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June Rouse was sorry to see it go -- the planter she has lovingly cultivated for 10 years around her mailbox on Lyman Road, Byron.

She learned just a day ahead of time that a new water line being installed on Lyman was going right through the side of the road her mailbox is on.

She tried to save what she could with a tractor, digging up big frozen clumps of earth with her bulbs in the dirt. She hopes she can replant everything this spring.

Photo submitted by June Rouse.

Since a property tax cap was imposed on local governments in 2011, New York taxpayers have saved $25 billion in additional taxes, said Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul said Monday during an appearance at Genesee Community College.

"I think people like that," Hochul said. "I think if you're a resident or a business owner, you like that."

Hochul is visiting communities throughout Western New York to drum up support for making the tax cap permanent and end periodic efforts to undo one of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's landmark accomplishments.

Keeping the tax cap is important to attracting new business to the state, Hochul said.

"Any business can go anywhere they want in the nation and we're working had to bring them to Upstate New York," Hochul said. "If you're going to lure them from low-tax states, we need to be able to say to them, 'you can count on what your tax rate is going to be because it's permanently locked in at this number.' "

Hochul, herself once a town board member in Hamburg, acknowledged that living within a 2-percent cap on the property tax levy is a challenge for local governments but she thinks it's worth the effort.

"We had a reputation for being a high tax-and-spend state and the governor on the first day he took office, he said we deserve that reputation," Hochul said. "That's been our legacy for the past 40 years."

Cuomo, Hochul said, has been focused on helping Upstate New York recover from decades of neglect and has directed $44 billion in economic development to Upstate, for things like roads and airports and railroads, and industrial and agricultural parks.

The effort is paying off, Hochul said, as the evidence in Batavia shows, where downtown is being revitalized and another $10 million is being invested in additional improvements downtown.

As part of her tax justice talk, Hochul also discussed the elimination of deductions of state and federal taxes. Reinstating the deductions is a matter of tax fairness, she said, because people wouldn't be taxed twice on the same income.

The elimination of the deductions is costing New York taxpayers $15 billion a year.

Submitted photo.

The following people are wanted on warrants issued out of Batavia City Court. If you have any information on the whereabouts of these subjects, please contact the Batavia Police Department at (585) 345-6350.

Do not make any attempt to apprehend these individuals on your own.

If you have an active warrant and want to avoid ending up on a WANTED list like this, the Batavia Police Department would be more than happy to assist you on resolving the warrant.

Dakota O. Irvin, age 27
Charge(s):  Aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, 3rd degree; operating a motor vehicle w/o insurance and with a suspended registration; bail jumping, 3rd. Jason J. Raffel Jr, age 26
Charge(s):  Obstruction of governmental administration, 2nd degree Justice D. Osborne, age 23
Charge(s):  Aggravated unlicensed pperation of a motor vehicle, 2nd degree; operating a motor vehicle w/o insurance and with a suspended registration.

 

Justin T. Stephenson, age 34
Charge(s):  Aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, 3rd degree; and operating a motor vehicle w/ a suspended registration. Robert L. Jordan (AKA Jackson), age 72
Charge(s): Petit larceny Shante R. Williams, age 35
Charge(s):  Resisting arrest

Press release from AAA:

Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $2.48, up 5 cents from last week. One year ago, the price was $2.52.

The New York State average is $2.59 – up 6 cents from last week. A year ago, the NYS average was $2.69.

AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:

• Batavia -- $2.50 (up 2 cents since last week)
• Buffalo -- $2.51 (up 1 cent since last week)
• Ithaca -- $2.59 (up 11 cents since last week)
• Rochester -- $2.57 (up 9 cents since last week)
• Rome -- $2.59 (up 8 cents since last week)
• Syracuse -- $2.57 (up 10 cents since last week)
• Watertown -- $2.59 (up 8 cents since last week)

Pump prices have increased this week due to reduced gasoline stock levels and increased demand. In its latest weekly petroleum report, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) revealed that total gasoline stocks fell by 4.2 million bbl. They now sit at 250.7 million bbl, which is 300,000 bbl less than last year’s level at this time.

Meanwhile, EIA reported that demand for gasoline saw a slight uptick last week to 9.1 million b/d, growing by approximately 100,000 b/d from the previous week. As the nation begins to exit the winter driving season, motorists should expect pump prices to continue rising as demand increases and stocks of gasoline tighten.

 

 

Danielle Haskell, still a junior, proved Saturday why she's going to a Division I university after she graduates in leading her team, Franklinville, to a 49-32 victory over the Elba Lancers in the Class D Far West Regional Championship.

Haskell scored 33 points, despite being held to one for 11 from the three-point line. No other player for Franklin even got close to double digits in scoring, with Abby Burrell and Abby McCoy scoring five points each.

Elba jumped out to an early lead but couldn't hold it and after the third quarter where the Lancers scored only three points, it was hard for the team to get back in the game.

Leah Bezon scored 11 points, Brynn Walczak, nine, Lauryn Engle, six, and Taylor Augello, four. Maddie Muehlig had five assists.

Photos by Thomas Ognibene from Steve Ognibene Photography.

To view or purchase photos, click here.

Karaya D. Cummings, age 29, Black female 5’4” 130 lbs., black hair brown eyes, LKA Griffith Street Rochester, NY

 

Bench warrant for criminal possession of a controlled substance 5^th PL 220.06-1 (Felony)  Genesee County Court DOW 10/3/18

Antonio J. Goodson, age 28, Black male, 6’2” 155 lbs., black hair brown eyes, LKA Wood Street Batavia, NY

 

Bench warrant for criminal contempt 1^st  PL 215.50-3 (Felony) Genesee County Court DOW 2/15/19

Robert J. Moulthrop, age 51, White male, 5’11” 170 lbs, bald with hazel eyes, LKA Alexander Street, Rochester, NY

 

Bench warrant for DWI/Drove W/.08% BAC or more VTL 1192-2,3 (Misdemeanor) Byron Town Court DOW 2/12/18

 

 

Donald H. Piechocki, age 54, White male, 5’11” 150 lbs., brown hair blue eyes, LKA Cattle Drive Kissimmee, FL

 

Arrest warrant for DWI/Drove W/.08% BAC or more VTL 1192-2,3 (misdemeanor) Alexander Town Court DOW 10/11/05

Ramon A. Quinones  AKA Casilla R. Quinones, age 24 Hispanic male, 5’6” 150 lbs., black hair brown eyes, LKA 8170 Batavia-Stafford TL Road Batavia, NY

 

Bench warrant for petit larceny PL 155.25 (misdemeanor) Batavia Town Court DOW 2/9/16

 

Arrest warrant for bail jumping 3^rd PL 215.55 (misdemeanor) Batavia Town Court DOW 10/26/17

Scott E. Staubitz,  age 37, White male blond hair, hazel eyes, 5’10” 170 lbs., LKA Union Road, Cheektowaga, NY

 

Bench warrant for criminal possession of a controlled substance 7^th PL 220.03 (Misdemeanor) Darien Town Court DOW 10/18/18

 

Arrest warrant for bail jumping 3^rd PL 215.55 (misdemeanor) Darien Town Court DOW 12/4/18

 

If you are able to assist the Sheriff's Office in locating these people, the Sheriff's Office asks that you do not approach these people and that you call (585) 343-5000 with information that may assist in locating the suspects.

About a year ago, Dale Vargason, from Wayland, purchased a cache of documents from the late 18th, early 19th centuries and when he got them home, he found a surprise -- a deed to a piece of property in what is now Ontario County signed by Joseph Ellicott.

Yesterday, he dropped the deed, framed, at Bontrager's Auction on Wortendyke Road, Batavia, where Todd Jantzi said he will present it in a consignment auction featuring antiques and historical documents. A date for the auction has not yet been announced.

"As soon as I saw the Joseph Ellicott I dropped everything else and said, ‘oh, my gosh’ and I started researching it," Vargason said. "I knew who he was but I wanted to figure out how much was this worth but I couldn’t find any comparables so I decided, ‘we’ll see’ and I thought I would hang onto it. When I mentioned it to Todd, his eyes lit up."

Jantzi said it's a fairly rare document and should go for $600 to $800. The deed is from 1813.  

Ellicott was an agent for the Holland Land Company from 1800 to 1821. He laid out the first plans for the Village of Batavia and the Village of Buffalo. He signed many land deeds during those years.

Documents of this much historic value don't come into the auction house often, according to Jantzi.

"We might see it maybe once every three to five years," Jantzi said.

The keynote speaker today at the Genesee County Economic Development Center's annual meeting at Batavia Downs was Jeremy Bout, founder and CEO of Edge Factor.

It's an education resource company that makes video and training materials to help attract students to STEM -- Science, Technology, Engineering and Math -- fields and then guide them through a career path.

Bout said his life was changed as a teen when he was given access to advanced manufacturing tools that were really beyond what most 18-year-olds get access to while in training. That eventually led him to seek ways to make STEM careers more attractive for students and help bridge the gap between what today's employers need to hire and what careers young people are choosing.

"I realize I was one of the lucky ones," Bout said. "I was the one that came out of high school that didn't get lost in the shuffle. I found meaningful work and meaningful employment.

"I went on to study many different things but it was that opportunity with the real-world intersecting my education that gave me that gateway into my passion." 

Bout and his team make videos that tell the stories of how technology impacts lives. They also make highly engaging training videos that help young people prepare to enter the workforce.

"We want to use media and technology because there are new methods for a new generation," Bout said.

The Genesee Valley Education Partnership received GCEDC's Economic Development Partner of the Year Award.

GCEDC works with GVEP on workforce development in 22 school districts in the region, serving 24,000 students.

"For those of you who are here today, whether you're an educator, a legislator, or a business owner, business developer, or a board member, or whomever or whatever you represent, I think we all have one collective goal," said Kevin McDonald, district superintendent.

"And that is to make Genesee County and our region a great place to live, work and play. We hope our contributions will only provide opportunity and encouragement for our younger generations to make the choice to live, work and play in our community."

Assemblyman Steve Hawley spoke of the regulatory and tax challenges businesses and taxpayers face in New York but said in Western New York, we continue to have a positive outlook.

He also said not all of his colleagues in Albany obstruct business development. He noted that when Amazon decided to pull out of a planned second headquarters in Queens, he immediately put out a press release, and sent a letter to Jeff Bezos inviting Amazon to STAMP -- Science, Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Park -- in Alabama.

That action, he said, received some notable support in Albany, particularly from Crystal Peoples Stokes, the current majority leader.

"She went out of her way and walked up to me and said, 'I don't know if you saw it or not, but I put out a statement supporting you and supporting STAMP for Amazon to locate here in Western New York,' Hawley said. "That's a huge thing.

"So we're not giving up. We're going to tell people around this country and around the world that we're open for business."

State Sen. Mike Ranzenhofer said there is a new wind blowing through Albany, one that is much more focused on social issues and much less focused on taking care of business in New York.

One big example, he said, is the shuttled Amazon deal in Queens. Another is the push to extend prevailing wage provisions to private-sector economic development.

There's also more focus on things like voting rights and abortion. Albany is dealing with these issues at this point in the legislative session rather than what in past years has been the top focus -- the state budget.

"These are the things that are out there," Ranzenhofer said. "They were never really a concern. They were never going to happen. But they are happening each and every week in Albany and they are directly impacting this community. My message to you is that you have to, and we all collectively have to, be vigilant more so than in the past."

Steve Hyde touched on several activities of GCEDC during his remarks but especially STAMP -- noting the continued progress to make the site shovel ready for large, high-tech manufacturers and the state's continued support of the project.

"I never knew when I started this journey, actually in the fall of 2005 were the first steps, when I kind of started on this vision of trying to create a big, huge high-tech mega site to create better opportunities for kids," Hyde said. "I never knew that that was going to be a career-defining project."

A water main break, reportedly with significant flooding, is reported on North Street, in Le Roy.

A cellar pump detail is needed for 37 North St.

Le Roy Fire Department dispatched and the chief has requested all available manpower.

Monroe County Water Authority notified.

UPDATE 6:22 p.m.: Pavilion requested to fill in at Le Roy's fire hall.

UPDATE 6:24 p.m.: A Monroe County water crew is 30 minutes from the scene and is estimating a four- to six-hour repair window.

UPDATE 6:25 p.m.: Water flow alarms have been triggered at two businesses in the area.

At about 5:30 p.m. there was a truck vs. SUV accident at the parking lot entrance to Walmart.

The person who supplied the photo said it looked to him like the driver of the SUV tried to make a right turn on the right side of the truck, which had already initiated a right turn.

The witness said he didn't believe there were any injuries.

No further information is available at this time.

Photo submitted by a reader.

      Quinton Spinks
      (2010 photo)

Quinton L. Spinks, 33, thanked Judge Charles Zambito in County Court today for the state prison time he was about to receive on a drug-dealing conviction.

"I would like to say first, I apologize to my family and to the community for my actions," Spinks said. "I would also like to thank you for this time because I was out there hurting myself and hurting my family. I appreciate the time to rehabilitate myself and get my life back on the right path and back to doing the right thing."

Under the terms of a plea agreement reached in April, when Spinks admitted selling drugs to agents of the Local Drug Task Force, his sentence was capped at two years in state prison. Zambito said he was bound by that agreement and handed down that sentence.

This will be the second stint for Spinks in state prison for selling drugs in Genesee County. He was arrested in 2010 and committed in 2012 to two years in prison on a criminal possession of a controlled substance, 5th, conviction.

Spinks also faces federal charges in Maine, where he is named in an indictment along with several other individuals. In the federal indictment, he is named in only count one of the indictments, for conspiracy to distribute a mixture of heroin and cocaine.

As part of his sentence, Spinks must make a $200 restitution payment to Genesee County for payments he received from an agent of the Local Drug Task Force.

The Batavia High School Production Club presents the musical "The Sound of Music" in three performances starting tonight at 7 o'clock.

There are also shows at 7 p.m. tomorrow and at 2 p.m. Sunday in the high school's auditorium.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for students and seniors.

Cast list:

• Zofia Bailey, Gretl von Trapp
• Michael Bartz, Friedrich von Trapp
• Cameron Bontrager, Max Detweiler (Friday & Sunday)
• Jack Bruggman, Herr Zeller, Ensemble
• Macayla Burke, Louisa von Trapp
• Emily Caccamise, Frau Schmidt, Nun
• Pierce Corbelli, Captain Georg von Trapp
• Cassidy Crawford, Brigitta von Trapp
• Jocelyn Cryer, Nun, Ensemble
• Lyndsay Debo, Baroness Elberfeld, Nun
• Ariana Desa Frias, Mother Abbess, Ensemble
• Colin Dunn, Kurt von Trapp
• Eryn Dunn, Maria Rainer
• Kathryn Fitzpatrick, Baroness Elsa Schrader
• Abrianna Gabriel, Girl in Pale Pink Coat Dancer, Ensemble
• Kristen Gloskowski, Sister Berthe
• Elise Hoerbelt, Liesl von Trapp
• Oline Jakobsgaard, Nun, Ensemble
• Karissa Kesler, Sister Margaretta
• Lilya Kotmel Nun, Trio of the Saengerbund of Herwegen, Ensemble, Admiral von Schrieber 
• Leigh LeFevre, Marta von Trapp
• Laura Lepkowski, Sister Sophia
• Courtney Lougheed, Nun, Ensemble
• Riley Macdonough, Cantor, Nun, Ensemble
• Hayley Mercer, Nun, Fraulein Schweiger, Ensemble
• Martin Moore, Franz, Soldier
• Jordyn Mott Nun, Ensemble
• Sam Rigerman, Rolf, Lonely Goatherd dancer, Ensemble
• Max Sernoffsky, Soldier, Ensemble
• Kayla Stone, Nun, Trio of the Saengerbund of Herwegen,  Ensemble
• AT Thatcher, Admiral von Schrieber, Max Detweiler (Saturday)
• Gavin Tucker, Baron Elberfeld, Bishop, Ensemble
• Noelia Ventura, Nun, Trio of the Saengerbund of Herwegen, Ensemble
• Lily Whiting, Nun, Ensemble 
• Sydney Ziminski, Nun, Ensemble

Press release:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) approved incentives for two projects at the organization’s March 7 board meeting. 

Gateway GS LLC plans to invest $450,000 to build out the interior of an existing 27,000-square-foot spec building that the company constructed in 2018 at the Gateway II Corporate Park in the Town of Batavia. The project will create five new jobs.

Gateway GS LLC will receive sales, mortgage and property tax exemptions totaling approximately $206,000. For every dollar of public benefit, the company will invest approximately $12.60 into the local economy.

Gateway GS LLC intends to lease the space for various uses, including warehouse, distribution, light manufacturing, technology and commercial operations. The company has already lined up tenants for the improved facility, and plans to construct four additional buildings in the near future.

Tenney Coin Laundry, which is located on Ellicott Street in the City of Batavia, is purchasing $197,896 in new equipment and was approved for a sales tax abatement of approximately $15,832. For every dollar of public benefit, Tenney Coin Laundry is investing $56.70 into the local economy.

Tenney Coin Laundry also has submitted a grant request to the Downtown Revitalization Initiative's (DRI) building improvement fund for repairs to the facility's facade as well as structural improvements. Funding through the DRI is administered by the Batavia Development Corporation.

A two-car accident is reported at 7615 Lewiston Road, Oakfield.

The accident is blocking but dispatchers are getting conflicting information on injuries.

Oakfield fire dispatched. Mercy EMS dispatched as a precaution.

UPDATE 9:21 a.m.: One patient complaining of chest pain. Two flatbed tows requested to the scene. 

UPDATE 9:24 a.m.: The driver of one vehicle is unable to get out of the driver's side door so extrication is needed.

UPDATE 9:26 a.m.: The driver managed to get out of the vehicle from the passenger side, no extrication needed. Town of Batavia Fire had been dispatched for help with extrication. Now they will help with traffic control.

Horses in a snow-covered field off East Road in Bethany earlier this afternoon.

Barniak Farms has been selected by the Genesee County Soil and Water District as the 2018 Conservation Farm of the Year.

Brad Mudrzynski, with Soil and Water, said the farm was selected because of what it does to protect soil health and the watershed, such as planting cover crops, which helps prevent erosion, builds soil health, and prevents phosphorous from leaching into streams and creeks.

The farm on East Road in Bethany is 1,700 acres and milks about 700 cows.

Soil and Water, founded in Genesee County in 1944, handed out its first farm conservation award in 1959.

Photo: Ted Konieczka, Laura Bestehorn, Joseph Barniak, Barry Flansburg, Brad Mudrzynski, Molly Cassatt, Tim Welch and Kenneth Barniak.

Nobody was reported injured, but a two-car accident is blocking southbound Ellicott Street Road, Batavia.

City fire is on scene and requests two flatbed trucks to deal with the disabled vehicles.

"You better get them here quick," a trooper informs dispatch, because of the traffic tie-up.

UPDATE 3:45 p.m.: An ambulance now requested to the scene to examine a person for possible whiplash. Also, additional traffic control assistance requested.

UPDATE 3:58 p.m.: Town of Batavia Fire on scene to help with traffic control and handle fluid clean up.