WBTA, 1490 AM, is gearing up for another of its periodic auctions. Dan Fischer has loaded the station's web site page with several more items.
Items include:
When people look at individual posts, we're able to count how many times that happens. That doesn't tell us precisely how many people read that post, because most people probably read a post on the home page and never click-through to the post on its own page.
Individual story counts are probably driven by people leaving or reading comments, or getting the permalink (story URL) to send to a friend.
With that caveat, here's our Top 10 posts for May (the first month of existence for The Batavian).
Our most viewed video so far is of the Lewiston Road fire.
UPDATE: In a story posted at 5:27 p.m., the Buffalo News reports that officials are pointing to a smoldering cigarette as the likely cause of the fire.
Genesee County Emergency Management Services coordinator Timothy J. Yaeger said the victim's mother, Judy Clark, 41, had been smoking in an nclosed porch about half an hour before the fire broke out ...
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WBTA reports that a discarded cigarette may have been the cause of the fire Friday morning that took the life of 17-year-old Erik Mooney.
The investigation continues and no conclusion has been reached.
The News 8 video report (warning: pre-roll advertising) says that Erik suffered from asthma and that may have contributed to his in ability escape the smoke-filled house.
The Buffalo News story includes quotes from officials and students at Erik's high school.
Erik was known among his classmates for his sense of humor and love of video games.
Fellow sophomore Roosevelt Little, 16, who shared several classes with Erik, described him as “laid back,” someone who loved to crack jokes and brighten others’ lives. Roosevelt said Erik was capable of getting all of the students he shared a table with in the cafeteria to laugh.
Erik was well-liked among his peers and became more outgoing as he got to know others, Roosevelt said.
“Some students were crying when they found out [about Erik’s death],” Roosevelt said. “Some were trying to hold in emotions. A lot left school early today.”
“Sometimes it feels like these things happen all at once,” he added, referring to another recent tragedy in the community.
The D&C story hasn't been updated, but a video has been added (again, pre-roll advertising).
Our Previous posts: Post #1, Post #2 (with our own video).
Interesting story this morning from the Buffalo News on struggles faced by chambers of commerce in the region in recruiting and retaining members.
Part of the problem is the increasingly global and distributed economy, and part if it is the "bowling alone" syndrome.
Local quotes:
At the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, the nearly 900 members pay dues that start at $190 per year. Chamber President Lynn Freeman said about 80 percent of members are 50 years old and up, and 20 percent are under 50. But beyond the age discrepancy, he said there is more pressure than before to produce results and show younger members “that this is not an old man’s club.”
In Genesee County, the chamber and the Junior Chamber, an unconnected group of 21-to 39-year-olds, are mutually beneficial, said Melissa George, the 2006 president of Batavia Area Junior Chamber. George, who is executive assistant for the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, said the JC promotes chamber of commerce membership.
We say: Join the Chamber. Join Rotary or the Lions or get involved with a literacy program or the animal shelter. There are all kinds of civic and community groups that need your support. Involvement and engagement is what fosters strong communities, drives the local economy, reduces crime and increases property values ... in other words, there are any number of "selfish" reasons to get involved beyond just plain feeling good about helping out and doing the right thing.
There are no new developments this afternoon in the Lewiston Road fire that claimed the life of 17-year-old Erik Mooney (previous post).
Attempts to contact fire officials this afternoon were unsuccesful.
We also tried contacting somebody with the area Red Cross to see what arrangements were being made to assist the family, but were unsuccessful.
Below are yearbook photos of Michael, 15, and Erik (right).
UPDATE: Video story from WHAM.
UPDATE II: Here's News 8 coverage. Watch the video to about 3/4 of the way in and notice how the reporter and producer insinuate that there is something suspicious about Erik not getting out of the house. Classic Mainstream Media technique to remain "objective" while pumping up the story with some controversy. It's not just a TV thing. Print does it, too. (Also, warning -- obnoxious pre-roll advertising on the video).
WKBW in Buffalo also posted a video report.
WIVB out of Buffalo has two video reports posted. Good, detailed, balanced and sensative stories.
In today's Daily News:
Subscribe to the Daily News at BataviaNews.com, or pick up a copy at a local newsstand, such as Main Street Coffee.
Press Release from the City of Batavia:
Please be advised that the Charter Review Commission for the City of Batavia will hold a meeting on Monday, June 2, 2008. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Work Room on the second floor of the Batavia City Centre.
The public can speak at the meeting by signing in with the Chairman prior to the start of the meeting.
Listen to WBTA AM 1490 for news updates throughout the day.
News 10 reports this morning that a 2 a.m. fire at 7881 Lewiston Road took the life of a 17-year-old boy.
Firefighters found him at the top of a staircase. He was taken to United Memorial Medical Center where he was prounounced dead at 3:30 a.m.
His brother managed to escape the fire by jumping from a bathroom window, but injured his arm in the fall.
The mother of the two boys escaped without injury.
The chief said the fire started on a porch and spread to the house. There were heavy flames when they arrived on scene.
The WHEC web story includes video.
We imagine WBTA will update its news page soon and will likely have the names of the victims this morning along with the latest additional information.
UPDATE: The names of the victims have not been released yet, WBTA reports.
UPDATE II: WBTA reports:
The Genesee County Sheriff's office has identified the boy as Erik Mooney of 7881 Lewiston Rd.
Erik, his mother, 41-year-old Judy Clark and 15-year-old brother Michael were all at home when the fire started. Judy suffered smoke inhalation. Michael cut his arm jumping from a bathroom window. Both were treated at UMMC in Batavia.
UPDATE III: The D&C reports:
Another resident, Scott Clark, 47, was not home when the fire broke out, deputies said. He was at work.
The brothers are both students at Oakfield-Alabama Central School District. District Superintendent Christopher Todd this morning said the mood in the 1,000-student distinct was somber and that many of the students were “having a tough day.”
“It’s awful, but we’ll band together,” he said. Grief counselors are available at Oakfield-Alabama Middle/High School today to assist students, faculty and staff, Todd said.
...
Judy Clark told firefighters that a sounding smoke detector and barking family dog alerted her of the blaze.
Genesee County Fire Coordinator and Manager Tim Yaeger said authorities are trying to confirm a report that Judy Clark attempted to extinguish the blaze with a garden hose this morning. He said authorities did not know whether that occurred before or after she called 911.
UPDATE IV: WHAM coverage can be seen here.
The D&C profiles Batavia's Brothers-All-Natural, which makes healthy crispy snacks.
Buried deep in the story is some pretty big news:
Brothers-All-Natural recently signed a multi-year license agreement with the Walt Disney Company to co-brand its product with Disney characters, to go into stores in July at Toys "R" Us, Kids "R" Us, Babies "R" Us and Wal-Mart.
"This is a huge stamp of approval when you get a name like Disney to associate themselves with your brand," said Matthew Betters, 36, co-CEO of Brothers-All-Natural.
Near the end of the story, we also learn the 15-employee company has offices in Ecuador and North Carolina, in addition to Batavia, but manufactures its products in China.
UPDATE: Here's the video. Original post below. We have no additional information at this time.
Fire dispatchers received a call of a house fire at 8700 S. Lake Road in Corfu area at about 2 p.m.
Apparently, nobody was home and there were no reported injuries.
A family of five rents the two-story structure. Reportedly, their cats were in the house and may have perished.
The fire appears to have started in the kitchen area, which sustained the most damage, and spread to the living room and up the stairs.
The Red Cross has been notified.
A cause has not been determined.
Units from Pembroke, East Pembroke, Corfu, Akron, Batavia and others responded.
We expect to post a video within a couple of hours (assuming no technical difficulties).
A reporter from WBTA was also on scene, so tune into 1490 for further reports.
6:05 a.m., 8 Masse Place, criminal mischief
7:10 a.m., 136 W. Main St., accident
12:13 p.m., 40 City Centre, larceny
3:34 p.m., 10 W. Main St., criminal contempt
5:25 p.m., 116 State St., fight
6:02 p.m., 260 State St., larceny
9:45 p.m., Ellicott St., harassment
I forgot to count the total number of items, frankly. We don't include noise complaints, domestic disputes and routine police business.
UPDATE: Also, we received a press release from the BPD on an arrest made yesterday at 5:15 p.m. Charged with meanacing 2nd degree and criminal possion 4th was Kim R. Ransom of 218 State St. Ransom was held on $1,000 bail. She was charged after she reportedly displayed a knife and threatened another person.
From today's Daily News:
The Daily News is available at local news stands, including at Main Street Coffee, and you should subscribe, and can do so on the Daily News web site.
WBTA has posted several items available in it's June 7 "Father's Day" auction.
Interesting items include:
The auction will run from 9 a.m. to noon.
Dan Fischer just told me that he'll be posting more items this afternoon.
Merchants who still wish to participate have until tomorrow to contact WBTA.
On June 6 at Batavia Downs, there will be a Festival of Hope to benefit the Genesee Cancer Assistance program.
The event runs from 4 p.m. and includes a Kidsfest starting at 5 p.m.
Children 8 and under can be pre-registered by parents calling Jennifer Lewis at 820-6946.
Tonette Stone of Noah's Ark Animal Workshop sent us a message this morning about her participation in the Kidsfest.
Noah's Ark Animal Workshop will be taking pre-orders for our Hope Bear to be delivered at the event. The cost is $25, with $5.00 going to the GCA fundraiser. We will also be selling "Wishing Stars" throughout the event at $3.00 each with all the proceeds going to GCA.
For more information, click here.
Gas prices are over $4 per gallon now. That's got to hurt Batavians who commute to either Buffalo or Rochester for work.
And it's quite possible, likely even, that prices will climb even higher.
What's the impact of gas prices on you? If you commute, does that have you rethinking either where you live or where you work? What does it mean for your other household spending?
Batavia-based Graham Corp. (AMEX: GHM) has made Business Week's list of fastest growing small companies.
From the article:
This year's Hot Growth ranking also features a whole lot of heavy metal. Dotting the list are small manufacturers with low-cost structures and the ability to make specialized products that can't easily be copied by foreign rivals. Among the success stories: Graham (GHM), a Batavia (N.Y.) maker of heat-transfer equipment, and Haynes International (HAYN), a Kokomo (Ind.) supplier of specialty alloys used by jetmakers and gas drillers.
This morning, the stock opens at $63.50 per share. It's 52-week high is $71.58 and 52-week low is $13.45
Graham's 2007 revenue was $65 million, with an EBIDTA margin of 11 pecent. Graham employs 265 people.
The company, which claims no long-term debt and $36 million in available cash, is announcing this week that for fiscal 2008 revenue is $86.4 million.
According to it's corporate history page, Graham was founded in 1936 and moved to Batavia in 1942. The company went public in 1968.
Jerald D. Bidlack, 71, is chairman of the board, and James R. Lines, 46, is president and CEO.
Business Week's description of the company:
Graham Corporation engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of vacuum and heat transfer equipment used in the chemical, petrochemical, petroleum refining, and power generating industries worldwide. Its products include steam jet ejector vacuum systems; surface condensers for steam turbines; vacuum pumps and compressors; various types of heat exchangers, including helical coil heat exchangers marketed under the Heliflow name; and plate and frame exchangers. These products are available in various metal and non-metallic corrosion resistant materials. Graham Corporation’s products are used in a range of industrial process applications, including petroleum refineries, chemical plants, pharmaceutical plants, plastics plants, fertilizer plants, liquefied natural gas production facilities, soap manufacturing plants, air conditioning systems, food processing plants, and other process industries, as well as power generation facilities, such as fossil fuel, nuclear, cogeneration, and geothermal power plants.
From reader Georgia Voss:
My husband and I were honored to have a visit Sunday with a Korean Veteran who was to be honored with 6 others on Memorial Day by Steve Hawley. I saw no mention of this in the Daily News and am curious if you folks have knowledge of the event and other participants.
So we contacted Assemblyman Hawley's office, which provided the following information on honors handed out Monday:
The Conspicuous Service Cross was created by the New York Legislature in the 1920s. It is the highest award New York can bestow in its veterans. Recipients must have distinguished themselves by performing particularly brave and heroic acts which earned them individual citations while serving in the armed forces.
Dan Fischer summarizes WBTA's news this morning, including coverage of last night's City Council meeting.
He includes audio clips from the dust-up revolving around whether City Attorney George VanNest should attend council conference meetings.
In our post last night, we mentioned that City Manager Jason Molino took issue with some members of the council repeatedly raising concerns about the expense. Here's some audio from Molino's quote.
WBTA's coverage also includes the city passing a resolution to borrow $1.5 million as a bridge loan to cover city expenses while waiting for taxes to be collected, more on the proposed agri park, and the $15,000 grant for improvements at Dwyer Stadium.
In a series of remembrances of former Buffalo Mayor Jimmy Griffin, who passed away recently, former City Council president Paul J. Weiss is quoted:
In the early 1990s I served as President of the Batavia City Council. Batavia does not have a mayor so Council President was the highest elected officer of the city. When an ice storm hit Rochester and other parts of Genesee County, Jimmy Griffin was on the phone offering Batavia help. Batavia was fortunate that the storm did not hit our city but I will never forget his offer of help.
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