Stories from

The Batavia Ramparts won their first round game this afternoon against the host Maine Huskies in a championship tournament under way at the University of Southern Maine in Portland.

The Ramparts, who out shot the Huskies 30-9, won 4-2.

The Huskies scored a late goal, according to John Zola.

Richie Francis notched a hat trick and Joey Saraceni added another goal and had an assist. Will VanAuken had two assists.

Tomorrow, the Ramparts play two games -- one each against the teams for Massachusetts and New Hampshire. If they make it into the top two seeds of their bracket, they'll play a semi-final game Sunday morning. The championship game is Sunday afternoon.

Press Release:

WILLIAMSVILLE - Erie County Republican Committee Chairman Nick Langworthy issued the following statement after learning that Erie County Clerk Kathy Hochul is running for Congress in New York’s 26th Congressional District: 

“Statewide Democrats aren’t the only ones concerned about Kathy Hochul running for Congress; Western New York taxpayers are too because she has spent her long political career raising taxes and fees. While Jane Corwin has spent 36 years in the private sector helping to create jobs, career politician Kathy Hochul has spent her life doing everything she can to advance her own political career.

“We welcome Kathy Hochul to the race and look forward to hearing her explain why she’s repeatedly voted to grow government and raise taxes and fees on hard working Western New Yorkers.”

Hochul has yet to declare her candidacy for the special election to replace Chris Lee, the married, former Republican representative who quit his seat after apparently being caught trolling Craigslist for dates.

The Democrats' county chairs from the NY-26 meet tomorrow in Geneseo to interview several potential candidates. The Democrats are expected to name their candidate within the following week.

Hochul, county clerk in Erie County, took out papers this week in order to legally accept campaign donations.

Recently, Hochul made headlines leading opposition to a proposed statewide license fee on bicycles. Eventually, Queens Assemblyman Michael DenDekker withdrew the proposal.

UPDATE: WGRZ is reporting that it's a done deal, that the seven Democratic County chairs will announce on Sunday their endorsement of Hochul and that Hochul will officially announce her candidacy on Monday.

Erie County Republican Chairman Nick Langworthy says the Democratic party has been playing a game with its nomination process, knowing all along that Hochul was going to be its candidate if she wanted to run for the seat.

Nick Langworthy: "This is a charade, it's a machination, they've known from the beginning that she's their candidate if she wants to run, but they're using this quirk in the law allowing her to take double the amount of special interest money that she normally would."

According to WGRZ, that by waiting until 12 days after the governor called the election, she will be able to accept as much as $5,000 (two separate maximum $2,500 donations) from the same individual.

A 26-year-old Le Roy resident is accused of leaving the scene of a fatal accident in Rochester, the Democrat & Chronicle reports.

Matthew Norstrand is facing a felony charge charged of leaving the scene of a fatal accident and falsely reporting an incident, a misdemeanor.

Norstrand is accused of striking and killing Richard Strapp, 41, of Rochester, at the intersection of Alexander and East Main streets at 10:45 p.m., Saturday.

Strapp, who was walking in a crosswalk, died at Strong Memorial Hospital.

Later that night, Norstrand allegedly flagged down a police officer outside Johnny's Pub on Culver Road and claimed his car was stolen.

The car was later found on Stunz Street.

Norstrand was jailed on $20,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in Rochester City Court on March 23.

Three Erie County residents who worked at the Federal Detention Facility on Federal Drive in Batavia are being accused of selling anabolic steroids in violation of federal law.

It's not clear if the men were allegedly selling steroids at the facility or elsewhere.

UPDATE: The men are not accused of selling to prisoners.

Charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute anabolic steroids, and two counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of anabolic steroids were Richard Eldridge, 35, of West Seneca, and Michael Trautmann, 48, of Cheektowaga.

Richard Lazzaro, 39, of Cheektowaga, is charged with possession with intent to distribute, and distribuiton of anabolic steroids.

The charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison or a fine of $500,000 or both.

Eldridge and Trautmann allegedly engaged in the sales and distribution from Oct. 13 to Nov. 30, 2010.

According to the indictment, they are suspected of distributing nandrolone deconoate, oxymetholone and oxandrolone.

Lazzaro is accused of distributing testosterone enathate, boldenone undecylenate, testosterone propionate and methandrostanolone in January.

Eldridge is an immigration enforcement agent with the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations. Trautmann and Lazzaro were detention officers working as federal contract employees.

The indictment is the culmination of an investigation on the part of special agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James H. Robertson and the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory Null.

Good times once again in Downtown Batavia for St. Patrick's Day. I stopped by Center Street Smoke House -- where McMahon Dance School students performed traditional Irish dances -- and O'Lacy's, and then one more quick stop at Center Street on the way back to the office.

Prints of these pictures available for purchase by clicking here.

More pictures after the jump:

A 25-year-old Batavia resident accused of biting a police sergeant will take his case to a jury.

Donald F. Stillwagon II, of 142 Pearl St., charged with a assault in the second degree, appeared in Genesee County Court today to either accept or reject a plea offer from District Attorney Lawrence Friedman.

The offer, six months "shock probation" -- a short time in jail followed by a term of probation. The alternative, if convicted by a jury, is a possible seven-year stint in state prison.

Judge Robert C. Noonan made it clear that after today there will be no chance for Stillwagon to accept a negotiated plea. Stillwagon said he understood that.

Stillwagon is accused of biting Sgt. John Peck, Batavia PD, in the arm after Peck arrived at his house in response to a domestic disturbance.

Reportedly, a male there was choking another person, which prompted the police response. The alleged incident occurred Oct. 1.

Peck sustained a minor injury and was treated and released at UMMC.

The trial date is April 18.

Joshua A. Harris, 21, no permanent address, is charged with criminal contempt, 1st, criminal trespass, 2nd, harassment, 2nd, and two counts of criminal contempt, 2nd. Harris was wanted on several accusations of criminal contempt for allegedly failing to obey an order of protection. Harris was taken into custody by Officer Chris Camp at 5:50 p.m., Wednesday. Harris was reportedly found hiding in a basement at a residence on Oak Street.

Christopher W. Cummings, 31, of 21 Old Meadow Lane, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Cummings is accused of having physical contact with another person in a parking lot at 419 West Main St., at 12:35 p.m., Tuesday.

A deputy called into dispatch this morning saying he was behind an erratic driver and was attempting to pull her over (I missed the location).

She wasn't stopping, so he flipped on his siren.

"She's continuing at a low rate of speed, but not stopping," he told dispatch.

Another unit started toward the area.

She finally pulled over.

After the traffic stop, one deputy told the other: "Apparently, you interfered with her routine. She was getting dressed and putting her make up on."

No word on what citation(s) might have been issued.

UPDATE 9:26 a.m.: At least one citation is being issued for an alleged violation of vehicle and traffic law section 1226: "No person shall operate a motor vehicle without having at least one hand or, in the case of a physically handicapped  person, at least one prosthetic device or aid, on the steering mechanism at all times when the motor vehicle is in motion."

Students from 10 regional schools -- including five from Genesee County -- were in the Genesee County Court House this evening competing in a series of mock trials.

The winners will move up to competitions that could eventually lead to placement in a statewide tournament.

Mock trials provide students with a scenario to test their trial skills and knowledge of the law. Each team consists of six people -- three attorneys and three witnesses.

In this case, the scenario involved a dispute between a village board (a fictional place called Empirevllle) and a high school. The mayor pushed through parking restrictions around the school, and one student, who received a parking ticket, is challenging the legality of the ordinance.

Local schools participating Wednesday night where Alexander, Batavia, Byron-Bergen, Pavilion and Notre Dame.

These pictures come from the session between Alexander and Batavia.

The Alexander team is Jeff Elleman, Chris Snyder, Jimmy Moore, Cory Henderson, Christa Bestehorn and Lacy Moore.

The Batavia team is Pat Flynn, Evan Sutherland, Maura Chmielowiec, Eva Reda-Kendrick, Nate Kabel and McKenzie Stevens.

Local attorney Tom Burns served as judge for this session.

Students and parents who wish to purchase prints of these pictures can click here.

More pictures after the jump:

If we're going to keep businesses in New York, they need ways to save money, and that's the chief reason the Genesee County Legislature should get behind creating a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) in the county, according to Charles Giunta, port director for U.S. Customs in Rochester.

Giunta (pictured above) was brought to the Ways and Means Committee meeting Wednesday afternoon by staff of the Genesee County Economic Development Center.

"I’m a different kind of port director," Giunta said. "I go out four or five times a month and make presentations to companies on foreign trade zones. Why? Because foreign trade zones mean we're going to keep the business here. They're not going to go overseas. If I can save these companies money, then it’s a no-brainer."

A foreign trade zone allows a business to import products and materials duty-free that will be used to manufacture items. It's as if the FTZ is outside the United States. There is only a duty if the item is "imported" (sold) into the U.S.

For example -- as used in the meeting -- if you built motorcycles and bought some of the parts overseas, you would pay duty, say $20 each, on the handlebars, headlamp, starter and seat. But the duty on a completed motorcycle is only $10.  So the company saves money on buying all the parts and pays duty on only the finished product when it becomes a consumed item in the United States.

GCEDC is putting together an application for an FTZ and needs the support of the legislature. A resolution will be presented to the Ways and Means Committee at its next meeting. The GCEDC is also gathering data and support material to sway the FTZ board in Washington, D.C., that there is a need and desire for an FTZ in Genesee County.

If a general FTZ is granted to Genesee County, companies that want to take advantage of the FTZ would need to apply for a subzone. A subzone must be fenced off or otherwise segregated from non-FTZ factory operations.

There is a $5,000 annual fee companies must pay.

The fee would be paid, in this case, to GCEDC, and Mark Masse, senior VP of operations, said the fee would be reinvested in GCEDC's parks and programs.

The idea of applying for an FTZ came up when a local manufacturer made a request for an FTZ. The Genesee County-based company has a plant in Georgia and an FTZ locally would save the company more than $15,000 a month.

"So there is an urgency because every month that goes by, we’re missing out and they’re out that money," said Chris Suozzi, vice president of business development for GCEDC.

Roberta Jordans, with the law firm Harris-Beach, said that with the importance President Barack Obama is putting on increasing American exports, the FTZ board in Washington is trying to expedite applications. The normal 18-month process has been shorted, she said.

Legislators pumped Giunta and Jordans with questions.

Edward DeJaneiro wanted to know that if FTZs aren't technically part of the United States, what happens if a crime is committed.

It turns out, if a person steals from within an FTZ, it's a federal crime.

Inventory control is one of the most closely watched aspects of an FTZ by U.S. Customs, Giunta. While small thefts are usually handled internally, and require notification to customs, Giunta said, big thefts will trigger a customs investigation.

After the meeting, Jordans said that companies within a FTZ must still comply with all state and federal environmental regulations, for example, as well as local zoning ordinances.

Mary Pat Hancock wondered if a FTZ would create local companies that stop buying locally grown crops.

Giunta said there just isn't as much money to be saved on importing food to make it financially worthwhile for a food processor to be part of an FTZ. The duty even on sugar has come down substantially, said Giunta, and many food items have almost no duty.

Jay Grasso wanted to know why, with it being such a seemingly great thing, there aren't more counties setting up free trade zones (the program is 76 years old).

Giunta said there simply aren't many officials with U.S. Customs out marketing the program. A lot of companies don't understand it or think it's too difficult of a process.

Masse (pictured below) said it hasn't necessarily been easy so far to convince local manufacturers to apply for subzones. Many times, businesses haven't sent decision makers to attend FTZ presentations, so something may be lost in translation when it gets back to the decision makers.

"Once somebody gets in and becomes successful, then it will become easier to sell to everybody else," Masse said.

Suozzi said the FTZ will help support other GCEDC projects, such at the STAMP project in Alabama.

"This is a tool to retain business here and it's a tool to attract business," Suozzi said. "This is a huge opportunity."

A 26-year-old former Batavia resident who was charged with multiple crimes in Genesee County over a 10-month span will spend nearly seven years in jail.

Brett Myers Blair, who has lived in Batavia and Bergen, admitted in January to a charge of burglary, 2nd, and agreed to cooperate with law enforcement in clearing several criminal investigations.

Besides the crimes investigators suspected Blair committed, Blair also admitted to several uncharged crimes.

Judge Robert C. Noonan said Blair coming clean on his criminal activity enabled him to arrive at a plea deal that substantially reduced the charges against him but did not warrant reducing the maximum sentenced available for burglary, 2nd.

Last week, Blair was sentenced on a felony charge in Monroe County to two to four years in state prison. 

Blair will serve his seven year sentence on the Genesee County charge concurrently with the Monroe County conviction.

While in prison, Blair must pay more than $3,000 to four victims.

He will also undergo treatment for substance abuse.

"I realize there have been a lot of victims and I’ve changed a lot of lives as result of my actions and I’ll never be able to take that away, including from my mom and my son," Blair told Noonan.

"I'm truly sorry for the crimes I committed," Blair added. "When I'm using drugs, I'm a totally different person from the person I normally am. I got caught up in something I couldn't get out of. Now I can just make myself better with the time that I'm given."

Within Genesee County, Blair's apparent criminal activity goes back to at least March 2009 when he was accused of possessing hydrocodone following a traffic stop.

In early October, Blair was accused of trying to steal a 50-inch plasma TV from Kmart.

When Blair reached his plea agreement in January, the Genesee County Sheriff's Office released information on five other crimes Blair was accused of committing.

Three graduates of Genesee Community College who went on to successful careers and have been active in their communities were selected as 2011 inductees into the GCC Hall of Fame.

The new inductees are Jacquelyn Dwyer, class of '76, Benjamin Bonarigo, Class of '77, and Matt Locker, class of '88.

Dwyer went on to become a nurse in Batavia City Schools and then an instructor of Human Services and Health Careers at Genesee Valley BOCES.

Bonarigo (pictured) is a local attorney who enjoys serving the community.

Locker started his broadcast career at GCC and has appeared in television and motion pictures. He has been active with the GCC Alumni Association. He currently resides in Wanaque, NJ.

The induction is scheduled for 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 30, in the Conable Technology Building, North Lobby.

Full press release after the jump:

BATAVIA, NY (03/16/2011)(readMedia)-- Genesee Community College will induct three new members to its Alumni Hall of Fame on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at 4:30 pm in the Conable Technology Building, North Lobby at the Batavia Campus.

"This year's recipients have a wide variety of degrees and career backgrounds," Jackie Christenson, alumni affairs coordinator, said. "These outstanding alumni serve as inspirations to our current and future students at Genesee. They not only have created successful lives after attending Genesee, but have found the time to serve their local communities and give back to the college."

The 2011 Genesee Community College Alumni Hall of Fame inductees are:

Jacquelyn Dwyer, Class of 1976 – Jacquelyn "Jacquie" Dwyer received her associate's degree from Genesee in Nursing in 1976. Prior to that, she earned a bachelor's degree in Education from St. Xavier University and later went on to obtain a master's degree in Education at SUNY Brockport.

She began her career in education and became a registered nurse in 1976 after attending classes at Genesee as a non-traditional-aged student. She began her nursing career at Batavia City Schools as a school nurse and then became an instructor of Human Services and Health Careers at Genesee Valley BOCES. She has dedicated her life to not only the education and health-care fields, but has also dedicated much of her time to volunteer in dozens of local community groups.

From Go Art to the American Red Cross, to Community Mental Health Services to the Richmond Library, Jacquelyn has made volunteering an important commitment in her life. She currently remains active in the UMMC League, Friends of the Library, YWCA My Sister's Closet, and Resurrection Parish.

Jacquelyn and her husband John have supported Genesee for several years and have participated in Encore, various capital projects and the GCC Foundation's Annual Fund. Jacquelyn and John had nine children together and currently reside in Batavia, NY.

Benjamin J. Bonarigo Esq., Class of 1977 - Benjamin Bonarigo, a first-generation college graduate, began his education at Genesee with a degree in Business Administration and later went on to the University of Buffalo where he earned a bachelor's degree and a Juris Doctorate degree.

Mr. Bonarigo has been a practicing lawyer in the local community for over 25 years. He has been appointed a member of the NYS Bar Association House of Delegates, NYS Appellate Division Grievance Committee for the Fourth Department, Secretary of the Genesee County Bar Association and a former Independent Judicial Qualification Commission Member.

He has served the local community including the Batavia Youth Football League where he has been a board member for over 20 years and was recently honored with the Notre Dame Service and Volunteer Award for having served in various positions on the Notre Dame High School Board of Trustees for 10 years.

Mr. Bonarigo has also supported many vital organizations such as UMMC, Go Art, United Way, GCASA, CASA and the Holland Land Office. Mr. Bonarigo currently lives in Batavia with his wife Diane and they have three children, Benjamin, Justine and Elizabeth.

Matthew B. Locker, Class of 1988 - Matt Locker came to Genesee by way of the U.S. Virgin Islands, and focused his talents on WGCC, the college's brand-new radio station in 1985. He dedicated his years at GCC to developing the station and even having a highly successful radio program. He coined the phrase "This is the Music FM, WGCC in Batavia, New York" and created the first logo WGCC ever had. His work on the radio has led Matt to be successful over the airwaves as well as in front of and behind the camera.

Matt has worked as the managing editor/anchor of "The Staten Island NewsCenter" in Staten Island, NY, as well as an anchor and program director on news stations in New Jersey. He has appeared in motion pictures, television programs, commercials and live stage theater performances.

Matt's commitment to the college has been remarkable and his efforts were the driving force behind the great alumni turnout for the first Homecoming celebration back in October 2010. He continues to help out with the student radio station and currently updates the WGCC Alumni Facebook page to continue to connect with Communications and Media Arts alumni.

Matt currently works as a freelance voice-over artist, and is president of Winbeam Light Labs, the company he founded upon developing the world's first high definition fluorescent lamp. Matthew resides in Wanaque, NJ.

The GCC Alumni Hall of Fame recognizes those alumni who have achieved outstanding success and made a lasting impact on the community. Nominations to the Hall of Fame are received from alumni, community members, faculty and staff.

The criteria for nominating an individual to the College Alumni Hall of Fame are based on the individual's contributions to his or her profession, distinguished service to the community and/or service to Genesee Community College. Inductees into the Hall of Fame are selected from a committee of distinguished alumni, including past Hall of Fame honorees.

For more information regarding the Alumni Hall of Fame, please contact Jackie Christenson, Alumni Affairs Coordinator, at 585-343-0055, ext 6265.

As the snow melts, months worth of trash is being revealed in some of the flower beds on Main Street.

Don Burkel, executive director of the Business Improvement District sent out a timely reminder to downtown business owners to do a little clean up in front of their establishments.

Burkel said that if everyone would pick up trash, debris and cigarette butts in front of their stores or offices, it would have a big impact on the impression customers get when visiting downtown.

Earl Lockhart, 18, of 437 E. Main St., Batavia, is charged with burglary, 2nd, criminal mischief, 4th, and petit larceny. Lockhart was arrested by Det. Kevin Czora for allegedly breaking into a neighbor's residence in February 2009.

Jonathan A. Brenkus, 22, of 5244 Bridge Road, Elba, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Brenkus was stopped for an alleged equipment violation on his vehicle at 4:53 p.m., Tuesday, by Officer Thad Mart, on Clinton Street. During the traffic stop, Brenkus was found to allegedly possess marijuana.

Jon D. Vega, 45, of 518 E. Main St., Batavia, is charged with aggravated harassment, 2nd. Vega allegedly threatened a person with physical harm during a phone call.

Terry L. Smith, 55, of Corfu, is charged with DWI, failure to use designated lane, crossing road hazard markings and refusal to take breath test. Smith was stopped by State Police at 9:25 p.m., Sunday, on Route 77 and Indian Falls Road, Pembroke. Smith was held in jail on an unspecified bail status.

Here are four pictures from an evening drive in Alabama.

Above, an old farm wagon and rundown car on Roberts Road.

Combine on Roberts Road.

I took this picture on Sour Springs Road. If my online sleuthing is correct, this reed, which I see in Genesee County a lot, is commonly called a Burma Reed (Neyraudia reynaudiana) and is non-native in North America and highly invasive.

Telephone poles as the sun sets along Maple Street Road.

Nothing says spring more than baseball.

Today, in Oakfield, I came across Ryan Byrnes and Joe Colon, both originally from Elba, having a first catch of the season.

They said nothing felt better after a long winter than tossing a ball around.

A police check on a parolee Saturday night led to the arrest of three Batavia residents on drug charges.

Numerous bags of cocaine were reportedly found either on the individuals or in an apartment at 29 Central Ave.

Taken into custody were Derek Leach, 31, of 29 Central Ave., Eric Williams, 45, of 219 Washington Ave., and Randy G. Leach II, 24, of 58 South Main St.

All three were charged with crimes, including criminal sale of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal using drug paraphernalia.

The incident began at 8:30 p.m. when a NYS parole officer went to 29 Central Ave. to do a home check on Derek Leach.

Once there, the officer heard several voices inside the house and called for assistance. Officers Chris Camp, Eric Boles and Marc Lawrence arrived on scene.

Once officers were inside the house, a second parolee, Eric Williams, was identified.

Williams was searched and allegedly found in possession of a large quantity of individually wrapped bags of cocaine. He was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd (with intent to sell).

Randy G. Leach II, was identified as a suspect wanted on a warrant out of drug court.

A small bag of cocaine was allegedly found on Randy Leach. In addition to the warrant charge, Leach was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th.

Randy Leach was jailed on $50,000 bail.

Police then searched Derek Leach's residence and allegedly found a large amount of individually wrapped bags of cocaine, scales and packaging material.

Derek Leach was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd (with intent to sale) and criminal using drug paraphernalia.

Williams and Derek Leach were jailed without bail.

The Sheriff's Office K-9 unit assisted in the search. Det. Todd Crossett also participated in the investigation.

Photos: Top, Derek Leach, Eric Williams, Randy Leach.