A motor vehicle accident with minor injuries is reported near the Thruway entrance at 8463 Alleghany Road. Mercy EMS is reponding. Law enforcement reported no need for Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments, which were notified, to respond.
Got work? Here's a government press release about temporary jobs only offered every 10 years.
The U.S. Census Bureau is preparing to launch a major recruitment effort to fill hundreds of positions in Genesee County to work on the 2010 Decennial Census.
The newly opened Batavia office of the U.S. Census Bureau has a goal of screening approximately 3,000 applicants between now and April for jobs in suburban and rural Erie County, eastern Genesee and Wyoming counties, and all of Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties.
Anyone interested in signing up for the 30-minute qualifying test can call 1-866-861-2010.
The majority of the jobs involve going door-to-door to interview residents who do not send in their 2010 census questionnaire. The starting salary for entry-level field positions is $13 per hour.
For more information regarding census jobs you can go to www.2010censusjobs.gov.
Volunteers at Genesee Community College will provide free income-tax preparation services through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the 2010 tax season.
The Genesee County Department of Social Services is coordinating with volunteers at the college to provide appointment-based services (at DSS) as well as two walk-in service days at the Batavia Campus (T205). Walk-in service days will be from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6 and from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18.
The VITA Program offers free tax help to low- to moderate-income (generally, $49,000 and below) people who cannot prepare their own basic tax returns. Certified volunteers sponsored by various organizations receive training to help prepare basic tax returns in communities across the country. VITA sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls and other convenient locations. Most locations also offer free electronic filing.
Genesee Community College is the newest local community group to provide these tax services. Genesee's volunteers consist of faculty, staff and current students. They have been certified and trained by the IRS to prepare the tax returns. The taxes are prepared by the certified volunteers with the IRS approved "Taxwise" program, an online program that the preparers use. Mark Castiglione from Genesee County DSS is the VITA site coordinator for Genesee County. Both Federal and State returns are filed. The client leaves with a copy of the returns that have been prepared.
Under the leadership of Certified Public Accountant Cheryl Corke, assistant professor of Accounting at Genesee, the student and faculty volunteers have undergone rigorous online training to be able to use the IRS computer software. Three faculty members have been certified to prepare the taxes, Cheryl Corke (accounting), Amy Conley (accounting) and Donna LaMura (chemistry). In addition to the certified faculty members, there are a number of accounting students and college staff who have been active and will assist in the program.
"We have a strong, dedicated group of volunteers who are excited to help our community members prepare their taxes," Corke said. "We've been working hand-in-hand with DSS and the IRS to make the walk-in sessions go as smooth as possible."
The VITA program is a free service for clients with basic returns (no schedule Cs, Ds and no businesses) and with a combined income of $49,000 or less. There will be a welcome table with a checklist of all the materials people need to have prior to preparation services (Social Security cards for all individuals including dependents, all W-2s and 1099s, etc. and proof of identity such as driver's license).
For more information please contact Cheryl Corke at 585-343-0055 x6323 or at cacorke@genesee.edu <http://cacorke@genesee.edu. >.
The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce celebrates its 38th Annual Awards Ceremony on Saturday, March 6 at the Batavia Holiday Inn. This is the county’s premier event that honors businesses and individuals for their achievements in business, community service and volunteerism.
In light of the current economy, the chamber has lowered ticket prices in the hopes this will encourage greater attendance. Tickets are $50 per person or a table of 10 for $450.00.
There will be a variety of entrees, appetizers and refreshments to choose from.
Stuart Steiner, Ph.D, president of Genesee Community, supports Gov. David Paterson's Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act.
He says it would grant greater autonomy to State University of New York campuses and permit new economic development and partnership initiatives on SUNY campuses. [Gov. Paterson's announcement is described in this release from the Governor's office: http://www.state.ny.us/governor/press/press_01151001.html]
Steiner issued this statement on the proposed legislation:
"Last (month), Gov. David Paterson proposed the Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act which, if enacted by the State Legislature, would give state-operated SUNY campuses more autonomy and flexibility and permit many new initiatives on all SUNY campuses.
"The Governor's proposed Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act is a powerful proposal that is being put forth at the right time. Dollars for public higher education are being limited and even severely reduced, so there is a great need to maximize the use of the dollars available to SUNY. For the state-operated campuses, the Act removes much of the tangled bureaucratic process for use of SUNY funds, and shifts many decisions and operational responsibilities to the SUNY Board appointed to provide oversight to SUNY colleges.
"If the dollars allocated to SUNY are going to be limited, then it seems that decisions about how to best use those dollars and how to generate tuition and other revenue should be left to those who have been appointed to be responsible for this multibillion dollar operation.
"The Act does very little for community colleges in terms of direct assistance, but whenever our public four-year institutions and university centers are strengthened, everyone benefits, especially the tens of thousands of students that we transfer to SUNY and CUNY colleges every year. When those colleges have the flexibility to use those resources to support the growing number of students, everyone wins. SUNY suggests that once the Act is fully implemented, state-operated SUNY colleges may be able to take in an additional 20,000 students. Hopefully a designated portion of these seats will be set aside for transfer students who graduate from SUNY community colleges, especially in those programs that are now at capacity.
"While the Governor should be saluted for this bold proposal, which outlines changes that have long been sought and long been needed, it was disappointing to see the Governor's budget proposal making such a large cut in state aid to community colleges. At this time in New York State history, when we are trying to maximize the use of our limited public resources, it seems that the Governor and Legislature should strongly support community colleges since we are, by far, the least expensive of all colleges and we provide the lowest cost-per student in any level of education in the state. As in the past, the community colleges will look to their local legislators to continue the support they have historically given to community colleges, and specifically to help minimize the level of state aid reductions for the coming year.
"Again, the Governor should be commended for The Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act, and I believe that the more our citizens become familiar with the Act, the more they will embrace and support it."
Debra Crossett was named Employee of the Month for January at Genesee Community College. She has held the position of secretary in the office of Student Activities for the past two years.
Since joining the staff, she has been deliberate in her approach to serving others and has exemplified professionalism and personal integrity. She has an innate compassion for others and always provides the best possible customer service she can to those with whom she comes in contact. She brings a high degree of motivation and commitment to the position as well as an ability to work independently. She often takes the initiative when she sees something that needs to be done and she willingly offers assistance to others. Crossett serves as an excellent role model to Genesee students and to her peers.
She began her clerical career at the Batavia Daily News shortly after graduating from high school and the Office Careers program at Genesee-Wyoming BOCES. Several years, later she accepted a position as switchboard operator and ambulance dispatch for St. Jerome Hospital for four years. She also worked in the office at Graham Manufacturing for four years. After her youngest daughter was born, she left the clerical field and began an at-home daycare which she continued for six years while her daughter was young. She also worked as a teacher's aide, which allowed her to be home after school hours. Four years ago, she went back into the office career field again when she was hired part time in the CAP office (Center for Academic Progress) at Genesee.
As secretary in the office of Student Activities, Crossett is the personal secretary to the director and assistant director of Student Activities. She maintains office records and performs clerical procedures, orders supplies for office and student events, prints and maintains student ID cards, oversees 13 work-study students, schedules meeting times and appointments, maintains and assigns student lockers and (most importantly) is available to students who need a listening ear. In other words, she's great at multi-tasking.
"My favorite aspect of working at Genesee is the opportunities that arise to make a difference in students' lives," Crossett said. "I also feel so blessed to work with such supportive and caring co-workers."
Crossett is a Batavia native, married to Ryan Crossett and they have two daughters, Nicole and Carissa. She makes sure to save time for her faith and her family. She also enjoys walking, bike riding, camping, making flower arrangements from her flower garden and assisting her husband with his photography business. Her immediate family, along with several other family members and friends enjoy vacationing together on the oceanfront in Outer Banks, North Carolina.
The Stafford Historical Society will hold its annual Taste of Stafford July 8. This year’s theme will be to honor our “HomeTown Veterans."
If you are a veteran and/or a family member is a veteran or someone currently serving our country from the Town of Stafford, we would like to know. In the Museum, will be a master list of veterans from Stafford who served or are serving in our military. Please let us know the name, branch of service, rank and the years served.
Also, if you would like to donate any items, or copies of the items, for loan to the Stafford Museum, we would be interested in displaying the items as well. We need all this by March 15. If interested please contact us by mail to Jim or Helen, C/O Stafford Historical Society, P.O. Box 28 Stafford, NY 14143 or call Jim at 344-3166, or Helen at 343-6662.
The State of the County Address will be delivered at 7 p.m. Feb. 3 in the legislative chambers of the Old Courthouse. It's located at 7 Main St. in Batavia.
Genesee County Legislature Chair Mary Pat Hancock will deliver the address.
The State of the County Address will be delivered at 7 p.m. Feb. 3 in the Old Courthouse building on Main Street in Batavia.
Genesee County Legislature Chair Mary Pat Hancock will deliver the address.
Oscar wants a pal who can appreciate where he's coming from. He's a great guy, a senior, neutered male, pug mix.
He's been around long enough to appreciate stuff like the horrible meaning of 9/11, the injustice of New Orleans drowning in a sea of incompetence and poor planning, the weird appeal of that funny-looking guy who sang "She Bangs" on American Idol and the out-of-left-field meltdown of sports icon Tiger Woods.
He's ready for a great, compassionate family who values his seniority, life experience and all that he's able to offer human companions. "The best is yet to come and babe, won't it be fine." Strike up the Hi-Fi, turn off the Wi-Fi, break out the highballs, and say, "whatta 'bout a poker game (for dogs only)?" So what if that fuss-pants Felix gets annoyed. Cigar anyone?
James is a "tiger-and-white" domestic, shorthair -- a mellow fellow who enjoys sunny windows and soft pallets. He has big paws and green eyes and would make a handsome, friendly addition to your household. "When you're down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothin', oh nothin', is goin' right, close your eyes and think of me and soon I will be there, to brighten up even your darkest nights." Sweet Baby James, sweet dreams and best wishes.
Volunteers For Animals
P.O. Box 1621
Batavia, NY 14021
www.vol4animals.org <http://www.vol4animals.org>
Working in partnership with:
Genesee County Animal Shelter
3841 W. Main St. Road
Batavia, NY 14020
(585) 343-6410
Adoption Hours:
Sunday through Friday: 1 to 3 p.m. (closed on Thursdays)
Wednesday: 7 to 9 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A construction worker who was trapped inside a partially collapsed trench at a construction site in Stafford has been extricated. He has a possible broken leg and an emergency crew is taking him to the hospital.
Mercy Flight was called but was unavailable due to weather conditions.
The construction site is on Fargo Road, just south of Route 5.
Hey y'all I'm Ellie, a blue-tick adult, female hound that was turned into the pound. Don't really know why, 'cuz I'm great with young'uns and other critters, 'spechly dawgs. Plus, I like lollygaggin' on the sofer with mah kin. Don't worry none, I'm spayed. I may sound none too highbrow, but that's overrated anyhaow. I'm pert near cute as a speckled pup and I'm housebroken and leash trained, yessiree, Bob. They tol' me to take an ol' cold tater 'n' wait, so that's what I'ma doin'. Y'all come down heah, ya heah! Kennel 14.
I'm very pretty, am I not? My name is Tawny and I'm a calico, domestic long hair, adult, spayed female. I have long silky fur, purr, and beautiful eyes, purr, that enticingly and coyly say "pet me, love me, hold me, want me...purr." There, I've cast my mesmerizing spell. If you can hear its silken entreaties echoing inside your head and heart, please come meet me soon. You know I won't last long. Let's rendezvous forever! Cage 68.
Volunteers For Animals
PO Box 1621
Batavia, NY 14021
www.vol4animals.org <http://www.vol4animals.org>
Working in partnership with:
Genesee County Animal Shelter
3841 W. Main Street Road
Batavia, NY 14020
(585)343-6410
Adoption Hours:
Sunday - Friday 1 - 3 pm (closed on Thursdays)
Wednesday 7 - 9 pm
Saturday 11 - 1 pm
Adopt a New Friend at the Genesee County Animal Shelter!
A Rochester man with 12 prior convictions, including five felonies, rejected a plea offer Wednesday from the Genesee County District Attorney and will go to trial instead.
Reginald Wilson was arrested back in September for allegedly breaking into a home on State Street and was charged with burglary in the 2nd and criminal possession of stolen property. He was reportedly caught driving a vehicle stolen from the residence.
Because of his priors, Judge Robert Noonan initially refused bail to Wilson. But in November, Noonan offered him $100,000 bail or $200,000 bond. He remains in custody.
Yesterday, District Attorney Lawrence Friedman offered Wilson the chance to plead guilty to a class D violent felony in the second degree with sentencing as a second felony offender instead of a persistent offender. If convicted as a persistent offender, Wilson could serve a life sentence.
Wilson nixed the offer and a trial date was set for March 29, with a pretrial conference at 9:30 a.m. and jury selection at 10.
Shackled, wearing orange jail garb, his hair in tiny dreadlock braids, Wilson looked over his right shoulder a couple of times during his brief courtroom appearance. He scanned the gallery for friends or family but there were none.
The judge set a cut-off time at which the DA's offer is off the table for good. It's 11 a.m. Feb. 26.
A blue Pontiac Trans Am is on fire with flames coming from the engine on the eastbound side of East Main Street between 400 Towers and Pizza Hut.
No one spoke in favor of proposed zoning changes, intended to protect agricultural land, at tonight's public hearing in the Batavia Town Hall. Not the county, nor farmers, nor just plain property owners.
The draft Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan aims to preserve tracts of land big enough to farm by limiting the creation of non-farm lots as well as the subdivision of farm parcels. It's a long-term strategy to deal with growth and yet maintain a highly important resource -- local agriculture.
Two more public hearings will be held before it's considered. Nothing is settled, everything is negotiable.
About a dozen people were at the Town Board meeting and they got an overview of the plan before getting a chance to speak.
First to the podium was Penfield resident Jeffrey Peters who owns property in the town as does his sister.
Among Peters' complaints was the possible rezoning of 120 acres he owns, which could be changed from residential to agricultural. What he could build 100 houses on now would be rezoned to allow only about 5.
"This impedes our ability to market properties," Peters said, adding that the economic loss would be tremendous.
He figures at least 180 current landowners will be affected by the proposals.
"I'll guarantee they won't like the numbers," Peters said.
Furthermore, there is no compelling reason to make the changes, Peters went on, because residential encroachment on ag land here amounts to less than 1 percent, hardly justification for taking away his property rights under the Constitution.
His attorney, Edward Pucino, echoed his client's concerns.
The draft plan places severe limitations on the exercise of property rights. It's too restrictive, Pucino said. He recommended the town negotiate conservation easements and other incentives with property owners to preserve land.
Putting highly restrictive zoning in place would result in multiple variance requests and, possibly, lawsuits.
"Twenty-five acres per residential lot constitutes a 'taking' of property -- that's unconstitutional," Pucino said.
Joe Jaszko questioned the whole enterprise. He said nothing needed to be changed and that it all just amounts to more government in people's lives, and for no good reason.
Town Supervisor Greg Post said he understood Jaszko's concerns about more government and agreed with him. But Post said the town has a responsibility to be good stewards of the land for future generations, and it's better to work out the plan at the most local level than have some other government entity do so.
"There may be a debate about how it's being done, but I'm glad it's being done and you're not ignoring it," said Jim Duval, planning director for Genesee County.
Duval asked that the draft be revised to reflect that the area north of town, some 1,500 acres, be declared the wet and unproductive land that it is, rather than designating it as protected agriculture property.
Gary Diegelman, in a similar vein, suggested that land that has not been tilled, say, within the last 10 years, not fall under ag protection.
"If wetlands and woodlands and all were lumped in that protected designation, it would be a burden to the property owner and they would need to seek variances to make changes," Diegelman said.
After the hour-long hearing, Roger Saile walked into the hallway and just shook his head. He was not pleased with the draft plan in the least.
"We've been here 100 years and we've protected our land just fine," Saile said. "And now someone from out of town comes here and tells us how to protect it.
"It's too much government. I need protection -- from them!" Saile said, pointing toward the well-intended people in the other room.
Stuart Brown Associates in Fairport prepared the bulk of the plan in conjunction with a 10-person steering committee from the town. The work was funded with a $25,000 state grant. Copies are available from the town clerk's office.
A former Le Roy Fire Department chief was sentenced this afternoon to 90 days in jail and five years probation for misappropriating public funds in 2006. He must also pay fees and fines totaling more than $2,500, plus adhere to a number of other stipulations.
Stephen C. Smith appeared in Genesee County Court wearing white sneakers, black slacks, a light gray sweater and shirt, with bandages on his right hand. He offered no comment when Judge Robert Noonan asked him if he had anything to say for himself.
Smith pled guilty in mid-October to forgery in the second degree.
He served as Le Roy's fire chief from 2004-08, and four more as an assistant chief.
"You certainly should be ashamed for what's brought you here today," Noonan told Smith, while acknowleging that part of Smith's punishment has already been self-inflicted.
"It's a blow to remove you from something you've long been associated with," Noonan said.
Genesee County Justice will supervise Smith's probation. He must provide a DNA sample and pay a $50 fee to be registered in the criminal DNA database. He can drink no alcohol and must submit to random testing. He must get a substance-abuse evaluation and write a letter of apology to those affected by his actions. He cannot associate with scofflaws and convicts.
Smith's Attorney Thomas Burns' asked that his client be allowed to pay his restitution at a rate of $50 a month, and Noonan agreed. The judge also agreed to a jail sentence of 90 days, instead of the six months sought by the Prosecutor Kevin Finnell.
Smith will serve the sentence at a rate of 48-hours weekly, from 10 a.m. Mondays until 10 a.m. Wednesdays.
The distinction of Conservation Farm of the Year 2009 has been awarded to John and Shelley Reynolds of Reyncrest Farms.
The Genesee County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Directors made the selection and will present the award at the "Celebrate Agriculture" dinner on March 13 at the Alexander Fire Hall.
Reyncrest Farms is located on 9666 Alleghany Road in Corfu. It grows feed crops on 1,500 acres and has more than 600 dairy cows.
The longtime family business was chosen because of its environmentally friendly ways, including crop rotation, growing grass buffers along streams and ditches and installing an extensive and sophisticated drainage system.
The Reynolds family also tries to be a good neighbor when it comes to spreading manure -- they limit it to dry days and will postpone the chore if a neighbor has a party.
It's not the first time Reyncrest has received the Conservation Farm of the Year award. It also won it in 1982 when the farm was operated by John's father, the late Ed Reynolds.
Reyncrest Farms built a new barn in 2008 and a new milking structure in 1997. The big, old red barn -- plainly visible on Alleghany Road -- was spruced up last year thanks to about $5,000 from the Campbell's Soup Co. The barn was one of only five chosen nationwide for refurbishment as part of Campbell's "Help Grow Your Soup" campaign.
Firefighters are responding to a report of a possible house fire in Pavilion. There is reportedly fire inside a wall at a house located at 11072 South Lake Road -- Route 19, just north of Route 63, across from the old fire hall.
A second alarm has been called and there is visible smoke.
UPDATE 5:50 p.m.: Besides Pavilion, emergency responders are coming in from Alexander, York, Perry, Le Roy, Stafford, Bethany and a fast team from the Town of Batavia. The fast team from the City of Batavia was unavailable due to mechanical problems.
A clothes drier has been pulled from the wall. Fire seems to be contained within the wall behind the drier.
UPDATE 6 p.m.: Per Pavilion fire command, the fire is contained and all units are returning to service except Pavilion, a fill-in team from Wyoming County at the Pavilion Fire Hall and an ambulence from York.
UPDATE 6:28 p.m.: Fire is out, scene is clear, all units returning to service.
Is your pet special? Do you think your pal is worthy of the decidedly prestigous designation Pet of the Week? Then let Pachuco know! Winners get ten bucks to spend at Genesee Feeds!
All entrants will be taken into consideration, be they four-legged, fowl or amphibious. They can tell our readers their story or you can tell it for them, your choice. Please send submissions, along with a digital photo, to: billie at the batavian dot com
She handles correspondence for Pachuco, a 130-pound Rottweiller/Doberman who was found at the pound as a pup. Be assured this handsome, gentle giant makes the actual selections. Being an animal himself, he is discerning about their qualities and qualifications.
The onus of selection is something he takes very seriously. It's not as hard as mastering the preparation of French cuisine, which he doggedly pursues despite his limited ability to make pate without sampling it. But it's not a snap either.
He had such a hard time recently when considering the goldfish Steve, Phineus the ferret and a burro named Burrito. He almost resorted to pulling names out a Stetson. He managed to get ahold of himself and went for a dog named Althea instead.
But he thinks this is all worthwhile because he likes reading the stories and seeing the pictures and knows you will, too.
Be sure to include your family's name and address (addresses will not be published) so we can send you the gift certificate.
I am adorable Fred. I was with my owner since I was a pup, but my owner had to move to a "supervised apartment setting," and could no longer keep me. I was turned into the animal shelter and am seeking new digs. Please know that I do not care to be around small children because I fear the little tykes are always competing for my food. Just because I'm food aggressive doesn't mean they aren't scheming to scarf my Alpo.
Anywhooo, I'm a housebroken, adult male beagle. I'm OK on a leash. But my star quality is my companionableness. I just now made up that word. I mean to say I am a loyal, trusty, amusing sidekick waiting in Kennel 16 for a whole new life to begin.
Look long into my kitty peepers. See how soulful I am, how hauntingly lovely. Connie is my name and a nice home is my game. I'm putting out big vibes with my little aura, trying to connect with my cosmic energy so it can compel someone to take me in and feed me, preferably wet food with gravy. I would also like kibble, a soft cozy, a catnip toy or two, a clean box, fresh water, love and peace. Is that so much to ask? Mind meld with me in Cage 69.
Volunteers For Animals
PO Box 1621
Batavia, NY 14021
www.vol4animals.org <http://www.vol4animals.org>
Working in partnership with:
Genesee County Animal Shelter
3841 W. Main Street Road
Batavia, NY 14020
(585)343-6410
Adoption Hours:
Sunday - Friday 1 - 3 pm (closed on Thursdays)
Wednesday 7 - 9 pm
Saturday 11 - 1 pm
Adopt a New Friend at the Genesee County Animal Shelter
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