Bergen

Quality products, enterprise and innovation, peerless customer service and a commitment to international growth are the hallmarks of Bergen-based Liberty Pumps. Combine these with an exceptionally skilled and dedicated workforce of about 200 employees (counting temps and part-timers), including a 19-member executive team, and you have a winner.

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce named Liberty Pumps its 2016 Business of the Year.

The privately held, family-owned company makes sump, effluent and sewage pumps for the professional trade. Last year, sales were well over $95 million.

Firmly at the helm is CEO and President Charles Cook, who everybody calls "Charlie." His uncle, Fred Cook, started the business in 1965. Charlie joined the company as an engineer and bought the business back in the the '70s.

Charlie holds two of the dozen or so patents on Liberty Pump products. These are proof of his and his company's ability to find creative engineering solutions to solve problems, resulting in products that are designed and manufactured with exacting specifications to do tough tasks.

For example, they developed a grinder pump that can handle disposable products like baby wipes and throw-away cleaning products like Swiffer cloths that can jam traditional sewage pumps. They are currently working to develop their biggest pump to date. Their engineers can tweek the flow meters, turn valves and pressure gauges in a tank filled with water 12 feet deep, all while tracking the progress in real time on big computer screens. It's fascinating to watch.

The engineers work behind closed doors, of course, "no cameras" allowed. 

The manufacturing, assembling, painting, and other aspects of the business are spread out in a gargantuan building. The floor of the manufacturing plant itself is more than 200,000 square feet.

In 2015, they undertook a massive, multimillion dollar expansion project, roughly doubling the size of the facility on Apple Tree Avenue. The office building is sleek and spacious, and there's an Internet cafe, fitness center and state-of-the-art teaching/presentation/meeting rooms, too.

The overall impression is that of a clean, efficient, comfortable work environment. It's quite impressive.

"Day to day you don't think about it," Charlie said about the newly renovated premises after giving a tour. "But once in a while you have to stop and pinch yourself and say 'How did I get here?' We're proud of it and we like to show it off."

More important than the space is the culture of the workplace, which Charlie says is a top priority. 

"Taking personal responsibility is important," he said. "We give people freedom to present ideas and implement them. We have an active suggestion program."

The ideas of employees can boost productivity and increase safety, and recognizing their contributions benefits the work environment and helps the company succeed, Charlie said.

So does an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, which was implemented in 2014. It provides the majority of employees with shares of stock as part of their retirement package. To be fully vested and receive shares, an employee must work for the company for five years. Every year, employees get a statement with their share information and they can sell their shares back to the company when they retire. The company averages an annual growth rate of about 13 percent and the quantity of shares each vested employeed receives increases with growth.

Although Liberty Pumps has been asked about relocating elsewhere, Charlie says he's not budging.

"We're very proud to be a local U.S. business," Charlie said. "It can be a tough environment in New York from time to time, but our people are connected here. Our executives are all homegrown. We aren't going anywhere."

But their products are going more places than ever. The sales growth potential is high, not only nationwide and in Canada, where they've sold goods since the mid-'90s, but also internationally. Since expanding its global presence in 2010, Liberty Pumps now ships to more than 30 countries.

And along the way, the company has garnered impressive awards from Greater Rochester Enterprise's International Business Council, for example, and it's landed on the Rochester Top 100 list of businesses for 16 of the last 19 years. In May, Liberty Pumps was one of only 123 companies nationwide to receive the President's "E" Award for exporting excellence at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

But nothing beats the recognition of your peers, friends and colleagues in your own backyard, says Charlie.

The award from the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce "is far more meaningful," he said. It will be presented tonight at the Quality Inn & Suites in Batavia.

Press release:

The 2017-2018 school year is fast approaching. Byron-Bergen families with children who will turn 4 or 5 years of age by Dec. 1, 2017 should register them for Universal PreKindergarten (UPK) or Kindergarten as soon as possible.

1. Universal PreK Registration

The Byron-Bergen School District plans to once again offer a half-day UPK program for the 2017-18 school year. The classes will be held at the Byron-Bergen Elementary School, located at 6971 West Bergen Road, Bergen, New York 14416.

Students eligible for the program must turn 4 years of age by Dec. 1, 2017. If you have an eligible child and are interested in having him/her attend our UPK program, please send a letter of interest by Friday, April 7, 2017 with your child’s name, parents’ names, address, phone number, and birth date to:

Elementary School Principal Brian Meister, 6971 West Bergen Road, Bergen, NY 14416

Parents who have already contacted the Elementary School by phone still need to send a letter to be eligible for UPK. Please note that if we receive more applications than our allowed capacity, we will select students using a lottery system.

What are the program goals of UPK at Byron-Bergen?

• To meet the NYS learning standards by using a curriculum that is thematically-based and supported using literature, songs, and exploration.
• To foster an environment that promotes happy, confident children who are willing to take risks, make independent choices, and ask questions.
• To create an inclusive community that builds upon a student’s strengths and accommodates his/her needs.

Philosophy of UPK at Byron-Bergen

The UPK program at Byron-Bergen is focused on socialization, and learning through play and self-exploration. Children learn in a hands-on learning environment, which includes activities, learning centers, concrete materials, and manipulatives. The learning environment is also nurturing, enriching, challenging, and developmentally appropriate.

2.Kindergarten Registration

Children who will be 5 years of age, on or before Dec. 1, 2017, are eligible for entrance to kindergarten in September of 2017. New families in the school district should notify the school as soon as possible if they have a child qualified to enter kindergarten this fall. 

Please contact the Byron-Bergen Elementary School Office by calling Becky Kelly at 494-1220, ext. 1301. Parents can send the required registration information (see list below) to the Byron-Bergen Elementary School, 6971 W. Bergen Road, Bergen, NY 14416.

All children registering for kindergarten will be scheduled for a screening appointment this summer. The results of this screening will be used to plan for the 2017-2018 kindergarten program. 

The following items are necessary to complete the registration process:

• Your child’s Birth Certificate.
• Certificate of Immunization—New York State law requires that every child entering school must have received a minimum of five doses of diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine (DPT) and four doses of polio (IPV) vaccine, two doses of MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), three doses of Hepatitis B, and two doses of varicella (chickenpox). Those children born on or after Jan. 1, 2008, must have four doses of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV). Their immunizations must be completed prior to entering school.
• Proof of Residency—If this is the first time you have a child entering Byron-Bergen Central School District, please bring proof of residency to your screening appointment. This can be a copy of your mortgage statement, rental/lease agreement or a copy of your tax bill.

A Bergen resident is reportedly in guarded condition at Strong Memorial Hospital after a hunting accident yesterday in the Town of Sweden.

Robert Williams, 32, of Peachy Road, Bergen, was reportedly in a field on Lake Road, Sweden, when he was shot in the abdomen by a coyote hunter.

Brett Blackburn, 46, of Sweden, has been charged with assault, 2nd.

According to authorities, Blackburn and his son were hunting at about 6:30 p.m. Monday when they observed movement in the field. Blackburn used a light to illuminate the area of movement. He said he observed light and thought the reflection to be the eyes of a coyote. Blackburn reportedly fired his rifle and then heard someone yell. 

Blackburn assisted Williams while his son ran to a nearby residence to call 9-1-1.

When Monroe County deputies arrived at the location on foot, they observed Williams on the ground and Blackburn rendering aid. Town of Sweden fire arrived on scene along with EMS personnel and evacuated Williams to a waiting ambulance.

Blackburn, of Covell Road, was arraigned in Sweden Town Court and bail was set at $1,500 cash or $5,000 bond. He is no longer in custody.

Our news partner 13WHAM assisted with this story.

Calling Scott Lamagna's participation in an attack on a patron of Playmates in Byron "brutal" and "senseless," County Court Judge Charles Zambito rejected the idea of a probationary sentence and sent him to state prison for three and a half years.

"I can't put you on probation or give you a community-based sentence and be confident the community will be safe," Zambito said. "I don't know what will set you off."

Lamagna and his brother Jonathon attacked a patron in the parking lot of the strip club. The attack stemmed from a barroom disagreement. After beating the victim, the owner of Playmates tried to assist the man, whom she found in the parking lot lying in a pool of his own blood, by dragging him onto the porch. Zambito noted that Scott and Jonathan then renewed their attack. Jonathan kicked the victim in the ribs and Scott kicked him in the head, both kicks caused serious injuries.

The brothers then left the scene, stopped at the 7-Eleven in Bergen, where they attacked two other people.

"Mr. Burns (defense attorney Thomas Burns) did his best to try and convince me I should give you a chance out in the community, but I'm not convinced," Zambito said.

Burns argued that his client is remorseful for his actions and realizes he needs help for alcohol and drug abuse. He said Lamagna does have a record of being able to maintain a job and would be employable if released to probation. He also said Lamagna had strong support from his family. 

Scott is older than his brother and Burns said Scott understands that as the older brother it was his responsibility to society to set the mature example.

"He knows he dropped the ball on that one," Burns said.

Jonathan Lamagna was sentenced last week and Scott's sentencing was scheduled for the same day, immediately afterward, but Assistant District Attorney Kevin Finnell presented information obtained from wiretaps on jail phone calls between Scott and family members.

Burns objected to use of the recordings in evidence for the sentencing because he didn't even know about their existence before Finnell mentioned them in court, so the sentencing was adjourned to today, giving Burns time to review the recordings.

The recordings reveal a defendant who was scared and under stress and trying to deal with his immediate concerns, as any person would, Burns said, adding they didn't indicate Lamagna was any less concerned about the condition of his victim.

There was also evidence presented that indicated that before Lamagna was arrested, he made frantic calls to people trying to find somebody to take care of his dog.

Before sentencing, Lamagna addressed the court and said he was deeply sorry for hurting innocent people.

"I wish I could take it all back but I know I can't," Lamagna said.

He said he was prepared for the consequences of the judge's decision as a result of his own actions.

If sent to prison, he said, "I will come out a better person."

Zambito wasn't convinced as he looked at the violent nature of the attacks and Lamagna's seven prior charges of resisting arrest.

"It's sad that you didn't have the same concern that you had for your dog for human beings," Zambito said.

Byron-Bergen's Brandon Burke scored his 1,000th point last night, becoming the first player at the school to hit that milestone in boys basketball. In a submitted photo, Burke is pictured with his family.

Bergen's ladder truck has been dispatched on an emergency call, asked to expedite, to the Town of Riga, where a man is stuck in a lift 40-foot in the air.

The emergency response is requested because the lift is leaking hydraulic fluid and workers are afraid it's going to come down.

UPDATE 11:30 a.m.: Our news partner 13WHAM sent a reporter to the scene and they tell us that man trapped in the lift is on the ground, safe and uninjured. He was 60 feet in the air, he said. He said there was a hydraulic fluid leak and the lift wouldn't budge. His partner on the ground called for help. He was in the air for about 45 minutes. He said he wasn't afraid of the height, but it was cold up there. He is a tree trimmer from Monroe County.

An accident with injuries is reported at Lyman Road and West Bergen Road, Byron. 

Bergen fire and ambulance dispatched.

UPDATE 9:01 p.m.: Mercy Flight requested to the scene  

UPDATE Saturday: A vehicle being driven by Vitorrio J. Muoio, 18, of Merrimen Road, Bergen, was westbound on Lyman Road. A vehicle with emergency lights activated, a Ford pickup owned and operated by James McKenzie Jr., of Clinton Street Road, Bergen, was northbound on West Bergen Road. Muoio allegedly failed to yield the right-of-way at the intersection. He was cited for failure to yield right-of-way, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle and seat belt violations. He was injured in the crash and taken by Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital. Also injured and transported by ground ambulance to Strong was Andrew L. Konieczny, 19, who was a passenger. McKenzie, 52, was not injured.

Carl M. Vander, 22, of Spring Street, Bergen, is charged with third-degree burglary, fourth-degree criminal mischief, and petit larceny. He was arrested on Jan. 24 in the Town of Covington following a burglary complaint at Empire Livestock on Route 19. The initial complaint was of a suspicious male in the area at 10:09 p.m. on Wyoming Road near Route 19. Deputies responded and checked the area and found footprints around the Empire Livestock building leading to the back door. The company was contacted, and a follow-up investigation the next morning determined the business had in fact been burglarized and damage had been caused to the interior of the business. Then on Jan. 25 at 3:23 p.m., Wyoming County deputies located a suspicious male walking on Route 19 at Mungers Mill Road in the Town of Warsaw. Upon approaching the male, he was observed wearing a baseball cap with "Empire Livestock Marketing" embroidered on it. A subsequent investigation allegedly determined the male, identified as Vander, had burglarized Empire Livestock the night before. Vander allegedly damaged the business inside and stole a baseball cap from inside a dump truck parked in a garage on the property. He was put in Wyoming County Jail and bail was set at $5,000 cash. He is due in Town of Covington Court on Feb. 27. The case was handled by Wyoming County Sheriff's Sgt. Colin Reagan, Deputy Renee Ficarella and Investigator Aaron Anderson.

Meghan Kathleen Gould, 33, of Hutchins Street, Batavia, is charged with fourth-degree grand larceny. Gould was arrested following an investigation into employee theft at the Batavia Target store. It is alleged that over the course of time she stole $1,130 in revenue from Target while employed there. The incident report is dated 1:59 p.m. on Oct. 4. Gould is due in Town of Batavia Court on Feb. 9. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Joseph Graff.

Steven R. Colombo, 30, of Ellicott Street, Batavia, is charged with: criminal contempt in the first degree with a prior conviction; strangulation in the second degree; and criminal contempt in the first degree with physical contact. Colombo was arrested at 3:12 a.m. on Jan. 25 on East Main Street in Batavia following a domestic incident wherein he is accused of punching the victim in the mouth and choking her to the point where she nearly lost consciousness. There is an order of protection in effect ordering Colombo to stay away from the victim and he has previously been convicted -- within the last five years -- of violating that order of protection. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Jason Ivison and Officer Darryle Streeter.

Ryan R. Hernandez, 20, of Albion Road, Oakfield, is charged with first-degree coercion, second-degree aggravated harassment, and criminal possession of a weapon. Hernandez was arrested at 11:55 a.m. on Jan. 24 on Walnut Street in Batavia following a domestic incident wherein he allegedly threatened a former significant other via text message. At the time of his arrest, metal knuckles were allegedly located inside his vehicle. He was put in jail in lieu of $10,000 cash or bond and was due in City Court this morning. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer James DeFreze, assisted by Officer Jason Davis.

Carlton L. Beardsley, 22, of Walnut Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny and attempted petit larceny. Beardsley was arrested at 11:15 a.m. on Ellicott Street in Batavia. Patrols were attempting to arrest Beardsley for allegedly attempting to steal property from a local business. Shortly after this complaint, patrols located Beardsley after he allegedly stole property from a second business. He was arrested and jailed in lieu of $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond. He was due in City Court this morning. The case was handled by Batavia Police Office Jason Davis, assisted by Officer Jamie Givens.

Adam Jacob Warren, 30, of Manhatten Avenue, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt in the second degree. Warren was arrested at 4 p.m. on Jan. 24 on West Main Street Road, Batavia, following an investigation that allegedly revealed he was in violation of an order of protection. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Jeremy McClellan.

A 16-year-old who lives on Farnsworth Avenue in Oakfield is charged with second-degree criminal contempt. The teen was arrested at 7:52 a.m. on Jan. 24 on Judge Road in Oakfield after allegedly contacting a protected party in violation of a Genesee County Family Court order. The defendant is due in Town of Oakfield Court on Feb. 6. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Chad Minuto, assisted by Dpeuty John Dehm.

Jennifer Lynne Greck, 47, of Seven Springs Road, Batavia, is charged with trespass. She was arrested at 1 p.m. on Jan. 18 on West Main Street Road after she was allegedly found trespassing on Mark Trail Motel property after being told she wasn't welcome there. She is due in Town of Batavia Court this afternoon to answer the charge. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Howard Wilson, assisted by Andrew Hale.

Zoe Anne McClure, 47, of Bank Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Following the investigation of a larceny complaint, McClure was arrested at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 25 for petit larceny for allegedly shoplifting from a department store on Veterans Memorial Drive in the Town of Batavia. She is due in Town of Batavia Court on Feb. 13. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Rachel Diehl.

The two drivers involved in an accident yesterday afternoon on Route 33 in Bergen are both in guarded condition at Strong Memorial Hospital.

Strong lists all patients being cared for in the intensive care unit as "guarded."

The drivers are identified by State Police as Donald L. Bausch, 74, of Batavia, and Otavia M. Bell, 18, of Rochester.

Troopers believe Bell failed to yield the right of way to Bausch, causing a T-bone accident.

There was an engine fire in Bell's car and among the first people on scene were employees of Genesee Lumber. They used a forklift they were transporting to tilt Bell's car enough to get her out of the vehicle. Bell was in-and-out of consciousness and when she regained consciousness, she was incoherent and said she thought there was another person in the vehicle with her.

Since a second person wasn't found in the vehicle, the Genesee Lumber employees used the forklift to raise her vehicle so firefighters should check under it for another patient. There was no second person.

Bausch had to be extricated from his vehicle.

UPDATE: Don Bausch is the brother of Legislator Bob Bausch.

Previously: Accident reported on Route 33, Bergen

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported at Route 33 and West Bergen Road, Bergen. A person was briefly trapped inside and is now out. The engine was on fire. Bergen fire and Mercy medics are on scene. 

Nearby, a fender-bender is reported at Old State Road and Route 33 in Bergen.

UPDATE 3:25 p.m.: This was a T-bone collision between a station wagon and a sedan, both newer models. Both sustained heavy damage. Each driver, one male and one female, was taken by ground ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital, according to Bergen Fire Chief Garrett Dean. The State Police crash reconstruction unit is being brought in. A vehicle owned by Genesee Lumber happened by at the time of the accident and its occupants helped out by using its forklift to maneuver the station wagon, tilting it, thereby allowing the Genesee Lumber workers to help extricate the female driver before firefighters arrived. The woman was slightly disoriented and told first responders she had a passenger, which turned out not to be true, but the forklift was used to raise the station wagon off the ground to make sure no one was trapped underneath. The male driver of the sedan also required extrication.

UPDATE: The accident involved an 18-year-old woman from Rochester and a 74-year-old man from Batavia. Both suffered significant injuries and though not believed life-threatening, State Police are not yet releasing their names. The female driver is suspected of failing to yield the right of way when entering Route 33. 

A one-vehicle rollover accident is reported near the onramp on the westbound I-490 in Bergen. 

Unknown injuries  

Bergen fire and ambulance and Mercy EMS responding. 

A first responder reports slippery road conditions. 

UPDATE 9:18 p.m.: A vehicle is in a ditch. There is apparently a second vehicle. A caller reports minor injuries. 

Christopher Charles Say, 26, of Goddard Street, Webster, Mass., is charged with: criminal mischief, 4th; criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation; endangering the welfare of a child; harassment, 2nd; and criminal contempt. Say was arrested by the Orleans County Sheriff's Office on a warrant out of Genesee County Court. He is also wanted on City of Batavia warrants. 

Dennis Allan Norris, 53, of Overbook Road, Rochester, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, speeding and drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle. Norris was stopped at 9:55 a.m. Dec. 23 on South Lake Road, Bergen, by Deputy Rachel Diehl.

Joseph Mark Dickinson, 26, of East Avenue, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08, speeding and driver's view obstructed. Dickinson was stopped at 5:32 p.m. Wednesday on Pearl Street Road, Batavia, by Deputy Jenna Ferrando.

Press release:

The Byron-Bergen Central School District is in the process of developing the 2017‑2018 school budget and we welcome, appreciate, and value your input. The Board would like to extend an invitation to members of the Byron-Bergen School District to participate in a survey that will help the Board to determine priorities for next year’s budget.

Please take a moment to complete the online survey by visiting our website www.bbschools.org and clicking on the “2017-18 Budget Development Survey” link. If you prefer a hard copy of the survey, please contact Mrs. Gunio at (585) 494-1220, ext. 2329, and she will be happy to mail you a copy, through Jan. 31.

Budget information will be updated on our website www.bbschools.org and discussed at our regularly scheduled Board of Education Meetings. Our meetings start at 7 p.m. and take place in the Professional Development Room (former Jr. High Library).

Please note that the public is invited to provide budget input at the Thursday, Feb. 2, Board meeting, which will take place in the Jr./Sr. High School Cafeteria to accommodate the community at 7 p.m.

It was supposed to be a just a little Christmas decoration contest with the loser buying the winner pizza, but both the order processing department and the technical customer service department at Liberty Pumps in Bergen have gone full Clark Griswold this year.

"I'm sure the money spent individually by these Liberty members is way more than free pizza," said Laurie Pfaff, who sent in the pictures.

A T-bone accident with airbag deployment is reported on Route 262 at Jerico Road in Bergen.

Unknown injuries.

Bergen fire along with Bergen's ambulance and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 8:03 a.m.: An Oakfield chief is on scene indicating extrication will be needed, but minor injury.

Pembroke beat Byron-Bergen in a home game for the Bees last night, 55-46.

Olivia Kohurst scored 14 points for the Lady Dragons, with six coming off a pair of three-pointers. Mackenzie Jurek had 11 and Mackenzie Johnson, who also had a pair of three-point buckets, had 10.

For Byron-Bergen, Karson Richenberg had 11 points, Dana VanValkenberg, nine, Jenna Amesburg, nine, Hailey Hubbard, eight, and Kelsey Fuller, seven. VanValkenberg and Amesburg each hit three-point shots.

A chicken coop is reportedly on fire at 5929 Cook Road, Byron. It's behind a house and near a large barn. The location is between Upper Holley and Merriman roads.

Byron and South Byron fire departments are responding along with the Town of Batavia's Fast Team, Bergen and Elba. A unit from Bergen is also called to fill in at Byron's fire hall.

Tesia Renee Plantiko, 24, of Harris Road, Le Roy, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, possession of a hypodermic instrument and criminal use of drug paraphernalia. Plantiko was arrested after police responded to a complaint at 9:50 a.m. Nov. 23 from a business on East Main Street, Batavia, that a woman had been in the restroom for more than two hours.

Joseph M. Marscelli Jr., 31, of Central Avenue, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant. Marsceilli allegedly failed to appear in City Court as ordered.

Francis W. Derenzo, 60, of Ellicott Street, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Derenzo was allegedly involved in a domestic incident at 12:30 a.m. on Thursday.

Thomas J. Mitchell, 27, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with a violation of probation. He was jailed on $10,000 bail.

Dawn M. Newton, 56, of Crane Road, Medina, is arrested on a warrant. Newton turned herself in on the warrant, which is related to an alleged city code violation for deteriorating roof and gutters. Newton posted $350 bail and was released.

Shamir K. Aslam, 29, of Landstone Terrance, Rochester, is charged with criminal contempt, 1st, and criminal mischief, 4th. Aslam was allegedly involved in a domestic incident in violation of a court order and prevented a subject from contacting dispatchers for emergency assistance.

Richard Dean McKague, 26, of Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 1st, and harassment, 2nd. McKague allegedly pushed a person into a door and then kicked her. There was reportedly an order of protection in place. McKague was jailed on $500 bail or $2,000 bond.

Bergen's fire chief has requested available manpower to assist with multiple vehicles off the road in the westbound lanes of the I-490 near mile marker 1.0.

Bergen Fire responding.