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Pavilion trustees approve confirmed tax rate for 2023-24

By Howard B. Owens

The tax rate in the Pavilion Central School District for 2023-24 is final, and the numbers are in alignment with budget projects from earlier this year, Donald Childs, school business official, told the Board of Education on Monday.

The board approved the tax warrants for the academic year.

The tax rate in the Town of Pavilion will be $16.68 per $1,000 of assessed value, a decrease from $16.73 this school year.

The rate for Bethany will be $19.06, up from 18.19; for Stafford, $16.34, down from $16.73; and, in Le Roy, $20.93, up from $20.16.

Outside of Genesee County, the towns of Covington, Middlebury, Caledonia, Leicester, and York also all contribute to the total tax levy.

The total tax levy is $5,788,283, which is a $85,396 over 2022-23.

The total assessed value of property in the district is $324,875,934.

The total spending plan for the 2023-24 academic year is $18,869,393, which voters approved in May.  The approved budget is 3.18 percent higher than 2022-23, for a total increase in spending of $582,042. 

At the time of the budget vote, district finance officers can only estimate the tax rate because town assessments are not always final. Once the total assessed value within the district is known, school districts can finalize the tax rates.

Photo: DOT begins dismantling Louie's Barber Shop building on Ellicott Street

By Howard B. Owens
louis barbershop on route 63
Photo by Howard Owens

Work crews and contractors for the NYS Department of Transportation began dismantling the former Louie's Barber Shop at 229 Ellicott Street (Route 63) today.

The building sits on a state highway right of way, and the state allowed the barber shop to continue operation so long as owner Rich Lamkin continued remained active in the business. Lamkin retired earlier this year.  The barber shop was originally owned by Louie Fanara.

A portion of the Pok-A-Dot is also on the state's right of way, and there is an agreement in place between the business and the DOT to allow the restaurant to occupy that space.

Photo: 'Ribbon' cutting at Jersey Mike's franchise on Lewiston Road

By Howard B. Owens
jersey mike ribbon cutting 2023
Photo by Howard Owens

The new Jersey Mike's franchise opened this morning with a "ribbon" (in this case, a strip of sandwich paper wrap) cutting.

The location on Lewiston Road is in the parking lot of the former Kmart store.  The new shop's neighbors are Starbucks and Tropical Smoothie. Those businesses have not yet opened.

Pictured are Jonathan Duque, Marlon Duque, Brooklyn Zeier, Kayla Sexton, Evan Mayer, Town of Batavia board member Patti Michalak, and Betsy Mihm, representing Special Olympics.

Mayer is the franchise owner.  Mayer and his staff in the photo are all from New Jersey.  The beachballs are meant to represent the Jersey Shore.

The Kmart property is being developed by Florida-based Benderson Development. The company is also planning a second building for similar businesses in the parking lot.  No plans have been announced yet for the former Kmart building itself.

Pavilion Central School considering hiring school safety consultant

By Howard B. Owens
mary kate hoffman pavilion superintendent 2023
Mary Kate Hoffman, superintendent of Pavilion Central School District.
Photo by Howard Owens.

Pavilion Central School District is looking at spending nearly $69,000 on a consultant who would visit district schools and assess their security vulnerabilities. 

Most, if not all, of the expense, could be covered by state aid to school districts.

The Board of Education voted on Monday to table the proposal in order to first talk with the consultant, Don Shomette, via Zoom during its Aug. 28 meeting.

A couple of board members called the fee "pricey."

According to Superintendent Mary Kate Hoffman, Shomette has previously worked for Oakfield-Alabama Central School District and Geneseo School District.

"This is something we've talked about for five years, ever since we first started the SRO program, and I think about as I'm reading through (the proposal) it's like it's got to be better than some contractor coming in and saying, 'oh, you should do the windows' or 'you should do this, or you should do that,' you know. I know it's pricey, but for me, I was ok with it," said Board Vice President Jeff Finch. 

When Hoffman asked if he would like to have a meeting with Shomette, Finch said yes.

"Because we can ask him straight up, why is this so pricey?" Finch said. "I mean, obviously, he must have had that question before, so let's do that."

Hoffman described Shomette as a school violence prevention expert with 30 years of experience. She said that he would visit the school campuses -- at a price of $29,500 each -- and "really take a look at every lock, every door, the windows, check every entrance of our schools."

He would then produce a report with specific recommendations about how to improve school safety.

The proposal also includes a $9,875 fee for staff development training.

"His ultimate goal as part of this," she said, apparently quoting him, "is to 'keep away fear, anxiety and threat of violence so students and teachers can direct their efforts on classroom success instead of personal safety. By doing so, students, teachers and parents will achieve a richer experience and higher levels of physical growth.' 

"Now, that sounds very interesting," Hoffman said. "His message is, 'School safety is more than a locked door, a locked window, a procedure for lockdown. It is the relationships you build between your staff and your students.'"

NOTE: The Batavian promised a follow-up story on the appointment of Deputy Trevor Sherwood to the position of school resource officer in Pavilion. We anticipated receiving a copy of the memorandum of understanding between the school district and the Sheriff's Office, which was approved by the board on Monday, and is public record, but Hoffman declined to provide it today. We also made written and telephone requests for an interview on Tuesday, which we anticipated getting, but we were unable to get that interview with Hoffman.  So we have no follow-up story at this time.

Photos: Corfu's National Night Out and Farmers Market

By Howard B. Owens
corfu-national-night-out-farmers-market

The Village of Corfu hosted its National Night Out -- an event held in communities throughout the U.S. to bring together public safety officers and communities -- along with its weekly Farmers Market. The market is open each Monday evening, as it was yesterday.

Photos by Howard Owens.

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corfu-national-night-out-farmers-market
corfu-national-night-out-farmers-market
corfu-national-night-out-farmers-market
corfu-national-night-out-farmers-market
corfu-national-night-out-farmers-market

Pavilion AD offers school board refresher on state's coach licensing requirements

By Howard B. Owens
pavilion athletic dierctor matt roth
Pavilion Central Schools Athletic Director Matt Roth addressing the Pavilion Board of Education on Monday evening.
Photo by Howard Owens.

Serving as a high school sports coach takes a lot more than understanding where to put the Xs and Os if school districts are to abide by New York State regulations, a Matt Roth, athletic director in Pavilion, laid out for the Pavilion Board of Education on Monday night.

Non-teacher coaches have a multi-year program of classes they need to take and that total cost to the coach can exceed $700.

"This is for any coach who is board-approved," Roth said. "They have to have all of these classes. They can't just show up and help out anymore."

For the non-teacher coach, there are nine steps that must be completed at the time of application.  It's about a two-month process to get the initial temporary coaching license, Roth said.

"When I came here two years ago, I kind of went through this with everybody, but I just wanted to give everybody a refresher on it," Roth told the board at the start of his report.

The candidate must submit evidence of an acceptable first aid and CPR course completion along with completion of a child abuse identification worship, a school violence and prevention and intervention worship, and training in dealing with harassment, bullying, cyber-bullying and discrimination in schools. The would-be couch must also submit fingerprints and be cleared through a database check.

Then they are eligible to coach for one or two years on a temporary license. They must pay a $50 fee for each sport they wish to coach.

In years three, four, and five, they must complete a fundamentals of coaching course, along with courses on contusions, protecting students from abuse, and a course on student cardiac arrest.

In the next level, they must complete courses in student mental health and suicide prevention, heat illness prevention, first aid for coaches, and a sport-specific course. 

If the non-teacher coach is still going in year six, then the coach needs to apply for a professional coaching license.  

At that point, the coach must complete course in bullying and hazing, strength and conditioning, teaching and modeling behavior, engaging effectively with parents, and sportsmanship.

The courses are offered online by the National Federation of High School Sports, and most are free, but some have fees ranging from $25 to $50.

The professional coach must reapply for a license every three years, which involves refresher courses in first aid and CPR, along with a positive evaluation from the athletic director.

"The teacher coaching requirements, they are a little bit easier because they've already taken some of the coursework," Roth said. "A teacher only needs to have first aid and CPR to get started in their first three years, and then they are supposed to complete the same courses that nonteacher coaches have at two years and complete levels one, two and three within five years of starting."

Graham CEO rings opening NYSE opening bell to commemorate 55 years as a public company

By Howard B. Owens
Remote video URL

On Monday morning, Graham Corp. President and CEO Dan Thoren, accompanied by executive team members, rang the opening bell on the New York Stock Exchange to commemorate the company's 55th anniversary as a publicly traded company.

In a statement, Thoren said, “We are proud to commemorate fifty-five years as a public company by participating in the opening bell ceremony at the New York Stock Exchange.  This is a tribute to every associate at Graham who worked hard this past year to bring us to record sales and orders.  Their dedication to Graham and their deep engagement with their work for our valued customers and the security of our nation makes me excited for our future.”

 

Deputy Trevor Sherwood named new SRO for Pavilion

By Howard B. Owens
sheriff deputy sherwood
Trevor Sherwood, center, upon graduation from the law enforcement academy at Niagara County Community College in 2021.
From left, Chief Deputy-Road Patrol Brian M. Frieday, Sheriff William A. Sheron, Jr., Deputy Trevor J. Sherwood, Investigator Pete Welker, Undersheriff Bradley D. Mazur.
Sheriff's Office photo.

Deputy Trevor Sherwood, a Batavia High School graduate who was a star athlete in baseball and basketball, was approved by the Pavilion Board of Education on Monday night as the school district's new resource officer.

The board voted unanimously to approve a new memorandum of understanding with the Genesee County Sheriff's Office.

Superintendent Mary Kate Hoffman told the board that a committee interviewed four deputies for the position and recommended Sherwood.

Sherwood joined the Sheriff's Office on road patrol in early 2021.

The SRO position became vacant after Deputy Jeremy McClellan was reassigned to road patrol at the end of the 2022-23 academic year at the apparent request of the school district, which was a move several parents protested.

The Batavian will have a more complete story on Tuesday.

trevor sherwood
Trevor Sherwood playing basketball for the Batavia Blue Devils in 2015.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Trevor Sherwood playing basketball for the Batavia Blue Devils in 2015. Photo by Howard Owens.
Trevor Sherwood playing basketball for the Batavia Blue Devils in 2015.
Photo by Howard Owens.

BHS grad and aspiring sports broadcaster encouraged by ESPN legend at Jim Kelly Classic

By Howard B. Owens
jim kelly tournament at terry hills 2023
Jim Kelly welcomes golfers to the annual Jim Kelly Celebrity Golf Classic at Terry Hills in Batavia.
Photo by Howard Owens.

After Jim Kelly, the Buffalo Bills Hall of Famer and host of the annual tournament at Terry Hills that bears his name, the celebrity who invariably gets the most attention upon his arrival year after year is sports broadcasting legend Chris Berman. 

On Monday, after local businessman Russ Romano introduced him, Berman took extra time to talk with Griffin Della Penna, a Batavia High School graduate now working on his Master's degree in broadcasting and digital media at Syracuse University. 

Della Penna said Berman was his earliest inspiration.

"I’ll never forget watching Sportscenter for the first time with my dad when I was six years old, and Chris Berman was on the screen," Della Penna told The Batavian. "I loved his passion and how you could tell that he genuinely loved his job. Since that day, I’ve admired him, and he ignited a dream of being in his shoes someday."

It was Della Penna's first time meeting Berman, though he had hoped to meet him last year.

"For years, I’ve known that he’s been to the tournament and spent time in Western New York, but our paths never crossed," Della Penna said. "I worked the tournament last year and was bummed to know that he wasn’t going to be in attendance. To be able to meet one of my heroes today is something that I’ll never forget. While people are coming up to him telling him where to go for registration or to sign autographs, he politely told them to wait because he wanted to learn more about me and my broadcasting journey! That was the best feeling in the world when he asked me about my time at Canisius and how my program at Syracuse has been so far. He asked how much I love this profession, and he had a huge grin when I told him, 'this isn’t work to me because I’m so passionate about it.' He told me how he had that same mentality with his first job at a small market in Rhode Island and carried that into his big break at ESPN. At the end of our conversation, I told him how much it meant to me to talk to me, and he said, 'I look forward to hearing you when you make it big, Griffin.'”

In addition to a stint as "The Voice of the Muckdogs," Della Penna has held down various internships and freelance sports journalism gigs while attending Canisius. He's also received a couple of awards and scholarships while in college.

Berman, along with the other sports stars and celebrities in attendance, was at Terry Hills for the annual Jim Kelly Celebrity Golf Classic, which is a fundraiser for the Kelly for Kids Foundation. The foundation provides grants to assist disadvantaged and disabled youth in Western New York.

sports broadcasting legend Chris Berman and griffin della penna
Griffin Della Penna poses with ESPN sports broadcasting legend Chris Berman.
Photo by Howard Owens.
sports broadcasting legend Chris Berman and griffin della penna
Chris Berman speaking with Griffin Della Penna.
Photo by Howard Owens.
jim kelly tournament at terry hills 2023
Photo by Howard Owens.
jim kelly tournament at terry hills 2023
Photo by Howard Owens.
jim kelly tournament at terry hills 2023
Thurman Thomas arriving at Terry Hills.
Photo by Howard Owens.
jim kelly tournament at terry hills 2023
Former Pro Bowler receiver Gerald McNeil at the autograph table.
Photo by Howard Owens.
jim kelly tournament at terry hills 2023
Kato Kaelin, with his wife Shengyi Xue, waits to step up to the autograph table behind Scott Norwood and Willie "Hutch" Jones. Jones is a former NBA player born in Buffalo who now runs the Willie Hutch Jones Sports and Education Program, a non-profit in Buffalo. Norwood is a former Bills kicker. Xue is a model and actress. And Kaelin, is, well, Kato Kaelin. 
Photo by Howard Owens.
jim kelly tournament at terry hills 2023
Johnny Damon, former star centerfielder with the Oakland As, Boston Red Sox, and New York Yankees, at the autograph table. Russ Romano on the left.
Photo by Howard Owens.
jim kelly tournament at terry hills 2023
Johnny Damon with WBTA's Nici Johnson.
Photo by Howard Owens.

Smoke in the building reported at Alex's Place in Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

Smoke in the building is reported at Alex's Place, 8322 Park Road.

The building is being evacuated.

Town of  Batavia Fire responding.

UPDATE 5:01 p.m.: The fire is out. Somebody on location used a fire extinguisher. There is smoke in the building.

UPDATE 5:09 p.m.: Confirmed. The fire is out. Firefighters are ventilating. 

DOT to replace 'Federal Rd' street signs at 98 and Federal Drive

By Howard B. Owens
federal drive traffic signals
Photo by Howard Owens

Last week, The Batavian published photos of the new traffic signals at Oak Orchard Road and Federal Drive and noted that the new street signs read "Federal Rd."

We asked a Department of Transportation official about the discrepancy and this morning received this statement:

“A contractor installed an incorrect sign on Federal Drive. The sign will be replaced and the new traffic signal will be activated into its 3-color operation later this week, weather permitting.”

We sent a follow-up question about the cost of replacing the signs and have not received a response.

Power outage reported in Batavia, Stafford, Byron and Bethany

By Howard B. Owens

There are 2,133 National Grid customers without power in an area that stretches from the northeast quadrant of the City of Batavia to the Town of Le Roy on the east, and from north of Clinton Street Road in Bryon to Route 63 in East Bethany.

The power outage was reported at 6:23 and is expected to be resolved by 8:30 p.m.

UPDATE 7:18 p.m.: National Grid is on scene on Clinton STree Road but has not yet located the source of the outage.

After more than 50 years of wandering around the community, Batavia Players have a place to call home again

By Howard B. Owens
batavia players main st. 56 opening night
The first patrons enter the new Main St. 56 Theater in City Center, Downtown Batavia,, on Friday, for the new theater's first show, Cry Baby, The Musical.
Photo by Howard Owens.

A wandering band of nomadic thespians has finally arrived home.

For the first time since the late 1960s, when the troupe abandoned the dilapidated Playhouse at Horseshoe Lake, the Batavia Players has a theater to call its own.

The Players staged its first show on Friday night at the new Main St. 56 Theater in City Centre.

Norm Argulsky, board secretary, prop manager, and house manager, said the opening of the new theater is a dream fulfilled for the entire group.

"At long last, we are finally in a theater that we really want to be in," Argulsky said as patrons filled the lobby waiting to enter the first performance of Cry Baby, The Musical, performed by members of the Summer Youth Theater. "This is it for pretty good Players. We're going to be here permanently. We have a home. We have a lovely theater. We have a great group of people working for us. They have worked very, very hard, extremely hard in order to have this come to fruition, and it finally did. I mean, we never thought it would happen. And now here we are, opening night. I feel like Broadway."

And Board President Pat Burk said the success of the opening night was a pleasant surprise.

"(Opening night) went extremely well," Burk said. "I was very surprised that we had our biggest audience in quite a few years.  We were excited that the audience had such a great reaction to the show."

Batavia Players is transforming (the project is far from complete) more than 14,000 square feet of former medical office space into a lobby, theater, dressing rooms, prop rooms, and office space at a cost of more than $1 million.

The project is made possibly largely through a portion of the Downtown Revitalization Grant awarded to the city by then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2017.

Batavia Players received $701,750 from the pot of $10 million in grant money awarded to various Downtown projects.   In 2020, the group was also awarded $417,000 from the New York Street Anchor Grant Program.

To complete the project, the Players still need to raise $265,000 from private donors. So far they've raised $41,000 (to make a donation, visit bataviaplayers.org).

Argulsky couldn't be more pleased with how things have turned out so far, though he's already running out of prop and costume space, he said.

"I love the theater, the actual theater. The theater is wonderful," Argulsky said. "I'm looking at my costume room, and I'm saying I don't think I have enough room. But the theater is absolutely great. I mean, the sightlines I've sat all over. I've been able to see the different perspectives from the seats, and there's not a bad seat in the house. So I think the audience will like it. I like the fact that there are wider seats, which are not going to be touching the shoulder of somebody else. And the sightlines are great. The sound is great. So I think everybody is going to enjoy being here."

The initial reviews from the first-night patrons standing in the lobby were positive.

Carol and Dave Waples drove from Spencerport for the opening and described themselves as big supporters of Batavia Players.

They love the fact that the new theater is downtown and were impressed with the overall ambience.

"Oh my gosh, unbelievable," Carol said. "I couldn't wait to get in here. We were so so excited about this. Yeah, it's very, very, very nice. Very impressive from what we've seen."

Co-workers Vicky Muckle and Lisa Casey teamed up to attend opening night. Muckle said she was also there to support a friend, Paige Sikorsky, who was appearing in the show.

"It's a definite improvement over the last place they were at, so I'm excited to get inside," Muckle said. 

Casey praised the project for "bringing life back to this area."

They had dinner downtown before the show and said that's the value of building the theater in downtown Batavia.

"You figure the DRI money was awarded in 2017, and now it's 2023, so to see it actually happening is really cool," said Casey, who worked in the City Manager's Office when the DRI award was announced. "I'm super excited. I didn't think I was to be here for the first actual show, so Vicki bought my ticket, and I'm so excited.

Except for that brief period at Horseshoe Lake in the 1960s, Batavia Players has never had a space it could really call its own.  

The Players were founded in 1931 by Ethel McIntosh, a Latin teacher at Batavia High School, and was comprised of 25 members to start. Their first production was "Beggar on Horseback" at Batavia High School (now the Middle School).  Until the 1960s, the Players performed shows at the New Family Theater on Main Street and in school auditoriums.

After abandoning the Playhouse, the Batavia Players almost disappeared until Wanda Frank helped revive the group.  When the school district started raising rental prices, the Treadway Motor Inn offered performance space as part of a dinner theater. In that era, they also performed at the newly constructed Genesee Community College campus.  In the following decades, the Batavia Players staged shows at schools and churches until renting space at the Harvester Center a few years ago.

(History Source: History of the City of Batavia by Ruth M. McEvoy.)

batavia players main st. 56 opening night
Photo by Howard Owens.
batavia players main st. 56 opening night
Photo by Howard Owens.
batavia players main st. 56 opening night
Lisa Casey and Vicky Muckle.
Photo by Howard Owens.
batavia players main st. 56 opening night
Norm Argulsky
Photo by Howard Owens.
batavia players main st. 56 opening night
Photo by Howard Owens.
batavia players main st. 56 opening night
Photo by Howard Owens.

East Pembroke Fire will ask voters to make it the first department to offer retirement benefits to volunteers

By Howard B. Owens

CORRECTION:  After receiving comments stating that East Pembroke is not the first to pursue LOSAP, The Batavian checked with Emergency Management Coordinator Tim Yaeger, who said Pavilion Fire instituted a LOSAP program in 2022.  We regret that we weren't aware of this program, but Pavilion Fire never sent out any announcement to the local media about the program. Despite comments to the contrary, no other department in Genesee County has instituted LOSAP. 

If voters in the East Pembroke Fire District approve the proposition on Aug. 29, volunteers in that fire department would become the first in Genesee County to have a chance to earn retirement benefits in exchange for their service to the community.

The proposal is a recruitment and retention strategy, said Fire District President James Gayton, to help avoid the expense of replacing volunteers with paid, career firefighters, which he noted would be far more expensive for taxpayers than the proposed retirement benefit.

"We were always told by the previous administration that we couldn't afford (the retirement program), that we didn't want to pay for it, but now that I'm in charge, I wanted to look into it," Gayton said. "The alternative is to go to a paid career staff, and do you really want to fund that -- verse $29,000 a year -- over our entire tax base?"

It's been well publicized over the past few years that volunteer fire departments, not just in Genesee County, are struggling to maintain a sufficient volunteer base to adequately respond to emergency calls.

Gayton sees the proposal -- the only way to legally compensate volunteers in New York -- as a potential way to attract new recruits as well as ensure that current members stick around.

The program, run by an insurance company known as LOSAP, or Length of Service Awards Program, would allow qualifying volunteers to earn $20 a month in retirement benefits for each year of service, with firefighters becoming fully vested after five years of qualifying service.

To qualify, firefighters need to accrue 50 points a year for responding to calls, going to training, helping out at fundraisers, and other service for the department.

"The requirements are so obtainable that a snowbird can get the points just in the six months they're up here," Gayton said.

Many current department members have years, if not decades, of service.  The proposal will allow them to qualify for immediate vesting, which Gayton called a "buyback." The buyback can only cover the most recent five years of service but the extra expense means taxpayers will need to contribute $112,000 a year for five years. After that, premiums are an estimated $29,000 a year.

The initial retirement age will be 65, but Gayton hopes the district can eventually lower it to 55.  He would also like to see the retirement payout increased to $30 a month once the "buyback" is paid off.

Once members are vested, their beneficiaries will receive a lump sum payment of any benefits they qualified for, up to 10 years of benefits, that haven't yet been paid out.

"A lot of guys don't think about retirement until the time is on them," Gayton noted.  He hopes the program will draw the attention of younger recruits who realize it's an easy way to start accruing a little extra retirement income.

He said that while no department in Genesee County has yet adopted the program, several departments have contacted him recently, and he said that most volunteer departments in Monroe and Erie counties participate.

There is a public hearing on the proposal at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the fire hall, 8655 Barrett Drive, Batavia.  An attorney will be on hand to answer questions.

The vote will be held at the fire hall from 6 to 9 p.m. on Aug. 29.

Photos: Songbirds pack Jackson Square for Friday night show

By Howard B. Owens
songbirds in jackson square
Christian Hehr, on lead guitar, performs with Songbirds in Jackson Square, Downtown Batavia, on Friday night.
Photo by Howard Owens.

A larger-than-typical crowd jammed into Jackson Square on Friday night to catch Fleetwood Mac tribute band Songbirds perform the legendary band's best-known songs.

The five-piece band formed in 2020 comprises musicians from Genesee County and the immediate area and has been growing in popularity throughout Western New York.

Band members are:

  • Dave Cocuzzi - Drums 
  • Jeffrey Fischer - Bass/Keys/Vocals
  • Christian Hehr - Guitar/Vocals
  • Maryssa Peirick - Keys/Vocals 
  • Julia Riley - Vocals/Aux Percussion/Ukulele 

Previously: It's more than just ‘Rumours’ that Songbirds pay tribute to Fleetwood Mac

songbirds in jackson square
Songbirds, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band, performs in Jackson Square on Friday night.
Photo by Howard Owens.

 

songbirds in jackson square
Singer Julia Riley.
Photo by Howard Owens.
songbirds in jackson square
Photo by Howard Owens.
songbirds in jackson square
Photo by Howard Owens.
songbirds in jackson square
Maryssa Peirick, keyboards and vocals.
Photo by Howard Owens.
songbirds in jackson square
Jeffrey Fischer on bass.
Photo by Howard Owens.
songbirds in jackson square
Dave Cocuzzi on drums.
Photo by Howard Owens.
songbirds in jackson square
Photo by Howard Owens.
songbirds in jackson square
Photo by Howard Owens.

Town planners give go ahead to travel center and apartments proposed for Pembroke

By Howard B. Owens
michael metzger genesee county planning board 2023
Engineer Michael Metzer presents plans for a 144-unit apartment complex on Alleghany Road in Pembroke to the Genesee County Planning Board on Thursday night.
Photo by Howard Owens.

Business growth in Pembroke is keeping Clarence-based engineer Michael Metzger busy.

He had two projects on the County Planning Board agenda on Thursday night -- a new travel center at the Thruway interchange and a 144-unit apartment complex proposed for Alleghany Road.

Earlier this year, Metzger was the engineer who helped present plans for a $142 million distribution center that is currently under construction next to the Thruway.

"Some of it is, quite frankly, driven by STAMP," Metzger told The Batavian after the planning board meeting.  "The apartment project that was presented tonight, by all means. Between the STAMP facility, what's been going on there, what's anticipated to be happening there, and the construction going on now at the interchange that will result in hundreds of new people working in that area, that's what Mr. (Mike) Schmidt (the apartment complex developer) is hoping for and planning for with (the apartment) project."

STAMP is the WNY Science, Technology & Advanced Manufacturing Park under construction in the Town of Alabama. The site is a 1,250-acre industrial park. Plug Power is building a $290 million hydrogen production facility on 50 acres of the park. Last fall, Edwards Vacuum announced plans to build a $319 million manufacturing plant on the site.

The distribution center planned for the interchange is being built by Horizon Acres Associations of Spring Valley and Geis Companies, based in Ohio.

The 144-unit apartment complex is proposed for 8900 Alleghany Road, about halfway between Cohocton Road and Route 5.  Immediately to the south of the currently wooded 8.2-acre lot is a farm field and a long-abandoned gas station.  A single-family home is on the land to the north.  The property is zoned limited commercial and agricultural-residential.

The County Planning Board recommended approval of the project pending approval of an application for a water hookup, a DEC review of any possible endangered species, and consultation with the Corfu Volunteer Fire Department on the potential need for another access point to the property.

The complex will be built in phases of 24 units each, for a total of six 24-unit buildings.  There will also be some garages available to some tenants.

The property will include stormwater retention ponds, though Metzger, after learning the Town of Pembroke requires "ponds" to be fenced, is no longer going to call them ponds in his plans since they won't always contain water. 

"They will be designed in accordance with the state stormwater regulations, which means that they have a safety bench around them, a shallow area, so that if someone should inadvertently end up in it, which is highly unlikely, but if they do, they can simply walk out," Metzger said.

As for the travel center, Metzger, after the meeting, declined to say who the tenant for the new facility will be.  The developer is, again, Geis.

The travel plaza will include diesel and gasoline fuel pumps, a convenience store with a drive-thru, and a car wash.

The lot is 46.6 acres, and the majority of the land is federally protected wetlands. The travel center will sit in the center of the property, on higher ground and not wetlands.  The developed area will be 16.6 acres.

The high ground is currently farmland.

Murder Creek runs through the property.

The property is directly across Route 77 from the TA Travel Plaza, and current plans call for the four-land driveway (two lanes in each direction) to align with TA's driveway. 

In addition to the TA Travel Plaza, Flying-J and Speedway also both have locations at the 48-A interchange.

Asked about the attraction for the developer to an interchange that already has three places for travelers to stop for fuel and supplies and a bit of rest, Metzger explained that the fact there are other travel businesses already at the interchange is exactly what makes it appealing to another travel plaza business.  The more locations at an interchange, he explained, the more likely travelers are to choose that interchange as a place for a break.

"There are times when you have one type of business at an interchange, such as a restaurant or a gas station, and it gets passed by because there isn't any interest," Metzger said. "It's a human nature thing to be attracted to other activity. So when there is an interchange that already has some activity, even if it could potentially be considered competitors, it has a tendency to attract a lot more traffic."

michael metzger genesee county planning board 2023
Engineer Michael Metzger presents plans for a new travel plaza at the Thruway interchange in Pembroke to the Genesee County Planning Board on Thrusday.
Photo by Howard Owens.

New traffic signals installed on Route 98 at Federal Drive

By Howard B. Owens
federal drive traffic signals

New traffic signals have been installed at the intersection of Oak Orchard Road (Route 98) and Federal Drive in Batavia.

The installation comes in conjunction with the construction of a new Rochester Regional Health facility at that location.

The NYS Department of Transportation initially announced that the yellow flashing light for northbound and southbound traffic would switch to a three-color light at the beginning of August, but as of yesterday, it remains yellow flashing.

NOTE: In the press release from the DOT, the DOT refers to the street as "Federal Drive." All maps and addresses for properties on that street are "Federal Drive."  As the photo shows above, the signs read "Federal Rd."  We've asked the DOT to clarify.

Photos by Howard Owens.

federal drive traffic signals

Felon from Binghamton accused of stealing pickups and tractor in Darien

By Howard B. Owens
larry l. keene of binghampton
Larry L. Keene

A Binghamton resident with prior felony arrests is accused of stealing two pickup trucks and a tractor in Darien three days ago.

All of the vehicles were recovered.

Larry L. Keene, 52, is charged with:

  • Attempted burglary in the second degree, a Class D felony;
  • Burglary in the third degree, a Class D felony;
  • Grand larceny in the third degree, a Class D felony;
  • Criminal mischief in the second degree, a Class D felony; and,
  • Criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree, a Class D felony.

The Sheriff's Office received a report of a burglary and thefts on Tuesday, with additional reports on Wednesday. The location, or locations of the thefts, was not disclosed by the Sheriff's Office.

One of the pickup trucks, which had been hauling a trailer, was located parked roadside on Tuesday at an undisclosed location in the Town of Darien. 

On Wednesday, the other pickup truck was spotted traveling eastbound on Route 20 in the Town of Darien. The pickup truck was located by patrols, including deputies, troopers, and a Sheriff's investigator on Route 20 in Pavilion. Keene was allegedly operating the truck.  He was taken into custody without incident and transported to the jail pending arraignment.

Investigators allege that Keene entered multiple buildings on a residential property, the location was not disclosed, in the Town of Darien, and attempted to enter the residence and stole the tractor and other items from inside a barn.

Keene was later arraigned and jailed without bail because of two prior felony convictions.

Following Keene's arrest, during an ongoing search, the tractor was located at an undisclosed location in the Town of Darien.

Members of the public assisted Sheriff's investigators, along with road patrol units and troopers, in locating Keene and the property.

Keene was convicted of burglary in the third degree, a Class D felony, in Broome County in August 2019 and released on parole in June 2021. There is no other prison term listed for Keene in the state database.

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