The Genesee County Sheriff's Office released an official statement last night citing a smoldering cigarette as the "probable" cause of the house fire at Lewiston Road Friday that claimed the life of 17-year-old Erik Mooney. WBTA reports that Mooney's mother, July Clark, "told investigators she had been smoking in the enclosed porch where the fire was believed to have started."
Previous related posts:
I've been noticing a trend at this particular intersection that is rather upsetting to me. I travel on 98 daily as I work in Batavia and live in Elba. What concerns me is the way the traffic light is set up for North and South bound traffic. When the light is red for South bound there is a green arrow for vehicles to turn left onto Route 5. After a period of time this arrow turns off and the green light for through traffic comes on. The Northbound light also has an arrow that turns on for vehicles turning left onto Route 5. As with the southbound it turns off and the green light comes on for through traffic.
What I have witnessed on numerous occasions are vehicles proceeding to make left hand turns across traffic long after the turn arrow has turned off. At least once a day I have seen near hits at this intersection, with todays incident being too close for comfort.
I am a member of a volunteer Fire Department who has responded to many accident calls over the years. I've seen my share of mangled vehicles with injuries of every description. All it takes is common sense and a couple extra seconds out of your busy day to ensure a safe journey to your destination.
I do have a suggestion that may or may not work. The addition of a red arrow above the green arrow to indicate that it is no longer safe to turn left. My hope is that someone will read this who has the expertise in traffic patterns to see if a change could be made.
The near hits will still happen until either a study is made or drivers take the time to make sure turning into traffic is safe for ALL vehicles at the intersection.
Joseph Mancuso was managing a hardware store when his family charged him with the impossible task of recruiting a tenant for a vacant hulk of a factory that measured nearly a million square feet. Once a foundry, bordered by freight rails and industry on all sides, the building was literally a community investment: the land had been bought in nickels and dimes by the residents of Batavia in the 1880s to attract big business to the area. They succeeded. But by 1956, the factory was finished.
Of course, Mancuso couldn't find anyone to take the space. It was the 1950s. His son, Tom Mancuso, told us a bit about the history that followed, and a funny little story about how the world came to know the business incubator. Enjoy!
When people look at individual posts, we're able to count how many times that happens. That doesn't tell us precisely how many people read that post, because most people probably read a post on the home page and never click-through to the post on its own page.
Individual story counts are probably driven by people leaving or reading comments, or getting the permalink (story URL) to send to a friend.
With that caveat, here's our Top 10 posts for May (the first month of existence for The Batavian).
Our most viewed video so far is of the Lewiston Road fire.
They say it's going to be ninety degrees by the end of the week. You'll probably be able to see the Niagara power station glow and hear it hum from a mile away as the pulse of a million or so air conditioners suck its electric stream. At least, that's the apocalyptic look on our upcoming summer heat surge — and anyone who remembers the great Northeast Blackout of '03 will know what I mean.
On a brighter note, sunshine and hot humid days also bring blooming bouquets. Batavia's Downtown Business Improvement District understands that, which is why they've financed the hanging of some 90 baskets of flowers on light poles along Main Street from the post office to Liberty Street. As you can see, they haven't quite bloomed yet, but the pretty purple petals are a pleasant sign of things to come.
BID Director Don Burkel says the flowers will "give color to Main Street" and just make it a better place to be for pedestrians and motorists. City crews mounted the baskets, and they will monitor the irrigation systems attached to the poles to keep the soil wet and the flowers growing.
As long as the weather holds, the baskets should stay out through September, says Burkel.
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:
Sunday:
Note: We don't include noise complaints, domestic disputes and routine police business.
From the Daily News (Monday):
Subscribe to the Daily News at BataviaNews.com, or pick up a copy at a local newsstand, such as Main Street Coffee.
Check out WBTA for these and other stories:
• A single engine Cessna plane crash on a flight from Batavia crashed in the town of Sweden near Brockport around noon yesterday. Nothing is yet known of the cause of the crash. Flight instructor Davy Merritt of Caledonia and his student Benjamin Bruce were hospitalized with serioues injuries. For more information and video coverage of the crash site, see News 10-NBC.
• Twenty-seven-year-old Maria Mitchel of Batavia pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempted murder after being arrested Friday. Mitchel was seen on video surveillance allegedly trying to suffocate her 7-month-old baby girl at Buffalo's Women and Children's Hospital.
• Nearly 100 parishioners of St. Paul's Lutheran Church took to the community yesterday with paintbrushes, baked goods, quilts and garden tools to help clean up and show their appreciation for their neighborhoods.
UPDATE: In a story posted at 5:27 p.m., the Buffalo News reports that officials are pointing to a smoldering cigarette as the likely cause of the fire.
Genesee County Emergency Management Services coordinator Timothy J. Yaeger said the victim's mother, Judy Clark, 41, had been smoking in an nclosed porch about half an hour before the fire broke out ...
---
WBTA reports that a discarded cigarette may have been the cause of the fire Friday morning that took the life of 17-year-old Erik Mooney.
The investigation continues and no conclusion has been reached.
The News 8 video report (warning: pre-roll advertising) says that Erik suffered from asthma and that may have contributed to his in ability escape the smoke-filled house.
The Buffalo News story includes quotes from officials and students at Erik's high school.
Erik was known among his classmates for his sense of humor and love of video games.
Fellow sophomore Roosevelt Little, 16, who shared several classes with Erik, described him as “laid back,” someone who loved to crack jokes and brighten others’ lives. Roosevelt said Erik was capable of getting all of the students he shared a table with in the cafeteria to laugh.
Erik was well-liked among his peers and became more outgoing as he got to know others, Roosevelt said.
“Some students were crying when they found out [about Erik’s death],” Roosevelt said. “Some were trying to hold in emotions. A lot left school early today.”
“Sometimes it feels like these things happen all at once,” he added, referring to another recent tragedy in the community.
The D&C story hasn't been updated, but a video has been added (again, pre-roll advertising).
Our Previous posts: Post #1, Post #2 (with our own video).
Interesting story this morning from the Buffalo News on struggles faced by chambers of commerce in the region in recruiting and retaining members.
Part of the problem is the increasingly global and distributed economy, and part if it is the "bowling alone" syndrome.
Local quotes:
At the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, the nearly 900 members pay dues that start at $190 per year. Chamber President Lynn Freeman said about 80 percent of members are 50 years old and up, and 20 percent are under 50. But beyond the age discrepancy, he said there is more pressure than before to produce results and show younger members “that this is not an old man’s club.”
In Genesee County, the chamber and the Junior Chamber, an unconnected group of 21-to 39-year-olds, are mutually beneficial, said Melissa George, the 2006 president of Batavia Area Junior Chamber. George, who is executive assistant for the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, said the JC promotes chamber of commerce membership.
We say: Join the Chamber. Join Rotary or the Lions or get involved with a literacy program or the animal shelter. There are all kinds of civic and community groups that need your support. Involvement and engagement is what fosters strong communities, drives the local economy, reduces crime and increases property values ... in other words, there are any number of "selfish" reasons to get involved beyond just plain feeling good about helping out and doing the right thing.
There are no new developments this afternoon in the Lewiston Road fire that claimed the life of 17-year-old Erik Mooney (previous post).
Attempts to contact fire officials this afternoon were unsuccesful.
We also tried contacting somebody with the area Red Cross to see what arrangements were being made to assist the family, but were unsuccessful.
Below are yearbook photos of Michael, 15, and Erik (right).
UPDATE: Video story from WHAM.
UPDATE II: Here's News 8 coverage. Watch the video to about 3/4 of the way in and notice how the reporter and producer insinuate that there is something suspicious about Erik not getting out of the house. Classic Mainstream Media technique to remain "objective" while pumping up the story with some controversy. It's not just a TV thing. Print does it, too. (Also, warning -- obnoxious pre-roll advertising on the video).
WKBW in Buffalo also posted a video report.
WIVB out of Buffalo has two video reports posted. Good, detailed, balanced and sensative stories.
In today's Daily News:
Subscribe to the Daily News at BataviaNews.com, or pick up a copy at a local newsstand, such as Main Street Coffee.
Press Release from the City of Batavia:
Please be advised that the Charter Review Commission for the City of Batavia will hold a meeting on Monday, June 2, 2008. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Work Room on the second floor of the Batavia City Centre.
The public can speak at the meeting by signing in with the Chairman prior to the start of the meeting.
Listen to WBTA AM 1490 for news updates throughout the day.
News 10 reports this morning that a 2 a.m. fire at 7881 Lewiston Road took the life of a 17-year-old boy.
Firefighters found him at the top of a staircase. He was taken to United Memorial Medical Center where he was prounounced dead at 3:30 a.m.
His brother managed to escape the fire by jumping from a bathroom window, but injured his arm in the fall.
The mother of the two boys escaped without injury.
The chief said the fire started on a porch and spread to the house. There were heavy flames when they arrived on scene.
The WHEC web story includes video.
We imagine WBTA will update its news page soon and will likely have the names of the victims this morning along with the latest additional information.
UPDATE: The names of the victims have not been released yet, WBTA reports.
UPDATE II: WBTA reports:
The Genesee County Sheriff's office has identified the boy as Erik Mooney of 7881 Lewiston Rd.
Erik, his mother, 41-year-old Judy Clark and 15-year-old brother Michael were all at home when the fire started. Judy suffered smoke inhalation. Michael cut his arm jumping from a bathroom window. Both were treated at UMMC in Batavia.
UPDATE III: The D&C reports:
Another resident, Scott Clark, 47, was not home when the fire broke out, deputies said. He was at work.
The brothers are both students at Oakfield-Alabama Central School District. District Superintendent Christopher Todd this morning said the mood in the 1,000-student distinct was somber and that many of the students were “having a tough day.”
“It’s awful, but we’ll band together,” he said. Grief counselors are available at Oakfield-Alabama Middle/High School today to assist students, faculty and staff, Todd said.
...
Judy Clark told firefighters that a sounding smoke detector and barking family dog alerted her of the blaze.
Genesee County Fire Coordinator and Manager Tim Yaeger said authorities are trying to confirm a report that Judy Clark attempted to extinguish the blaze with a garden hose this morning. He said authorities did not know whether that occurred before or after she called 911.
UPDATE IV: WHAM coverage can be seen here.
The D&C profiles Batavia's Brothers-All-Natural, which makes healthy crispy snacks.
Buried deep in the story is some pretty big news:
Brothers-All-Natural recently signed a multi-year license agreement with the Walt Disney Company to co-brand its product with Disney characters, to go into stores in July at Toys "R" Us, Kids "R" Us, Babies "R" Us and Wal-Mart.
"This is a huge stamp of approval when you get a name like Disney to associate themselves with your brand," said Matthew Betters, 36, co-CEO of Brothers-All-Natural.
Near the end of the story, we also learn the 15-employee company has offices in Ecuador and North Carolina, in addition to Batavia, but manufactures its products in China.
UPDATE: Here's the video. Original post below. We have no additional information at this time.
Fire dispatchers received a call of a house fire at 8700 S. Lake Road in Corfu area at about 2 p.m.
Apparently, nobody was home and there were no reported injuries.
A family of five rents the two-story structure. Reportedly, their cats were in the house and may have perished.
The fire appears to have started in the kitchen area, which sustained the most damage, and spread to the living room and up the stairs.
The Red Cross has been notified.
A cause has not been determined.
Units from Pembroke, East Pembroke, Corfu, Akron, Batavia and others responded.
We expect to post a video within a couple of hours (assuming no technical difficulties).
A reporter from WBTA was also on scene, so tune into 1490 for further reports.
6:05 a.m., 8 Masse Place, criminal mischief
7:10 a.m., 136 W. Main St., accident
12:13 p.m., 40 City Centre, larceny
3:34 p.m., 10 W. Main St., criminal contempt
5:25 p.m., 116 State St., fight
6:02 p.m., 260 State St., larceny
9:45 p.m., Ellicott St., harassment
I forgot to count the total number of items, frankly. We don't include noise complaints, domestic disputes and routine police business.
UPDATE: Also, we received a press release from the BPD on an arrest made yesterday at 5:15 p.m. Charged with meanacing 2nd degree and criminal possion 4th was Kim R. Ransom of 218 State St. Ransom was held on $1,000 bail. She was charged after she reportedly displayed a knife and threatened another person.
From today's Daily News:
The Daily News is available at local news stands, including at Main Street Coffee, and you should subscribe, and can do so on the Daily News web site.
WBTA has posted several items available in it's June 7 "Father's Day" auction.
Interesting items include:
The auction will run from 9 a.m. to noon.
Dan Fischer just told me that he'll be posting more items this afternoon.
Merchants who still wish to participate have until tomorrow to contact WBTA.
Copyright © 2008-2022 The Batavian. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
