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Mucklands heavy with water after recent storms

By Howard B. Owens

The weather is once again playing havoc with the potential onion crop in the mucklands.

Early in the season, it was too dry and too hot. Now, saturated ground is stressing some tender plants.

Perhaps as much as 20 percent of the crop won't make it to harvest.

Paul Mortellaro said the situation is hardly a disaster at this point.

"It would be nice to get some normal weather," Mortellaro said, "rather than ' it's too hot, it's too cold, it's too dry, it's too wet.' "

Of course, the course of the course changes after big storm hits Le Roy CC

By Howard B. Owens

It it rains, it floods at the Le Roy Country Club, at least when it rains like it has recently. 

A creek that cuts through the lush green fairways on the front 9 often overflows with an abundance of water, and according to course pro Robbie Sinclair, the "lake effect" is often teeming with wildlife after a big storm. I tried to make it out today while several herons were at the pond, but only came across this duck hen and her ducklings.

All 18 holes remain open for golf, though the normally par 4 second is reduced to a par 3, with a tee shot over a lovely water hazard.

Law and Order: Duo in Le Roy accused of possessing a gun, drugs for sale, in presence of child

By Howard B. Owens

Harvey J. Lockhart, 32, of Batavia, and Kevin Q. Thomas, 26, of Batavia, are charged with criminal possession of a weapon, 2nd, criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd, and endangering the welfare of a child. Lockhart and Thomas were arrested following a traffic stop in the Village of Le Roy by Le Roy PD. As a result of an investigation, Lockhart was allegedly found in possession of loaded .22-caliber handgun in his shorts pocket as well as 10 bags of crack cocaine. Thomas was also accused of possessing a handgun and crack cocaine. A child was reportedly in the vehicle. Lockhart was held without bail and Thomas was held on $10,000 bail.

Bryan Henry Fetterly, 29, of Byron Holley Road, Byron, is charged with criminal tampering, 3rd. Fetterly allegedly threw property belonging to another person into a garbage dumpster that contained garbage. The alleged incident was reported at 10 a.m. Sunday.

Dekota Starr Leiser, 23, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny and unlawful possession of marijuana. Leiser allegedly stole tools from a business on Bank Street Road, Batavia. During the investigation by Deputy Joseph Graff, Leiser was allegedly found in possession of marijuana.

Philip William Czaja, 31, of Elm Street, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to pay fine. Czaja turned himself in. No further information released.

Kristen Anne Cianfrini, 30, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Cianfrini was arrested after a passerby found her 3-year-old child unattended, wandering near the roadside of Route 5, by a passing motorist. It's alleged that Cianfrini did not know her child had walked out of their residence and that the child had been wandering near the road for an undetermined period of time while Cianfrini was sleeping. The alleged incident was reported at 9:10 a.m. Saturday.

Adam Michael Jellison, 37, of Sierk Road, Attica, was arrested for an alleged probation violation. Jellison was issued on a warrant out of Wyoming County. He was arrested after he went to the Sheriff's Office on Park Road to retrieve found property and the warrant was discovered.

Melissa Courtney Cicatello, 23, of Webber Avenue, Oakfield, is charged with criminal mischief. Cicatello allegedly intentionally damaged the car door of another person's vehicle.

Enjoy a Muckdog's game on us!

By Howard B. Owens

The baseball season is just days away. Yup, the Batavia Muckdogs are returning to Dwyer Stadium for all the fun and community and professional baseball that we all enjoy.

Join The Batavian Club and receive a voucher for two free tickets to a regular season game.

Members of The Batavian Club receive more than $300 in gift certificates. These are gift certificates that be used in the same local businesses we all patronize every day.

The Batavian Club is a great value for all of its members. An annual membership is a mere $60. So think about it, use your first $60 in gift certificates and the rest of your membership package is like getting free money. Who doesn't like free stuff?

Sign up with an annual recurring payment instead of a one-time payment, and save another $10 off your membership fee. More free stuff!

You're helping to support The Batavian's mission to bring you the best local coverage and supporting local businesses at the same time. Everybody wins.

Here's what you get:

  • Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle, $3
  • Alex's Place, $5
  • Alli's Cones & Dogs, $3
  • Batavia Country Club, $5
  • Batavia Muckdogs, Two free GA tickets
  • Beds-N-Bones Pet Lodge, $5
  • Blue Pearl Yoga, $10
  • Center Street Smoke House,$5
  • City Slickers, $4
  • Dan's Tire & Auto, $5
  • The Detail Shop, $2
  • En Garde, $5
  • Floral Fantasies, $3
  • Great Kutz, $3 on haircuts
  • Hardcor Audio, $20
  • Jagged Edges Salon, $5
  • The Mane Attraction, $5
  • Main St. Pizza Company, $3
  • Max Pies Furniture, $100 on $500 or more retail value
  • Millennium Computer, $20 on $100 or more purchase
  • R&D Outlet Center, $5
  • R.W. Vapors, $5
  • Santino's Pizza, $5
  • Settler's Restaurant, $5
  • Smokin' Eagle BBQ & Brew, $5
  • Sweet Pea's Cupckaery Cafe, $2
  • Valle Jewelers, $25 on $100 or more retail value
  • Vinyl Sticks
  • West Main Wine and Spirits, $3

There are three ways to join: Use Paypal (buttons below) call us with your credit card information, or mail us a check.

Call us at (585) 250-4118 during regular business hours.

Download this form and mail it to us with a check.

Single member non-recurring payment: $60 Single membership annual recurring automatic payment of $50

Photos: Open house at State Street Animal Hospital

By Howard B. Owens

Heather Volpe and her granddaughter Myla, 18 months, visit with a calf during the open house for State Street Hospital this morning. The open house, which includes visits with animals, a tour of the facility and demonstrations of medical equipment, door prizes and ice cream, continues until 3 p.m.

Gary Zimmerman with Clacker.

Photos: GSO plays City Centre

By Howard B. Owens

Heavy rain didn't dampen the spirit of Friday's Genesee Symphony Orchestra concert, which was moved from Jackson Square to City Centre because of the storms. As promised, the GSO delivered a lively and energetic show.

Little information available on body found in 400 Towers apartment

By Howard B. Owens

The body of a male who had apparently been dead for an extended period of time was found this morning in an apartment in 400 Towers, located at 400 E. Main St. in the City of Batavia.

Det. Eric Hill, spokesman for Batavia PD, said there isn't much information available now because the officer handling the case is off duty and paperwork has not yet been completed.

There is a investigation, but Hill said he couldn't say one way or the other if foul play is suspected or if it's a death by natural causes.

The name of the deceased is not available.

More information will likely not be available until Monday.

County has potential buyer lined up for nursing home

By Howard B. Owens

The County Legislature is poised to accept what County Manager Jay Gsell characterized as the "highest and best offer" from a qualified buyer on the Genesee County Nursing Home.

The county received eight purchase proposals, Gsell said, and the recommended buyer is not only well qualified but also submitted the highest bid.

The details of the purchase agreement are not yet public and more details should be available when the Legislature meets in a special Committee of the Whole Meeting following the 4:30 p.m. Ways and Means Committee meeting Wednesday, in the Old Courthouse.

For years, county officials have maintained the nursing home is a multimillion-dollar drain on the county's budget and that state officials have been maneuvering counties toward the sale of such facilities by strangling state aid. Financial disclosures provided to potential buyers show the nursing home's losses have been piling up, with losses of $2.9 million in 2011, $3.7 in 2012 and $4.3 million in 2013.

A non-government agency (whether a not-for-profit group or for-profit company) will have greater flexibility in generating revenue than the highly regulated government-owned facility, plus have greater leeway in reducing expenses, and it won't be facing a squeeze on funding from the State of New York, according to county officials.

The anticipated vote by the Legislature is just the first step in a long process that could last up to nine months to complete the sale.

While Gsell said legislators have been doing their due diligence to ensure the anticipated buyer is qualified, the state has its own investigative process before it will OK transferring what's called a "certificate of need" to the new owner. The nursing home has two such certificates.

"At this point, with the deadlines the state has on financing nursing homes, especially adult operations like we have, the Legislature would like to start that process now," Gsell said. "The state conducts what it calls a character and compliance review and that could take six to nine months. That's what other counties have been through, including our neighbor to the north."

While Gsell would not at this time disclose the name of the buyer, citing purchase agreement restrictions, he said it is a company based in New York. That's one of the details that could be made public Wednesday.

For previous nursing home coverage, click here.

County Planning Board OKs site plan for possible O-AT-KA Milk expansion

By Howard B. Owens

A proposed expansion of the O-AT-KA Milk Products plant at Cedar Street and Ellicott Street Road, Batavia, received a vote of approval from the County Planning Board on Thursday night.

O-AT-KA is contemplating adding a 194,543-square-foot building and a 35,279-square-foot building that will serve as warehouse space and a distribution center.

A spokesman for O-AT-KA repeated several times to reporters last night that the expansion remains a proposal at this time. There's no information available on how O-AT-KA's business might be expanding as a result of the new space.

The location of the new structures would be on the east side of the plant with vehicle access off of Ellicott Street Road.

The board recommended approval of a site plan review with recommended modifications for a stormwater pollution-prevention plan prior to final approval by the city.

Also on Thursday:

The board recommended approval of a site plan review for a 1,620-square-foot addition to the Pavilion Public Library. The expansion, which will include a new children's wing, is funded in part by a $200,000 donation from Edgar Mary Louis Hollwedel. Deborah Davis said the library is also seeking a state grant. The size of that grant could exceed $200,000.

The board recommended disapproval of a zoning map change on South Lake Road in Pavilion. Superior Plus Energy Services was seeking the change to develop a bulk storage and truck distribution center for bulk propane. The 32-acre site is currently zoned agriculture-residential and Superior Plus Energy is seeking a change to industrial. Staff's recommendation was for disapproval because the change would be inconsistent with the town's comprehensive plan and the Future Land Use Map, which plans for agriculture use or residential with minimum lot sizes of five acres.

A planned Dollar General store in Pavilion received recommended approval for its sign. The sign design presented previously by Moeller Sign Co. wasn't approved because it would have meant a sign larger than currently allowed in the zoning code. The new design complies with the code.

Photos: Brighton Securities Shred Day

By Howard B. Owens

It's shred day at Brighton Securities. Anybody with documents to shred can bring them to their tent set up in the parking lot on East Main Street, Batavia, next to the Chamber of Commerce. They will be there until 3 p.m. and even serve you cookies and a beverage.

Pictured are Brittany Weeks, Christina Gregory, and George Arnold from Brighton Securities, and Mark Bonin, of Shred-Text.

Batavia Lions presents annual scholarships

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

The Batavia Lions Club recently presented its annual scholarships and awards for the 2014-2015 school year.  

Each spring, several graduating seniors at Batavia High School and Notre Dame High School apply for these scholarships, are interviewed by a committee of Lions Club members, and are chosen to receive $1,000 toward their college education. In addition, selected students from each high school are awarded the Art Roth Fine Arts Award and the Bill Cook Scholar Athlete Award.  

The final award is the Batavia Lions Club Award in Communications, which is presented to a Genesee Community College student in memory of two former Lions and local media legends – Paul Bostwick, the former managing editor of the Batavia Daily News and James H. Gerrety, the former news director of WBTA.

During the high school football season each fall, members of the Lions Club man the food stands at each stadium to sell snacks during each home game.  The proceeds are used exclusively for the scholarship and awards program.

Genesee Community College’s Jenna Wozniak won this year’s Batavia Lions Club’s Award in Communication.

Congratulations to all of this year’s winners and the best of luck in all of your future endeavors.

Top photo: Notre Dame’s 2014-2015 winners are (including Retiring Principal Dr. Joe Scanlon (L) and Athletic Director Mike Rapone (R): Emma Francis, winner of the Bill Cook Scholar Athlete Award, Anna Spring, winner of the Art Roth Fine Arts Award, and scholarship winners Lydia Moens and Anna Warner.

Bottom photo: This year’s Batavia High School winners are from left: Samir Jain, winner of the Bill Cook Scholar Athlete Award, scholarship winners Madison Kabel, Mica Pitcher, Katie Kesler, Allison Della Penna, and Ava Haitz, winner of the Art Roth Fine Arts Award.

North Spruce resident accused of selling marijuana

By Howard B. Owens
Matthew Olcott

A 36-year-old City of Batavia resident has been arrested by the Local Drug Task Force after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana and oxycodone as well as previously selling marijuana to agents of the task force.

Matthew C. Olcott, of North Spruce Street, faces seven misdemeanor charges following his arrest and was jailed on $5,000 bail.

He is charged with four counts of criminal sale of marijuana, 4th, criminal sale of marijuana, 5th, criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, unlawful possession of marijuana, and aggravated unlicensed operation, 2nd.

Olcott allegedly sold marijuana to agents on five separate occasions between November 2014 and February 2015. A warrant was issued for his arrest based on the evidence presented to Judge Robert Balbick in City Court.

He was stopped by task force members May 6 for allegedly driving on a suspended license. During that traffic stop, he was allegedly found in possession of marijuana and oxycodone pills. He was issued an appearance ticket, but allegedly failed to appear in City Court on his appointed date. Balbick issued an arrest warrant.

Task force members located Olcott at his residence Wednesday and arrested him on the two warrants. 

Flag Day celebration planned for VA Center

By Howard B. Owens

There will be a Flag Day celebration starting at 1 p.m., Sunday, at the VA Center in Batavia.

Here's the schedule for the event:

  • 1 p.m.: Prayer and Motorcycle Procession
  • 1:05 p.m.: Western New York Skydivers, led by Bill Ziphel
  • 1:10 p.m.: Flyover, Navy World War II plane, a 1943 Navy SNJ, piloted by Greg Barnhard and Jarod Cummings
  • 1:15 p.m.:  Assemblyman Steve Hawley Presentation
  • 1:30 p.m.: Flags & Students presentation to administration and vets.
  • 1:45 p.m.: 21-Gun Salute -- American Legion, Jim Neider, American Legion
  • 1:50 p.m.: Echo Taps
  • 2 p.m.: Concert with St. Joe’s Brass Ensemble

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