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Bodycams may be in the future for Genesee County Sheriff’s Deputies.

Genesee County Sheriff Gary Maha proposed the idea to the Public Service Committee for recommendation Tuesday. The Sheriff said the department "has been researching the implementation of a body camera program for our officers for about two years."    

There’s room in the department’s budget for the $495 bodycams according to the Sheriff, with a total cost of $42,000 for the 32 deputies.

Sheriff Maha also remarked that "Some people tend to act differently when they know they are being recorded and that's also a benefit to our people out in the field."

The cameras would record both audio and video and could potentially be used as evidence for both prosecution and defense.

Brandon C. Smart, 38, of River Street, Batavia, is charged with trespass and harassment, 2nd. Smart allegedly refused to leave a home on Summit Street and threatened to kill the residents. He was jailed on $500 bail.

Brad Michael Prinzi, 34, of Batavia Elba Townline Road, Oakfield, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, speed violation, operating without vehicle inspection certificate, inadequate plate lamp. Prinzi was stopped at 12:27 a.m. Tuesday on Townline Road, Bergen, by Deputy Joseph Corona.

Brodes J. Gibson, 54, of Thorpe Street, Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child, unlawful fleeing, 3rd, reckless driving, DWI, aggravated unlicensed operation, 1st. Officer Christopher Lindsay attempted to stop Gibson for alleged traffic violations at 7:44 p.m. Oct. 11 on East Main Street, and Gibson allegedly failed to stop and instead engaged police on a short pursuit into the parking lot of Batavia Gardens. He was stopped in the east driveway and taken into custody without further incident. He was jailed without bail.

Katherine L. Urf, 54, of Hutchins Street, Batavia, is charged with DWAI/combined influence of drugs. Urf was stopped after complaints of an erratic driver at 4:24 p.m. Oct. 12 on Hutchins Street, Batavia, by Officer Peter Flanagan.

Khadijah A. Davis, 24, of Arnett Boulevard, Rochester, was arrested on a warrant. Davis allegedly failed to appear on a charge of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. He was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Rachel M. Jordan, 19, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Jordan allegedly failed to cooperate during grand jury proceedings.

Tera Michele Williams, 42, no permanent address, was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to appear. Williams allegedly failed to appear on a disorderly conduct charge.

Gladys May Patmore, 54, of East Buffalo Street, Churchville, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, and stopping on a public highway. Patmore was allegedly found sleeping in her vehicle at 10:16 p.m. Saturday off of Lake Street Road, Le Roy, by Deputy Joseph Corona.

On Saturday, the Batavia Kiwanis Club hosts one of its most popular events, Pancake Days, this time for the 58th consecutive year.

Pancake Days are from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the ARC Community Center on Woodrow Road, Batavia. The price is $6 for adults, $4 for children 10 and under, and $4 for senior citizens.

Pictured are committee members Theresa Asmus-Roth, Susan Maha, Lawrence Friedman and Jeanne Walton.

Larry Hanley was out on Ellicott Street this morning driving his electric-powered, with a radio, C-Cab three-wheel bike.

He built the C-Cab himself.

"I made the templates with cardboard and I kept cutting them until I got it to where I liked it," Hanley said. "That saved on wasting wood."

He started the project with a "plain old three-wheeler" in May and it didn't take long, he said.

Asked why, Hanley said simply, "It's just something that I've wanted to do for a long time."

Le Roy and Bergen took one big step forward Monday night toward the goal of community leaders winning a competition with a $3-million prize to help drive local economic development. Consultants presented the outline of a strategic economic development plan.

The plan focuses on bringing infrastructure to the Le Roy Food and Tech Park as well as Appletree Acres in Bergen, but also contains several other goals and tactics for spurring economic growth.

Le Roy and Bergen entered the competition as a team and are among the finalists, and as a finalist the community group leading the effort received $50,000 to come up with the plan to submit to the America's Best Communities competition, which is sponsored by Frontier Communications.

The competition committee hired Saratoga-based Camoin Associates to do the research, conduct the interviews and come up with recommendations for the plan.

The committee came up with the following vision statement to include in the plan:

Our economy is grounded in strong agriculture and food-production industries, a resilient manufacturing sector and vibrant village centers. Our proactive economic development investments provide the foundation for sustainable, long-term growth. Our communities maintain a high-quality lifestyle and livelihood through a collaborative ethic and adaptation and reinvention and by leveraging our historic and natural assets.

Robert Camoin, president and CEO of Camoin Associates, said the second sentence is meaningful in the competition and significant.

"It says you're not going to let happen to you whatever happens to you," Camoin said. "You're taking a proactive approach toward your economic future."

Alyson Slack, an economic development analyst for Camoin, outlined 11 key points in the plan, which includes further investment in the Le Roy Food & Tech Park, marketing the park to target industries, preparing the I-90 interchange for future development, promoting the region's top-quality workforce, exploring the creation of a craft manufacturing incubator for entreprenuers who wish to work out of their homes, and protecting farmland.

"Employers are pleased with the local workforce," she said. "They appreciate the work ethic and the skills that are based on the agriculture history of the area, which fosters a strong willingness to work, problem-solving skills and mechanical know-how."

The big problem facing both Appletree Acres and the Food and Ag park is the lack of high-speed broadband, insufficient electric capacity and no high-capacity natural gas pipeline. If the community wins the $3 million, those issues could be addressed.

The 40 or 50 people who attended the "stakeholders meeting," were invited to provide feedback. Robert Taylor raised a concern about the need for housing to support economic growth and another audience member pointed out that a study of the village land area some years ago found about 50 percent of the village is under-used for housing.

Camoin asked several times for feedback on the proposed plan with little response, then asked if people in the audience were happy with what they saw and heads nodded yes. Taylor said he liked the plan, he just thought housing needed to be more strongly addressed.

Press release from Assemblyman Steve Hawley:

I am deeply disappointed in the decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals’ Second Circuit to uphold the core provisions of the NY SAFE Act. This legislation infringes on the constitutional rights of gun owners across New York State and is clearly unconstitutional. My district alone is filled with thousands of law-abiding citizens with firearm ownership as part of their family’s traditions. This law disrespects their way of life and hinders their ability to defend themselves in the unfortunate event of a burglary or break-in.

“Aside from the facts that this law is arbitrary to a fault and lacks the enforcement mechanisms to make it effective, the process by which it was passed through the Legislature is deeply troubling. The SAFE Act was passed under cover of darkness on one of the first days of the legislative session, and I can attest to the fact that few members of the Legislature had even read the bill before it was voted upon.

"As lawmakers, we are supposed to hold transparency and accountability in the highest magnitude. The SAFE Act was forced through the legislative process with complete and utter disregard for these objectives and should be repealed immediately. I will continue to sponsor legislation that repeals this unconstitutional measure and places integrity above political ambition.”

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported at Sumner and Colby roads, Darien.

Darien fire and ambulance responding.

UPDATE 9:18 a.m.: Minor injuries reported.

D&C: Uber plans push for upstate NY expansion

Start a business and make it well into your second year and you're doing better than nearly 20 percent of the other people who tried doing the same thing. Make it to five years and you've lasted longer than nearly half of your compatriots. How about 30 years? Well, the Small Business Administration doesn't publish those stats, but does tell us 75 percent of new businesses are closed by year 16.

And in the age of speedy delivery from computer to doorstep, it gets even tougher on retail businesses.

That makes 30 years of owning Neptunes Gardens for Nick and Cathy LaFarnara quite an accomplishment.

Nick said customer service and an ongoing effort to diversify what they offer has helped them survive, especially against growing Internet competition.

Just this past Thursday, as an example of going above and beyond for a customer, Nick said he drove nearly 150 miles to retrieve a saltwater aquarium filter and deliver it to an elderly customer after she tried unsuccessfuly to purchase it at Petco.

"It's stuff like that, you kind of bend over backwards to try to make ends meet," Nick said.

A big part of their business now is live bait, and they do well in the summer with goldfish for fairs and carnivals, and stocking fish for residential and commercial ponds.

Nick's father opened Neptune's Gardens at 33 Liberty St., behind the Pok-A-Dot, in 1967.

Nick and Cathy's daughter, Jamie, works in the store now and will likely run it someday, but Cathy thinks a fourth generation is already eager to take over.

"Our grandkids are already involved," Cathy said. "One time we had a customer looking for a fish and I was, 'I don't think we have it,' and Victor, I think he was 6  years old, said, 'Grandma, we have it.' He took the lady right to it."

Now 9, Victor has a way with reptiles in the store and he thinks nothing of walking around with a snake wrapped around his waist.

"He probably sells more reptiles and snakes than I do," Nick said.

Dignitaries, politicians and business leaders gathered at Batavia Downs today for an official groundbreaking ceremony for a new $5.4 million hotel being developed by ADK Hospitality, a company from Buffalo that reached an agreement earlier this year to build the hotel on land formerly owned by Western OTB.

The project turns the land from tax-free acreage to tax-generating acreage and is expected to create 25 full-time equivalent jobs in the 82-room facility. To help finance the project, Genesee County Economic Development Center has granted more than $600,000 in tax relief. Once open, hotel guests with balconies will be able to watch harness racing from their rooms.

Western OTB VP Mike Nolan, left, and CEO Michael Kane.

 ADK Hospitality CEO Anthony Baynes.

Le Roy finished out the regular season with a loss to Livonia, 28-22.

The Oatkan Knights will head into sectional play with a 4-3 record.

Nick Egeling carried the ball for 176 yards and a TD on 22 rushes. Dom Filio gained 54 yards and scored 11 carries. Josh Laurie had nine carries for 43 yards and a TD. He was 4-20 passing for 20 yards. Ryan Boyce had a 35-yard reception and Benny Piazza caught one for 34 yards.

Nate Flint had seven tackles, and with six each are Piazza, Egeling, Dave Englert and Laurie.

Also on Friday night:

• Pembroke over CG Finney, 36-28
• Attica, 34, Oakfield-Alabama, 21
• Elba/Byron-Bergen, 35, Alexander, 32
• Cuba/Rushford, 47, York/Pavilion, 22

Notre Dame hosts Holley today at 1:30 p.m.

Le Roy game photos by David Boyce.

Brian L. Brennan, 46, of Maple Avenue, Oakfield, is charged with criminal sale of marijuana, 2nd, and endangering the welfare of a child. Brennan allegedly gave a quantity of marijuana to a 15-year-old in Attica Village Park on Monday. The park is monitored by surveillance cameras and patrolled frequently by Attica PD. Following an investigation by Attica PD, he was arraigned and jailed on $2,000 bail, or $5,000 bond.  

Kevin Scott Ludwig, 41, South Pearl Street, Oakfield, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, driving while using a mobile phone and failure to signal a turn. Ludwig was stopped at 2:17 a.m. on Stevens Street, Oakfield, by Joseph Corona.

Joseph Benjamin Baldassara, 29, of 3rd Street, Youngstown, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and inadequate muffler. Baldassara was stopped at 10:26 p.m. Friday on South Main Street, Oakfield, by Deputy Joseph Corona.

Ramon Alberto Quinones, 21, of Batavia Stafford Townline Road, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Quinones is accused of shoplifting from Walmart.

A photo submitted by Emily Muench yesterday of a Fall scene in East Pembroke.

As a guest of the New York Farm Bureau, I will be in Waterloo for the next two days to attend the Farm and Food Experience, a symposium for journalists on the agriculture industry. I was thrilled to be invited to attend. It's a great opportunity to learn more about farming.

Naturally, news coverage will be more limited while I'm away, but will continue.

Four years ago Mark Fanara, whose Batavia tattoo business High Voltage had become very successful, thought he should do something to give back to the community that had nourished him his entire life, so he decided to hold a charity tattoo event and donate the proceeds to local community groups. The event was so popular and raised so much money for local charity that he decided to do it again the next year, and the next, and the next.

This year, Mark needs the community's help. Hospitalized with lymphomatoid granulomatosis, a rare cancer, the father of little two boys has only limited means to deal with his illness.

To help him out, two of his employees, Andrew London and Jeremy Fridman, are holding their own three-day event of tattoos and piercing to benefit Mark. The event is from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 23 through Oct. 25. Customers can select from a specific set of designs for a small tattoo for $30. Piercings are $15. Proceeds benefit Mark Fanara.

High Voltage is located at 110 W. Main St., Batavia.

There will also be a spaghetti dinner at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, at the Alexander Fire Hall. Live music with Nix Vega starts at 6 p.m.

Pushing through adversity and not giving up on your goals are keys to success, said Brittany Salmon, Batavia native and one of the top-ranked speed skaters in the nation, while speaking this afternoon to students in the Girls on the Run program at Batavia Middle School.

Salmon always dreamed of being an Olympian, starting as an 8-year-old hockey player with the Batavia Ramparts. And though she went on to play Division I hockey at Princeton, she found she wasn't quite good enough make the Olympic hockey team. More as a chance to compete and have fun, she took up speed skating after college and a coach encouraged her to take a shot at making the U.S. Hockey Team.

She moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, and started training with the team, but then she suffered a series of injuries. She had two knee surgeries, a broken back and various tears and sprains of muscles and tendons. That kept her from physical training for two years.

She admitted to feeling discouraged, even depressed, and she thought about giving up speed skating.

"It's hard to keep motivated and keep pushing through when you can't do something that you love," she said.

Then she had a realization. If she couldn't prepare to compete physically, she could still prepare to compete mentally. She started reading books on competition and training, and mental preparation, and nutrition ,and started visualizing exercises.

"So, all the sudden, even though I'm injured, I'm still working towards my goal," Salmon said. "Even when roadblocks come up, there are ways to work around them. Even though you're injured now, maybe you can do sit ups. There's always a way around a roadblock."

By the time she returned to competition, she jumped from a top 16 skater, she said, to maybe a top six.

"After all that hard work of reading and visualizing, I got back on the ice," Salmon said. "I made Olympic trials. I didn't make the Olympic team. I'm bummed about that, but I made our World Cup Team and I earned my USA suit and I got to skate with all the Olympians and I got to race against all of the Olympians. I got my butt kicked, because they're so good. That was my first international race, but it was super cool and I'm so happy that pushed I through it and kept working toward my goals and didn't give up at all."

Press release:

Kevin Carlson from the Warsaw Kiwanis Club presents a $1,000 check to Jeanne Walton, president of the Kiwanis Club of Batavia. The check is a donation the Warsaw club is making to  the JFCAC (Justice for Children Advocacy Center) Glow Foundation as part of the 5th Annual Bidding on a Brighter Future Auction and Gala which was hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Batavia on Sept. 19th.

The event was part of a long-term effort by the Kiwanis Club of Batavia to raise the funds necessary to acquire a permanent home for the Justice for Children Advocacy Center in Batavia. The Kiwanis Club of Batavia would like to thank the Warsaw Kiwanis Club as well as everyone else who donated money and volunteered their time for another successful gala.

Hundreds of high school students from throughout the GLOW region particpated today in Genesee Community College's Fourth Annual Harvest Festival and Farmer's Market, which culiminated in a "Campus Crunch," with participants all simultaniously taking a big bite out of a locally grown apple.

The day's events included samplings of local products and presentations by local farmers and others who are part of the GLOW region agri-business community.

(Photo by Alex Feig, of our news partner WBTA.)