An ATV vs. car accident is reported in the area of 41 S. Main St., Oakfield.
An injury is reported.
South Main is being closed at Coe and at Pearl.
Oakfield fire on scene. Mercy EMS responding.
UPDATE 8:27 p.m.: The suspect, who was driving the ATV, fled on foot to a wooded area off Pearl Street. A deputy is out with him and will use his flashlight to direct medics to his location.
UPDATE 9:23 p.m.: Road is open. Oakfield back in service.
Yesterday afternoon we stopped by the ARC Recycling Center on West Main Street, Batavia, to check out the truck the folks there have decked out for Halloween.
Photos provided by our news partner, WBTA.
Press release from UR Medicine:
Patients in Genesee and surrounding counties can now access a full range of cancer treatment services in one location at Wilmot Cancer Institute Batavia.
The office at 262 Bank St. is the former Batavia Radiation Oncology, which joined UR Medicine’s Wilmot Cancer Institute in 2014. With renovated and expanded space, the office features larger clinical examination rooms, and it has added medical oncology, hematology, and an infusion center.
Kevin J. Mudd, M.D., who has been Batavia’s radiation oncologist for more than 14 years, continues to see patients at Wilmot Cancer Institute Batavia. He is joined by Nayana Kamath, M.D., of Interlakes Oncology and Hematology, who provides the medical oncology and hematology services at the office.
“It’s exciting to continue providing high-quality, comprehensive cancer care here in this community and to see our services growing with our integration with URMC and Wilmot Cancer Institute,” Mudd said.
Services for patients who need medical oncology, hematology and chemotherapy/infusion began in July. The office’s new infusion center was designed with patient comfort in mind.
“Our new infusion center is bright and open,” Kamath said. “While that might not sound significant, it can make a real difference for patients who need to be here for three or four hours at a time. ”
As part of Wilmot Cancer Institute, the Batavia office provides access to clinical trials, which are available for a variety of cancers at different stages and help lead to the next generation of therapies, and to advanced diagnostic testing for certain cancers, which helps physicians to tailor treatments more precisely to a patient’s needs.
“Cancer care is more complex than it has ever been before, and it requires a coordinated team with expertise in many disciplines to identify the best course of treatment for each individual patient,” said Jonathan W. Friedberg, M.D., M.M.Sc., director of Wilmot Cancer Institute. “Our office here in Batavia brings Wilmot Cancer Institute’s precision medicine approach closer to home for patients and families who might otherwise have to travel an hour or more for care.”
Press release:
The Board of Directors of the Genesee Gateway Local Development Corporation (GGLDC) passed a budget for Fiscal Year 2016 at its board meeting today with anticipated cash outflows of $2.4 million. Funding will be realized primarily through grant revenue (restricted to the project for which the funding was awarded), rents and loan repayments.
Major sources of revenue includes a $750,000 grant from the New York State Department of Homes and Community Renewal program for the p.w. minor project and the remaining balance of a $200,000 grant from New York State Empire State Development. The balance of the ESD grant will be used for the development of the Western New York Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park (WNY STAMP).
Rent revenue of $672,000 will be generated from the MedTech Centre facility and common area maintenance fees from the Buffalo East Tech Park and Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park (Ag-Park). In addition, $672,200 in revenue will be received through the Empire Pipeline PILOT Increment Financing (PIF) and grant revenue from the United States Economic Development Administration that is restricted to support development at the Ag-Park.
Additional revenues include $14,000 in grants from National Grid and $498,600 in principal and interest payments from several different companies for loans made in previous years.
Anticipated 2016 expenditures include the distribution of the state grant to support the p.w. minor project and building maintenance, an economic development program support grant, professional services and site/corporate park maintenance.
In 2015 the GGLDC made progress on a number of projects including: the widening of Route 63 to support commerce in the Ag-Park; assisting Bergen and Le Roy in securing an America’s Best Communities grant to create an economic development revitalization plan; and, completed enhancements to Buffalo East Tech Park, including roadway installation and improvements to the Route 5 entrance. The improvements at the Buffalo East Tech Park enabled the construction of Yancey’s Fancy new $20.6 million facility.
“Thanks to the County’s assistance and our funding partners, the GGLDC has been successful in completing many projects,” said Thomas H. Felton, chairman of the GGLDC Board of Directors. “We continue to see significant attention from new businesses interested in locating in our County, and we are excited to work with our partners to bring new jobs and investment here.”
The recent death under questionable circumstances of a 91-year-old resident along with a series of complaints from tenants of 400 Towers has prompted Councilwoman Rosemary Christian to contact NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and request an audit of the senior housing complex, which is operated by the Batavia Housing Authority.
A spokesman for the comptroller's office said it's not unusual for the office to receive requests for audits from public officials and it is a factor in deciding audit priorities.
Public housing complexes in New York do fall under the office's jurisdiction to audit, said Brian Butry.
He couldn't comment at this time, of course, on whether or when there might be an audit of 400 Towers.
"There seems to be a lot of problems and complaints from the residents there," Christian said in her e-mail to DiNapoli. "I have heard from many people who live there and they aren't very happy there."
Earlier this month a man was found dead on the roof of 400 Towers. It appears that the man, who may have suffered from mild dementia, wandered in the middle of the night from his apartment and onto the roof. A magnetic lock on the door leading to the roof may not have been operating correctly at the time, make it easier for the man to access the roof, but then he was unable to find his way back into the building.
Yesterday evening, Christian, along with Kyle Couchman, who had been hired by the deceased gentleman's family to help provide day care for the man, addressed a meeting of the housing authority board and said they would like answers to why certain things are taking place at 400 Towers.
Concerns include:
Christian also raised these issues in her e-mail to DiNapoli.
While housing authority board members are appointed by City Manager Jason Molino, the city's involvement with the housing authority pretty much ends there. The authority operates independently of the city.
Following the remarks by Christian and Couchman at Thursday's meeting, the board said it would not be discussing the questions or concerns at that meeting.
After a couple of years of considering his options, City Slickers owner Ken Mistler has settled on a design for an awning over the patio of his Downtown restaurant. The steel beams for the awning are being installed today and the awning should be completed in about a week. While the patio will be open, it will be heated, Mistler said.
A woman who was pulling her car out of her driveway about 8:30 a.m. was trapped in her car after it was struck by another vehicle on Edward Street Batavia.
The woman, whose name has not yet been released by Batavia PD, was extricated by city firefighters and transported to UMMC for evaluation.
The other driver was evaluated at the scene.
Officer Kevin DeFelice said the accident appeared to be a case of an obstructed view and unfortunate timing, but it remains under investigation.
A 25-year-old Pavilion resident is being held in the Genesee County Jail on $10,000 bail after being found allegedly growing marijuana.
The Local Drug Task Force executed a search warrant today at 10831 South Lake Road, Pavilion, and allegedly found marijuana growing, dried marijuana, smoking devices, U.S. currency, brass knuckles and several pieces of equipment used for growing marijuana.
The Task Force described the quanity of marijuana as "large."
Kyle R. Washington was charged with criminal possession of marijuana, 2nd, unlawful growing of cannabis by an unlicensed person and criminal possession of a weapon, 4th.
The District Attorney's Office and uniformed members of the Sheriff's Office assisted in the investigation and arrest.
A GoFundMe account has been set up with an initial goal of raising $3,000 to assist Lori Ann Santini and her three children after they lost their home on Brown Road, Corfu, to fire yesterday.
So far, $2,300 has been raised.
The house and all its contents were destroyed in the wind-swept fire.
Santini is a volunteer with the East Pembroke department as well as a medic with Mercy EMS and Le Roy Ambulance.
To donate, click here.
Tony R. Judd, 26, of Akron, is charged with petit larceny. While employed at Walmart, Judd allegedly stole $550 in cash from a register over a five-day period.
Cailee Amber Neiss, 21, of Jackson Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. Neiss allegedly slashed the tires on a car parked at a location on Lewiston Road, Batavia, on Monday.
Homer Jay Bush, 34, of Orchard Street, Oakfield, is charged with two counts harassment, 2nd. Bush allegedly hit two people during a domestic dispute at a residence on Bridge Road, Elba, at 9:44 p.m. Saturday.
Brad Michael Prinzi, 34, of Batavia Elba Townline Road, Oakfield, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, speeding, operating without a motor vehicle inspection certificate and inadequate plate lamp. Prinzi was stopped at 12:27 a.m. Oct. 20 on Townline Road, Bergen, by Deputy Joseph Corona.
Walter B. Hale, 38, of Oakfield, is charged with harassment, 2nd,and endangering the welfare of a child. Hale was allegedly involved in a verbal argument that became physical in front of his children. He was jailed on $1,000 bail.
Jessica A. Valvano-Hoag, 20, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Valvano-Hoag allegedly stole $70 in makeup from Walmart.
Throughout time, in all cultures, there have been men, Rose Callahan told a group of GCC students and faculty yesterday, who might be called "peacocks."
They like to dress with flare, some might even say extravagance, but always with style.
A photographer by trade, Callahan started a project a few years ago to document such men wherever she might find them, pretty much all over the world. The result is a book titled, "The Dandy Portraits: The Lives of Exquisite Gentlemen Today."
"Dandies are more dressed up, more formal, they like wearing suits, ties, cufflinks, hats. It's a little bit of a throwback to earlier times when men cared more about how they dressed. Everybody, in general, cared more about how they dressed."
And dandies care about appearance all of the time. Dandies would never run to the supermarket in sweatpants and a faded Buffalo Bills T-shirt, or stop by Tim Horton's in cargo shorts and flip-flops. But there was a time in American culture when men nearly always wore slacks, a pressed shirt, and a coat or jacket, and usually a hat. Callahan thinks something was lost when we let slip away the need to care about our public image.
"I think when you dress well, you treat people well," Callahan said. "When you dress well, you care more about yourself and when you take care of yourself, you're more often kind to people. It doesn't always go hand-in-hand, but I think it's a start. I think a lot of the men I've profiled and come across know that image is very important in our culture.
"There's a quote, 'dress well and succeed' and I think a lot of men are realizing that now. They dress well for where they want to be. They dress for the job they want to get. They dress to try and better themselves. I think that's important."
While dandyism remains the purview of the eccentric and eclectic, Callahan is cheered by the observation that more and more, men today do seem to take the time, to put in the effort to dress well, with, perhaps a sense of fashion if not style and taste. There has sprung up in the past few years a whole industry aimed at helping men with fashion, providing them lessons in decorum and etiquette, guiding them toward leading more rounded lives, such as "The Art of Manliness," "Alpha M" and "Real Men, Real Style."
Some of that may be necessary, Callahan said, because the art of gentlemanliness skipped a generation or two, and if there was no father to teach a son these life skills, where will a young man learn it?
"It is possible for a man, even if he's not dressed up like a dandy, to care about those things," Callahan said. "Like a dandy, they want to act in a more gentlemanly way. There's the fashion, but there's also the manners, and that's what the 'Art of Manliless' talks about, being a Renaissance man, taking care of yourself, being a connoisseur and being independent."
The difference for dandies, of course, is they take all this art of being a gentleman to an extreme. Callahan calls it an obsession.
"Few of the dandies I met call themselves dandies," Callahan said. "To them, dandy means perfection. Beau Brummell, Oscar Wilde, to them, they were the perfect dandies, and they're not there yet. They haven't reached that level of perfection."
There are a lot of misconceptions about dandies, Callahan said, but none of them are true. Perhaps the biggest misconception is that dandies are gay, but that is not usually the case. Most are straight, many are married. They're also not all white, nor are they all rich.
In fact, it's quite possible to be a dandy on a budget. You just have to know where to shop, how to shop, and pay attention to every detail.
"It all depends on how you wear it," Callahan said.
And while most dandies reject seeing themselves as part of a cohort, a clique, a trend, a group of commonality of any kind, they do appreciate the attention Callahan's book is bringing to them. All of the subjects of the book were thrilled to be a part of it, she said, and now when she tours, she meets many more dandies who are excited to go to a public event where they will be appreciated.
"I don't think most people care or realize what an effort dandies put into their appearance when they see them walking down the street," Callahan said. "They might think, 'oh, that's a great look,' but they don't see the details that went into it. These guys care about the details a lot."
While Callahan has no expectation that her book will inspire new dandies, she does hope it serves as one more inspiration for today's men to care more about their overall image and appearance.
"Not everybody wants to dress like that, but you can look at it and get some inspiration and hopefully take on some of those ideas," she said.
Eleven people who attended the lecture entered the dandy contest for a chance to win an autographed copy of Callahan's book.
Here's a video Callahan shared about one of the dandies in her book, Dandy Wellington.
Chief Don Newton said the brothers and sisters of the East Pembroke Volunteer Fire Department will take care of one of their own who lost her home to a fast-moving, wind-driven fire today.
It was a tough thing to watch the home of a volunteer burn in conditions that made saving even a portion of the structure impossible. The house, at 2463 Brown Road, Corfu, sits in the middle of an agricultural area, so the high winds were complicated by a lack of a nearby fire hydrant. Water tankers and porta-ponds were needed to supply the pumpers and a consistent water flow was hard to maintain.
Newton and Tim Yaeger, emergency management coordinator, both said the fire was well advanced, the flames driven by the winds, by the time the first firefighters arrived.
"The fire would not have been advanced as it was if it was not as windy as it was today," Yaeger said. "We probably could have made an interior attack, but with this, right off the bat, the incident commander, the fire chief of East Pembroke, got on location and called an exterior attack only just because of the advancement of the fire."
The house, built in 1890, was owned by Lori Santini. She was at work and her children were in school when the fire broke out.
The fire appears to have started in an addition on the eastern side of the house at the location of a heat stove.
"Firefighters were able to retrieve a family pet, a dog, so the dog is out safely," Yaeger said.
However, the family cats were not located and are not believed to have survived, Newton said. The family also had pet birds and a pet newt. The fire did not spread to the nearby chicken coop and the chickens are apparently fine.
"It's always difficult to deal with that (a fire at the home of a volunteer firefighter), but thankfully everybody is OK, she's OK, the family is OK, and no injuries reported here of firefighters so far. Everybody is safe," Yaeger said.
The house and all of its contents were a complete loss.
"We talked about Red Cross, but the chiefs said they will take care of her, so I'm sure she's in good hands," Yaeger said.
Newton said his department will likely head a communitywide effort to assist Santini and her children. The Batavian will share more information about assistance efforts when it becomes available.
A Batavia resident says he and a friend were attacked over the weekend in the area of Swan Street and East Main Street by an unknown group of assailants, and police have confirmed there is an ongoing criminal investigation as a result of a complaint received early Sunday morning.
The local resident who shared his story in an e-mail to The Batavian said his friend required "emergency jaw surgery" after the attack, which he said occurred around 3 a.m., Sunday.
Det. Todd Crossett said at this time, investigators have little more to go on than a general description of the suspects.
The description provided to The Batavian is that of several young black men in the age range of 17 to early 20s.
The victim who contacted The Batavian said he was at a costume party when he volunteered to make a run to 7-Eleven for more snacks.
"Upon walking back from 7-Eleven, I was approached by a young African-American male asking for a cigarette," he said. "When I shuffled the pizzas I was carrying to reach into my pocket to oblige him, he physically attacked me."
Several other individuals then joined in the attack.
"They struck me multiple times in my head and face, shot me in my face with an airsoft pistol, and kicked me while I was on the ground in the middle of the road," he said. "They demanded that I empty my pockets, which were already empty because I was wearing a Halloween costume and I had spent the money I brought on the cheap 7-Eleven pizzas that were littered in the middle of Main Street."
Unable to get money from the victim, the group ran off, he said.
He returned to the party and told his friend what happened.
The friend "ran off to look for them and report them to the police," he said.
He found them, along with two more individuals, who attacked him "in a more violent manner before two friends could join him."
That second victim was taken to UMMC, where he underwent jaw surgery, the first victim said in his e-mail.
He said he e-mailed The Batavian about the incident because, "It would be great if the attackers could be brought to justice, but at the very least citizens of Batavia could better avoid becoming victims of a similar attack if they are on the lookout."
Anybody with information that may assist in the investigation can contact Batavia PD at (585) 345-6350 or through the confidential tip line at (585) 345-6370.
To hear council members describe it, the feedback they're getting from constituents on the proposed new police station on South Swan Street is akin to the decibel level in a library reading room.
In other words, if the public has anything to say about it, they're not saying it to members of the Batavia City Council.
Which is why the council is going to invite the public to a meeting Nov. 23 where feedback and input will be invited on the proposed $10-million investment in a new building to house police officers and the activities that support their public safety role.
"If only two or three people show up, that also sends a message," said Councilman Eugene Jankowski. "If people are upset, they'll probably show up. If they don't show up, that's almost acceptance. There is a thought, silence is acceptance. If they remain silent and see that path we're going (on), I only have to assume that they're happy about it."
The proposal for the location of a new police station came from a council-appointed task force that studied a dozen or so options, gathered financial data, considered the topography, traffic patterns, security and proximity to city activity before arriving at the plot of land on South Swan where the Wiard Plow Factory once stood as the best available location.
The entire process and final selection has been broadly publicized in local media, but apparently, to council members, that hasn't prompted a lot of public feedback.
Jankowski first raised the concern during Monday's meeting that before spending $10 million there should be some sort of process for the public to weigh in on the decision, and since it isn't the kind of matter that goes to a public vote, the council unanimously backed the idea of a public meeting.
City Manager said the meeting will be publicized just as if it is an official public hearing, though it isn't that, either.
Councilwoman Kathy Briggs argued in favor of moving the process forward as quickly as possible rather than, once again, "kicking the can down the road."
"It's time to put up or shut up," Briggs said.
"Then I'll shut up," snapped Councilwoman Rosemary Christian.
Christian expressed reservations about backing a new police station because paying for the bond might require an extra 2-cents per thousand in property tax and Christian doesn't believe Batavia residents can handle any further taxation.
She also expressed concern about potential runaway costs.
"What if we get into this and it costs $20 million instead of $10 million?" Christian asked.
Molino explained that the bulk of the costs -- material and labor -- is pretty easy to calculate before construction starts, so it's hard to fathom that kind of runaway expenditure. The one unknown expense for the South Swan property is environmental cleanup, but there will be a detailed assessment done before the city acquires the property, so that cost should be known before the project receives final approval.
How the project will be paid for remains an open question. The council is eager for Molino to explore grant options, though grant opportunities are limited for this sort of project. To the degree bonds are required, they will be issued at a time when existing bonds are being paid down and paid off, freeing up cash flow to help finance this project. Molino also floated the idea of fashioning a unique arrangement that would involve a private developer owning the property and the building and leasing it to the city, which could save taxpayer money, avoid any interest payments and give the city the option to buy the property at the end of a 30-year term, or build a new station if needed.
Some council members expressed concern that a lease could saddle a future council with a tough decision about how to deal with a police station situation.
Whatever options the council should consider, Jankowski said he would like to hear what city residents think, and he hopes some voices will be heard at the Monday, Nov. 23, meeting.
"If they want us to move in a certain direction, like, say, merging with the Sheriff's Department, the public needs to express that opinion now and then that's something we will explore," Jankowski said. "Rignt now, I'm hearing silence. We're moving toward a new building. I'm hearing silence, so I would assume we're going in the right direction."
Basketball is upon us. The NBA kicks off its season tonight, college games are just a couple of weeks away and the high school season won't be far behind. For boys in grades one through six, it's time to plan for the winter season.
Eligible boys in the Batavia City schools can sign up for a mini-camp proceeding the league play season. The camp runs Nov. 7 through Dec. 12 at John Kennedy.
For boys participating in league play, there is a $70 sign-up fee.
To register, download and complete this form (PDF), which also has more information about the camp and league play.
Tesla Renee Greck, 23, of Holland Avenue, Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Greck was arrested after patrols responded to her residence on an unrelated matter. Officers Jame DeFreze and Marc Lawrence allegedly found living conditions there "deplorable." Greck's three children lived at the residence.
Clarence Arthur Johnson, 57, of Rose Road, Batavia, is charged with forcible touching and resisting arrest. Johnson is accused of touching the buttocks of a child at a location on Lewiston Road, Batavia. Following an interview, when Johnson learned he was going to be arrested, he allegedly resisted arrest verbally and physically. He was jailed on $5,000 bail.
Steven Erwin Crowell, 21, of Emily Court, Bergen, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd, leaving the scene of a property damage accident and drinking in a motor vehicle. Crowell's vehicle allegedly left the roadway and struck another vehicle at 1:41 a.m. Sunday on Trisha Lane, Bergen. The accident was investigated by Deputy Joseph Corona.
Joshua Michael Pierce, 20, of Meadowbrook Terrace, Corfu, is charged with petit larceny. Pierce is accused of shoplifting from Walmart.
A 16-year-old resident of Broadway Road, Alexander, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. The youth is accused of doing donuts in a vehicle on the soccer fields of Alexander School and damaging the fields. A 17-year-old resident of Pike Road, Batavia, was also charged.
Jared M. Wendt, 33, of County Road, Angelica, is charged with criminal contempt, 1st, and aggravated family offense. Wendt was allegedly involved in a domestic incident in the Town of Bethany on Oct. 17 that involved damage to a vehicle and a violation of an order of protection.
Adama William David Brown, 31, of Wilder Road, Warsaw, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, leaving the scene of a property damage accident, moving from lane unsafely and open container. Brown allegedly was driving when his vehicle stuck a parked car at GCC at 9:50 a.m. Oct. 22.
Samuel C. Longhini, 22, of South Spruce Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and failure to use headlights. Longhini was stopped at 2:40 a.m. Oct. 20 on Alexander Road, Attica, by an Attica PD patrol.
Jordan Matthew Brown, 23, of Central Avenue, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 1st. Brown allegedly violated a stay away order of protection.
Kristen M. Meeder, 30, of Rose Road, Batavia, is charged with grand larceny, 4th, and three counts of falsifying business records. Meeder is accused of stealing from her employer.
Michael T. Phelps, 44, of North Spruce Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .18 or greater. Phelps was arrested following an investigation into a complaint of two males drinking alcohol in a vehicle on Harvester Avenue at 7:03 p.m. Oct. 21. The vehicle was located on North Spruce Street by Officer Christopher Lindsay and Phelps was arrested.
Brian K. Laird, 21, of State Street, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant following a tip that he was located at a residence on State Street. Laird was jailed without bail.
Jessalyn A. Gates, 24, of Seneca Avenue, Batavia, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .18 or greater. Employees of McDonald's reported a possible drunken driver in the parking lot at 1 a.m. Oct. 22. Following an investigation by Officer Chad Richards, Gates was arrested.
Amy M. Carpenter, 40, of Exchange Street, Attica, is charged with felony DWI, aggravated unlicensed operation, 1st, refusal to take breath test and inadequate stop lights. Carpenter was stopped at 2:43 a.m. Oct. 18 on State Street by Officer Matthew Wojtaszczyk.
Batavia's literary legend John Gardner was honored Saturday night by the John Gardner Society with the annual reading from passages of his work at his favorite restaurant, the Pok-A-Dot.
The Batavia Cemetery Association hosted its annual ghost walk last night, with local actors playing the roles of historic figures who are buried in (with the exception of William Morgan) the cemetery on Harvester Avenue.
Gen. John Martindale, played by Derek Maxfield.
Philemon Tracy, played Tim Buckman.
Mary Elizabeth Wood, played by Anne Marie Starowitz.
Dean and Mary Richmond, played by Charley and Connie Boyd.
Patrick Weissend as Joseph Ellicott.
An accident with injuries is reported at Ford Road and Oak Orchard Road, Elba.
Elba fire and Mercy EMS responding.
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