Workers with National Grid installed a new utility pole on Center Street. The road was closed for a portion of the morning during the installation. The pole will help accommodate power upgrades for the new call center for the Tompkins Insurance Company going in at that location.
Here are some pictures from today's basketball camp at John Kennedy School. This portion of the camp is for boys and girls going into the 7th and 8th grade.
From the small portion of the camp I watched, high school coaches in the county can anticipate getting some skillful young athletes with a lot of heart in a couple of years.
Coaching at John Kennedy were Tom Redband and Matt Shay.
Yesterday: Photos: Summer basketball camp under way in Batavia
Press release:
The Landmark Society of Genesee County will hold its 4th Annual House and Garden Tour on Saturday, August 2, 2014, from 12—4:30 p.m. Each year the Landmark Society donates proceeds from the tour to support a local preservation effort. This year the proceeds will go to the Batavia Cemetery Association to assist with its efforts to restore the Richmond Mausoleum. Specifically, the stained glass window in the mausoleum is in need of extensive repairs. The Historic Batavia Cemetery on Harvester Avenue will be one of the stops on the tour, and stationed at the mausoleum, Connie Boyd will portray Mary Richmond.
The tour will showcase notable homes and gardens in the City of Batavia. Vibrant Batavia has collaborated with the Landmark Society to organize and plan the event. The Sun Catchers Garden Club has pitched in to help staff the cemetery tour stop and decorate the Richmond Mausoleum exterior with flower pots that its members design. The Youth Bureau Community Garden and the Peace Garden will also be open and staffed with volunteers to provide information and answer questions.
House and Garden Tour Chairperson Marcia Gann’s home will be one of the stops on the tour. “The Landmark Society is so pleased to have partnered with Vibrant Batavia this year. Leanna Di Risio has worked with our committee and given us the benefit of her enthusiasm, event planning experience, and contacts in the city. She’s gone above and beyond by opening her beautiful home for one of the tour stops, too. We have an interesting mixture of old and new homes; public and private gardens; and both new and established gardens. We even have a Fairy Garden on the tour this year!”
The private homes on the tour are:
Refreshments will be served at each tour stop.
Door prize drawings will be held at the Historic Batavia Cemetery at 4:30. Completed tour surveys will serve as the door prize entries. You must be present to win. Prizes were generously donated by: Delre’s Greenhouse and Garden Center; Floral Fantasies; Harvester 56 Theatre; Pudgie’s Greenhouse; The Landmark Society of Genesee County; and Vibrant Batavia.
Tickets are $20 per person and are available for presale at Harrington’s Produce (Batavia), GOART!, and Valle Jewelers. Tickets will also be available the day of the tour at the Batavia Cemetery starting at 11:30 a.m.
After the Tigers Under 6 soccer game this evening, members of the team posed for a picture with a rainbow behind them. Shannon Whitcombe, who took the picture, titled it, "Pot of Gold at the End of the Rainbow."
Submitted by Jeff Whitcombe.
City announcement:
On June 26th the City of Batavia Police Department joined by the Genesee County Drug Task Force, Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, Genesee County Probation and New York State Police participated in a series of neighborhood enforcement details. The purpose of these details was to systematically approach known problem areas within the City and target criminal activity.
The benefits of participating in the joint operation are to provide continual support amongst the agencies, increase familiarity with working with each other, thereby enhancing the ability to curb criminal actvity.
Sixteen law enforcement personnel from four different agencies were partnered in a focused enforcement detail of eight separate locations in the central and south sides of the City. Due to ongoing investigations the exact locations are not being disclosed at this time. This approach to neighborhood sweeps/enforcement was identified in the City’s Strategic Plan with the goal of providing additional resources to focus on quality-of-life concerns for City residents. The following are preliminary results of this year’s first detail:
Batavia Police Chief Shawn Heubusch said “The City of Batavia Police Department is grateful for the assistance provided by the other participating agencies during this special detail. The residents of this City should know that every resource is being utilized to its fullest extent to weed out criminal activity within their neighborhoods. No one should have to feel oppressed in their own home or on their own street; therefore the Police Department is committed to using whatever resources are necessary to curb illegal activity.”
Genesee County Sheriff Gary Maha added “This is a fine example of corporation between the Genesee County Sheriff's Office, City of Batavia Police and other law enforcement agencies to improve the quality of life within our community. We must continue to pool our law enforcement resources to meet citizen expectations and to benefit the taxpayer."
Major Michael J. Cerretto, Troop A commander, New York State Police, continued by stating "In these days of fiscal restraint, it is very important that police agencies work together. The success of this community-policing initiative in the City of Batavia shows how important this cooperation is to the citizens of Genesee County. The relationship between the Batavia PD, the Genesee County Sheriff's Office and the State Police has never been better."
Neighborhood Sweeps/Enforcement Details were outlined in the City’s Strategic Plan as part of the City’s Neighborhood Revitalization efforts. They include dedicated patrols for targeted enforcement with the goal of intercepting and interrupting the flow of illegal drugs, weapons and other contraband as well as locating and arresting wanted persons. All agencies involved expect to continue joint law enforcement efforts in the future. These details are not advertised prior to taking place and locations are selected based on criminal data, the presence of nuisance and illegal behavior and ongoing investigations.
If you see criminal activity or know about a crime that has occurred please contact the Batavia Police Department at (585) 345-6350 or the confidential tip line at (585) 345-6370.
Funeral services for Deputy Frank Bordonaro will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, at Our Lady of Mercy Parish, St. Joseph's Oratory, 27 Lake St., Le Roy.
Bordonaro, a 19-year veteran of the Genesee County Sheriff's Office, died unexpectedly at home some time Tuesday afternoon.
The 44-year-old Bordonaro is survived by his wife, Robin Radwich Bordonaro, his sons, Bryce and Chase, his parents, Lawrence and Arlene, of Batavia.
Family and friends may call on Friday from noon to 3 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. at the Falcone Family Funeral & Cremation Service, Inc., 8700 Lake Road, Le Roy.
From his obituary:
He will be remembered as a very caring and compassionate man, who put his family and community first. He was very involved with all aspects of his sons’ participation in school and community sports programs.
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Press release:
Congressman Chris Collins (NY-27) today questioned Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Deputy Administrator, Honorable Robert W. Perciasepe, at a Science, Space, and Technology Committee hearing on the EPA’s overreaching rule proposal entitled “Definition of the ‘Waters of the United States’ Under the Clean Water Act.”
“The problem is the public doesn't trust the EPA, farmers don't trust the EPA not to overreach, Congress doesn't trust the EPA,” said Congressman Collins during today’s hearing.
“Deputy Administrator Perciasepe and the EPA fail to recognize that their agency’s overreach is causing real harm for farmers and stalling business development across our country,” Congressman Collins said. “When I visit with farmers in my district, the heavy burdens under the Clean Water Act come up each and every time. When the bureaucrats at the EPA decide to call a divot in the ground that fills with rain a ‘navigable waterway’ under the CWA, we know our federal government has run amuck. The fact that the EPA and U.S. Army Corp of Engineers are now looking to formally broaden the definition of ‘navigable waters’ is an insult to hard working farmers all across this country.”
Batavia's annual basketball camp opened this week with sessions at Batavia Middle School and John Kennedy School.
Conducted by Batavia High School head Coach Buddy Brasky and assistants, the camp provides instruction ball handling, shooting, defense and game-play situations, among other skills.
There were sessions today for high school boys at the middle school and younger players at JK. Tomorrow, the girls will have camp day.
The camp runs through Aug. 15.
The following arrests were reported by the Sheriff's Office in connection with the Vans Warped Tour on Tuesday at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center.
Kayla M. Cihak, 18, York Street, Olean, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.
Kristen M. Kwitowski, 19, of Morning Sun Court, Erie, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.
Hayden J. Cypressi, 18 of Pine Terrace, Macedon, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.
There were also three individuals cited for alleged possession or consumption of alcohol under age 21.
NOTE: The Sheriff's Office has decided to not include the names of people receiving underage citations in their concert press releases this season.
UPDATE: Right after posting this, we received a revised press release from the Sheriff's Office with three additional arrests listed.
A 16-year-old resident of Swamp Road, Byron, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.
Nickolas C. K. Mancuso, 18, of Redleaf Drive, Chili, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.
Matthew C. Sofia, 18 of Pemberton Road, Rochester, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.
On calls, he was known as GS-29, but there was no mistaking Deputy Frank Bordonaro's slow-rolling baritone.
GS-29 answered his final call some time this morning.
Bordonaro's shift ended at 7 a.m. He went home, went to bed and was later found unresponsive.
Sheriff Gary Maha said Bordonaro may have had a heart attack.
Bordonaro was 44. He was with the Sheriff's Office for 19 years. He is survived by his wife, Robin, and two sons, Bryce, 14, and Chase, 12.
No further information is available at this time.
Press release:
The Batavia Bulldawgs Youth Football & Cheer program will hold its 5th Annual Extreme Youth Football and Cheer Camp. This year’s camp cosponsored by Extreme Streetwear will be held at GCC Fields this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday July 10th – 12th.
Walk-up registration still available. Cost for the camp is only $30.
Campers will receive quality instruction from USA Football certified coaches, a camp T-shirt, and lunch at the end of camp on Saturday July 12th.
Camp on Thursday & Friday will run from 4 to 6:30 p.m. with check-in at 3:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 to noon with check-in at 8:30 a.m..
The camp is open to ALL athletes no matter what league affiliation between the ages of 6 to 13 years old by Dec. 1st. Birth certificate is required.
Camp is a stationed-based training where campers are divided by age and experience level so each athlete receives the right level of instruction and support. The Bulldawgs staff and volunteers will teach techniques, skills, and appreciation for all football positions and cheerleading in a fun, positive way!
For more information, please contact:
Extreme Streetwear at 585-344-4411
League Commissioner John Reigle – 716-228-5787
Cheer Director Sherri Wahr – 585-356-0639
Or by e-mail at bataviabulldawgsfootball@gmail.com
Young, aspiring basketball players are invited to a youth basketball camp Aug. 11-15 at the Jackson School Gym in the City of Batavia.
The camp is sponsored by Batavia Boys Basketball Boosters and is open to boys and girls entering grades 3 through 7.
The cost is $65 and includes a camp T-shirt.
Coach Jim Fazio, youth director for Batavia Junior Blue Devils, will lead the camp, with assistance from other coaches and current Blue Devil basketball players.
The camp will focus on the offensive fundamentals of the game including shooting, passing, dribbling, and ball handling, with a major emphasis on shooting. There will be daily contests with full-court and half-court games.
For more information and the registration form, click here.
"There is even a low chance for a tornado," concludes a National Weather Service statement establishing a severe thunderstorm watch for Ohio, Pennsylvania and Western New York.
"The strongest storms may form into a line and quickly move east along the New York and Pennsylvania border affecting the western Southern Tier and upper Genesee Valley," according to the weather service.
Strong winds, heavy rain and small hail are expected.
All of Genesee County is under the watch. It's in effect until 8 p.m.
The likely culprit in Saturday's fire Le Roy that destroyed the home of Greg and David Luetticke-Archbell is electrical.
Whether it was an electric device that first caught on fire or wiring in a wall hasn't been determined.
There is no evidence of any deliberate action that caused the fire.
Jim Bouton, a coordinator and investigator with Genesee County Office of Emergency Management, discussed the investigator's findings with The Batavian this morning.
"On the report it will say the cause is undetermined," Bouton said. "The primary principle is electrical."
The fire started in the garage, Bouton said, not on the porch as initially reported.
Also, the explosion during the fire was caused by backdraft, which is caused by the rapid reintroduction of oxygen into an enclosed area where oxygen has been depleted by fire.
There was lots of fuel available for a fire -- what firefighters call "fire load" -- big wood beams and all of the accoutrements of a modern lifestyle.
Bouton said these days people have a lot more polyester, plastic and other flammable materials around the house, which is just fuel for flames.
In the Luetticke-Archbell garage there was a motorbike, snowmobile and woodchipper, all with gasoline in the tanks, not to mention the fiberglass of the snowmobile to add fuel to the fire.
The house at 8005 North Road was built in 1806. There had been many upgrades to the residence, including upgraded electrical, Bouton said, but that still doesn't mean an electrical problem can't creep up.
Asked how concerned other residents should be about electrical fires, Bouton explained people should pay attention to how they're using electric and what's going on with the electric in their house.
Houses built before the electronic gadget age are susceptible to problems.
Most people don't understand how they overload their circuits.
(NOTE: During our conversation, Bouton wanted to make it clear he wasn't implying Greg and David did anything to cause the fire -- the cause remains undetermined.)
Bouton used this example: In your bathroom you probably have a 15-amp circuit. You plug in a curling iron and hair blower. Each draws 1,500 watts. Divide those 3,000 watts by 120 voltage and you're drawing 25 amps on a single 15-amp circuit.
That overload causes wires to heat and over time the wires become damaged.
It can take many years, but it's a fire hazard.
If you read the instructions for your microwave, refrigerator and freezer, you are warned that each should be on their own 20-amp circuit. Often, however, people just plug these items in with no consideration to what circuits they're on.
For those of us using power strips for our home entertainment centers or desk areas, chances are the devices are not drawing enough concurrent electricity to create a problem, but the preponderance of electronic devices -- mobile phone chargers, computers in every room, TVs in multiple rooms, etc., should be a concern.
In older homes, the fusebox has been replaced by a circuit breaker (perhaps not by a licensed electrician), Bouton said, but it's still a 60-amp service when it should be 100 amps for all the electronics in a typical home today.
If your lights flicker when you turn on electronics, or you keep blowing a circuit breaker, perhaps you're overloading circuits, Bouton said.
Bouton noted that it's ironic that in the City of Batavia, only a licensed plumber can do plumbing work in another person's home, but there's no prohibition against using unlicensed electricians.
Bouton recommends using licensed electricians for any wiring or rewiring for inspecting any suspected issues with circuits.
"I'm not saying we have a big problem out there, but people should be aware," Bouton said. "If you've got a question call an electrician."
This is from the GCEDC:
The Board of Directors of the Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) will consider two projects at its July 10, 2014, board meeting. The GCEDC Board meeting will take place at 4 p.m. and is open to the public. Meetings are held at the Dr. Bruce A. Holm Upstate Med & Tech Park -- 99 MedTech Drive, Batavia, NY, on the 2nd floor, across from Genesee Community College.
U.S. Gypsum Company is planning to upgrade its paper mill at 2750 Maple Ave. in Oakfield, NY. The project will include replacing and relocating equipment, stock cleaning and enhanced manila production to improve the safety, quality and efficiency of the facility. The projected capital investment is approximately $23 million and will ensure retention of 98 existing manufacturing jobs and the addition of 12 new production jobs. The board will consider a final resolution for this project.
Calamar Senior Housing is planning to construct a 117,000-square-foot, three-story building that will house 110 senior apartment units, a lobby and common rooms in the Town of Batavia. The facility they have proposed here in Batavia will be restricted to residents 55 years and older, and is scheduled to have many amenities that will create a holistic senior community including: a full-time director, events, educational seminars, meals, transportation, etc. The apartments will rent at market rate from around $805 to $1,050 per month with all major appliances and utilities included. The look, style, amenities offered at the proposed development to ensure effective “aging in place” models for our seniors. Overall the company plans to invest $11 million, create two full-time positions, and estimates that 200 construction jobs will be needed to complete the facility. The facility will generate long-term tax base for the County without added demands for services on our school districts. The board will consider an initial resolution for this project as the incentives exceed $100,000.
Graham Corporation’s 2013 project with the GCEDC involved expansion of their operations on Harvester Avenue, Howard Street, and Florence Street in the City of Batavia. There has been a longer than anticipated construction time on these projects and Graham Corporation is requesting a PILOT amendment in order to delay the commencement of the PILOT by one year. This amendment will not result in any additional incentives and Graham will receive the total incentives that the board previously approved.
Press release:
Nationally award-winning balloon artist Janice Spagnola will be appearing this year at the Genesee County Fair, July 15th-19th. Janice transforms thousands of latex balloons into works of art. “I call what I do air sculpture” says Janice.
This year marks the Genesee County Fair’s 175th year, and in commemoration Janice will take her inspiration for this large art display straight from the Genesee County Fair logo. Featured will be a large Ferris wheel. This installation will take thousands of balloons to complete. Fairgoers are should stop by often to view the progress and take pictures.
In addition, Janice will be offering two demonstrations each day during the fair. The installation will be completed by the last day of the fair to ensure guests are able to view the finished piece.
Besides balloon fun, the fair offers a variety of agricultural experiences, exhibitors and interactive activities as well as traditional fair fun! People who have attended the fair recently are finding it a fun family place to spend time together. Where else can an entire family go to spend a day enjoying exhibitors, demonstrations, animal and agricultural exhibits for just $5 per carload? This fee includes parking, entry for everyone in the vehicle to the fair and a show program.
So what’s going on at the fair in 2014?
There will be a new midway for 2014. Midway Rides of Utica will be providing quality rides for fairgoers to enjoy. There will be several featured performances this year in the grandstands. Grandstand events include: a Monster Truck & Thrill Show on Tuesday night; Special Raceway 5 Stock Car Racing on Thursday night; The Grand Demolition Derby on Friday night; and ESP Tractor Pulls on Saturday night.
Other featured events include: The Grand Parade; Day one of our two-day Fair Queen and Princess Pageant; and karaoke on Tuesday night; an all day Draft horse show on Wednesday; Day two of our Fair Queen and Princess Pageant Wednesday night; and “Genesee’s Got Talent” Show on Thursday night. Don’t forget about the Livestock Exhibits and Kids Corner going on all day every day of the fair.
For a complete listing of events during fair week, visit gcfair.com
If you are interested in volunteering, or becoming an exhibitor of the fair, go to the fair’s Web site gcfair.com to download all of the forms and to obtain contact info. We would like to make the 175th fair special. In order for us to do this, we need your help!
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