Bank Street

Press release:

On Saturday, Oct. 7, the City of Batavia Water Department along with UMMC will be replacing valves on the main water line on Bank Street.

The water will be turned off on Bank Street from East Main Street to Washington Avenue.

Work will start at 5 p.m. Water service interruption will be kept to a minimum. This work may result in a period of discolored water in this general area after service is restored. Residents should check to make sure water clarity has returned before resuming activities such as laundry which may be impacted.

Bank Street will be closed to traffic from East Main Street to Washington Avenue.

Dana Bowen and his dog Jake were out for exercise on Bank Street this morning on another beautiful day in Batavia. The seven-day forecast indicates we should expect more of the same, though slightly warmer.

Ray Williams, of Batavia, skates down Bank Street on freeline skates.

A caller on Tracy Avenue reported smoke behind a house on Bank Street and City Fire has responded to investigation.

It was possibly an unintended fire, such as a controlled burn.

The address originally reported was 154 Bank St.. A first responder reports the fire is behind 148 Bank St.

UPDATE 4:03 p.m.: Fire's out. City Fire back in service.

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Workers from a Rochester-based contractor on Bank Street this morning installing traffic sensors for the traffic lights.

A power pole is reportedly sparking in the area of 266 Bank St., Batavia.

City fire responding.

UPDATE 8:21 p.m.: National Grid being notified. Pole #40 is arcing intermittently.

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The intersection of Bank and North was pretty tied up this morning as construction workers were busy ripping out asphalt. Meanwhile, there was freshly laid concrete for new sidewalks along Bank Street.

A Batavia man said he swerved to avoid hitting a deer on Friday night leading to a car vs. pole accident on Bank Street between Ross and Vine streets.

Officer Kevin DeFelice said there was no reason to doubt John J. Dwyer, Jr.'s story. He hadn't been drinking and there were no skid marks to use to estimate the speed of his vehicle.

Dwyer told DeFelice that he was driving 30 mph.

No citations were issued.

"It's now up to his insurance company," DeFelice said.

Dwyer's car took out the utility pole.

There were no injuries and no other cars were involved in the accident.

Photo submitted by Jeremiah Pedro.

(initial report)

For most of yesterday and today, Bank Street was closed, and from the looks of it, the closures will continue. Sewer replacement has reached Bank and Washington. The road is blocked by a big ditch and heavy equipment. The project -- which will eventually include resurfacing -- is expected to go on into the fall.

There are large sewer pipes on each side of Bank Street -- part of the Bank Street sewer-replacement project.

Workers began cutting up Bank Street today as part of a project to replace sewer and water lines and repave the street.

Nearly a year ago. Gov. David Paterson announced the city would receive $411,000 of stimulus funds for the project.

The contract was awarded to Conestoga Rovers & Associates for plans and administration of the project. B. Beardsley Management & Enterprises is the contractor.

A one-car accident has been reported at Bank and Douglas in the City of Batavia.

A possible health problem may have been the cause.

No word on injuries.

City Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

City Fire is responding to a report of smoke coming from a house at 124 Bank St., Batavia.

UPDATE 7:50 p.m.: May be exhaust from a furnace. 

UPDATE 8:06 p.m.: Engine 12, Ladder 15, back in service.

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City Fire is being dispatched -- non-emergency -- to 130 Bank St., the scene of yesterday's fire for the smell of propane.

"The caller believes it's from a tank she relocated," according to the dispatcher.

A fire at 130 Bank St., Batavia, destroyed an old garage and the items inside and partially damaged a neighbor's garage.

The fire was reported about 10:45 a.m. when a resident came home and saw smoke coming from the garage. By the time fire crews were on scene, flames were visible.

The homeowner, a 47-year resident, said he lost an ATV, snow blower, two bikes and other equipment. While Chief Ralph Hyde said he suspected a wood-burning stove in the garage, the owner said he had recently cleaned the stove and it wasn't in use at the time. He suspected it was an electrical fire.

Kelly Herold, a claims supervisor for Tompkins Insurance, was on scene quickly meeting with her clients. She watched the City's firefighters move quickly to dose the flames.

“The Fire Department did a great job," Herold observed. "It was a good save. They were able to contain the fire to the barn with limited damage to the surrounding homes."

The photo was submitted by reader Tricia Zdep. The bottom two photos were submitted by another reader.

A traffic stop by State Police on Bank Street near College Road about 7:30 this morning led to the detention of 12 individuals who may have entered the country illegally.

All 12 are from Mexico, according Mike Gilhooly, spokesman for Immigration Control Enforcement.

Ten of the individuals were turned over to the U.S. District Attorney for criminal prosecution, one suspect is already awaiting a court hearing on a previous charge of entering the country illegally and the 12th was a minor who was turned over to the Office of Refugee Resettlement for processing.

One of the group had previously been deported, Gilhooly said.

The names of the individuals were not immediately available.

The driver of the white van was not picked up by immigration, Gilhooly said. He referred us back to State Police for information on that person and we are awaiting an answer to our e-mail on that subject.

Thank you to a reader tip for bringing this item to our attention.

Smoke detectors awoke a Bank Street family this morning, allowing the people in the lower apartment unit to escape safely from a fire that started in an improperly lined chimney, according to a Batavia Fire Department release this morning.

Upon arrival at the 2:20 a.m. alarm, Batavia firefighters entered the upper apartment and awoke the two occupants and escorted them safely from the building.

Firefighters initially responded to the call of a "house filled with smoke."

The fire caused an estimated $30,000 damage to the house and $15,000 to its contents.

No smoke detectors were present in the upper unit, which was located at 140 Bank St..

UPDATE: WBTA spoke with Captain Michael Drew (MP3) of the Batavia Fire Department. Chief Ralph Hyde also told WBTA that the chimney was designed for gas heating and the occupants tried burning wood in the fireplace.

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A Batavia man is in jail without bail after being found driving a car that was reported stolen Wednesday morning.

The auto theft was apparently part of a house burglary in the 200 block of State Street.

Reginald Wilson, 36, of 112 State St., is charged with criminal possession of stolen property.

Wilson was reportedly found driving the stolen car on Lehigh Street at 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Police are investigating whether he was involved in the auto theft and burglary.

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Batavia will receive $411,000 for improvements to Bank Street as one of many projects around the state approved for funding by Gov. David Paterson. 

Bank Street is one of several projects the city sought funding for through state-controlled federal stimulus dollars. 

The project includes a new waterline, sidewalks and roadway between Washington and North Streets.

Paterson announced yesterday that the state will hand out $34.7 million in grants that will "help expand affordable housing, revitalize New York's Main Streets, and modernize local infrastructure."

Batavia's funding comes from a federal program called Community Development Block Grants.

Paterson's office claims the spending will result in leveraging an additional $48 million in resources, but the press release does not fully explain that statement. It seems to mean some of the projects will require local matching funds or other contributions.

"These grants will make a difference in urban and rural communities across New York. Neighborhood by neighborhood, block by block, the Community Development Block Grant and New York Main Street programs will further local development so that our communities thrive," Governor Paterson said. "Improving and upgrading infrastructure, revitalizing traditional downtown business districts, and rehabilitating and renovating housing for working families will provide much-needed investment and make New York a better place to live, work and raise a family."

No word on the City's other grant requests.

(Thanks to a reader tip for bringing this to our attention.)

With out a vote, but by consensus the City Council agreed Monday night to make two key changes to the Bank Street crosswalk, connecting the City Centre parking lot to Genesee County for the Aging.

The cross walk will be restriped to help make drivers more aware of the cross walk, and removable rumble strips (so that can be taken up during winter) that will alert drivers to the cross walk, will be added to the area, which is close to the Bank Street intersection with Main Street.

In response to a council question, City Manager Jason Molino said there have been no known car-pedestrian accidents -- which Chief Randy Baker said was right -- at the crosswalk, but because of the heavy traffic, the number of seniors who use the crosswalk and the number of ingress/egress points on Bank Street, improved safety was a good idea.

A third safety change -- adding a left-turn-only sign to the exit of the YMCA parking lot will require a code change and a public hearing. No date was set for that hearing.