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Four Genesee County suspects arrested for theft at Caledonia furniture store

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Four persons were arrested on Oct. 7 by the Le Roy Police Department after allegedly being found in possession of more than $1,000 worth of stolen property, which was taken that night from the outside of a furniture store in the Village of Caledonia.

The investigation started about 10:30 p.m. that evening when a BOLO was sent out by the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office asking officers to be on the lookout for a vehicle occupied by people who witnesses say just stole furniture from the store.

The vehicle was located by the Le Roy Police as it was passing through Le Roy, headed west on Route 5 toward Batavia. The four occupants were allegedly found with multiple stolen items inside the vehicle worth more than $1,000 and taken into custody.

The four suspects, their vehicle and the property were then turned over to the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department and the four were charged in Livingston County for the theft. The four are also being charged in the Village of Le Roy with criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree, a Class E felony.

The four people arrested are:

Amy Lynn Showler, 37, of 19 Manhattan Ave., Batavia

Richard Donald Hammer, 45, of 5 Wood St., upper apt., Batavia

Jennifer Ann Zimblis, 40, of 34 Main St., apt. 2, Le Roy

Daniel John Wolfe, 38, of 5 Wood St., Batavia

House fire on River Street in the city

By Billie Owens

A house fire is reported at 100 River St. in the City of Batavia. City firefighters are en route. Town of Batavia Fire Department is also called. The fire is fully involved.

UPDATE 10:40 p.m.: The Town of Batavia's Fast Team is also called and Alexander is asked to fill in at the city fire hall.

UPDATE 10:42 p.m.: All occupants are evacuated. A medic is called to evaluate a female for smoke inhalation and another ambulance is called to stand by at the scene.

UPDATE 10:45 p.m.: River Street will be shut down at Pearl Street.

UPDATE 10:48 p.m.: The city's Fast Team is asked to continue and its second engine is told to stand down.

UPDATE 10:49 p.m.: People at the scene tried to resuscitate a dog on the property but failed.

UPDATE 10:55 p.m.: National Grid has been notified. No ETA given.

UPDATE 11:04 p.m.: The location is actually a duplex, with smoke spewing from both units, 100 and 102 River St.

UPDATE 11:19 p.m.: The fire is under control.

Griswold Road over Black Creek in Stafford closed indefinitely for work

By Billie Owens

Genesee County Emergency Dispatch Center reports that a portion of Griswold Road in Stafford is now closed for road work until further notice. It's the part that spans Black Creek, with an address of 6120 Griswold Road on the west, and 6164 on the east.

Candlelight Ghost Tours of historic Batavia Cemetery

By Billie Owens

The Batavia Cemetery Association will present Candlelight Ghost Tours on Saturday, Oct. 20 at the cemetery on Harvester Avenue. Cost is $10.

Tours begin at 7 p.m. and depart every 15 minutes until 8:30 p.m.

Tickets are available at the cemetery gates on tour nights and/or can be reserved by calling 344-2550, ext. 2613, or 343-0248.

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Candlelight Ghost Tours of historic Batavia Cemetery are Saturday Oct. 13 and 20

By Billie Owens

The Batavia Cemetery Association will present Candlelight Ghost Tours on Saturday, Oct. 13 and 20 at the cemetery on Harvester Avenue.

Cost is $10. Tours begin at 7 p.m. and depart every 15 minutes until 8:30 p.m.

Tickets are available at the cemetery gates on tour nights and/or can be reserved by calling 344-2550, ext. 2613, or 343-0248.

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Candlelight Ghost Tours of historic Batavia Cemetery are Saturday Oct. 13 and 20

By Billie Owens

The Batavia Cemetery Association will present Candlelight Ghost Tours on Saturday, Oct. 13 and 20 at the cemetery on Harvester Avenue.

Cost is $10. Tours begin at 7 p.m. and depart every 15 minutes until 8:30 p.m.

Tickets are available at the cemetery gates on tour nights and/or can be reserved by calling 344-2550, ext. 2613, or 343-0248.

GC Historians present Ghost Walk tour

By Billie Owens

The Genesee County Historians will present the 2012 Ghost Walk on Friday, Oct. 19.

Cost is $10 and tickets are available at the Engine House at 3 W. Main St. in the City of Batavia. Tours are at 7:30 and 8 p.m.

For those unable to walk two hours, the length of the tour, a Power Point presentation is available for viewing.

For more information and/or to make reservations, call 344-2550, ext. 2613.

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GC Historians present Ghost Walk tour Friday, Oct. 12 and 19

By Billie Owens

The Genesee County Historians will present the 2012 Ghost Walk on Friday (Oct. 12) and again on Friday, Oct. 19.

Cost is $10 and tickets are available at the Engine House at 3 W. Main St. in the City of Batavia.

Tours are at 7:30 and 8 p.m.

For those unable to walk two hours, the length of the tour, a Power Point presentation is available for viewing.

For more information and/or to make reservations, call 344-2550, ext. 2613.

GCC holds half-day information showcase on SUNY opportunities

By Billie Owens

A half-day program aimed at showcasing the quality, diversity and opportunities available at all colleges within the State University of New York (SUNY) system will take place at the Batavia campus of Genesee Community College on Tuesday, Oct. 16.

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GCC to hold half-day information showcase on SUNY opportunities

By Billie Owens

Press release:

A half-day program aimed at showcasing the quality, diversity and opportunities available at all colleges within the State University of New York (SUNY) system will take place at the Batavia campus of Genesee Community College on Tuesday, Oct. 16.

More than 100 guidance counselors from high schools in the Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties region are expected to take part in Operation Inform, or OpInform. The program is cosponsored by the College Admissions Professionals at SUNY and Office of Enrollment Services.

It's intended to make sure the high-school counseling community is fully aware of nature and scope of the SUNY system and to provide information on admissions practices, criteria, application processing and special programs.

Information about each SUNY campus will be available the Conable Technology Building of GCC from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a number of workshops will cover a full slate of topics covering the admissions process, including:

•    Eligibility and access

•    The changing face of the SUNY community

•    New programs such as Vet Tech, Golf Management and Fashion Business

•    Student transfer opportunities within the SUNY system

•    The financial-aid process

•    Application processing

Guidance counselors will also be able to network with college admissions officials from the various campuses and will leave the workshops with a better understanding of the value and quality offered by the SUNY system.

"We are delighted to host this annual event, which is critical to the enrollment process and is an excellent way to highlight the exceptional programs offered through the SUNY system," said Tanya Lane-Martin, GCC's director of admissions and assistant dean for enrollment services.

To register for the workshops, high school guidance counselors should contact Christie Thompson at 343-0055, ext. 6380, or via email: clthompson@genesee.edu.

Commercial truck on fire at Lamb Farms

By Billie Owens

A commercial truck fire is reported at Lamb Farms, 1705 Lewiston Road. Alabama Fire Department is responding. The vehicle is in a field on the south side of the road, west of the barns.

UPDATE 2:33 p.m.: Firefighters on scene report seeing no sign of fire.

UPDATE 2:36 p.m.: They have located the truck and found the fire is already out. They will be returning to service.

UPDATE 2:54 p.m.: All Alabama units back in service.

S.O.S. -- Stockpile of kitten kibble and kitty litter at shelter: ZERO

By Billie Owens

From the Volunteers for Animals:

We are currently out of dry kitten food and cat litter. We would appreciate any help from our supportive community. Donations can be dropped off during adoption hours or left under the patio at the front door.

Thank you!

Volunteers For Animals
PO Box 1621
Batavia, NY   14021
www.vol4animals.org

Working in partnership with:
Genesee County Animal Shelter
3841 W. Main St. Road
Batavia, NY   14020
343-6410

Adoption Hours:
Sunday through Friday 1 -- 3 p.m. (closed on Thursdays)
Wednesday 7 -- 9 p.m.
Saturday 11 -- 1 p.m.

Le Roy student selected for national biology honorary society

By Billie Owens

Emilie M. Wetzel, of Le Roy, has been selected for membership in the St. Lawrence University chapter of Beta Beta Beta, the national biology honorary society. Wetzel is a member of the Class of 2013 at St. Lawrence, in Canton, New York, and is majoring in conservation biology. Wetzel graduated from Le Roy Central School.

To be eligible for membership, a student must have completed four biology courses and have a 3.5 average (based on a perfect 4.0 scale) in those courses and a 3.25 overall academic average. The Biology major is one of the most popular at St. Lawrence.

On the Web: http://readabout.me/achievements/Emilie-M-Wetzel-of-LeRoy-Selected-for-Biology-Honorary-Society-at-St-Lawrence-University/5003850.

GC jail superintendent learns the latest in law enforcement at statewide conference

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Jail Superintendent Edward Minardo of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office was among the 79 jail administrators from across New York State recently attended the 14th annual training conference in Saratoga Springs.

Sponsored by the New York State Sheriffs' Association and the New York State Sheriffs’ Association Institute, it provides participants with training in the latest advances in law enforcement and a forum to discuss current corrections issues, receive updates on new legislation impacting corrections and law enforcement, and share best practices.

Representatives of several state agencies, such as the NYS Commission of Correction; the NYS Department of Corrections & Community Supervision, NYS Association of Incarcerated Education Programs, Inc., NYS DNA  Databank, and the NYS Department of Health, shared their perspectives on new laws and practices with the jail administrators.

Session topics at this year’s conference included: the prison rape elimination act; inmate intake; an overview of the NIC/Urban institute transition from jail to the community model; education for
incarcerated youth, jail accreditation, DNA: 2012 legislation and new responsibilities for jails; and offender workforce development specialist training.

Key speakers included Carrie Hill, former counsel to the Utah State Department of Corrections, and a nationally known lecturer and consultant on jail legal issues, and Thomas Beilein, chairman of the NYS Commission of Corrections, and former Sheriff of Niagara County.

Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith, president of the New York State Sheriffs’ Association, said, “Sheriffs remain committed to providing education and training to advance the professionalism of all aspects of our Sheriffs’ Offices.”

The New York State Sheriffs’ Association, Inc., is a not-for-profit corporation, formed in 1934 to assist sheriffs in the efficient and effective delivery of services to the public. It comprises all of the elected and appointed sheriffs of New York State. Visit www.nysheriffs.org.

The New York State Sheriffs’ Association Institute, Inc. was established in 1979. The mission of the Institute is to assist the office of the sheriff in advancing education in the criminal justice
community, preventing juvenile delinquency, developing lawful and productive citizens, and supporting victims of crime and their families. Visit www.nysheriffsinstitute.org.

Reel Discussion at Richmond library: 'To Kill A Mockingbird'

By Billie Owens

Come view the movie and join us for a group discussion afterward. This month’s movie is “To Kill A Mockingbird."

Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning classic novel has been artfully and delicately translated to the big screen.

It stars the legendary Gregory Peck in his Academy Award-winning role of the courageous but understated hero Atticus Finch and features Academy Award-winning actor Robert Duvall in his screen debut plus an unforgettable performance by Mary Badham as Scout.

For more information, call the library at 343-9550 or log onto www.batavialibrary.org.

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Two men arrested for allegedly trespassing at Rolling Hills Asylum

By Billie Owens

Two men were arrested today for allegedly trespassing at the Rolling Hills Asylum in the Town of Bethany, according to State Police, following an investigation of an incident that occurred on Sept. 15.

Arrested where Andrew E. Cox, 18, of Gainsville, and 18-year-old Timothy E. Rafferty, of Pike. They were cooperative during the investigation and will appear in the Town of Bethany Court at a later date, State Police said.

On Sept. 15, employees of Rolling Hills Asylum reported seeing subjects walking on property that was clearly posted. The employees were able to produce a photo of the license plate of a vehicle used by the suspects.

Rolling Hills Asylum does conduct tours of their buildings and grounds, but does so by appointment only. The property is clearly posted and an informational sign is posted at the front of the building. People are not permitted to simply walk out onto the property or into the buildings without an appointment, according to State Police, who say they are concerned about ongoing trespass complaints there.

SUV crashes into tree, minor injury, in Alabama

By Billie Owens

An SUV crashed into a tree at 1825 Lewiston Road in Alabama. It's near Knowlesville Road in the area of the hunt club. The driver is out and there is reportedly only a minor injury. Alabama Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

Donations of scrap metal wanted to supplement St. Joe's Super Mammoth Sale

By Billie Owens

To supplement funds for our SUPER MAMMOTH Sale next April, we will be providing an opportunity for people to donate any scrap metal they would like to dispose of (iron, tin, steel, aluminum, copper, brass, stainless steel, etc). Ed Arnold Scrap Processors will assist us in receiving, collecting and sorting the metals and then pay us for its worth.

Where: St. Joseph School parking lot (at 2 Summit St. in Batavia) When: Saturday, Oct. 13 Time: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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Batavia student graduates from Buffalo State with goal of teaching middle school

By Billie Owens

Alyssa Ostrowski, of Batavia, graduated from Buffalo State with a bachelor of science degree in childhood education and English, for grades seven through nine. Ostrowski is a graduate of Royalton-Hartland High School.

Buffalo State offers 166 undergraduate and 62 graduate programs. Because of its location in the heart of Buffalo's cultural corridor, students have unparalleled access to museums, cultural events, businesses, internships, service learning projects, shops, and green spaces.

On the Web: http://readabout.me/achievements/Alyssa-Ostrowski-Graduates-from-Buffalo-State/4984994.
 

Three basketball players and a volleyball coach named to GCC's Athletics Hall of Fame

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The coach who took the women's volleyball team to conference championships and launched the men's volleyball program, two exceptional women's basketball players, and a hoops star who now coaches the Genesee Community College Cougars were inducted into the GCC Athletics Hall of Fame during the third annual Homecoming celebration.

The following outstanding athletes were inducted:

•    Volleyball Coach Ben Guiliano, a native of Spencerport, led GCC's women's volleyball squad from 1978-1987, amassing three conference championships and one regional title. He also launched the men's team and coached softball during his tenure at GCC. His coaching skills also helped build strong volleyball teams at Rochester Institute of Technology, St. Andrews Presbyterian College, Creighton University and Pfeiffer University. He currently guides the Keuka College Women's Volleyball Team, and over a 30-year career, Guiliano's teams have earned an overall record of 546 wins and 396 losses. He lives in Branchport.

•    Basketball standout Mary Loree, from Arkport, excelled for the GCC Lady Cougars in 1978-79 on several sports teams, notably as a two-year starter for the basketball, field hockey and softball teams. Loree was named to the1978 women's hoops squad at the Empire State Games, and helped lead her GCC teammates to the NJCAA National Tournament. She also served for 20 years in the Army, retiring as a Master Sergeant in 2009. Her duties included providing worldwide communications for the White House during the administrations of presidents William Clinton and George W. Bush, which earned her the Presidential Service Badge. Loree now makes her home in Alexandria, Va.

•    Lynn (Jensen) Northup, Class of 1993, is an Attica native who excelled as a shooting guard for the GCC Lady Cougar's basketball program in the early 1990s. Her career highlights include five games during which she scored more than 30 points in a single game, and five three-point baskets in a single game. Northup attended Houghton College and is a physical therapist for the Avon Central School District. She resides in Churchville with her husband and three children.

•    Class of 2003 basketball star Terry George has come full-circle at GCC. The Batavia resident was a two-time All-American and Region III Player of the Year for the men's team, and was an integral member of the 2002-2003 squad inducted into the Genesee Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011. He still holds the college record for career points, with 1,370 over his two-year playing career with the Cougars, and was on the first GCC squad to earn an NJCAA National Tournament berth. George continued playing hoops at the College of St. Rose, and returned to GCC in 2007 as assistant coach for the men's basketball team. In 2011, he was named interim head coach, and this year, took over the reins as permanent head coach.

To learn more about GCC's outstanding athletics programs, visit: http://www.genesee.edu/athletics/.

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