Batavia City Schools are among five finalists in the state for a $10,000 prize from the NYS Lottery. The contest is built around the idea of students saying thank you for the support of the lottery. Choirs produced a video for the song "Thank you for being a friend." The prize money would go to the school district's music program.
To vote, click here (you'll be asked to log into your Facebook account).
A few of these signs popped up along downtown streets today. A couple of the business owners who found them in front of their store fronts this morning didn't know who put them out.
They hare the handiwork of Brian Kemp, of T-Shirts Etc.
Kemp took on the project himself -- not through the BID or Vibrant Batavia -- because he thinks local business owners should be encouraged to keep the sidewalks in front of their establishments. The ones who do so should be rewarded.
"They don't realize you've got to be able to see the cement," Kemp said.
He only made a few signs, so he'll rotate them around tomorrow, making sure businesses that haven't received the recognition yet, but deserve it, will.
Bottom photo submitted by Jessica Budzinack. She wrote, "My husband Christopher Budzinack works at The City Church. He was so happy his hard work was recognized during this rough winter.
A city worker clears away snow from the corner of Ellicott and Court.
The front of the former NY State Armory on Bank State Street.
The snow might stick around for awhile. The five-day forecast has a lot of cold in it.
Press release:
Arron Carlson, a freshman from Pavilion, New York will be representing SUNY Fredonia at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana by virtue of his performance last weekend.
Carlson won the 3 Meter Diving Event at the NCAA Region 4 Meet contested at Rochester Institute of Technology February 28 and March 1st. His score of 478.10 topped his nearest competitor by five points. Arron led wire to wire in the 11 dive championship format meet. He was the first diver to compete among the 15 total divers who qualified for the regional meet. At no point in the competition did he fall to second place in the rankings. His first place ranking after every dive was the first time it occurred in Region 4 history. Arron's total of 478.10 bettered Matt Depalo of host RIT and was 23 points ahead of 2013 All-American Matt Morrison of Ithaca College. In the one meter competition he finished in sixth place with an 11 dive score of 436.10 .
The Notre Dame of Batavia grad's win on the three meter board guarantees his participation at the NCAA Championships March 19 - 22. He will be diving on both boards during the championship meet. Arron will be accompanied by two teammates as Fredonia is sending three divers to the NCAA Championships for the second year in a row.
Photo by Jim Fitzgerald, team photographer
A rollover accident is reported on the Thruway in the eastbound lane near mile marker 401.8.
Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments responding along with Mercy EMS.
The vehicle is in the median.
Unknown injuries.
UPDATE 9:29 a.m.: A Mercy medic reports both patients out of the vehicle. Both likely sign-offs (no medical transport). Pembroke and Indian Falls engines standing by at the hall or at the toll booth.
UPDATE 9:32 a.m.: Pembroke and Indian Falls back in service.
Douglas James Hanley, 23, of Batavia Stafford Townline Road, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, failure to stop at stop sign and aggravated unlicensed operation. Hanley, while driving a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze, was reportedly involved in a motor-vehicle accident at 10:59 p.m. Feb. 1 on Prole Road, Stafford. Hanley's vehicle reportedly hit a tree. Hanley was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital where he was treated and released. The accident was investigated by Deputy Frank Bordonaro.
Adam Matthew Shultz, 31, of Fargo Road, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and speeding. Shultz was stopped at 3:01 a.m. Tuesday on Main Street, Batavia, by Officer Matthew Lutey.
Bonnie S. Oleandi, 44, of Montclair Avenue, Batavia, was arrested on a bench warrant. The reason for the warrant was not released. Oleandi was jailed on $100,000 bail.
A 17-year-old from Batavia was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. The youth was allegedly found with a controlled substance for which he didn't have a prescription following an investigation by school personnel at Batavia High School.
Charles P. Mitchell, 34, of Sanders Road, Stafford, is charged with criminal contempt. Mitchell allegedly violated an order of protection by sending text messages to the protected person.
Lauryn Brick, who lives on Slusser Road, East Pembroke, opened her garage door this morning and found this.
Jacob Yasses sent in the two pictures below.
The travel advisory for Genesee County was lifted at 2:40 a.m.
Main and Center was pretty eerie at 6:10 p.m. today with very little traffic passing through and no cars parked along the curbs.
The amount of snowfall has slowed, but the weather service is cautioning travelers about blowing and drifting snow and icy conditions on roadways.
The travel advisory for Genesee County remains in effect.
Snow-covered vines on the southside of the Center Street Smokehouse building.
On South Lyon, Ann and Bob Chilano shovel their drive.
City plow trucks on West Main Street.
John Chilano blowing his drive on Redfield Parkway. Yes, John and Bob are brothers. Proof that we live in a small city, getting pictures of Bob and John minutes apart is completely a coincidence and in no way planned.
Batavia Downs in the snow.
Main Street after dark.
A view down Ellicott from Court.
Here are weather photos submitted by readers today -- the first two from Beth Ely.
Sarah Calkind sent in this photo in praise of her bosses at Tompkins Insurance Agency. She says the two people in the parking lot are David Boyce and Timothy Spezzano, Tompkins executives, who brushed off the snow from staff members cars before they were released from work for the day.
From Paul Conklin, North Street, Le Roy
From Brandi Kaplun, Route 98
This photo from Christine Brunell of Lincoln Avenue. She writes, "Just thought I would share some photos from Lincoln Ave. My husband Chet Burnell loves to get out the snowblower and clear the sidewalks as well as several of our neighbors' driveways. I'm hoping this is the last time he will be out this season!"
Erika Sobczak's dog Dutch loves the snow.
By early afternoon, travel conditions on Lewiston Road, as well as other roads in the county, were pretty treacherous. Where there wasn't drifting snow (up to a foot deep), there was ice.
A postman got his delivery truck stuck and a pair of Mercy EMS medics stopped and helped dig him out and gave him a push. Assisting him were Andy Merkel and William Hockenberry.
The Weather Service warns that snowfall of an inch an hour along with strong winds will make travel conditions hazardous well into the evening.
Two cars lost control on Lewiston Road at about 1 p.m., with the white hatchback T-boning the silver minivan on the passenger side. Michael Lasik and his wife, Weiling, were southbound in the minivan. Weiling was the passanger and needed to be extricated from the vehicle by Town of Batavia firefighters. She was transported to an area hospital with unknown injuries. There were no other injuries. Laura Smith, of Alexander, was driving the white car. Trooper Holly Hanssel said the cause of the accident appears to be treacherous road conditions. No citations issued. (Initial Post)
A vehicle heads north on Lewiston Road, which by 1:30 p.m. had visibility of a half mile or less.
For a weekday afternoon, there was unusually low traffic volume at Main and Oak streets.
A person walking on East Main Street.
By 2 p.m., Empire Tractor was just wrapping up its open house. CEO Tim Call said more than 100 people turned out, with most of them arriving before 11 a.m. and leaving before the worst of the storm arrived.
Kim Hatch, a Batavia High School teacher, took her snow day to keep her driveway free of snow, trying to keep one step ahead of the plow trucks on Ellicott Street that kept pushing more snow onto the drive.
On Jackson Street
At about 2:30 p.m., Jackson hadn't been plowed in awhile and a couple of high drifts had built up along the east side of the street.
A stove fire is reported at 9865 Route 98, Alexander.
Alexander fire is dispatched. Town of Batavia's ladder truck requested to the scene.
UPDATE 4:09 p.m.: Town of Batavia can go back in service. One responding Alexander engine can continue non-emergency and the other can stage in quarters.
UPDATE 4:23 p.m.: Alexander assignment back in service.
From Undersheriff William Sheron:
The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office has issued a travel advisory for all of Genesee County effective at 10 a.m. today and continuing until further notice. While travel in the county is not banned at this time, unnecessary travel is discouraged. Heavy, blowing and drifting snow is making roads slippery and limiting visibility. With the forecast calling for the weather to continue to deteriorate as we move into the afternoon and evening, travel conditions will only get worse.
Here's four photos of what things looked like in Batavia around 9 a.m. Looking at the weather radar map, it looks like the worst of the storm won't hit us until 1:30 p.m. Currently, there is no travel advisory from the Sheriff's Office, but Chief Gordon Dibble said one may come later today. County Highway Superintendent Tim Hens has recommended residents stay home today.
If you have weather photos to share today, e-mail them to howard@thebatavian.com. In focus, properly exposed, no camera shake, please.
City plow and salt truck on Porter Avenue.
Centennial Park
On East Main Street
Phillip Daniel Burrs, 32, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Burrs is accused of stealing a can of beer from the Hess Express at Main and Oak streets, Batavia. Burrs was arraigned in City Court and jailed on $500 bail. (Burrs was charged with DWI following an alleged bank robbery by a passenger in his vehicle in Batavia on Jan. 18.)
Philip J. Grazioplene, 44, of South Lyon Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or higher and passing a red light. Grazioplene was stopped at 3:07 a.m., on East Main Street, Batavia, by Officer Peter Flanagan.
Darenisha M. Thomas, 18, of Hutchins Street, Batavia, is charged with disorderly conduct and harassment, 2nd. Thomas is accused of attacking a fellow student at Batavia High School.
The National Weather Service said it: "Do not let the benign weather conditions this morning lull you into a false sense of security."
Here's the prediction:
Snow will rapidly overspread Western New York by 9 to 11 a.m. and become heavy. Snowfall rates may reach two inches per hour during the peak of the storm this afternoon. Temperatures will plummet through the 20s and into the teens with rapidly increasing northeast winds producing widespread blowing and drifting snow with blizzard conditions from midday through the evening.
County Superintendent Tim Hens had this to say:
With forecasted snow rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour, snow may accumulate up to 6 to 8 inches deep in roadways today before plows can return on a standard plow route. The morning driving conditions will entice people to head out, but conditions will deteriorate rapidly through the day and evening driving conditions will be treacherous. I would recommend staying put today. It will be a quick storm and road conditions should be back to normal tomorrow. I can't emphasize this enough.
The Weather Service concluded in its press release:
Travel will become extremely hazardous or even nearly impossible at times due to the combination of very heavy snow and blowing snow. Those who venture out this morning in the good weather may have a difficult time returning home later today as conditions worsen.
UPDATE 8:23 a.m.: Spoke with City Manager Jason Molino. He's also recommending people stay home if at all possible today. He also asked that people not park their cars on the streets so plow trucks can operate more freely. "When we're getting into several inches per hour, it's going to be a constant battle to keep the roads clear," Molino said. The priority will be on the major thoroughfares such as Main Street and Ellicott Street, Molino said.
Poynter: Millennials: Have more Facebook friends, share more selfies
We'll add closings to this list as we receive them. E-mail closings to howard@thebatavian.com.
For more closings, check WBTA's Web site.
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