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Puppy found near Center Street over the weekend

By Billie Owens

UPDATE (Thursday, Nov. 4): There was quite a response from the community about this puppy. Russ said he has found him a home. Thanks, folks.

A little puppy was found wandering around near the parking lot on Center Street over the weekend. He was frightened and cold. Russ Fitzgibbon, of Beverly's Flowers & Gifts, at 307 W. Main St., took him in. He's warm and fed now, but needs a home.

If someone out there is missing a pup, or wants one, please contact Russ at the store. He provided no description of the little guy.

The store's number is 343-8500.

Grassfire reported in Bethany

By Billie Owens

A small grassfire is reported in Bethany at 5563 Broadway (Rte. 20), between East and Transit roads.

A brush truck from Bethany Fire Department is requested.

UPDATE (9:47 p.m.): Fire is out. Bethany fire units are back in service.

Motor-vehicle accident on Oak Street, Batavia

By Billie Owens

A motor-vehicle accident is reported at 23 Oak St., at the intersection with Prospect Avenue. It involves three vehicles, none of which are blocking the roadway.

There is one minor injury and another person is "shaken up" because of the incident.

City fire and Mercy medics are on scene.

UPDATE (12:24 p.m.): City fire is clearing the scene, back in service.

UPDATE (12:28 p.m.): Two people are transported to UMMC with minor injuries and/or to be evaluated. Personnel on scene reported that two vehicles had only "brush marks" as a result of the incident. The other vehicle had minor damage.

Grassfire reported in Pembroke

By Billie Owens

A grassfire is reported on Marble Road, near Akron Road. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding.

UPDATE (3:22 p.m.): The little fire has burnt itself out. Alabama fire helped out and got to the scene first. The units from Pembroke and Indian Falls were held back and now Alabama is returning to quarters.

GCC displays photos and creative writing about Dutch culture

By Billie Owens

From GCC:

GCC and SUNY Brockport Study Abroad: A Documentation of the Dutch Culture

Genesee Center for the Arts, Stuart Steiner Theatre Lobby, Genesee Community College

Creative writing and photographs displaying Dutch culture by GCC and SUNY Brockport students that participated in a study abroad trip to Amsterdam in the Spring of 2010.

The show highlights students photographs that serve as a final curriculum culmination to the digital photography and sociology courses that the studens participated in on the tour.

Exhibit open during normal college hours, admission to Lobby Art Gallery is free.

(Note: The exhibit runs through Dec. 4.)

Utility trailer catches on fire in Elba

By Billie Owens

A fire inside a "utility trailer" is reported at 5989 Oak Orchard Road in Elba. It is off the roadway.

Elba Fire Department is responding.

Cemetery prowlers turn out to be deer hunters

By Billie Owens

A concerned citizen alerted authorities of an unusual situation in a Stafford Cemetery about a half hour ago. Seems a pickup truck was there along with some people looking around with flashlights. After all, Halloween is tommorrow and this seemed a bit...instrusive.

Before Sheriff's could respond, apparently impatience got the better of the caller, and he fearlessly investigated things himself. Once satisfied that no shenanigans were going on, he called back and said there was no need for the law to respond.

The prowlers were actually hunters, who'd shot a deer, tracked it to the cemetery and were simply trying the find their kill and load it into the truck.

State group celebrates community theater with festival at GCC

By Billie Owens

The Genesee Center for the Arts at Genesee Community College has announced the return of the Theatrical Association of New York State – TANYS Festival, the weekend of Nov. 19 – 21. This is the third year in a row that TANYS will be hosted by the college.

The TANYS Festival theme is "Our Thanks to Broadway" -- an intense, three-day celebration of community theater. The festival brings together theater lovers statewide to mingle, network and make new friends.

A presentation of at least eight award-winning productions will take place, with the highly qualified Festival Adjudicator Steven Willis judging. In addition, several new workshops are scheduled in acting, directing, scene design, wireless mics and the return of some favorites, such as stage combat, auditioning and makeup.

Community residents are urged to join in the festival and discover the "theater" at the Stuart Steiner Theatre at Genesee Community College – a state-of-the-art facility!

"We once again welcome the TANYS festival back to Genesee Community College," said Maryanne Arena, director of Fine and Performing Arts at Genesee. "This is such a wonderful event for students and local theater-enthusiasts to watch performances and participate in educational acting workshops.

"Some of the best community theater actors from the across the state will be in attendance to 'wow' local audiences."

For complete details, registration and ticket on the TANYS Festival visit the website at www.tanys.org <http://www.tanys.org>, deadline for workshop registration is Nov. 15.

The Genesee Center for the Arts Box Office will be open during the festival days only, Nov. 19 to 21, contact phone number (585) 345-6814.

Genesee Chorale serves up spaghetti and songs

By Billie Owens

The Genesee Chorale is hosting a spaghetti w/ meatballs dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 6 at the First Presbyterian Church on Main Street in Batavia.

Members of the chorale say it should be fun night as they serve up songs with the spaghetti. Members of the chorale will be entertaining patrons throughout the evening.

Dinner will include spaghetti w/ meatballs, salad, bread, beverage and dessert.

Tickets are available from Genesee Chorale members or at the door: $8 for adults, $5 for children 6-12, and under age 5 free.

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DEC limits impact of new regs on existing outdoor wood boilers

By Billie Owens

Assemblyman Steve Hawley announced this week the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has limited the impact of new regulations on existing outdoor wood boilers (OWBs).

The DEC cited the numerous comments received during the public outreach process that eventually led to the new proposal provisions. The provision to phase out the use of older OWBs in an earlier stage of the proposal was eliminated from the final text of the rule.

“Due to residents grassroots efforts through attending and participating in hearings hosted by the DEC, unnecessary regulations and costs were avoided for people who are already meeting current DEC regulations concerning OWBs," Hawley said in a news release.

"I applaud the effort of the DEC for recognizing the burden of forcing roughly 14,000 households statewide to replace their OWBs at a total cost of anywhere from $10,000 to $25,000 for a new unit.”

Hawley also added that he will now continue to push DEC to listen to citizens regarding the strict open burning regulations implemented last year.

He is currently a co-sponsor on NYS Assembly Bill 7414 which prohibits the DEC from restricting the burning of garbage, refuse or rubbish in an open fire on land owned by a single family, or any part of a farm, under certain circumstances.

Farm equipment travels along, sparking grass fires

By Billie Owens

A piece of farm equipment being driven on Quaker Hill Road is reported to be sparking, causing several small brushfires along the roadside as it heads down the roadway. The driver, apparently, is oblivious.

Several calls came in reporting the incident in the vicinity of 6054 Quaker Hill Road. The equipment is still traveling along. Orleans County is being notified.

Elba Fire Department is called to respond.

UPDATE (2:25 p.m.): In the 5000 block of Quaker Hill Road there is reportedly a large brushfire now, heading into the woods.

UPDATE (2:30 p.m.): All Elba manpower and equipment is ordered to Route 19 and the Genesee-Orleans county line to fight the brushfires.

UPDATE (2:52 p.m.): The brushfires were pronounced out a few minutes ago. Fire police are holding traffic until the fire trucks and their equipment can be packed up and leave the scene.

UPDATE (3:06 p.m.): The road is open, the units are back in service, and the volunteers firefighters are en route to the Pizza Pantry in Corfu.

Small brushfire at softball field in Byron

By Billie Owens

A small brushfire is reported at the softball field behind the Byron Fire Station. A crew is requested from the Byron Volunteer Fire Department to go to the station and deploy its brush truck to put out the blaze.

UPDATE (12:33 p.m.): The fire is out and the Byron Fire Department is ready for service.

GCC seeks exhibitors for new Roz Steiner Art Gallery

By Billie Owens

Genesee Community College invites artistic exhibitors for the its new Roz Steiner Art Gallery. The call is open to individual artists and group exhibitions in all media.

The new gallery is currently under construction and will be ready for exhibits in early 2011.

Interested artists and groups should send a description of the proposed exhibit, all artist contact information, artist biography, resume, quantity and size of the artwork to be displayed, and digital .JPEG image samples of the artwork.

To submit exhibition proposals, individual artists and groups can submit work to:

GCC Art Department Office
Art Gallery Committee
Genesee Community College
One College Road
Batavia, NY 14020


No submissions will be returned; accepted artists will be contacted by the exhibition chair. Submissions will be accepted on an ongoing basis, but to be considered for the 2011 spring semester they must be received by Dec. 3.

For more information, call Heather Jones at 585-343-0055, ext. 6448 or email hsjones@genesee.edu.

Health and Humanitarian Award goes to Ronald Burroughs

By Billie Owens

Here's a news release from The Jerome Foundation and the United Memorial Medical Center Foundation.

The 27th annual Health and Humanitarian Award of Genesee County will be presented to Ronald Burroughs on Friday, Dec. 3 at an awards luncheon at Terry Hills Restaurant.

The award is presented by The Jerome Foundation and United Memorial Medical Center Foundation and recognizes volunteer men and women of Genesee County who have helped promote emotional, physical and spiritual well-being of the area’s residents.

In naming Ronald Burroughs for this year’s award, the foundations recognize his volunteer efforts and leadership with Genesee County Habitat for Humanity. He has served as a board member of the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate, and has been a tireless volunteer -- building and rehabilitating houses so local families can live in clean, decent and stable housing.

Michael Seyfried and Nancy Platt, members of the local Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors, nominated Burroughs for the award, citing his zeal and skill in all phases of the building projects.

“Ron has provided leadership, equipment, professional contacts and 'sweat equity time' for a number of houses in our community, and his vision for such projects has enabled families to acquire affordable housing on their own," Seyfried noted in his nomination.

Platt credited Burroughs with inspiration and leadership in establishing Habitat’s ReStore resale outlet that sells reusable and surplus building materials to the public. Proceeds help the local affiliate fund construction of Habitat homes within Genesee County.

The Health and Humanitarian Award luncheon is open to the public. Reservations can be made by contacting United Memorial Medical Center Foundation at 344-5300. Seating will be limited so early reservations are encouraged.

City Fire Department holds Open House

By Billie Owens

The City of Batavia Fire Department will hold an Open House from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30.

Kids are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes. (Adults -- hey, it's a free country!)

There will a demonstration of the Hurst extrication tool, the "Jaws of Life," plus sessions on how to use a fire extinguisher.

Certified city police officers will be on hand to inspect child safety car seats and to install them properly.

There will be fun fire safety activities for children.

PRIZES! CANDY! FREE REFRESHMENTS!

Event Date and Time
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Basement fire at 13 Walnut St., Batavia

By Billie Owens

An electrical fire is reported in the basement of a house at 13 Walnut St. in the City of Batavia. The occupants have been evacuated and there is smoke coming from the building.

City Fire Department is on scene.

UPDATE (2:33 p.m.): The fire is knocked down. National Grid has been notified about the problem inside the electrical fuse box. Firefighters are "checking the extensions upstairs."

UPDATE (by Howard): Julie Worthington and Mary Kay Mayeu were sitting at the dining room table talking when they heard some loud buzzing pops and the lights flickered. Mayeu told Worthington she better get the kids out of the house.

"I think there's something going on downstairs," Mayeu said she told Worthington. "I looked downstairs and I could see flames. You couldn't see past the water heater, but you could see a yellow presence."

At that point, Worthington said, the smoke detectors hadn't even started beeping.

"We were actually out of the house before the alarms started going off," Worthington said.

Show off your costume in the annual Holloween Parade on Sunday

By Billie Owens

The 18th annual Halloween Parade is this Sunday. Start time is 1 p.m. and participants should gather behind Batavia City Centre at Dan's Tire Shop at 12:45 p.m.

The parade will go from City Centre on Main Street down to Pontillo's pizzeria.

The Batavia High School Marching Band will kick things off and there will be treats from Oliver's Candies for the first 100 kids in costume. At the end of the parade, Pontillo's will provide everyone dressed in costume with a free slice of pizza and apple cider.

A juggler named "Gravitational Bull" will give a juggling demonstration and create balloon animals for youngsters.

The entertainment is sponsored by the Batavia Youth Bureau.

Batavia Area Jaycees are managing the event and will assist the Batavia Police Department in temporarily blocking off related street entrances during the parade.

Youth Bureau Interim Director Toni Funke says she'd like to see families take part in this fun event.

No rain date. Updates of cancellation due to bad weather will be broadcast by 11:30 a.m. on WBTA. For more information, call the Youth Bureau at 345-6420.

Two cars collide at the roundabout

By Billie Owens

A two-vehicle accident is reported at the roundabout in Batavia. There are injuries and Mercy EMS and the Batavia Fire Department are responding. Batavia police are on scene, at South Main and Walnut streets.

UPDATE (6:45 p.m.): Personnel there say extrication is needed.

UPDATE (7:05 p.m.): The "extrication" consisted of prying back a dented door to allow the passenger inside to get out. Injuries are minor. This accident involved a minivan and a four-door sedan.

Truck and minivan crash at routes 63 and 19

By Billie Owens

An accident involving a minivan and a pickup truck is reported at routes 63 and 19. The truck is blocking southbound traffic.

One person is said to have a broken arm, another facial injuries.

Pavilion Fire Department and Mercy EMS are responding. An ambulance from Le Roy is also called to respond.

Halloween display catches fire at Boces

By Billie Owens

A mechanical Halloween display at Boces malfunctioned and caught fire about 15 minutes ago. People at the school, located at 8250 State St. Road in Batavia, put the fire out. A fire engine from the City of Batavia was called in, nonemergency mode, to check out the situation and ensure all is safe.

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