Friends and family of Deborah Maniace gathered on the Route 33 CRX overpass this evening to pay respects to Maniace, whose body was found early Saturday morning next to the railroad tracks. The cause of her death has yet to be determined.
Drive from Bergen to Batavia, southwest on Route 33, and just a mile or so from the Route 237 intersection, you will see a big red barn with "Oderkirk" in hand-painted big white letters on one end.
We've all seen it.
And this time of year, we've all noticed the sunflowers saturating the north side of the property, too.
The free sunflowers, it turns out, are just a ploy to get you to stop and buy vegetables from Richard Oderkirk.
The 69-year-old is a fifth generation farmer to operate the Oderkirk spread since 1877. But he's retired now and growing vegetables is both a hobby and a way to supplement his income.
"They're self-seeded," Oderkirk said about the sunflowers. "I try to exterminate a few more of them each year. They provide a lot of shade for my squash plants -- too much shade."
It's the winter squash that Oderkirk really hopes to sell each year -- it will be ready in a few more weeks, and when it is, even the cucumbers and tomatoes will be given away, so more people will stop and buy the squash.
And people do stop. Often with cameras in hand.
"I enjoy seeing people like the sunflowers," Oderkirk said. "I had an art student from GCC here 10 days ago taking pictures, and two girls yesterday. I'm happy seeing that."
The sixth and seventh generation of the Oderkirk family now live on the property. Once a dairy farm of 280 acres, it's now the 2.5-acre residence of Mary Thomas, her husband and daughter.
Asked what she thought of so many people driving by and admiring her property, Thomas said, "I’m surprised to hear somebody say that. I guess I didn’t think of the place like that. I see people stop to take pictures of the sunflowers. That’s nice. I get tickled when Dad gives them away for free."
Knowing that daughter Mary enjoys the sunflowers, Dad planted a small variety -- the plants closer to the road are HUGE -- on the far side of the barn, and if she squints between barn structures, Mary can see from her kitchen window.
Good naturally, she turned to her dad while we were taking and said, "They aggravate you because they’re not produce, but I love them because they add beauty. Everybody likes them, Dad."
Everybody does, even Richard, even if he doesn't always admit it.
More photos after the jump:
The Sheriff's Office is investigating the death of a woman whose body was found early this morning under the Route 33 overpass next to the CSX tracks in the Town of Stafford.
A CSX engineer on a westbound train contacted Sheriff's Dispatch at 5:53 a.m. about spotting the body of a woman along the tracks.
The woman was identified as Deborah Maniace, 47, of Batavia.
Coroner Kristine Flanigan pronounced Maniace dead at the scene.
No cause of death has been determined. Her body was transported to the Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy.
The investigation by the Sheriff's Office is continuing.
Four teenage girls were taken to area hospitals following a single-car rollover accident off of Buckley Road in Stafford at 3:45 p.m., Sunday.
Taken by Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital was Chelsea M. Mutter, 17. Also injured were driver Jessi M. Heale, 19, (also transported to Strong), Alexis R. Kenyan, 16, and Alison M. Budd, 17. Kenyan and Budd were taken to UMMC.
Mutter is listed in guarded condition at Strong. Strong lists all patients in ICU as "guarded."
Healey was reportedly driving her 1998 Chevy sedan down a stone lane in the area of 8740 Buckley Road when the car went onto the south shoulder for some reason. Healey reportedly overcorrected and lost control of the car. It overturned and landed on all four wheels.
No citations were issued.
The accident was investigated by Deputy Chad Minuto.
A rollover accident has been reported in the area of Buckley Road and Route 5 in Le Roy.
A person is trapped and there is reportedly an injury.
The vehicle is reportedly well off the road.
The patient is unconscious.
UPDATE 3:51 p.m.: One person conscious, one unconscious in the vehicle. Mercy Flight out of Buffalo is on in-air standby. Stafford Fire requesting a second ambulance.
UPDATE 4:01 p.m.: Mercy Flight responding with a 17 minute ETA. (Unrelated, but Elba Fire is responding to a reported plane crash in Wilson.)
When I got my new camera, one of the first barns I went out and photographed was on Griswold Road in Stafford.
I was actually never really satisfied with the results, so I've been looking for a chance to try it again. Yesterday, with clouds in the sky and bales of hay on the ground, it seemed like a good time to give it another try. These two pictures are the result.
And after the jump, two other previously photographed subjects.
I spotted the possibility of this hay field with its crop cut and rolled a few days ago, but wanted to go out on a clear morning for a picture. I did that this morning. The location is on Clinton Street Road near Griswold.
Mathew J. Sherman, 23, of 5547 Horseshoe Lake Road, Stafford, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Police responded to a report that a person had fled the scene of a fight at a local restaurant/bar. Sherman's car was spotted in the area of 344 Ellicott St. by Officer Mark Lawrence where he was stopped and determined to be allegedly DWI.
Benjamin L. Szabo, 18, of Clarence Center Road, Clarence, is charged with petit larceny. Szabo was reportedly working as an outside vendor at Kmart on June 30 when he allegedly stole an iPod from a backroom shelf.
Janice M. Colburn, 62, of Fargo Road, Corfu, is charged with driving while impaired by drugs. Deputy Chris Parker responded to a report of an erratic driver on Pearl Street at 2:14 p.m., Friday, and subsequently stopped Colburn's car.
Robert James Macklem, 20, of Prospect Avenue, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt. Macklem allegedly violated an order of protection by being with the protected person. He was jailed on $1,000 bail.
Christopher P. Tresco, age unknown, of 108 North St., is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Tresco was stopped at 2:12 a.m., Saturday, by Le Roy Police Sgt. Micahel J. Hare on East Main Street. Hare reportedly spotted Tresco driving on the Main Street Bridge with his headlights off.
Phillip M. Case, 20, of Hilton, is charged with trespass. Case was arrested by State Police at 9:02 p.m., Saturday, at 9993 Allegheny Road, Darien Lake. No further details were released.
Raymond Amaro, 23, of Yabocoa, Puerto Rico, is charged with DWI, harassment, 2nd, and resisting arrest. Amaro was arrested by State Police at 2:54 a.m., Saturday, in the Stevens Street Allen Foods parking lot. No further details were released.
Jesse Le Gould, 31, of South Main Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Gould is accused of going to an ex-girlfriend's house at 7:55 a.m., July 12, and pounding on the exterior of the house and yelling. Gould has been ordered not to have contact with the woman unless it is related to their child.
A two-car accident has been reported at the intersection of Randall and Buckley roads, Le Roy, with injuries.
Stafford Fire is responding.
One vehicle is blocking traffic.
You know, if I'm driving out in Genesee County somewhere, I'm looking for barns and other interesting photographic opportunities.
The barn above is on Randall Road in Morgansville.
This flower (Anybody know what it's called?) was in the field across from the barn.
More pictures after the jump:
Another flower in need of identification.
A rusting Pontiac off Selden Road, Le Roy.
It's views like these, I think, that help you appreciate just how sublimely beautiful Genesee County really is. This was taken on Selden Road, Le Roy.
Tonight was the 6th Annual "Taste of Stafford," which brought together Stafford's finest food and an event to honor the community's veterans (gathered above for a group picture).
Local businesses and community groups participated -- all to raise money to maintain the Stafford museum.
More pictures after the jump:
Michelle A. Parker is indicted on four counts, including grand larceny, 3rd, petit larceny, grand larceny, 4th and perjury,1st. Parker is accused of stealing in November 2006 from a bank branch in Batavia and making a false statement related to the case. The amount of the alleged thefts exceed $4,000.
Gerardo Pineda-Sanchez is indicted on a count of assault, 2nd, a Class D felony. Sanchez is accused of stabbing a victim with a knife April 28 in Elba.
Theodore R. Cooper is indicted on one count of grand larceny, 3rd, a Class D felony. Cooper is accused of stealing property valued in excess of $3,000 sometime between Dec. 30 and Feb. 3 from a Batavia resident.
Scott Stine (aka Scott Campbell) is indicted on a count of DWI. Stine is accused of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated on Lovers Lane Road, Batavia, on May 1.
Ami L. Blackmore is indicated on three counts related to driving while intoxicated. Blackmore is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and driving with a BAC of .18 or greater. Blackmore is accused of driving a car while intoxicated on Bloomingdale Road, Alabama, on Jan. 22.
Jamie R. Montgomery is indicted on two misdemeanor counts and one felony count related to an alleged DWI. Montgomery is charged with a misdemeanor count of DWI and a misdemeanour count of driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. She is charged with a Class E felony of aggravated unlicensed operation. Montgomery is accused of driving intoxicated on Route 5 in Stafford on March 17.
An RV fire with heavy smoke is reported in a yard at 6854 Clinton St. Road in the area of Warner Road. It is near a barn and it is unknown if it is occupied. Byron, South Byron, Stafford and Le Roy fire and Mercy EMS is called to respond.
UPDATE (12:55 p.m.): The fire is contained to the RV and is under control.
UPDATE (by Howard): Fire crews cleared the scene at 1:41 p.m. The possible cause was a fan left on to air out the trailer. The motor may have overheated.
At about 2:30 a.m. Monday June 21, 2010 a truck coming from the Stafford Carnival lost the trailer it was towing on Rt. 33 about a mile east of the Griswold Rd.
The trailer filled with prizes and some sort of game that was at the carnival traveled about 300 to 400 yards on its own causing the trailer to hit a mail box, a parked pickup truck that was for sale and coming to rest at a telephone pole about 200 yards west of the Waterman Road breaking it almost in half about 10 feet high.
Stafford Fire Dept. responded with Engine 94 and set up a light tower. Stafford units were back in service at 3:30 a.m.
There were no injuries.
Lucinda Dawn Barber, 40, of 141 Tracy Ave., Batavia, is charged with grand larceny, 4th. Barber is accused of stealing another person's wallet while in a check-out line at Walmart. Barber was jailed on $10,000 bail.
Robert J. Eppolito, 27, of 41 Maple St., Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and harrassment, 2nd. Eppolito allegedly pushed a person while that person was holding an infant. He was jailed on $1,000 bail.
Gregory Robert Lyons, 21, of Dry Bridge Road, Alexander, is charged with trespass. Lyons was allegedly operating an all-terrain vehicle on the old railroad bridge over Creek Road.
Kevin J. Compton, 48, of 9791 Clipnock Road, East Bethany, is charged with DWI. Compton was stopped at 2:10 a.m., Sunday, on Lake Street for alleged failure to use a turn signal.
Adam M. Kreutz, 21, of Byron-Holley Road, Byron, is charged with a felony count of DWI, felony driving with a BAC of .18 or greater and felony unlicensed operation. Kreutz was stopped at 2:04 a.m., Saturday, by Sgt. Greg Walker on Route 237, Stafford.
Stacey Jean Donahue, 36, of Cook Road, Byron, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Donahue is accused of striking another person in the face.
Michael S. Miller, 24, of East Eden Road, Eden, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, failure to keep right and moving from lane unsafely. Miller was stopped at 1:05 a.m., Saturday, by Deputy Chris Parker on Route 5, Pembroke.
Thomas M. Cromey, Jr., 33, of Chili-Riga Center Road, Rochester, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and failure to keep right. Cromey was stopped at 12:07 a.m., Saturday, by Deputy Chris Parker, on Route 237, Stafford.
Ashleigh Lynn Daniels, 22, of Kent Road, Kent, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and speeding. Daniels was stopped at 12:36 a.m., Saturday, by Deputy James Diehl on Route 33, Pembroke.
The Sixth Annual Taste of Stafford, sponsored by the Stafford Historical Society, will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 8 in Illette Park. The park is located at the intersection of routes 5 and 237.
Honored will be Stafford veterans of all wars and conflicts, to include individuals from the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, the Great War, World War ll, Korea, Viet Nam, the Gulf War and those who have served or are serving our country in the most recent conflicts around the world.
Tributes will be also shown to men and women who served or are serving in peacetime.
The Taste of Stafford is a great "old-tyme" community event, a chance to meet and chat with neighbors and friends, to eat good food and enjoy an evening of music and fun. A group of local residents will present patriotic songs.
The public is invited.
There was no shortage of fun at Saturday's carnival in Stafford. The Stafford Fire Department will open the fair again on Sunday, culminating with the drawing in its annual Corvette raffle.
More pictures after the jump:
Every year, the Le Roy Fire Department walks with its antique, used-to-be-horse-drawn pumper and fire hose to Stafford for the Stafford Fire Department's annual parade. First Assistant Chief Tom "Woody" Woods said it's a tradition that has been ongoing for at least 25 years. Department members, along with Pavilion firefighters, walk the two buggies all the way from Le Roy to Stafford, starting at noon, stopping for a picnic along the way.
More parade pictures after the jump:
Melissa Christine Schnitzer, 22, of Daunton Drive, Rochester, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 and failure to reduce speed. Schnitzer was stopped at 1:21 a.m., Friday, by Sgt. Brian Frieday in the area of 6734 Randall Road, Stafford.
Denise M. Groff, 33, of Highland Parkway, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and failure to keep right. Groff was stopped at 1:38 a.m., Friday, on Route 33, Stafford, by Sgt. Greg Walker.
Jeremy M. Denton, 24, of 481 Ladue Road, Brockport, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater and failure to keep right. Denton was stopped at 1:24 a.m., Friday, by Le Roy Police Sgt. Michael Hare on West Main Street, Le Roy.
James D. Holstein, 60, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny, grand larceny, 4th, grand larceny, 3rd. Holstein was taken into custody by State Police for an alleged incident on Jan. 12, 2009. No further details available.
Fernando Casteneda, 47, of Transit Raod, Elba, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, 4th (unlicensed handgun). Deputy Chris Parker responded to Casteneda's residence at 9:52 a.m., Sunday, following a complaint of an alleged domestic dispute in which it was reported Casteneda had a gun. Casteneda is accused of possessing an unlicensed Hi Point 40 Cal semi-automatic pistol.
Lucus M. Hamlin, 32, of Canaseraga, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Hamlin was charged for allegedly driving drunk in the Darien Lake parking lot at 12:16 a.m., Sunday.
Justin D. McQuillen, 21, of Freeman Road, Byron, is charged with DWI and speeding. McQuillen was stopped at 11:52 p.m., Saturday, on Route 237, Byron, by Deputy Chad Minuto.
Raymond William Schramm, 24, of W. Main St. Road, Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Schramm was charged after a 4-year-old child reportedly entrusted to his care was found wondering on the shoulder of Route 5.
The following individuals were charged with disorderly conduct following an alleged fight at Darien Lakes Theme Park at 9:15 p.m., Sunday: Octavia M. Kimble, 19, of Rochester; a 17-year-old from Rochester; Tara B. Moore, 19, of Rochester; Corey M. Bogdanovitch, 21, of Waterloo; a 17-year-old from Rochester; Katlin C. Baily, 18, of Clyde; Tasia D. Blocker, 20, of Rochester.
Theodore D. Lazik, 27, of 73 River St., Batavia, is charged with DWI, running a red light and unlicensed operation. Lazik was stopped by Officer J.A. Davis at 10:35 p.m., Saturday, at the intersection of Main and Bank streets.
Katrina I. Drake, 20, of 21 Wood St., Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. Drake is accused of breaking the window of a neighbor's house on Friday. She was located and arrested on Saturday.
Gregory Seppe, 52, of Batavia (no permanent street address), is charged with attempted petit larceny and criminal trespass, 3rd. Seppe is accused entering the rear fenced yard of a local resident and attempting to steal a portion of the white vinyl fence. Seppe was reportedly observed by the resident. Seppe was jailed on $1,000 bail.
Brittany LeeAnn Ellis, 21, of Mill Street, Nunda, was arrested on a bench warrant for petit larceny. Ellis was turned over to the Genesee County Sheriff's Office by the Livingston County Sheriff's Office.
A 17-year-old is charged with petit larceny and illegal entry into the country. The youth was allegedly caught concealing two bottles of cologne in his pants pocket. He allegedly left the Kmart store without paying for the cologne. After receiving an appearance ticket for the alleged petit larceny, he was turned over to ICE on the immigration charge.
A 16-year-old from Albion is charged with petit larceny for alleged shoplifting from Kmart.
Steven L. Maltese, 41, of Rochester, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Maltese was stopped by State Police at 12:05 a.m., Saturday, on Center Street, Batavia.
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