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GO ART! announces winners of student poetry contest

By Billie Owens

GO ART! has announced the winners of the 2012 Genesee/Orleans Student Poetry Contest.

Students from schools in both counties were invited to participate.  
The winners in Genesee County are:

  • Ian Edwards -- Grade 2, Alexander
  • Will Johnson -- Grade 5, Byron
  • Emily Leone -- Grade 6, Le Roy
  • Anna Dembowski -- Grade 12, East Bethany

Motor-vehicle accident at Route 77 and Ledge Road, Alabama

By Billie Owens

A motor-vehicle accident is reported at Route 77 and Ledge Road. Alabama Fire Department is responding along with Mercy medics. There is one patient with a facial injury who is also complaining of chest pain.

UPDATE 12:39: Southbound traffic is blocked. Fire police are needed for traffic control. Law enforcement is on scene.

UPDATE 1:17 p.m.: Alabama is back in service. One patient is being transported to Erie County Medical Center.

McTeacher night at McDonald's to benefit Oakfield-Alabama elementary school

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Batavia McDonald's will be hosting a McTeacher night in conjunction with Oakfield-Alabama Central School. This is a fundraiser that will go to help the elementary school.

On Tuesday night May 8, teachers from Oakfield-Alabama School will come behind the counter and work with McDonald's employees. The event will take place from 5-8 pm.

Fifteen percent of the sales will go directly to the school.

The eatery is located at 4138 W. Main St. Road in the Town of Batavia.

Event Date and Time
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Multiple fire alarms blared at the Clarion Hotel, nothing found

By Billie Owens

Town of Batavia firefighters are scouring the Clarion Hotel on Park Road for any signs of fire after alarms sounded there about 15 minutes ago. The alarm system has been silenced and will likely be reset shortly. They have found nothing so far, other than the odor of cigarette smoke in the northwest stairwell, which a firefighter on scene said "I believe that's associated with employees."

The hotel is now allowed to "be repopulated" and people can go about their business. Alarms sounded for the fifth floor, the penthouse, the duct work and the first-floor atrium.

"Wow, and nothing showing -- how 'bout that!" said the chief in amazement.

UPDATE 5:45 p.m.: The alarm system has been reset.

UPDATE 5:57 p.m.: Town of Batavia is back in service.

Contestants wanted for Genesee County Fair Queen Pageant

By Billie Owens

Contestants are being sought for the 2012 Genesee County Fair Queen Pageant.

If you would like to compete for the title, please submit an application to the Pageant Coordinator at debrabaris@yahoo.com or by mail ro 7301 Griswold Road, Bergen, NY 14416.

The Genesee County Fair Queen Pageant would like to promote, confidence, community service, poise and talent for our young women.

Contestants must be:

  • Female
  • 15 to 18 years old
  • In grades 10, 11 or 12 in the 2012 or 2013 school year.
  • Genesee County resident

Completed applications are available at all Genesee County high school offices and are due by Friday, June 15.

Questions: call Debra Baris at 813-4149.

Sponsored by: The Genesee County Agricultural Society, Inc.

The Genesee County Fair runs July 17 – 21.

Alexander Central School District budget vote and board of education election

By Billie Owens

The Alexander Central School District's annual budget vote and board of education election will take place from 1 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15 in the Secondary School Cafeteria.

Budget and board of education information can be accessed on the school Web site at www.alexandercsd.org.

The school is located at 3314 Buffalo Road in Alexander.

Event Date and Time
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Alexander Central School District budget presentation

By Billie Owens

The Alexander Central School District's budget presentation will begin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8, in the Secondary School Cafeteria immediately followed by the regular Board of Education business meeting.

The public is encouraged to attend. Budget information can be accessed on the school Web site as well as the public agenda prior to the meeting at www.alexandercsd.org.

The annual budget vote and Board of Education election will take place from 1 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, May 15.

 

Event Date and Time
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GCC President James Sunser to be inaugurated Saturday

By Billie Owens

Genesee Community College welcomes James Sunser, EdD, as the fourth president with inauguration ceremonies beginning at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 5. They will be held in the Stuart Steiner Theatre on the Batavia campus, located at One College Road.

The keynote address will be delivered by Onondaga Community College President Debbie Sydow, with special remarks by State University of New York Chancellor Nancy Zimpher, and greetings by numerous dignitaries.

All this week, a number of events and activities that are free and open to the public are scheduled to welcome President Sunser.

For a complete list visit: http://www.genesee.edu/gcc/inauguration/events.cfm

Structure fire on Kibbe Avenue in the city

By Billie Owens

A structure fire is reported at 4 Kibbe Ave. in the city. Batavia Fire Department is on scene.

UPDATE 7:32 a.m.: This was apparently a very small fire, which is now out. Ladder 15 and Engine 12 are back in service.

Oven fire at apartment on North Spruce Street in the city

By Billie Owens

An oven fire is reported at 232 N. Spruce St., Apt. B. City firefighters are responding.

UPDATE 7:29: The fire is out. Mercy medics are called to the address for a victim(s) of smoke inhalation. Ladder 15 is back in service.

UPDATE 7:45 p.m.: City fire command and Engine 12 are back in service.

Car crash at Cole Road and Route 19, Le Roy

By Billie Owens

A two-car accident with unknown injuries is reported at Cole Road and Route 77 19 in Le Roy. Le Roy fire and ambulance are responding.

UPDATE 6:45 p.m.: Injuries are minor. The ambulance is told to respond in non-emergency mode. A responder says "As soon as we can get law enforcement here, we'll probably clear."

ESL Investment Services appoints new financial consultant at Batavia branch

By Billie Owens

ESL Investment Services, LLC announces the appointment of Natalie Estabrooks as financial consultant. Estabrooks works out of ESL’s Geneseo and Batavia branch locations.

In her new position, Estabrooks assists ESL Federal Credit Union members with the development of long-term planning strategies that are aimed at reaching investment objectives and financial goals. In addition, she assists members in planning for major financial events such as college expenses, retirement income and insurance needs.

Prior to joining ESL, Estabrooks was employed by M&T Securities. She received her associates in business from Suffolk College. Estabrooks currently resides in Avon with her husband, Todd, and their son, Carson.

Founded by George Eastman in 1920, ESL Federal Credit Union is a full-service financial institution with $4.0 billion in assets. ESL employs more than 600 people locally and has about 300,000 members worldwide.

ESL offers investment services through it s wholly owned subsidiary, ESL Investment Services, LLC. Established in 1996, ESL Investment Services provides a full range of financial services including retirement planning, insurance, financial planning and wealth management.

Student suffers head laceration in assault at Byron-Bergen Central School

By Billie Owens

A teenage boy was assaulted and suffered a head laceration at Byron-Bergen Central School. Sheriff's deputies are responding along with Mercy medics. The bleeding is controlled now. The student is in the art room.

The school is located at 6917 W. Bergen Road in Bergen.

UPDATE 3:17 p.m.: The student is 16 years old and he is being transported to United Memorial Medical Center. He has a 6 centimeter slash (which is 2.36 inches) in the back of his head. He is alert and oriented and suffered no loss of consciousness.

Law Day at GCC to feature two prominent jurists

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Two distinguished speakers will discuss their careers in the legal field during the second annual Law Day program at Genesee Community College.

Acting State Supreme Court Justice Robert C. Noonan and U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York William Hochul Jr. will visit the Batavia campus on Wednesday, May 2 during the week of festivities to welcome new President James Sunser, EdD.

The Law Day program begins at 9 a.m. and is intended to help high school seniors enrolled in the Legal Careers Academy of the Accelerated College Enrollment program (ACE) and Criminal Justice students gain a better understanding of the importance of the judicial system, with the speakers addressing the theme "No Courts, No Justice, No Freedom."

Noonan, acting State Supreme Court justice since 2001, is also an elected Genesee County Superior Court judge and surrogate since 1997.

His law career has spanned almost four decades, including presiding as a judge at various court levels and serving as district attorney and assistant DA in Genesee County and special district attorney in dozens of criminal and civil cases in Genesee, Orleans, Livingston and Monroe counties.

A Batavia native, Justice Noonan was admitted to the New York State Bar Association in 1976, after earning his J.D. from Fordham Law School. He has served on various bar association advisory councils and panels and is certified to hear capital murder cases in New York. Judge Noonan has also handled more than 100 appeals before the state's Appellate Division courts and argued several cases before the New York Court of Appeals, the highest court in the state.

He is also a highly sought-after speaker, presenting lectures on the Supreme Court, trial practices, and various state laws and procedures. The jurist has also been an active member of several community organizations, including the Batavia Rotary Club, the St. Jerome Hospital Board and Camp Stella Maris.

Justice Noonan will discuss criminal court proceedings, with an explanation of how the courts strive to protect American rights and ensure justice for all. He will also take part in a question-and-answer session immediately following his lecture.

Hochul, as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York State, is responsible for overseeing the prosecution of any federal criminal case in the 17 counties that comprise the district.

He earned his law degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo and joined the local U.S. Attorney's Office in 1991. Since then, he has prosecuted a large number of notorious cases involving whitecollar crime, gang violence, and international organized crime.

Hochul became chief of the office's Anti-Terrorism Unit after September 11, 2001, and chief of the National Security Division five years later. During that time, he was the lead prosecutor in several high-profile international terrorism cases, including the notorious Lackawanna Six from the Buffalo-area.

He has also served as an adjunct professor at U.B. Law School, Niagara University and Hilbert College, where he taught courses on terrorism and trial techniques, and frequently lectures across the U.S. and abroad on prosecuting cases involving terrorism and organized crime. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the 2003 Attorneys General Award for Exceptional Service -- the highest award bestowed by the U.S. Justice Department.

Hochul's lecture will focus on the appellate process, with a Q-and-A to follow.

The Law Day program is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Debbie Dunlevy, project director of the College Tech Prep program at GCC at 343-0055, ext. 6316, or via email: DKDunlevy@genesee.edu.

Car fire on westbound Thruway

By Billie Owens

A car fire is reported on the westbound Thruway at mile marker 399.2. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding.

UPDATE 1:15 p.m.: A responder on scene says the fire is mostly out. There's still some smoke visible that's coming from the console between the seats.

UPDATE 1:34 p.m.: The fire is out. All units are back in service.

34th annual Picnic in the Park at Centennial Park, Batavia

By Billie Owens

The 34th annual Picnic in the Park celebration will take place from noon to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 4, in Centennial Park, located at Richmond and Ellicott avenues in the City of Batavia.

It is sponsored by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO ART!)

Picnic in the Park is a free daylong event featuring activities for families and children, folk art events, entertainment and refreshment stands.

Event Date and Time
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GO ART! seeks artists, crafters, nonprofits and food vendors for 34th annual Picnic in the Park

By Billie Owens

The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO ART!) is seeking artists and crafters, food vendors, and nonprofit organizations to participate in the 34th annual Picnic in the Park celebration from noon to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 4.

The event takes place in Centennial Park, Richmond and Ellicott avenues, in the City of Batavia.

Application forms can be downloaded from the GO ART! Web site at <http://www.GOart.org>, by email at info@GOart.org, or by stopping by GO ART!, Seymour Place, 201 E. Main St., Batavia.

Artists and crafters are invited to exhibit and sell their work – which must be made by the artist/crafter – in the Arts and Crafts Show. The non-refundable entry fee per space is $35 for non-members and $30 for members if paid by June 1. After June 1st, the fee is $40 for non-members and $35 for members. If you refer a friend, and they participate as an artist or crafter in this year's show, you will be entered in a drawing to win a refund on your booth fee!

The non-refundable entry fee per booth for food vendors is $125 if paid by June 1. After June 1, the fee is $150. As is tradition, nonprofit organizations in Genesee and Orleans counties may participate free of charge. All vendors must supply their own tables, chairs, signs, canopy, and extensions cords. The deadline to submit applications is no later than June 29.

Picnic in the Park is a free daylong event featuring activities for families and children, folk art events, entertainment and refreshment stands. Picnic in the Park is funded, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts Folk Arts Program.

For additional information, call the GO ART! office at 343-9313 or email info@GOart.org.

College holds first ever Relay for Life today in conjunction with American Cancer Society

By Billie Owens

Genesee Community College's Wellness Center is joining forces with the American Cancer Society to sponsor the college's first ever Relay for Life. The GCC event will be a "mini" version of the relays, which traditionally take place overnight.

The campus relay is from 3 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday May 1 at the Student Union during the week-long celebration of the inauguration of new GCC President James Sunser, EdD.

Event Date and Time
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Car fire at Lewiston and Meadville roads in Alabama

By Billie Owens

A car fire "with complications" is reported at Lewiston and Meadville roads in Alabama. Alabama firefighters are dispatched.

UPDATE 5:46 p.m.: Apparently the fire is out. No idea what the complications were. The vehicle was a Chevy Camaro registered to a Gasport driver. A tow was called to haul it away.

UPDATE 5:50 p.m.: Alabama is back in service.

Car fire on Clipnock Road, Stafford

By Billie Owens

A car fire is reported at 9156 Clipnock Road in Stafford. The Stafford Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 11:42: A firefighter on scene reports the vehicle owner is using a fire extinguisher on the blaze and has it under control.

UPDATE 11:58 a.m.: The fire is out. Stafford is back in service.

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