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The following projects have been approved for tax abatements for job-creation and retention projects, according to the Genesee County Economic Development Center:

• An $18,000 sales tax exemption has been approved by the GCEDC board for Ken Barrett Chevrolet, 229 W. Main St., Batavia, for expansion of its collision shop. The shop will expand from 7,833 square feet to 15,536 square feet and will cost $635,000. Three new jobs will be created and 10 jobs retained.
• Graham Manufacturing, 20 Florence Ave., is planning an expansion of its finishing (sandblasting and painting) operation. GCEDC has granted a sales tax exemption of $36,818 and a PILOT tax abatement of $89,088. The project will create an estimated 30 new jobs and help retain 278 existing jobs. The $1.8 million expansion will add 10,000 square feet of manufacturing space to the facility.
• Angelica Textile Services, Inc., 1-3 Apollo Drive, will receive a $15,125 mortgage tax exemption to help refinance its current $1.2 million mortgage. The project will help retain 78 jobs in Batavia.
• J&L Feed is planning on converting current greenhouses at 47 West Main St., Corfu, into a project called "The Market," which will create a floral shop, fresh meat and deli market and a general store. An approximately 3,400-square-foot building will be constructed and existing greenhouses will be demolished. J&L will receive a $22,000 property tax exemption, $4,800 sales tax exemption and a $1,250 mortgage tax exemption. An estimated three jobs will be created.

Press release:

The Maplelawn Cemetery Veterans’ Memorial Garden was created to honor the dedicated men and women who have served in the United States armed forces. 

The Town of Elba will hold a dedication ceremony at 7 p.m. on Thursday July 14. Assemblyman Stephen Hawley and the color guard from the American Legion will participate in the ceremony. 

This project would not have been possible without the generosity of the following donors: 

• Sackett Merrill White American Legion Post 575
• Eugene and Susan Bezon
• Daniel and Penny Bridge
• CY Farms
• Dave and Sylvia Hebell
• Derrick Monument
• Genesee Veterans Club
• H.E. Turner and Co., Inc.
• Darryl Horzempa
• The Insurance Center
• Norton Farms
• Steve Davis
• VVA Chapter 193
• Gene Warren
• Home Depot
• Delre's Greenhouse and Garden Centre
• The American Legion, Batavia post

More than a year ago, Steve Davis, the Town of Elba cemetery caretaker, asked the town board for its support of the project. After securing the board’s approval, he obtained the plants and landscaped the garden. 

“Steve came up with the idea and worked to make it happen," said Town Supervisor Lucinne Kauffman. "He’s really gone above and beyond with this project."

Steve also ordered and installed a granite bench with a bronze plaque dedicated to the veterans.

“Now the project is complete and we would like to publicly thank the men and women to whom the garden is dedicated,” Kauffman said.

The public is invited to attend the dedication ceremony. Maplelawn Cemetery is located on Maple Avenue Extension between the Town Hall and the Historical Society Museum.

Submitted by Kim Koziol.

Batavia beat Le Roy twice to win the District 3 Championship.

In the first game, Nick Bezinque had the big hit knocking in three runs with a bases loaded triple. Cameron Ells, Griffin Moore, Casey Radka, A.J. Marcello, Michael Calderon, Taylor Stefaniak and Philip Koziol all had hits for Batavia. Radka went the distance on the mound striking out seven and only two walks. Le Roy’s Cole Biggins played a great game at short stop in the 6-4 loss.

In the second game, A.J. Marcello was the big hitter with two doubles and a monstrous home run. Cameron Ells, Jerry Reinhart, Nick Bezinque, Philip Koziol, Evan Bender, Michael Calderon and Taylor Stefaniak also had big hits for Batavia in the 11-3 win. Alex Jones and Jerry Reinhart pitched a great game holding Le Roy to three  runs.

Front row: Taylor Stefaniak, Griffin Moore, Evan Bender, Cameron Ells, Phil Koziol. Second row: Michael Calderon, Casey Radka, Alex Jones, Jerry Reinhart, Nick Bezinque A.J. Marcello. Third row: Coach Todd Bender, Coach Jerry Reinhart, Manager James "Beef" Soggs, Coach Dave Hall, Coach Sean Radka.

Matt Mondoux, a resident of Grand Island and an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran, is walking for Lou.

Mondoux, who passed through Genesee County yesterday, is walking the width of New York, all the way to Yankee Stadium, in order to raise money for research into Lou Gehrig's Disease.

"When you see a bunch of people who aren’t getting the kind of help you think they deserve, you realize they need somebody who isn’t directly effected by the disease to help out," Mondoux.

Lou Gehrig's Disease wasn't something Mondoux paid much attention to until a friend was diagnosed and he started doing a little research.

He said reading the blogs of victims raised his awareness and concern for people who have been afflicted.

"Reading up on it, I got kind of emotionally attached," he said. "It was kind of sad that even though I’m a New York Yankee fan, I didn’t know exactly what Lou Gehrig’s Disease was."

Mondoux served 10 years in the Army, but works now at a Seneca-Niagara casino. While he said his employer has been exceptionally supportive of his walk, the 14 days he's taking for the trek is an unpaid leave of absence.

People along the route have already been incredibily supportive, he said.

While he stopped in Bethany and spoke with a reporter, somebody drove up and handed him $2, apologizing that he didn't have more money with him.

A guy walking down the road in a Yankees uniform gets a lot of attention, Mondoux said.

Once he arrives at Yankee Stadium, Mondoux will attend a game using donated tickets. He hopes to be able to get all of the Yankee players to sign his jersey.

If he can raise $2 million, he said, he would like to donate the jersey to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown to help raise awareness of Lou Gehrig's Disease.

"I'll even give them my lucky hat," he said.

He bought the Yankees cap on Sept. 11, 2001, just outside of New York City -- he could see the towers burning that day from where he was, he said.

"It's been with me everywhere," he said. "It's been with me in Iraq and Afghanistan. I wore it the day my daughter was born. It's been everywhere, from Europe to Las Vegas."

Now it's going to Yankee Stadium.

To donate and to track Matt's progress, visit Walking4Lou.com.

State regulators are expected to meet with investigators from the Sheriff's Office tomorrow and present their findings from their investigation into the death Friday of Iraq war hero James Hackemer, who was ejected from the Ride of Steel at Darien Lake Theme Park.

Until then, it's hard to say, according to Deputy Chief Jerome Brewster, if there will be any evidence to take to the District Attorney's Office for possible prosecution of any staff members at the theme park.

"At this point, we don't see any evidence of criminality," Brewster said. "But we'll have to see what the Department of Labor comes up with in their half of the investigation. If in their half, they find training records that show a supervisor or employees were trained not to let an amputee on the ride (for example), then maybe there is something to take to the District Attorney to review."

Brewster said, rather than a criminal complaint the findings might support a possible civil action by Hackemer's family, noting, however, that in any case where there is an injury or death on an amusement park ride, some sort of civil action is likely.

"Just off the top of my head I would think there’s some potential for civil liability, but criminal liability remains to be seen," Brewster said.

The Sheriff's Office has completed its investigation, Brewster said. The DOL investigators were at the scene of the accident today and are expected to return to Darien Lake in the morning before meeting with the Sheriff's Office in the afternoon.

Darien Lake officials are being exceptionally tight lipped about the accident.

Cassandra Okon, spokeswoman for the theme park, today repeated what she's told every news outlet that's called her: Officials at the park have no idea how long the investigation will take and until then park officials have no comment on the accident.

Asked if there would be a press conference after the investigation is completed, Okon said that hasn't been decided.

She took The Batavian's e-mail address and said if there are any further statements from Darien Lake, the statements will be e-mailed to all of the media outlets on her list.

The story of Hackemer's death has been reported throughout the world.

He lost both of his legs to a roadside bomb in Iraq and twice nearly died as a result of his wounds.

Hackemer's family told the Buffalo News that the 29-year-old father of two "died happy."

"I have no doubt in my mind that he died happy," his sister, Jody Hackemer, said Saturday as the family gathered at Hackemer's parents' farmhouse in Gowanda. "I know that's hard to comprehend. But really, he was doing what he wanted to do. And that's the important thing."

While there have been rumors since the accident that Hackemer insisted on getting on the ride over the objections of Darien Lake staff, the family contradicts those account in the Buffalo News article.

"We in no shape or form hold Darien Lake accountable," the sister said. "They weren't negligent. It's nobody's fault. It was an accident. James thought it wasn't an issue."

Brewster said that what he's seen from the investigation reports so far indicate that Hackemer wanted to get on the ride and family and staff assisted him. There was no attempt that Brewster is aware of to stop Hackemer from taking a seat on the Ride of Steel.

"Nobody has indicated that at this point," Brewster said.

Brewster confirmed accounts that Hackemer was ejected from the ride at the crest of a hill on the ride the runs parallel Route 77 where other rides have said the gravitational shift causes riders to lift out of their seats.  

Hackemer had already been though bigger hills in the ride, so it's still not clear why he was ejected at this point in the ride.

The accident has revived an attempt by a Massachusetts congressman to take theme park regulation out of the hands of state officials and put regulation and investigation into federal officials' hands.

The local and state regulators who currently oversee amusement parks may lack the budget resources and technical experience to carry out effective safety checks and investigate accidents, Markey said.

"While the cause of the accident that claimed the life of Sgt. Hackemer is still unknown, one thing is crystal clear: Hypercoasters that hurtle riders at speeds exceeding 70 miles per hour along 200-foot drops should not be exempt from federal safety oversight," Markey said.

He plans to introduce legislation, which he has proposed multiple times before, to make fixed-site amusement parks subject to the regulatory authority of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, a federal consumer protection body. The move could prevent future injuries, he said.

The driver of a red SUV that crossed the center line causing a serious-injury accident on Indian Falls Road on Thursday, remains in serious condition at ECMC and hasn't been available for interviews, Undersheriff Bill Sheron said. 

Sonya M. Charache, 30, of Gorton Road, suffered a head injury in the accident. It's unclear what caused her SUV to cross the center line, Sheron said.

"It's not unusual that in such accidents where there are head injuries that the victims don't remember much of the accident, or they can't recall what happened just prior to the accident," Sheron said.

It's possible prescription drugs could have been a factor, Sheron said, but toxicology reports have not been returned yet, so neither drugs nor alcohol as a contributing factor have been ruled out.

Three children in Charache's SUV and the driver of a blue pickup truck that was eastbound on Indian Falls Road were also injured.

The other driver, Donald Sage, 70, of Judge Road, Oakfield, remains hospitalized at Strong with multiple fractures and facial injuries.

The 6-year-old injured, Garrett M. Talbot, remains hospitalized. Sheron said he is making good progress toward recovery.

"None of the injuries are considered life threatening at this point," Sheron said.

The other two children, Jackson K. Gilbert, 2, and Kayda L. Charache, 1, both of Gorton Road, Alabama, are out of the hospital.

A former Bergen resident who was recently accused of stealing a mailbox from a neighbor is facing a grand larceny charge for allegedly stealing $14,650 from her former employer.

Michele Ann Case, 46, of 1037 Chili Center-Coldwater Road, Rochester, a registered nurse, is accused of submitting inflated mileage claims and fraudulent "call-in" claims that, in effect, diverted $14,650 from her employer.

Case worked for the company, which is not named in the press release, from late 2008 through January 2011. She is accused of filing the inflated claims from January 2009 through January 2011.

Following arraignment in Batavia City Court, Case was released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

The alleged larceny was investigated by Det. Charles F. Dudek, Batavia PD.

In June, Case, who was listed as a resident of North Bergen Road, Bergen, in previous arrest reports, was accused of stealing a mailbox. In comments on The Batavian, Case said she thought the mailbox was unused and was merely recycling it.

Previous stories about Case:

• Police Beat: Woman accused of not waiting for son at bus stop
• Criminal case dismissed, but reason being kept secret
• Bergen woman accused of stealing $35,000 from elderly woman's bank accounts

A total of 36 tickets were issued to 11 drivers of commercial vehicles during a check point set up on Route 98 near the Thruway entrance on June 23, Batavia Police announced.

Besides the citations, two trucks were taken out of service until necessary repairs could be made.

The city's enforcement effort was funded through a Selective Enforcement Program grant through the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee.

The police department said such enforcement details will continue throughout the summer and fall.

Patrick John Tomai, 30, of Clinton Street Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation and endangering the welfare of a child. Tomai is accused of being involved in a domestic dispute with his wife at 8:38 p.m. Saturday while his children were present.

April Lynn Burke, 30, of Golfshire Drive, Rochester, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and failure to signal. Burke was stopped at 12:33 a.m. Saturday on Route 33, Town of Batavia, by Deputy Jason Saile.

Stephen Wade Thompson, 34, of West Main Street, Attica, is charged with petit larceny. Thompson is accused of trying to conceal $64.78 in stolen merchandise at Kmart in the box of an air conditioner he had purchased and picked up from layaway.

Ricky Oliver Cooper, 34, of Warsaw Road, Le Roy, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, moving from lane unsafely and no seat belt. Cooper was stopped at 10:33 p.m. Sunday on Sweetland Road, Stafford, by Deputy Matthew Butler.

Andrew Charles Maier, 25, Sumner Road, Corfu, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, driving left of pavement markings. Maier was stopped at 2:41 a.m. Monday on Broadway Road, Alexander, by Deputy Howard Carlson.

The following arrests were made by the Sheriff's Office on July 8 during the Sugarland concert at Darien Lake Performatin Arts Center.

Tina M. Smith, 42, of  Coburn Street, Elmira is charged with harassment, 2nd. Smith is accused of striking a security guard will being ejected.

Margaret B. DeMarco, 18, of Hughes Street, Buffalo is charged with false personation and possession of alcohol under age 21. DeMarco is accused of providing a false name and being under 21 in possession of alcohol.

After the jump, a list of citations issued for alleged underage drinking. 

John C. Koenig, 20, of Cary Avenue, Oakfield
Molly M. Erickson, 18, of Jackman Road, Elma
A 16-year-old of Townline Road, Elma
McKenzie E. Harris, 18, of Fisher Road, Oakfield
Matthias J. Schuster, 20, of Liberty Pole Road, Dansville
(name removed upon request), 19, of Bernhardt Drive, Snyder
(name removed upon request), 19, of Mill Street, Williamsville
(name redacted upon request), 19, of Richmond Avenue, Lancaster
Jessica M. Lorusso, 18, of Bridgewater Court, Lancaster
(name redacted upon request), 18, of Ransom Road, Lancaster
(name redacted upon request), 18, of Anthony Street, Lancaster
A 16-year-old of Lake Avenue, Orchard Park
Maureen L. Donohoe, 18, of Bentley Circle, Lancaster
Samantha L. Carson, 19, of Elm Place Lancaster
Jacqueline R. Andrusz, 19, of N. Maple Drive, Williamsville
Mallorie R. Stone, 19, of N. Burdick Street, E. Syracuse
Kelsey L. Temple, 19, of Kenner Road, Minoa
Paige K. Kelly, 19, of Lighthouse Road, Hilton
Trisha N. Duchyns, 19, of Squareview Lane, Rochester
Amanda K. Payment, 20, of Peck Road, Hilton
Brianna L. Venditti, 20, of Curtis Parkway, Tonawanda
Trea H. Watts, 19, of Sweethome Road, Amhurst
Erin K. Philipson, 18, of Highland Road, Ithaca
Stacy L. Squire, 19, of Cherry Street, Batavia
Lindsey E. Penders, 20, of Shepherd Road, Batavia
Melissa A. Smith, 20, of Allenview Drive, Batavia
Brittany L. Morelli, 20, of Lovers Lane Road, Batavia
Jared M. Mutka, 20, of Williamsburg Lane, Lancaster
Nicole E. Jones, 20, of Monroe Avenue, Brockport
Christine E. Dorson, 19, of South 17th Street, Olean
Kathryn E. Horrigan, 20, of Eagle Street, Cooperstown

Workers from a Rochester-based contractor on Bank Street this morning installing traffic sensors for the traffic lights.

Children participating in one of the city's summer recreation programs paid a visit to City of Batavia Fire Department today and got to meet firefighters and learn about their jobs and see the equipment they use.

Reader Jane Johnson said this pooch appeared in their yard this morning, very friendly, loves being around kids and had a collar and rabies tags.

But she has no idea who owns the dog.

The owner can contact Johns at 739-0378.

Shortly I'll be on the road to Buffalo to catch a flight to New York City.

While I'm gone, breaking news will be covered by Billie and WBTA.

I return Sunday.

In NYC, I'll be the guest of the New York Times and New York University for an event called the "Hyperlocal Conclave."

"Hyperlocal" is this made-up word that all of the news industry uses now without really understanding what it means to describe news sites like The Batavian. I think what we do is just good, old-fashioned -- the way newspapers used to do it -- local journalism. But it's such a radical concept -- to concentrate coverage on just one community, even though it's very old school, that the industry had to give a name to the business model.

The Batavian is unique among "hyperlocal" news sites in that it actually makes money -- not a lot, but we keep food on the table and a roof over our heads. There's only a handful of other sites in the United States that can make the same claim. So, when these conferences come up, I periodically get invited to talk about how and why we can get sponsorships from, say, more than 100 local businesses.

Obviously, I'm proud what what we've done with The Batavian and continue to be grateful for the support of the community, readers and advertisers. Thank you.

While in NYC, my short stay will be concentrated in the area around NYU, which I think is Greenwich Village/Soho -- an area of the city that I've never seen much of before.

William R. Green, 52, of Batavia-Elba Townline Road, Elba, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Green was reportedly involved with a dispute at 10:15 p.m., Thursday and during the dispute, Green allegedly grabbed his neighbor by the neck and punched him. Green was jailed on $200 bail.

James R. Tydelski, 55, of 7800 Hewes Road, Bergen, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and failure to stop at a stop sign. Tydelski was stopped at 1:06 a.m. at the intersection of Mill and Lake streets in the Village of Le Roy by a Le Roy Police officer.

Joshua Todd Fullmer, 18, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Fullmer is accused of shoplifting $34.98 worth of merchandise from Kmart.

Warren Walter McClure, 40, of Hamilton Road, Buffalo, is charged with burglary, 3rd. McClure is accused of entering a business in the Town of Batavia while it was closed on Feb. 6 and stealing money, checks and surveillance cameras.

Todd F. James, 48, of School Road, Byron, is charged with disorderly conduct. James allegedly refused to turn down his radio creating "unnecessary noise" in his neighborhood for more than three hours.

Kelsey Marie Davis, 19, of unreleased street address, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Davis was arrested following an investigation into a fight during the Tim McGraw concert at Darien Lake Theme Park on June 25.

Samuel Robert Thompson, 55, of Shady Lane, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Thompson is accused of stealing a bicycle from a parking lot.

Three children and two adults were injured in a head-on collision that required the response of three Mercy Flight helicopters to the area of Indian Falls Road and Pratt Road on Thursday.

None of the injuries are believed life threatening, though at least one patient remains in intensive care at a hospital.

A Sheriff's Office investigation indicates that a 2002 Chevy Trailblazer driven by Sonya M. Charache, 30, of Gorton Road, Alabama, was southbound on Indian Falls Road when it crossed into the northbound lane for an unknown reason.

The SUV struck a 2004 Chevy Silverado being driven by Donald Sage, 70, of Judge Road, Oakfield.

Sage is in guarded condition (in intensive care) at Strong Memorial Hospital. Sage was transported to Strong by Mercy Flight.

Charache was reportedly unconscious following the accident and taken by Mercy Flight, according to the Sheriff's Office, to Erie County Medical Center. However, this morning, ECMC patient information had no information on Charache's condition.

Riding in Charache's SUV were three children, Jackson K. Gilbert, 2, and Kayda L. Charache, 1, both of Gorton Road, Alabama, and Garrett M. Talbot, 6, of the City of Batavia. 

Garrett was transported to Women & Children's Hospital in Buffalo by Mercy Flight. His condition is not known at this time.

The other two children were transported by the Oakfield volunteer ambulance to UMMC.

Members of the Indian Falls, East Pembroke and Pembroke volunteer fire departments responded to the scene and extricated the patients from the vehicles.

Also responding was the Corfu Volunteer Fire Department along with Mercy EMS, Genesee Emergency Services and the Sheriff's Office.

The accident investigation is being handled by Deputy Kevin McCarthy, Sgt. Greg Walker, Investigator Kris Kautz and Sgt. William Scott of the Crash Management Team.

( Initial report and more photos)

When Kathy Hochul made a campaign appearance in Batavia at the YWCA, I asked her about Genesee County's deteriorating infrastructure and what could be done about it at a federal level.

Hochul started by expressing concern about a problem that she sees across Western New York, with pot-holed roads and rusting bridges. As she spoke, it was almost as if the thought occurred to her on the fly -- why are we spending billions building roads in Pakistan when we have so needs here at home.

She picked up the theme in subsequent debates and appearances.

Today, Hochul's congressional office announced that she's kept her campaign promise, voting to reduce aid to Pakistan.

Press release:

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Kathy Hochul voted in favor of Republican Congressman Ted Poe’s (TX-2) amendment to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, which would cut funding to Pakistan by $1 billion. 

“Today’s votes were about priorities,” said Congresswoman Hochul.  “Would we rather spend a billion dollars in Pakistan or spend that money right here at home? I know the people of the 26th District would much rather have that money invested in infrastructure, education, and job creation right here in the United States, rather than in the country that hid Osama bin Laden.”

Since being sworn in last month, one of Congresswoman Hochul’s top priorities has been cutting spending and reducing our deficit. In addition to cutting funding to Pakistan, Congresswoman Hochul today voted to cut $675 million from infrastructure in Afghanistan, citing the need to improve infrastructure in our own communities.