elba

Nicole L. Green, 29, of Court Street, Geneseo, is charged with burglary, 2nd. Green is accused of entering a Bergen residence without authorization and stealing jewelry. She allegedly sold the items at a jewelry store in Pittsford. She was held on $500 bail.

Melissa M. Lesage, 36, of Lake Street, Le Roy, was arrested on a Batavia City Court bench warrant following a traffic stop by Deputy Christopher Camp on East Main Street, Batavia. Lesage allegedly failed to appear for a previous aggravated unlicensed operation charge. She was put in Genesee County Jail on $1,000 bail.

Kimberly A. Brodsky, 23, of Bank Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Brodsky was issued an appearance ticket regarding a shoplifting complaint at Tops Markets in Batavia on May 21. She had two outstanding warrants out of Lancaster and was turned over to Lancaster Police Department.

Julie L. Dutton, 20, of Ellicott Street, Batavia, was arrested on a Batavia City Court bench warrant after Officer Marc Lawrence allegedly found her walking toward Central Avenue in Batavia. Dutton allegedly failed to appear in court for criminal contempt, 1st. She was also arrested on a violation of probation warrant. She was put in Genesee County Jail.

Erica L. Dhanda, 33, of South Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Dhanda was issued an appearance ticket after she allegedly struck another motorist after a road rage incident on West Main Street, Batavia.

Patrick A. Garbutt, 26, of Wendhurst Road, Greece, was turned over to the Genesee County Sheriff's Office by the Greece Police Department for an outstanding bench warrant out of the Town of Darien Court. Garbutt allegedly failed to pay a fine for a previous trespassing charge. He was put in Genesee County Jail on $250 bail.

Holly R. Hawkins, 19, of Niagara Falls, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd, and harassment, 2nd, following an incident on Route 77 in Darien. Hawkins allegedly violated a stay-away order of protection by subjecting the protected party to physical contact.

Thomas James Rose, 19, of Ford Road, Elba, is charged with promoting prison contraband, 2nd, and unlawful possession of marijuana. While incarcerated at the Genesee County Jail, Rose was allegedly found in possession of a marijuana cigarette and matches.

Austin Lee Wester, 20, of West Main Street, Le Roy, is charged with unlawful possession of alcohol by a minor. Wester was seen in the parking lot of Raceway 5 allegedly consuming alcohol. He also allegedly possessed two small bottles of alcohol. 

Nateeka Marie Gibson, 26, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Gibson is accused of shoplifting from Walmart.

Howard Owens contributed to this report.

The Elba Central School District’s Board of Education anticipates appointing Keith Palmer as the district’s next Superintendent at a special board meeting on Friday, June 12. Palmer is set to begin on July 1.

“I look forward to working with the Elba Board, faculty, students and community to develop strong relationships as we work together to deliver the District’s vision and mission," Palmer said. "Our first priority is the education of our students as we focus on curriculum and instruction. This will enhance our students’ academic achievement as we work together to meet the district’s academic and financial goals."

Tony Zambito, Elba Central School District Board president said, “The Board is confident in selecting Mr. Palmer to lead Elba Central Schools. His professional background, along with a deep understanding of many aspects of educational leadership, makes him an excellent fit for the staff and students of the District. The search process narrowed the field to three excellent candidates. The Board values all of the participation and input from stakeholders and community members and is committed and proud of this decision.”

Palmer is currently the principal of Pembroke Central High School where he has served since 2003. Previously, he served as assistant principal at Kendall High School, a position he held for 12 years.

Palmer has 16 years experience in the educational field. Palmer began his career in 1987 as a math and computer science teacher at North Warren Central School in the Adirondacks. He also taught at the Washington Correctional Facility located in Comstock for two summers in both 1988 and 1990.

Palmer holds a bachelor of arts from Houghton College, and a master’s degree from SUNY Plattsburgh. He holds three New York State (NYS) Certifications, a NYS School District Administrator, a NYS School Administrator and Supervisor Certificate and a NYS School Business Administrator Certificate.

Palmer’s career encompasses a variety of leadership accomplishments including developing Professional Learning Communities to build school/family communication and maintaining effective relations with union leadership.

David A. Simpson, 34, of Pittsford, was charged with speeding, aggravated unlicensed operator, 2nd, and felony criminal possession of a weapon, 3rd, on Route 77 in Corfu. Simpson is accused of having a butterfly knife after he was previously convicted of a crime. He was jailed on $2,500 cash or $5,000 bond.

Dillon M. Brito, 23, of Highland Park, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a narcotic drug with intent to sell, a Class C felony. Brito was allegedly found in possession of crack cocaine in the parking lot at Kibbe Park. He was jailed without bail.

Nicholas J. Elmore, 26, of Colonial Boulevard, Batavia, was charged and arraigned on a bench warrant for theft of services charge. Elmore allegedly committed the offense in the City of Batavia. He was held on a detainer from the City of Batavia Court and put in Genesee County Jail in lieu of $100,000 cash/bond.

Shane M. Nugent, 30, was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after he was pulled over on Route 77 in Corfu for speeding, uninspected motor vehicle and aggravated unlicensed operator, 3rd.

Samantha A. Talmon, 26, of Main Road, Corfu, was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and operation of an uninspected motor vehicle on Main Street in Oakfield.

Dustin R. Benham, 25, of Darien Center, was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Benham was allegedly stopped on Route 77 in Corfu for not wearing a seat belt.

Scott D. Smith, 39, of Ridge Road, Brockport, was pulled over for allegedly possessing a small quantity of marijuana and speeding on Route 77 in Pembroke.

Coty A. Patrizi, 24, of East Main Road, Le Roy, is charged with the unlawful possession of marijuana and operating a vehicle without brake lights on Main Street in Batavia. Patrizi allegedly possessed a marijuana grinder and some marijuana.

Larry D. Williams, 57, of Elba, was charged with violation of ENCON laws. Williams was accused of burning tires.

Stephen M. Tytler, 28, of Beahan Road, Rochester, voluntarily turned himself in to the Batavia Police Department after he allegedly failed to appear in court for an aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, 3rd. The City of Batavia had issued an active bench warrant on him. 

Scott R. Krieger, 39, of Dumon Street, Rochester, is charged with having an unlicensed vehicle on his property on Law Street, Batavia. Krieger was arrested on a warrant issued by the Batavia City Court. He is accused of being in violation of the Batavia Municipal Code for an unlicensed vehicle on various dates in 2007. 

Megan J. Thomas, 33, of Washington Avenue, Batavia, is charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Thomas allegedly left two children unattended in a running vehicle at the Batavia City Centre.

Garrett C. Gildner, 40, of Andiron Lane, Rochester, was arrested on two Batavia City Court warrants for allegedly failing to pay a fine for municipal violations. Gildner was previously charged with Batavia Municipal Code violations for hedge height and corner visibility and a loose metal fence on West Main Street in Batavia. 

Alicia M. Warney, 29, of West Ridge Road, Brockport, was arrested for a bench warrant on West Main Street in Batavia. Warney allegedly failed to appear in jail for a violation. She was held on $1,000 bail.

Andrew J. Darling, 40, of Route 237, Stafford, was charged with petit larceny. He is accused of stealing a cell phone valued at $200. The incident happened on Veterans Memorial Drive, Batavia.

A Le Roy youth is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. He allegedly caused damage to a closet door. He was arraigned in the Le Roy Town Court and put in Genesee County Jail in lieu of $250 bail. An order of protection was also issued.

Solid Village ranch on great street with a nicely landscaped large lot that backs up to fields! Little bit of country with Village amenities! This 3 bedroom home is very spacious and has a lot of extra bonus rooms in the basement that adds quite a bit to the living space! Front sunny dining room leads to eat in kitchen that opens to large and pretty family room with cozy gas fireplace. All very open and perfect for easy entertaining!  Roof, window and siding less than 10 yrs old-new front porch 2 yrs, and many interior updates as well within last year! MUCH bigger than it appears from curb! Check this one out!

Cody Matthews Bedard, 21, of Lake Road, Corfu, is charged with DWI, DWI drugs, DWI with a child less than 16, endangering the welfare of a child and back seat passage age 4-6 without appropriate safety restraint. Police responded to the area of 240 Richmond Ave. at 7:27 p.m. Friday after a report of a driver "not acting right." Bedard was arrested by officers Darryle Streeter and Jamie Givens.

Michael B. Neth, 37, of Summitt Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Neth allegedly made contact with a person he was barred from contacting by court order while at a store in City Centre at 6:25 p.m., Saturday.

Lois Omar Perez Lopez, 34, of Trumbull Parkway, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, failure to stop at stop sign and failure to signal. Perez Lopez was stopped at 2:22 a.m. Sunday on Trumbull Parkway by Deputy Chad Richards.

Joey Robert Tatro II, of Main Street, Attica, is charged with trespass and criminal mischief, 4th. Tatro was arrested on warrants related to the charges. He was jailed on $250 bail or $500 bond.

Ryan Michael Byrnes, 28, of Maple Street, Elba, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, failure to keep right and driving while using a mobile phone. Byrnes was stopped at 9:35 p.m. Monday on Main Street, Byron, by Sgt. Gregory Walker.

Photos from yesterday's rehearsal of the Genesee Chorale. 

Here's a press release about the upcoming performance:

On Sunday May 17 at 3 p.m. at Elba MS/HS Auditorium, the Genesee Chorale will present its Spring Season, “Music in Motion.” In the past, the Chorale has shared the stage with other musicians, ranging from a full orchestra to other chorale groups and soloists. This time, Director Ric Jones thought to try something entirely new: why not share the stage with live dancers? The Genesee Chorale Board applauded the notion and unanimously gave the go-ahead, and Jones went from there.

He first approached Dan Doctor, of Medina’s West Side Academy, asking him, “So…what do you think of choreographing a show entirely to live chorale music?” And Doctor responded quickly in the affirmative: “Yes!  We’re in.” And after reviewing the repertoire, he committed his dancers to six songs.

They weren’t the only ones. Dancers from Batavia’s Divine Dance, directed by Erin Martin, were in as well, happy to join the Genesee Chorale in such a unique endeavor. Though May is a busy season for every performing group, they were pleased to share some of their best performers to feature in “Music in Motion.” And finally, the Greycliffe Quartet, a renowned string ensemble from Buffalo, committed to accompany the singers, too.

The Genesee Chorale is accompanied on piano by Doug Hanson. The concert will also feature soloists Mark Christenson, Rachel Chrostowski, Janine Fagnan, Yvonne Freeman (also featured as a flutist), Merry Lou Holley, Carl Schoonover, Heather Lovelace, and Norm Woodworth.

Presale tickets are $8 and are available online at www.geneseechorale.com. Tickets will also be available at the door for $10.

I took a drive through Alabama, Oakfield and Elba yesterday.

Above, Judge Road, Alabama.

Judge Road, Oakfield

Drake Street Road, Oakfield

Old Ford Road, Elba

Elba High School students were shown first-hand today what it can mean to drink and drive. Elba Fire hosted its annual DWI drill at the school. The exercise involves a simulated fatal accident with a serious injury. The department is assisted by the Sheriff's Office, Mercy EMS and Mercy Flight. Officials hope students get the message that drinking and driving can have serious consequences. The event is timed to come before prom season.

Top photo submitted by Karl White, Elba Volunteer Fire Department; The rest from Lynn O'Donnell of Mercy Flight.

A discarded cigarette is the likely cause of a fire that left burned out three residents of 5253 Bridge Road, Elba, out of their home last night, according to Tim Yaeger, emergency management coordinator.

Two dogs, a chinchilla and five kittens born to a barn cat and living in the basement, are believed to have perished in the fire.

No people were hurt in the fire.

The 140-year-old farm house was divided into two apartments.

At least two of the residents were smokers and were known to stand out behind the house, on the back porch, smoke, and deposit their butts in a plastic canister by the back door.

That's where the fire started.

The structure is still standing and the first floor remains accessible.  

This morning Alex Beardsley and a friend were pulling out the personal belongings of Beardsley and his brother. Beardsley said excluding clothing and books and anything else easily damaged by water, about 90 percent of their personal property was saved when firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the second floor.

Beardsley and his brother had a significant investment in the game Warhammer 40,000. That collection was largely undamaged.

One of the dogs that died in the fire belonged to Beardsley and his brother. The other lived with the upstairs resident.

The likely brand of cigarette that ignited the fire is Senecas. About half-a-decade ago there was some controversy around cigarettes manufactured by tribes and their lack of fire-safe features, but in 2009, the Seneca Nation announced all of their cigarettes would be fire safe.

A fire-safe cigarette will burn out more quickly when left unattended.

An employee of Zuber Farm, where the house is located, said the structure is a total loss and will be torn down.

Previously:

• House fire reported on Bridge Road, Elba
• Photos: Bridge Road Fire

Here's photos from this evening's fire at 5253 Bridge Road, Elba. At this point, we have no new information beyond what was in our initial post.

To purchase prints, click here.

NOTE: In the past, when I had a group of photos to upload at night for a slide show, I would typically get the upload started and go to bed and post the slide show in the morning. It would take an hour, maybe two hours, depending on the size of the slide show, to upload the photos. Now we have broadband through Empire Access. It took only 10 minutes to upload this slide show.

A house fire is reported at 5263 Bridge Road, Elba. The location is between Norton and Transit roads. Elba fire dispatched.

UPDATE 8:33 p.m.: Bergen, Byron, Oakfield, South Byron and Stafford are called to provide mutual aid at the confirmed working house fire. Town of Batavia is requested to fill in at Elba's hall. Mercy medics are also called in.

UPDATE 8:39 p.m.: National Grid advised of the blaze, no ETA provided.

UPDATE 9:25 p.m.: Tankers from Alexander and East Pembroke requested to the scene. At least two of the three tankers called in are filling up at the ARC Center. Howard at the scene reports it is believed that one dog and two cats were on the property. Over the scanner, it is reported that a man is en route to pick up a dog located on Bridge Road. One of the two cats was seen jumping from a window of the burning house. "It is still standing," says Howard of the house, "but it appears to be a total loss. Flames are shooting from the roof."

UPDATE 10 p.m.: The property is owned by Zuber Farms. Firefighters will be there for awhile, doing overhaul. Howard is clearing the scene.

A vacant structure fire is reported for the third time in a week at 6616 Snyder Road, Elba. Elba fire is responding to the "rekindle" along with mutual aid from Oakfield.

UPDATE 12:45 p.m.: Fire is out. Elba assignment is back in service.

A house fire is reported at 6616 Snyder Road, Elba, located between Lockport and Maltby roads. It's the same vacant structure that was on fire April 20. Snyder Road becomes Weatherwax Road south of Maltby. A Sheriff's deputy on scene confirms the blaze and says some trees next to it are also on fire. Elba fire is responding along with mutual aid from Oakfield, which is to set up a draft site on Maltby Road, and Byron and Barre. Snyder Road will be shut down to traffic.

UPDATE 5:23 a.m.: Alabama fire is asked to fill in at Oakfield's fire hall.

UPDATE 5:32 a.m.: Elba command reports the fire is knocked down.

UPDATE 7:40 a.m.: Photos added.

"The structure was pretty much gone when we got here," said Elba Chief Mike Hale. "It was just a matter of getting the fire out and making sure the crews were safe doing it."

The fire is under investigation.

"It's definitely suspicious," Hale said. "We were out here earlier this week and now we're back again, so there's definitely something suspicious there."

Because the house was vacant and already pretty much gone by the time fire departments were dispatched, Hale said he kept the response to a minimum necessary for manpower and water.  Besides Elba, responding were Byron, Oakfield and Barre.

Hank is missing. Hank is 6 months old and escaped from home on Transit Road in Elba/Byron two days ago. If found, or with other helpful information, call (585) 297-0088 or (585) 490-3335. A reward is offered for Hank's return.

On Monday, members of the Elba community met in the crowded auditorium of Elba Central School to discuss a controversial cost-cutting budget that will reduce the positions of seven teachers and staff members.

The proposed budget for 2015-2016 will eliminate a guidance counselor, librarian, academic intervention service (AIS) math teacher, and an English Language Learner (ELL) teacher. It will also eliminate three teaching positions in Spanish, social studies and gym.

Elba has seen a $1.5 million budget reduction since 2013.

The new program at the high school would assign one guidance counselor at the high school and use a school psychologist to assist with counseling. Some students in Spanish would have to take a French class to earn an Advanced Regents Diploma. Staff members would supervise students in the library and students would no longer be permitted to use it during Study Hall. Gym class would increase from 17 students to 25.

At the elementary level, AIS math and English would be taught by homeroom teachers and teaching assistants. The focus at the elementary school was to maintain 15 students in each class, thereby keeping class size small.

“These are hard times and we have to make some tough decisions,” Scott Kaperman, principal of Elba Elementary, said. “The budget has been developed to put the focus on your child.”

Some parents, teachers and members of the community did not agree with Kaperman’s statement.

“I thought our motto here at Elba was, ‘students first,’ ” guidance counselor Chad Agen said when he addressed the Board of Education.

Agen and the other guidance counselor, Kelly Carlie, voiced just how important their jobs are at the schools. The two of them expressed concerns about bullying, suicide threats and other mental issues that some students have. Together, they help students apply for colleges and write letters of recommendation. They are worried that one guidance counselor would not be sufficient for the needs of all the students.

One of the biggest concerns expressed on Monday was the loss of AIS teachers.

“Why do we continue to cut our support for our remedial students?” asked Julie Maderer, K-12 reading teacher at Elba. “All students do not have the same problem and AIS is not a one-size-fits-all solution.”

Parents echoed Maderer’s concerns. They also expressed fear for how the 37 ELL students will do with only one teacher to help them. Nineteen percent of Elba students are Latino or Hispanic.

Christopher Salinas, principal of the secondary school, argued that students who have special needs will always coexist with their peers and it is the school's job to prepare them for life. Parents, however, said they feel the students are all being lumped together and it isn’t necessarily fostering success.

“If you ask the parents of the kids who need help, if you ask the parents of kids who are in the middle, if you ask the parents of the kids who excel, they would all agree that something is being taken away from all of the students,” parent Lori McClurg said.

A confirmed residential structure fire is reported at 6616 Snyder Road, Elba, located between Lockport and Weatherwax roads. It is a vacant house and the fire was called in from a passerby who said he saw flames inside. All available manpower from Elba fire is called to the scene, along with mutual aid from Oakfield, Byron and Bergen. Town of Batavia is asked to fill in at Elba's fire hall.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/6616+Snyder+Rd,+Oakfield,+NY+14125/@43.0922189,-78.2174804,14z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x89d3f3eeec8511f1:0x8dd3115440501a07

UPDATE 1:17 p.m.: A code enforcement officer from Elba is called to the scene.

UPDATE 2:04 p.m.: The Elba assignment is back in service. Barre also responded.

Photos by Jim Burns.