, by Deputy Patrick Reeves.

Timothy Wood, 22, of North Spruce Street, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Wood is accused of threatening to harm a woman.

Woodrow C. Horseman, 35, no permanent address, is charged with petit larceny. Horseman is accused of shoplifting from the Wilson Farms on East Main Street, Batavia. He was jailed on $2,500 bail.

A vehicle that came off the Thruway apparently spilled diesel fuel on Park Road from Route 98 to Veterans Memorial Drive.

A caller reported that the spill made the road slick, "like ice."

A trooper checked the scene and confirmed the spill and the slickness.

DPW is being dispatched to deal with the situation.

UPDATE 11:45 a.m.: It sounds like a trooper has tracked down the vehicle causing the spill.

UPDATE 11:46 a.m.: Apparently, the truck was heading onto the Thruway. The vehicle has been located about six miles down the Thruway. It has a broken fuel line. The trooper on scene reports the Thruway entrance was also slick.

A car has reportedly struck a utility pole in the area of 8 Union St., Batavia.

No injuries are reported.

The pole is down. Unknown hazards.

City fire dispatched.

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A power pole is reportedly sparking in the area of 266 Bank St., Batavia.

City fire responding.

UPDATE 8:21 p.m.: National Grid being notified. Pole #40 is arcing intermittently.

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Every once in a while somebody asks me if I know when Verizon is going to install FiOS in Batavia.

FiOS is supposedly the fastest broadband internet service available.

When speaking with John Bonomo, a spokesman for Verizon out of New York City, about manhole covers, I asked him, "what about FiOS?"

He said it would be at least five years before FiOS is installed in Batavia.

Right now, Verizon has its hands full, he said, upgrading networks in cities where Verizon has the cable franchise.

"We have to get the work done where we have agreements," Bonomo said. "We've got to complete these upgrades first."

Batavia's cable franchisee is Time-Warner.

A former captain in the Batavia Fire Department who has worked the past four years as fire chief in Auburn is retiring and returning to Batavia.

Mike Hammon is returning to run Godfrey's Pond, according to the Post-Standard in Syracuse.

A one-time Auburn firefighter before moving to Batavia to become an officer, the 55-year-old Hammon told the newspaper: “This is the end of my fire career. I’m getting out of the politics (of the chief’s job) and this is good for me.’’ 

When Hammon was named chief in Auburn four years ago, it was a controversial appointment, according to the Post-Standard. He was the first chief in the 113-year history of the department not promoted from within.

The article includes praise from officials in Auburn for Hammon's work.

More than a dozen singers turned up on a rainy Saturday afternoon to audition for a chance to sing the National Anthem at the Muckdogs' July 4th game.

Despite a cloudburst -- the contest had to be moved into the grandstands, and then after wireless mic problems, into the media booth -- the singers wanted to show off their chops and perform the "Star Spangled Banner" a cappella.

Above, Hailey Natalizia and below Ayisha Callahan -- both girls did a real good job with a tough song.

The name of the winner has not been released yet.

There was a big turn out at Ferrellgas on Ellicott Street in Batavia this morning for the fuel company's second annual "Refill-A-Thon."

Customers were invited to bring their 20-pound gas grill bottles for a free refill with a $5 donation to Genesee County Cancer Assistance.

No word yet on how much was raised this morning, but last year's event raised $2,000 for the American Red Cross.

Ferrellgas expected to donate 1,600 gallons of gas and employees volunteered their time to help with the event.

This information comes from Genesee Community College.

The Genesee Community College Board of Trustees voted this week to hold tuition at its present $1,700-per-semester level for the 2011-2012 academic year. Tuition and fees will remain flat for the fourth year in a row – a record trustees believe is unmatched in recent years by any public or private college in New York State.

Maintaining tuition at the current level has been a high priority.

"A big part of our mission is to make higher education accessible to all students, and in these economically challenging times, accessibility means affordability," said Board Chair Charles R. Ruffino.

Ruffino and other trustees noted that many colleges have sharply increased both tuition and fees in recent years, and that fees are not covered under New York State's Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).

"We wanted to be sure that students and families who face deep financial need or hardship not only have access to Genesee Community College, but can obtain the maximum possible financial aid for their education," Ruffino said.

Tuition for part-time students, which is based on enrolled credit hours, will remain $140 per credit hour. Tuition for students who do not live in New York State will also be unchanged.

The $35.85 million budget also holds Genesee County's contribution to $1.93 million, or 5.4 percent of the total budget, for the third year in a row. Genesee County is the sponsor of the college.

The budget must now be considered by the Genesee County Legislature. Trustees anticipate that the legislature's Ways and Means Committee will review the budget May 25 and vote on it June 8.

The proposed budget is "careful and cautious," said President Stuart Steiner.

It provides funding for the college's newest degree programs, as well as resources to cover inflationary increases in areas such as increased health premiums, retirement rates, and contractual obligations, which largely account for the 4.1-percent increase over the current $34.45 million budget.

Seven new full-time positions are included in the plan. They include new faculty positions in Veterinary Technology and Polysomnographic Technology, as well as a temporary full-time faculty position in the Teacher Education Transfer program.

Also included: a technical specialist who will assist in the management of the art gallery and teach courses in the arts; two buildings and grounds staff members; and a technical specialist who will coordinate assessment activities to meet the growing accountability requirements of federal and state agencies, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and grantors.

Even so, the most pleasing part of the budget, according to Steiner, is the flat tuition and fee rates.

Despite a 21-percent reduction in state aid over the last two and a half years, trustees were able to hold the line on tuition because of strong enrollment. Over the last several decades, Genesee has attracted a growing number of students from the Genesee-Livingston-Orleans-Wyoming area, as well as a great number of students from outside the area and even from abroad.

"Students are attracted to the great variety of programs we offer, as well as our very personalized approach to education," Steiner said. "So while cutbacks in state aid have posed significant challenges for us, our reputation has brought us many new students and helped us maintain a healthy enrollment and healthy financial situation. We are pleased that we can share our success over the past few years with our students and with the county."

Steiner also noted that the college has kept up high standards of preventive maintenance on its facilities.

"By repairing and refurbishing equipment and facilities on a regular basis, we save money over the long term," he said.

The president also said he was pleased that new and replacement equipment deemed to be high priority by the board vice presidents was included in the budget.

State troopers are converging on the Pawn King shop at 4140 Veterans Memorial Drive in Batavia following a report of a customer threatening the cashier. Allegedly, the cashier displayed a weapon to the person to abate the threat.

Press release from Batavia Police Department:

The Batavia Police Department is investigating the larceny of several credit cards from the Dollar Tree located on West Main Street on April 20th. One of the cards was then used at another business in the area.

If anyone recognizes the subjects in the photos, or has any information related to this case, please contact Det. Kevin Czora at 585-345-6311.  Information may also be left on the police department’s Confidential Tip Line at 585-345-6370.

The second annual Refill-A-Thon is going to be held from 9 a.m. to noon, this Saturday, May 14, at Ferrellgas in Batavia. It's located at 655 Ellicott St.

Frank P. Nicolazzo, general manager of the location, says they'll be filling customers' 20-pound gas grill bottles for just a $5 donation to the Genesee County Cancer Assistance Fund.

Last year, more than $2,000 was raised for the American Red Cross and they hope to raise that much or more this year.

Ferrellgas is donating all of the propane, roughly 1,600 gallons, and its staff is volunteering to make this event a successful fund raiser for a terrific local charity.

Shyqwan D. Foster, 20, of 188 Elmdorf Ave., Rochester, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, failure to dim headlights and moving from lane unsafely. Foster was stopped at 3:21 a.m. on West Main Street by Officer Darryl Streeter.

Ryan Charles Bishop, 20, of 9 Lathrop Ave., Le Roy, is charged with DWI and aggravated driving with a BAC of .18 or greater. Bishop was stopped Friday morning in the Village of Le Roy by Le Roy Police.

Press release:

New York State Senator Michael H. Ranzenhofer has announced that Richmond Memorial Library will receive $3,500 in funding from the Public Library Construction Grant Program for a replacement window in the Children’s Room. 

“This grant will serve as a reinvestment in Richmond Memorial Library in the City of Batavia and will ultimately allow existing patrons and future generations to enjoy all the services the library has to offer,” Senator Ranzenhofer said.

The grant funds are from $14 million in capital funds for public library construction provided in the 2010 State Budget. Grants can pay up to a maximum of 50 percent of total eligible project costs and libraries must provide funds to pay for the remaining costs of the project. 

New York’s public libraries are in need of renovation and upgrading. A recent survey showed a documented need for public library construction and renovation projects totaling more than $2.5 billion. More than 40 percent of the public library buildings in communities across New York are over 60 years old. Many of New York’s local public libraries are unable to accommodate users with disabilities, are energy inefficient, cannot provide internet and computer and other electronic technologies to users because of outdated and inadequate electrical wiring. 

Project activities and expenditures eligible for grants from the $14 million Public Library Construction Grant Program include the renovation and/or rehabilitation of existing space, including roof replacement, purchase and installation of alternative energy resources and new HVAC systems, windows, doors, and lighting systems, electrical upgrades, and construction of new or replacement of old walkways and parking lots.

Earlier this year, Corey Brown and a few of his college friends found themselves in a futile hunt for adult sports leagues to join in their spare time.

"We were searching around for leagues and eventually got sick of it," he said. "We wondered, 'Why can't you ever find sports leagues unless you hear about it from a friend of a friend of a friend?'"

Instead of giving up, Brown and his buddies got to work to solve the problem. They did more research and created the Web site, LeagueHound.com.

"Basically, we're doing the work for other adults like us who want to find sports leagues in their area," he explained.

Brown enlisted the help of his friends, Eric Bartz, Tyler Kossow and Candice Lymburner to get the project going. Now, LeagueHound is functioning quite well -- and is growing every day.

Although he isn't living in Batavia anymore, Brown (who is working on his master's degree at Niagara University) still has a soft spot for his hometown.

"Sports can mean a lot to someone from a small town and that's probably why this was so important to me," he said.

Brown admits that he knew nothing about creating Internet sites when he began, but by mid-February, he had learned the basics and began putting things together. When asked when the Web site would be finished, Brown laughed.

"It will never be finished. New sports leagues can always be added, and we're not trying to put something together for just Western New York or just New York state. Actually, at first we wanted to make a nationwide Web site, but we figured New York would be a good start."

After starting out in Buffalo and Rochester, Brown and his buddies have begun to branch out toward Syracuse scouting for sports leagues.

"We'll work towards the big cities and then try to fill in the gaps in between," he said.

Researching isn't easy, as the college students have found -- it takes weeks to get even a small city covered.

"You have to look in every community center and every bar...there are actually a lot of leagues out there, they are just hard to find. It's the most difficult thing to deal with but we want to be the ones to do it so our clientele doesn't have to."

LeagueHound.com is up and running -- ready for more sports leagues seeking players to send along their information and more potential players wanting some adult sports to enjoy.