The Pembroke Dragons finished the regular season on Friday with a 43-14 win over Holley/Lyndonville moving their record to 8-0 and making them the only team in Section V 8-Man Football with a spotless record.
They'll head into the postseason as the #1 seed. The postseason schedule has not been posted yet.
The Dragons racked up 400 yards on offense on just 20 plays. Coach Brandon Ricci credited the line of Ben Steinberg, Jayden Mast, Jayden Bridge, Madden Perry, JJ Gabbey, Octavius Martin and Hayden Williams for the dominant offensive game.
Tyson Totten ran for 137 yards and two touchdowns on three carries to eclipse 2,000 yards rushing on the season.
Fullback Caleb Felski had 160 yards rushing and two TDs on just a pair of carries. He also added a 55-yard receiving touchdown from Quarterback Vijay Dhanda.
Sean Pustulka finished the scoring for the Dragons with a 42-yard rushing touchdown and a 24-yard field goal.
Defensively the Dragons were led by Jayden Bridge with seven tackles. Dom Boldt, Aidan Balduf and Hayden Williams each chipped in five tackles, while Vijay Dhanda had the game's lone fumble recovery.
The Dragons will host a home playoff game against an opponent yet to be determined next week.
Creator David Raines poses in front of his residence at 209 Bank St., Batavia, where where he has a "Nightmare on Bank Street" haunted house in his back yard. Photo by Steve Ognibene
The haunted house experience David Raines has designed at his Bank Street residence can be so scary, he said, that he's developed a red light, yellow light, and green light system so that actors in the attraction know when to tone down the level of fright.
This is the sixth year Raines has opened the haunted house to the public and it's his most elaborate yet, he told The Batavian.
"I've actually lived here for 17 years and I love Halloween," Raines said. "There's nothing like this in Batavia. I've had people say this is the best thing in town. So it just keeps me going."
The haunted house, dubbed "Nightmare on Bank Street," is free, but Raines is asking for donations in order to help cover his cost, and also to help expand the attraction, perhaps in a larger venue in Batavia.
It will be open from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturday and from 5 to 11 p.m. on Halloween. The address is 209 Bank St., Batavia.
This year, the attraction has spilled out into his front yard. It also takes up all the space in his back yard.
"This is just something fun that I love to do," Raines said. "I like to see kids have a good time, and adults have a good time and enjoy it. And I like to scare people, too."
Gaines hasn't done all this work by himself. His daughter and her friends as well as his girlfriend, he said, helped with the setup. Work started on the project on Sept. 1.
He explained the red light, yellow light, and green light system, which aren't actually colored lights but him yelling out to actors what light category they're in.
Red light: The haunted house is fully lit. Guests can see all the details of the exhibits and the actors don't try to scare anybody.
Yellow light: The lighting is off and the actors tone down the scare factor.
Green light: All bets are off. No lighting, full-on scare from the actors. There's also fog, strobe lights, and laser lights.
"Then Greenlight is, you know, you're entering at your own risk," Gaines said. "If you don't come back out, I don't know what to tell you."
And if full scare is too much for you, there are emergency exits.
"I want to say I think I had a couple of people last year ask me where the bathroom was because they were so scared," Gaines said. "I had people running down the driveway screaming because they were scared. So to be honest with you, the more fun that I see the public have the more fun I have."
The maze inside Nightmare on Bank Street. Photo by Steve Ognibene
The Spider Room, Nightmare on Bank Street. Photo by Steve Ognibene
Photo by Steve Ognibene
David Raines starts building his haunted house in early September to have it ready two weeks before Halloween, Nightmare on Bank Street. Photo by Steve Ognibene
Devon C. Shine, 19, of Batavia, is charged with gang assault 2nd. Shine is accused of taking part with two other people in assaulting another person on May 30 at an undisclosed time and undisclosed location and causing serious injury. He was arrested on Sept. 27 and arraigned in City Court. He was released under supervision.
Alan G. Jones, 40, of Rochester, is charged with grand larceny 4th. Jones is accused of stealing more than $1,000 in merchandise from Harbor Freight in Batavia on Oct. 6. He was issued an appearance ticket and released.
Chad Williams
Chad S. Williams, 52, of Rochester, is charged with. criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd, criminal possession of a controlled substance 5th, and tampering with evidence. Williams was arrested on Oct. 2 on the drug charges stemming from his arrest on Nov. 29 on unrelated charges when he was allegedly found in possession of narcotics. He was arraigned in City Court and ordered held without bail.
Nekia D. Newton, 47, and Charnee A. Harris, 32, both of Rochester, are charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd. Newton and Harris were arrested by a Batavia patrol officer on Sept. 27 following a traffic stop where they were allegedly found in possession of narcotics. They were arraigned in City Court. Newton was held without bail and Harris was released on her own recognizance.
Michelle L. Darch, 37, of Batavia, is charged with falsely reporting an incident and tampering with physical evidence. Darch is accused of falsely reporting that she was involved in a hit-and-run accident on Sept. 24 and of allegedly staging evidence at the scene. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Robert Z. Johnson, 23, of Batavia, is charged with assault 3rd. Johnson allegedly injured another person during a disturbance on East Main Street, Batavia. He was arrested Sept .29 and issued an appearance ticket.
Peter L. Jackson, 57, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Jackson is accused of shoving and kicking another person at an undisclosed time and location. He was arrested on Oct. 11. He was arraigned in City Court and released.
Tammy M. Caldwell, 53, of Batavia, was arrested on a bench warrant on Oct. 3. Caldwell was initially arrested on Aug. 9, 2019, and charged with petit larceny for an alleged retail theft. A warrant was issued on Jan. 27, 2020, after she allegedly failed to appear in court. Caldwell was arraigned in City Court and released on her own recognizance.
Aaron R. Hatfield, 39, of Batavia, was arrested on a warrant issued by City Court. Hatfield was initially charged on Aug. 14, with petit larceny and criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th after an investigation into a larceny from Tops. He was issued an appearance ticket but allegedly failed to appear in court. Hatfield was arraigned on the warrant and released on his own recognizance.
George J. Budzinack, 43, of Batavia, was arrested on Oct. 8 on a bench warrant issued by City Court. Budzinack was initially arrested on Aug. 3 and charged with criminal possession of stolen property 5th. He was issued an appearance ticket but allegedly failed to appear in court. He was arraigned and released.
George J. Budzinack, 43, of Batavia, was arrested on a bench warrant on Oct. 8 issued by City Court. Budzinack was initially arrested on Aug. 8 and charged with criminal possession of stolen property 5th. He was issued an appearance ticket but allegedly failed to appear in court. He was arraigned and released. Budzinack is also charged with petit larceny. He is accused of stealing a bicycle on Sept. 27 from a porch on East Main Street, Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket. Budzinack was also charged with petit larceny. He is accused of stealing shoes from Shoe Dept on Veterans Memorial Drive at 3:15 p.m. on Oct. 6. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Tatyanna M. White, 20, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. White is accused of violating an order of protection on Oct. 5. White was issued an appearance ticket.
Nathaniel A. Moultrup, 23, of Attica, is charged with DWI. Moultrup was arrested following a traffic stop on South Main Street on Sept. 23, where he was allegedly found to be operating a vehicle while intoxicated. He was issued traffic tickets and released.
Supreme N. Ervin, 24, of Batavia is charged with riding a bicycle on a sidewalk. Ervin was charged in connection with a motor vehicle accident on Sept 21 at an undisclosed location in Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Teri K. Easton, 61, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Easton is accused of shoplifting on Sept. 28 at Rite Aid on East Main Street, Batavia. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Benjamin D. Seekins, 34, of Batavia, is charged with theft of services. Seekins is accused of leaving T.F. Brown's on Sept. 28 without paying his bill. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Chanatell Delacruz, 34, of Geneseo, is charged with DWI. Delacruz was stopped on Sept. 23 by a Batavia patrol officer at an undisclosed time, at an undisclosed location. She was arraigned and released.
Ronald W Lewis, 35, of Spencerport, was arrested on Sept. 23 on an arrest warrant issued by City Court. Lewis was initially arrested on July 7 and charged with petit larceny after allegedly stealing merchandise from Tim Hortons. He was issued an appearance ticket. The warrant was issued after Lewis allegedly failed to appear in court. After his arrest, he was arraigned and released. Lewis is also charged with the trespass. On Sept. 24, Lewis allegedly refused to leave UMMC. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Isaiah L Poole, 23, of Rochester, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd and unlawful publication of intimate images. Poole allegedly violated an order of protection and posted an intimate image of another person on social media. Poole was arraigned in City Court and jailed.
Joseph C Barone, 43, of Batavia, is charged with DWI, speeding, and failure ot keep right. Barone was stopped on Main Street, Batavia, on Sept. 11, at an undisclosed time, by a Batavia patrol officer. He was issued traffic tickets and released.
Andre L. Bryan, 44, of Batavia, is charged with trespass. Bryan is accused of refusing to leave a residence on Elm Street after being told numerous times to leave by the resident. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Ashton L. Mohney, 33, no permanent address, is charged with burglary 1st, assault 2nd, and criminal contempt 2nd. Mohney is accused of violating an order of protection on Sept. 18 by entering a residence on Ross Street and injuring another person with a knife. He was arraigned and jailed on $2,500 bail, $5,000 bond, or $25,000 partially secured bond.
William B Coley, 53, of Albion, is charged with petit larceny. Coley is accused of shoplifting from the 7-Eleven on East Main Street, Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Tony Robert Graber, 44, of East Avenue, Marilla, is charged with burglary 2nd, criminal contempt 1st, and criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Graber is accused of entering a residence in the Town of Batavia at 9 pm. on Sept. 20 in violation of an order of protection and of possessing fentanyl at the time was his arrest. Graber was arraigned and ordered held without bail.
James Darrell Hooten, 35, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny and grand larceny 4th. Hooten is accused of using the debit card of another person without permission on Sept. 3 at 1:44 p.m. He was arrested on Oct. 13. At arraignment, an order of protection was issued.
Terry Duanne Wilcoxen, 43, of Sandpit Road, Alexander, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and moving from lane unsafely. Wilcoxen was arrested by Deputy Zachary Hoy following a motor vehicle accident reported at 4:59 p.m. on Oct. 12 on Sandpit Road, Alexander. Wilcoxen was issued appearance tickets.
Michael Irving White, 19, of Day Street, Albion, is charged with criminal mischief 3rd and criminal trespass 2nd. White is accused of entering a residence on Oct. 9 at 6:11 a.m. on Freeman Road, Byron, without permission and causing more than $250 in damage. He was arraigned. His release status is unknown.
Jessie B. Joy, 27, of Telephone Road, Pavilion, is charged with DWI and failure to yield the right of way on a left-hand turn. Joy was arrested by Deputy Ryan Mullen following a motor vehicle accident reported a 1 p.m. on Oct. 16 at the intersection of Route 20 and Route 63, Pavlion. He was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital following the accident, where he was issued an appearance ticket.
Debra Stanley, 59, of Lakeview Park, Rochester, is charged with petit larceny and criminal possession of a controlled substance. Stanley is accused of shoplifting from Ulta Beauty on Veterans Memorial Drive, Batavia, at 4:06 p.m., Oct. 18. At the time of her arrest she was allegedly found in possession of a controlled substance. She was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released.
Elwin Eugene Drew, 40, of Shanks Road, Alabama. Drew is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and moving from lane unsafely. Drew was stopped at 2:13 p.m. on Oct. 15 on Sliker Road, Pembroke, by Deputy Zachary Hoy. He was issued traffic ticket and released.
Notre Dame basketball coach Michael Rapone is running a Sunday morning basketball league for fifth and sixth graders and for third and fourth graders.
The league is open to children from throughout the GLOW region and no Notre Dame affiliation is required.
Rapone said it's the Buff Rice league, inspired by a league his age group played in in the 1990s at the YMCA, which was run by Sonny Love.
He provided the photos and this recap of the second week of play on Sunday.
Fifth and sixth-grade scores:
Warriors (2-0) 39 Celtics (1-1) 10
Drew Schultz and Sawyer George led the Warriors with 14 and 13 points respectively. Teagan Porter chipped in with 4 points and 7 assists. Ethan Thom had 6 points and 7 rebounds. For the Celtics, Preston Newton had 4 points, and Nolan Rogers had 2 points and 5 rebounds.
Heat (1-1) 25 Lakers (0-2) 23
This game came down to the final possessions, and the Heat got the defensive stop that they needed at the buzzer. The Heat were paced by two scorers, Patrick Casey and Lincoln Metz who each had 10 points. Ryker Schultz pitched in with 3 and 6 rebounds. Lakers were led by Liam McAlister who had 9 and Vinnie LaBarbara who had 8.
Third and fourth-grade scores:
Duke (1-1) 24 Syracuse (0-2) 20
Duke got their first win of the season behind a strong game by Barrett Jones who had 12 points and while Mateo Spink chipped in with 8 points. Gino Fava had 3 and Alex Tommy rounded out the scoring with 1 free throw. Jackson Therrien had 16 in the loss and Sammy Rapone threw in a bucket and a couple free throws for 4 points.
Carolina (3-0) 41 Syracuse (0-3) 17
Syracuse played the doubleheader this week and ran into Luke Hungerford. Hungerford led the unbeaten Carolina team with 21 points and 5 assists. Denny Crowley and Amaeus Largeroy each had 10 points to round out the Carolina scoring. Jackson Therrien led Syracuse with 10 points. Mia O’Connor, Braden Coffey, and Charlie Rapone all had a bucket for Syracuse.
Retired postal carrier and wounded retired Vietnam veteran Larry Fuchs reports that his German bike, valued at $2,000 was stolen on Friday.
He said the bike is his only mode of transportation.
He reported the theft to the police he said but was hoping members of the public might be able to provide information to recover the bike.
"It would mean the world to me to recover my only transportation," Fuchs said.
Information that may assist in the recovery of the bike can be submitted to Batavia PD at (585) 345-6350 or the submit a tip feature at www.bataviapolice.org.
S. Shade Zajac conducting the Genesee Symphony Orchestra during a rehearsal in 2018. Photo by Howard Owens.
Audiences can be unpredictable, suggested Genesee Symphony Orchestra Music Director S. Shade Zajac while discussing how he's programmed the 2023-24 season and especially the season's opening show next Sunday, Oct. 22.
"Sometimes you think something is really going to connect with people, and it receives a lukewarm reaction," Zajac told The Batavian. "And sometimes you think, oh, boy, this is going to be tough for people to grasp, and then they go wild for it. You never really know."
The lineup for the opener for next Sunday's concert:
Romanian Dances, by Béla Bartók
Háry János Suite, by Zoltán Kodály
Trail of Tears Concerto for Flute and Chamber Orchestra, by Michael Dougherty
Romanian Rhapsody No. 1 in A Major, by George Enesco
Zajac thinks audience members will find the music of the concert both challenging -- because some of the selections might be unfamiliar to many people -- or engaging -- either because of the dynamics or sheer beauty of the selections.
"I'm always trying to bring things that the audience really will connect to and also maybe give them something a little new," Zajac said.
The program selection is built around the Trail of Tears Concerto, which will feature Rebecca Gilbert, principal flutist of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.
Composed by Dougherty in 1989, the piece commemorated the 150th anniversary of the forced march in 1838-39 of Cherokees, Choctaws, Creeks, Chickasaws and the Seminoles off their land in the Southeastern U.S. more than 1,500 miles to what is now part of Oklahoma.
"It's a very, very interesting piece," Zajac said. "It's got some really beautiful and emotional moments in it. And it's got some unbelievable virtuosic playing for the solo flute. He (Dougherty) asks her to do a lot of different kinds of techniques to sound like a traditional Native American flute, so what we call breath tones and pitch bends and slides. It sounds very, very authentic, ethnic, which then kind of ties the rest of the program together."
The ethenic theme of the program is set up by the Bartók and Kodály (pronounced co-die) pieces. Both Bartók and Kodály were composers, but they were also ethnomusicologists, perhaps the first ethnomusicologists, something that wasn't really possible before the invention of machines that record voices and music. They both traveled to Transylvania with a Thomas Edison invention, a wax cylinder recorder and recorded the music of the towns and villages in that part of Romania. They then incorporated the unique musical elements of those songs into their own compositions.
"The Kodály is a really wild piece of music," Zajac said. "Again, I've never conducted it before. And it calls for a very large orchestra, I think, like six trumpets and a smattering of percussion. We're just we're having tons of fun doing it. And it's a very colorful, colorful piece of music."
The final piece of the program returns to a Romanian setting.
Enescu, born in Romania in 1881, building his fame as a composer in the early 20th Century, was often compared to Mozart. This piece was composed in 1901 and is perhaps his most famous work.
"It's really virtuosic and showy for the orchestra features a lot of people," Zajac said. "After our last two seasons with the 75th season, which was two seasons ago, and then last season, you know, doing all this Brahms and all this heavy dramatic music, I kind of wanted to go in a completely different direction. When you finish a monumental project like that, you're like, 'Okay, what do we do next?' And this seemed like a different way to go. And the orchestra is really enjoying it. I think the audience will really like this program."
Earlier in the conversation, discussing the challenges of selecting pieces for an orchestra concert, Zajac compared some pieces of music to "comfort food."
"It is called comfort food for a reason because, you know, mom's chicken pot pies always gonna taste good," Zajac said. "So if she asked someone what they want to eat, they're gonna say, chicken pot pie. It's scarier to go out and try something new. You're gonna take a chance. There's a chance you really like it, and you find something that you really like, and there's a chance that this is going to be terrible. And now you feel like you've just wasted dinner. So I think there's a human need to feel comfort. I know how this is gonna go. I'm not going to be surprised."
Zajac said comfort food on a program helps the less familiar pieces go down a little easier for audiences.
“Romanian Rhapsody” is perhaps the comfort food on the first program, Zajac said.
"Whether or not you know, if you sit down and you listen to this piece, there is no way, if we do our job, and the GSO always does its job, there's no way you're gonna be in your seat because it's just, it's one of those pieces. It's a showpiece. There's fireworks and fast playing and all sorts of things. So that's probably the comfort food, but the Bartok and the Kodály, even though they may be unfamiliar, they're just excellent pieces of music, and they're wild."
After Sunday's concert, the GSO has five more performances this season -- three concerts as part of its regular season and a performance at the GCC Foundation's annual Encore event.
The holiday concert will, of course, include the ultimate in comfort foods, "Sleigh Ride," by Leroy Anderson.
The program will also feature a solo by GSO's concertmaster, Julia Plato, on the winter movement of Vivaldi's Four Seasons.
"She's a wonderful, wonderful leader and an excellent musician, so we're excited to feature her," Zajack said.
The Dec. 15 Encore event will also be filled with holiday music but not all the same pieces as the GSO's annual Holiday Concert.
In February, the GSO's theme turns British, with English composers being featured, including Sir Paul McCartney. The former Beatle has written -- even some of his biggest fans aren't aware of this -- a number of classical pieces.
Zajac predicts his mom will especially like the concert.
"My mom is like the world's biggest Paul McCartney fan," Zajac said. "I know every fan says that they're the biggest Paul McCartney fan. My mom is like the biggest Paul McCartney fan. In fact, when she met my father, she goes, 'Well, just so you know, there is one other man, and that man is Paul McCartney.'"
The anchor piece of the program is Elgar's “Enigma Variations.”
"It's one of my favorite pieces in the entire literature," Zajac said. "It's a very special piece. I've conducted only one movement from it (previously). It's a remarkable piece of music. Every note, every bar sounds like English music, which is incredible because you can trace every note to some other composer. You can hear the influences of Beethoven and Bach and Wagner. But somehow, he makes it all sound like English music."
The GSO will close out the season with a concert comprised entirely of works by American composers.
"I'm a sucker for American music," Zajac said. "I wish we did more American music here in America, aside from, you know, Copeland, and there's nothing wrong with Copeland. Indeed, we're doing Copeland's Appalachian Spring, which is a great piece of music, but there's so many other things.”
The program will include pieces by David Diamond, a contemporary of Copeland's, and is from Rochester, along with an often overlooked black female composer, Florence Beatrice Price.
"Her music has been enjoying a revival these days," Zajac said. "A lot of people have been doing her first symphony and those big pieces. I decided to program this little piece called Dances in the Canebrakes. It's just really fun, beautiful. It just reeks of America. You hear it, and it's like, yes, that is an American sound."
Also on the program is William Grant Still, another black American composer with ties to Rochester. The orchestra will perform “Summerland.”
And just like an American program probably must include Copeland, it will also include Gershwin's Piano Concerto, featuring the winner of GSO's Young Artists competition.
Perhaps the most familiar piece on the program is Appalachian Spring.
"I've never had a chance to do the piece before though I've known it for many years," Zajac said. "I've studied it. The orchestra hasn't played it in a very long time. It's a beautiful piece, and it ends quietly. Sometimes I like to end programs quietly. It's great to end with fireworks and huge standing ovations and sometimes it is really meaningful and really poignant to end a concert quietly, and indeed ending the season quietly."
That ending, Zajac said, will be a tribute to Roxanne Choate, the former GSO board president who passed away this past week at age 80.
On the topic of performing American composers, The Batavian asked Zajac if he would consider Duke Ellington.
"I've been thinking about doing a jazz-inspired program at some point because there's some really great pieces," Zajac said. "Of course, there's Gershwin, An American in Paris. I'd love to do it with the orchestra. I've only gotten to do the piece once. But Duke Ellington, I'm so glad you said something because I know there are things that we can do, but I haven't really thought about him. That might be an excellent addition if I ever get around to doing this program. That would be really cool."
Dr. Kirk Scirto, a family physician in Akron, spoke in opposition on Thursday night to plans for Edwards Vacuum and WNY STAMP. Photo by Howard Owens.
CLARIFICATION: Dr. Kirk Scirto informed us on Oct. 18 that he did not say that he represented the Seneca Nation.
It's unusual for opponents of a development project to speak at Genesee County Planning Board meetings, but two people opposed the proposed Edwards Vaccum plant at WNY STAMP and of the STAMP project itself were at Thursday's meeting.
Both spoke after a representative of Edwards made his presentation to the board and after the board voted to recommend approval of the site plan review and final subdivision.
Both speakers raised a number of environmental concerns, all of which were later refuted in interviews after the meeting by representatives of Edwards and the Genesee County Economic Development Center.
Edwards is proposing a manufacturing facility that will be 236,000 square feet and sit on a 50-acre parcel. The company is a subsidiary of Atlas Copco Group and is planning a $319 plant that will build a semiconductor dry pump, a necessary component in maintaining cleanrooms for companies that make computer chips.
Dr. Kirk Scirto, a family physician in Akron, said he represented the Seneca Nation as well as a coalition of environment groups and as many as 500 residents who oppose both the Edwards Vacuum project as well as STAMP.
"I urge you strongly to recommend disapproval of the Edwards vacuum project," Scirto said. "Know that Tonawanda Seneca Nation lies at the border, immediately at the border of STAMP. They have sued to block its development along with a separate suit to do the same by the Orleans County Legislature. And now the town of Shelby has joined us in the suit. The community impacts of this project in Genesee County are also very troubling, and it's shocking that entities in Genesee County have not yet sued. Although that should change shortly."
The other opposition speaker was Evelyn Wackett, who admitted that she didn't know anything about WNY STAMP, despite heavy coverage of the high-tech industrial park in local and regional news outlets for more than 13 years, until this past Arbor Day. Wackett, a resident of Buffalo, said she is a licensed wildlife rehabbed in Erie County.
"As I looked into it and learned about it, I kind of started getting a little bit upset," Wackett said. "It seems to me a little fishy the way things are going on with this whole project. We come out of the COVID lockdowns, and all of a sudden, Plug Power is there. And now Edwards is coming in."
Vehicle Traffic Scirto's first objection was to traffic in and out of the Edwards site, both for the additional traffic on local roads and emissions.
"The Edwards Vacuum project would be an immense generation of traffic, according to the February 2023 SEQR that was written by the Genesee EDC," Scirto said. "We've heard some different estimations today, so I'm a bit confused about that. According to GCEDC, vehicles would be expected to enter the leave STAMP every one to two seconds all day every day. This would dramatically slow down local routes, including routes 77 and 63, which may be forced to become 30-mile-per-hour roads."
It's not clear where he got the speed-limit change data.
"Air pollution would be a second major impact, and it will be produced by diesel trucks and other vehicles, and in the chemical emissions of Edwards vacuum itself," Scirto said.
Mark Masse, senior VP for operations for GCEDC, suggested Scirto is misreading the SEQR (an environmental review document) that included the WNY STAMP infrastructure projects and both Edwards Vacuum and a parallel warehousing development that hasn't been discussed much publicly. In the SEQR report, nearly all of the contemplated traffic, Masse indicated, could be attributed to the warehouse project.
The estimated one or two truck trips per day for STAMP, as discussed by David Ciurzynski, a local consultant representing Edwards Vacuum in the meeting, is accurate, Masse said.
"It (the SEQR) was about a 23-page resolution," Masse said. "I'm sure if somebody was unaware of what they were looking at, it would be easy for them to get confused."
Toxins and Chemicals "If they're able to dodge the extensive lawsuits already initiated and those which will be coming shortly, then they will be allowed to emit various toxins into the air," Scirto said. "Some of these toxins can cause cancer and irritate the eyes in the respiratory tract of people. This, combined with air pollution, would cause or worsen asthma, allergies, emphysema, respiratory infections, and heart disease, especially for those living closest to the factory and its intense traffic."
He said documents on the company website reveal that Edwards Vacuum uses chemicals and fibers that are dangerous to human health.
Ciurzynski said that Scirto is using outdated documents and documents not relevant to this project to make his claims. He said Edwards makes a wide range of products that are referenced in publically available documents, but the company is making a very specific pump in the facility. There is no foundry, and nothing dangerous will be emitted from the factory, so much of what Scirto referenced is irrelevant.
"We're not releasing any toxins," Ciurzynski said. "Our process -- we're not releasing anything. Air permits will be issued by the DEC. They're required because every building has exhaust, so we have to get permits from the DEC. They are going to be approved by the DEC to all be basically zero emissions. We're not releasing anything into the sewers other than toilets and sinks and things like that. So it's human waste, you know, from people working in our plant. Our process water, any wastewater that we have (from manufacturing), is getting toted off-site. Everything that we're doing is intentional to minimize the effect on our community and our systems. We're not, we don't want to tax any part of the community. We don't want to tax the community. So that's why we made these extra efforts to make sure that those processes are handled properly."
Fire safety "The protection of community character would be challenged by the threat of explosions from Edwards vacuum," Scirto said. "According to their safety data sheets, they use dozens of flammable and several explosive chemicals."
Ciurzynski said, "We're building a specific pump here. It's not all of Edwards vacuums products. We don't have chemicals that are spontaneously going to combust. Everything is going on is within the regulations of the EPA and the DEC."
Wetlands Scirto also claimed that Edwards is planning to build on top of environmentally sensitive wetlands and faulted The Batavian for previously reporting otherwise.
The Batavian's prior story was based on official government reports that could have easily been obtained by Scirto prior to the meeting. Both representatives of Edward and GCEDC said both the planning document and The Batavian's story were accurate. There will be no wetlands disturbed by the Edwards facility.
Wackett said, "In the article in The Batavian, I read about the wetlands and not disturbing the wetlands. Well, let me make a comment that we already disturbed the wetlands. How many spills have we had now already trying to construct this sewer pipe? 600 gallons of fracking fluid is now inside the refuge. That endangered bog turtle. That endangered short-eared owls. And all that endangered northern Harrier -- all those species depend on these wetlands. It's a migratory bird route that you guys just decided to, I don't know about you guys (meaning the planning board), but Genesee County Economic Development Center decided to just plop an industrial park right in the middle of the Tonawanda State Wildlife Management Area, the Iroquois National Wildlife Areas, protected area. I don't understand how they can just put a sewer pipeline in the middle of it."
The STAMP project is entirely outside of both protected areas.
Masse said in the hallway as soon as the meeting was over, "To clarify, there are no wetlands being impacted by this project."
Ciurzynski immediately added, "Your story was accurate. Our survey has been registered with the town and this county. To avoid this (wetlands), we didn't buy that land (containing wetlands)."
As for Wackett's claim that GCEDC that "600 gallons of fracking fluid is now inside the refuge," Masse said that statement isn't accurate.
He said during the construction of the wastewater pipeline, a channel is drilled through the subsurface and then filled with what is essentially mud to hold the line's shape while the pipe is slid into place. "
"It's basically water and clay," Masse said. "The soil is so soft that it actually ended up going out through the soil. We've done the appropriate cleanups, we had an approved frac-out plan with the DEC ahead of time as part of our permitting. We are making improvements to it, and all of that cleanup and review is subject to the DEC review."
Asked to clarify what happened, Masse said, "In some cases in the refuge, the ground is so porous that when they put the mud in, it leaks out through the sides. It came up to the surface. And that's what they call a frac-out. But it is nothing more than mud. So we had vac trucks on site and cleaned it up. We have subject to DEC inspection on that and in accordance with our frac-out plan."
He said the frac-out has been cleaned up, and while still subject to a DEC follow-up inspection, Masse indicated the event posed no threat to wildlife.
Owls "I just need to make the comment for the short-eared owl," Wackett said. "From what I understand and what I've read, that the short-eared owl has already declined in numbers since this project has started."
Masse said GCEDC has followed all DEC guidelines and regulations regarding the short-eared owl and north Harrier.
"Essentially," Masse said, the short-eared owl northern Harrier issue has been resolved as we've received a permit to be able to develop that property. As a part of that, we've created a grassland habitat for those birds as the offset for the impact and taking that property. And that permit was issued, I think, in June or July."
As for Wackett's claim that the owl population has already declined, Masse said there is no evidence of that, and there can't be any definitive evidence because of the migratory habit of the species.
"We've done studies over the years, and those birds are non-geo specific, which means they don't come back to the same location every year," Masse said. "So they could be here one year, they could go somewhere else for six years, they could come back here in year seven. I'm sure statewide studies are being done, but whether those are higher or lower, it's hard to tell."
Lawsuits At the start of his talk, Scirto said the Seneca Nation had sued to stop the STAMP development. It's unclear if that was a reference to the 2021 lawsuit filed against GCEDC that was later settled or if he believes there is a pending lawsuit. GCEDC officials are unaware of any pending lawsuit filed by the Seneca Nation.
Orleans County has filed a lawsuit in a dispute over the sewer pipeline project that runs north into Orleans County. It's not clear from the language of the suit that the aim is to "stop" STAMP, as Scirto claimed during the meeting. The Town of Shelby recently voted to join the lawsuit, even though Shelby previously approved the pipeline.
Whatever is going on with the lawsuits, Edwards Vacuum is not concerned, Ciurzynski said.
"It doesn't concern us because we do care about the environment," Ciurzynski said. "We care about the local people, the farmers. Something people need to know is Edwards Vacuum and Atlas Copco are really conscientious and intentional about their science-based initiatives to reduce their global footprint, global carbon footprint."
Returning to the issue of emissions raised by Scirto, Ciurzynski indicated Edwards has a plant in Korea doing what the Alabama plant will do, but it is "landlocked." It can expand. The STAMP site gives Edwards room for growth, but it also means its products will no longer be shipped by air cargo to the U.S., which will cut carbon emissions.
"Unfortunately, in building, you're not gonna make everybody happy," Ciurzynski said. "We can't keep everything pristine and green. We're trying to keep more than 60 percent of the site green. We're trying to make the building as green as possible by going all-electric, not having fossil fuels.
As part of the green effort, the site will have walking paths so people can enjoy the green space.
Masse said GCEDC has been complying with environmental regulations throughout the planning and development process.
"We've been working with the DEC, the Army Corps of Engineers, and our permit through the Wildlife Refuge took five years to obtain. There were two public meetings, and public hearings were held, and with that, there was a NEPA process done. We followed all the appropriate regulatory steps through this process to date. We are as transparent, and I think you would admit that we are as transparent and organization as you're going to find. We've done everything out in the open. We've done everything in the public. We've done every approval we need to do, and we continue to, and I don't think people realize how much the regulatory agencies have oversight over all construction, over all of the development. You talk stormwater management to the DEC. You talk about construction safety to the Town of Alabama. Operational-wise, it's the town of Alabama, it's the DEC. So there are enough regulatory agencies where I don't think a company would be able to do some of the things that had been said here today without being found immediately, without having somebody know what's going on. So I don't know if they just don't understand how development works. But the amount of oversight and regulatory oversight that happens in New York State is a lot."
The Seneca Nation Both Ciurzynski and Masse said Edwards and STAMP want to be good neighbors to the Tonawanda Indian Reservation.
"We do care about Native Americans," Ciurzynski said. "We want them to be part of our facility. We want them to work with us. We want them to work at our facility. We want to provide livelihoods so that they can have generational jobs that they don't have to drive miles to get to. It's right next door. You can have a good job and work with wonderful people in a LEAD-certified building that's as green as possible."
Masse said GCEDC has always been open to working with tribal leaders.
"We've been outreaching with the Nation diligently for at least the last seven years, if not the last 13," Masse said. "They just choose not to participate, which is their right."
Public Awareness As to the implication raised by Wackett that people have been kept in the dark, Masse noted that GCEDC has hosted a number of well-publicized public meetings and public hearings. There was ample opportunity 13 years ago to raise the objections being raised now.
"There are 60,000 people in Genesee County, and we had two people show up who opposed this and said they said they had 500," Masse said. "In the grand scheme of things, you know, I understand people want to be heard. But the majority of the people here, like the Town of Alabama, spoke 13 years ago. And quite honestly, the time to express your concerns about the project would have been 13 years ago when we were going through the EIS process. I think we held 25 to 30 public meetings. So you know, that process was a public process. And there are a lot of concerns voiced, but at the end of the day, the community overwhelmingly was in favor of it."
David Ciurzynski, a local consultant representing Edwards Vacuum, during his presentation on Thursday to the Genesee County Planning Board. Photo by Howard Owens.
Evelyn Wackett, a wildlife rehabber from Erie County, spoked against STAMP at Thursday's Planning Board meeting. Photo by Howard Owens.
Voters in the Le Roy Central School District will be asked to vote on a proposed $12.5 million capital improvement project that would provide upgrades to buildings and facilities in the school district and not result in additional taxes levied on properties in the district.
The vote was approved by the Board of Education on Tuesday and is scheduled for noon to 8 p.m. on Dec. 5 in the Library Media Center of Wolcott Street School.
Mia Gray scores Byron-Bergen's third goal in the first half. Photo by Howard Owens.
Using artful ball handling and precision passing, Byron-Bergen picked apart Alexander's defense and notched its 13th win of the season in Girls Soccer, beating the Trojans 6-0.
Scoring:
Makenzie Hagen, assisted by Mia Gray
Emma Starowitz, assisted by Mia Gray
Mia Gray, unassisted
Mia Gray, assisted by Libby Starowitz
Grace Diquattro, unassisted
Makenzie Hagen, assisted by Mia Gray
Nova Pocock and Natalie Prinzi combined in goal for the shutout.
"We do have very talented players," said Head Coach Wayne Hill when asked about his team's quality play. "They’ve put a lot of time in over the years working on their skills. We have an excellent JV and modified program with equally fantastic coaches. They prepare our kids to succeed at each level."
The Bees, with one regular season game left at home on Friday against Wheatland-Chili, are 13-3 and seeded #4 in Class C2.
All three losses for the Bees game against higher-class teams -- 2-0 to Class AA Our Lady of Mercy, 4-1 to Class A Aquinas, and 5-4 against Class B Nichols.
"We’ve played a difficult schedule this year, which we are hoping prepares us for a successful postseason," Hill said.
Last season, Byron-Bergen went into the post-season undefeated and didn't lose until the state championship semifinal game in Cortland.
For more photos or to purchase prints, click here.
Elizabeth Starowitz takes at a goal in the first half of play. Photo by Howard Owens.
MacKenzie Hagen reacts to a missed goal opportunity after Alexander goalie Madison Bezon blocks the shot. Photo by Howard Owens.
Mia Gray. Photo by Howard Owens.
Alexander's Sophia Pellegrino with the ball. Photo by Howard Owens.
Emma Starowitz and Coach Wayne Hill. Photo by Howard Owens.
Alexander's Madison Fuller. Photo by Howard Owens.
Mia Gray. Photo by Howard Owens.
Emma Starowitz Photo by Howard Owens.
Emma Starowitz Photo by Howard Owens.
Mia Gray Photo by Howard Owens.
Mia Gray defended by Aaliyah Wright. Photo by Howard Owens.
A 30-year-old Batavia resident has been accused of dealing drugs following a six-month investigation by the Local Drug Task Force.
Leonard A. Johnson, III, is charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree. The charges are Class B felonies.
Johnson is accused of selling crack cocaine to an agent of the task force in Batavia on two separate occasions.
Following an arraignment in County Court on the sealed Grand Jury indictment, Johnson was released on his own recognizance.
The task force was assisted by Sheriff's deputies and the District Attorney's Office in the investigation and apprehension of Johnson.
Behind a hat trick by Ella Shamp, the Batavia Blue Devils won their 13th game of the season in Girls Soccer, beating Livonia on Monday 5-0.
Lilly Mileham and Ady O'Donnell (assisted by Ava Darling) scored Batavia's other two goals.
Shamp's goals were assisted by Kylee Brennan and Anna Varland (twice).
Coach Roger Hume said, "Junior Goalie Ava Higgins had another strong night in net after coming off a fantastic effort against Le Roy on Saturday night. Ava’s five GA accomplished so far this season is the lowest I have seen in my 15 years as BHS Varsity Girls Soccer Coach. This team continues to surprise me. The team's day off of school seemed to show up in a very lackluster warmup, but after 20 minutes of even play the team really started to control play by tying multiple passes together. Our pressure on the ball and our switching of the fields allowed us to take advantage of the space behind the back line.
Batavia is 13-0-1 on the season and plays Greece Olympia next.
Akeem R. Gibson being taken into custody by law enforcement at 335 Bank St., Batavia, on July 30. File Photo by Howard Owens.
Akeem R. Gibson is indicted on counts of reckless endangerment in the first degree, a Class D felony, fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, a Class A misdemeanor, speeding, a traffic infraction, criminal trespass in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor, resisting arrest, a Class A misdemeanor, and obstructing governmental administration, a Class A misdemeanor. Gibson is accused of driving a vehicle into oncoming traffic on July 30 on Walkers Corners Road, Town of Byron, showing depraved indifference to human left, creating a grave risk of death to another person. He is accused of fleeing a patrol car at speeds that exceeded 25 mph over the posted speed limit. He is accused of entering an apartment at 335 Bank St., Batavia, and remaining unlawfully in the dwelling. He is accused of trying to prevent a police officer from lawfully placing him under arrest.
Nahzaire N. Murray and Dezirae J. Martin are indicted on counts of grand larceny in the third degree, a Class D felony and of conspiracy in the fifth degree. Murray and Martin are accused of working together is steal property from Ulta Beauty in Batavia that was valued at more than $3,000.
Cody A. Bush is indicted on counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, a Class D felony and menacing in the second degree. Bush is accused of using a knife to cause another person to be in reasonable fear of serious physical injury or death on April 22 in the City of Batavia.
Brianna N. Greene is indicted on a count of grand larceny in the fourth degree, a Class E felony. Greene is accused of stealing property from Dick's Sporting Goods on Jan. 8 that was valued in excess of $1,000. In a separate indictment, Greene is also charged with one count of bail jumping in the second degree for alleged failure to appear in Town of Batavia Court on Dec. 20 on a felony charge.
Jamie L. Broadbent is indicted on five counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree, a Class E felony, and one count of petit larceny, a Class A misdemeanor. Broadbent is accused of stealing a wallet containing five credit cards that were issued in the name of another person.
Russell R. Lawrence is indicted on counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree, a Class E felony, reckless endangerment in the first degree, a Class D felony, and unlawful fleeting from police, a Class A misdemeanor. Lawrence is accused of possessing a stolen 2005 Chevrolet Silverado with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of the property on June 3, and of demonstrating depraved indifference to human life by recklessly driving a motor vehicle through an intersection in Le Roy, nearly colliding with another vehicle that was lawfully in the intersection, and of fleeing a patrol vehicle at speeds that exceeded by the speed limit by at least 25 mph.
Christopher S. Usselman is indicted on counts of criminal mischief in the third degree, a Class E felony and obstructing governmental administration in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor. Usselman is accused of intentionally damaging a table worth more than $250 that belonged to another person on April 18 and while at the Genesee County Jail on April 18 of trying to prevent government officials from performing their duties.
Robert D. Griffen is indicted on counts of DWI, a Class E felony and criminal mischief in the fourth degree, a Class A misdemeanor. Griffen is accused of driving drunk in a 2006 Ford on Ellsworth Avenue, Batavia, on July 19, and of intentionally damaging a wall in an interview room at the Batavia Police Department headquarters.
Caroline R. Salemi, 87, of Ellicott Avenue, and Timothy A. Burch, 61, of Ellicott Avenue, are charged with unlawful eviction and petit larceny. Salemi and Burch are accused of removing a tenant's property from an apartment and moving in another tenant without properly evicting the tenant. They also allegedly disposed of some of the tenant's property.
Warren Thomas Cotton, 46, no permanent address, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Cotton was allegedly found in possession of methamphetamine after deputies and troopers located a disabled vehicle on Route 33 in Stafford at 10:31 on Sept. 24. Cotton was a passenger in the vehicle and was allegedly found to have a warrant for his arrest. He was held in the Genesee County Jail pending arraignment.
Marcelis Arroyo, no age or residence provided, and Eliezer Morales, no age or residence provided, are both charged with petit larceny. Arroyo and Morales are accused of stealing something at Darien Lake Theme Park on Sept. 23. Both were issued appearance tickets.
Tony Robert Graber, 44, of East Avenue, Marilla, is charged with burglary 2nd and criminal contempt 1st. Graber is accused of violating a stay-away order of protection at 1:45 p.m. on Sept. 6. He was ordered held without bail.
Joel D. Prouty, 37, of Thomas Avenue, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 1st. Prouty is accused of contacting a person in violation of a stay-away order of protection via phone calls while in the Genesee County Jail. Prouty was arraigned in City Court and returned to the jail.
Gregory Gatson, Jr., 33, of Magee Avenue, Rochester, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and speeding. Gatson was stopped at 12:55 a.m. on Sept. 30 on Route 33 in Stafford by Deputy Ryan Mullen. He was released on an appearance ticket.
Johnny Burton Koonce, 33, of Conlon Road, Le Roy, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Koonce is accused of violating a stay-away order of protection at 2:38 a.m. on Oct. 3 at a location on Conlon Road, Le Roy. He was helped pending arraignment.
Joseph Frank Kosnik, 54, of Maple Road, Corfu, is charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle 3rd. Kosnik is accused of operating a truck without the owner's permission at 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 3 on Treadeasy Drive in Batavia. He was ordered to appear in court at a later date.
Jason M. Knobloch, 53, of Pembroke, is charged with DWI/alcohol or drugs. Knobloch was stopped by State Police in the Town of Pembroke at 11:14 p.m. on Oct. 3. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Ronald T. Bliss, 45, of Cheektowaga, is charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Bliss was arrested in connection with an incident reported at 10:51 p.m. on Oct. 2 in the Town of Pavilion. he was issued an appearance ticket. The State Police withheld further information about the case.
An officer checks the VIN of a vehicle from a chase that stopped at 5 Summit before the suspect fled on foot. Photo by Howard Owens
A suspect who fled from a Batavia police patrol attempting to make a traffic stop at Ellicott Street and Liberty Street was not located following an early Sunday morning search in the area of Washington Avenue and Summit Street.
At 12:25 a.m., an officer observed a Ford Edge that was facing south in the northbound lane, according to Det. Eric Hill, in his role as public information officer for Batavia PD. When the officer attempted to stop the vehicle, it ran a red light and sped away.
There was a short pursuit when the driver apparently lost control trying to negotiate a turn from East Main Street onto Summit Street, stopping in the driveway of 5 Summit St.
The suspect exited the vehicle and fled on foot, running north through backyards, and was last seen by an officer heading west on Washington Avenue in the area of 221 Washington Ave.
The suspect was described as black, approximately 30 years old, wearing a plaid jacket.
A perimeter was established with patrols stationed at Washington and Summit, Bank and Washington, Bank and North, and North and Summit. A K-9 was deployed for the search.
At 2:18 a.m., the search was halted without officers locating the suspect.
Hill said the vehicle is valid and has not been reported stolen.
Anyone with information or in the area of the perimeter is asked to check their cameras and contact Batavia PD at 585-345-6350.
UPDATE: The Sheriff's Office reports that it has identified the person in the photo. No further information was released.
Press release:
The Genesee County Sheriff's Office is looking to identify a person of interest in a hit-and-run motor vehicle accident that occurred on Oct. 4 at around 6:20 p.m. in the parking lot of Batavia Downs and Gaming.
The operator of the vehicle was driving a dark-colored pickup truck.
Any information can be forwarded to the Genesee County Sheriff's Office attention Deputy Jenna Ferrando at jenna.ferrando@co.genesee.ny.us or by contacting the non-emergency dispatch line at (585) 343-5000
The Genesee County Planning Board will consider a site plan review and final property subdivision for Edward Vacuum, $319 million dry pump manufacturing facility in WNY STAMP in Alabama.
The manufacturing facility will be 236,000 square feet and sit on a 50-acre parcel. Construction, by GEIS Companies of Streetsboro, Ohio, will require 47 acres to be disturbed.
The plant will be constructed on Crosby Drive, north of Stamp Drive, and will connect with a proposed Edward Lane on the east.
Construction will include a parking lot with 300 spaces.
Part of the site plan review includes an environmental review, including how stormwater runoff is being handled. The system will include detention ponds on site.
There is a possible wetland on the site, but the possible wetland is isolated and will be avoided in construction.
The dry pump manufactured at the plant is a critical component in semiconductor manufacturing and Edwards will be part of the supply chain in semiconductor manufacturing in the Albany area.
The plant is expected to employ more than 300 people. Edwards is expected to receive a sales tax exemption on construction of $4.34 million and a 20-year property tax abatement of $12.85 million through the Genesee County Economic Development Center.
The Genesee County Planning Board meets at 7 p.m. on Thursday at County Building #2.
