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Press release:

The two new facilities under construction at Genesee Community College are beginning to take shape and both projects are on schedule to be completed next summer, the College's Board of Trustees learned at its monthly meeting following a project tour. 

The structural steel is rising on the new 18,478-square-foot, two-story Student Success Center, which will connect to the existing Conable Technology Building through a second-story bridge. As the new "front door" of the Batavia Campus, the Student Success Center will partially enclose the College's central clock tower quad and provide a one-stop service center for students seeking admissions, financial aid, academic advisement, as well as job and career counseling. 

The site work for the new, 56,614-square-foot Richard C. Call Arena continues with the structural steel anticipated in the coming two or three weeks. Located adjacent to the Soccer and Lacrosse Turf Field at the far west side of campus, the new facility will be the largest open public space in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties and is expected to draw as many as 500,000 visitors to the campus each year. The large arena will not only accommodate an array of athletic competitions, but all kinds of civic, community, trade, industry as well as college events -- from farm, boat and tractor shows to commencement ceremonies where a whole family can sit together. 

Combined, the two projects make up the largest component of a nearly $25-million overall capital project. 

In other business, the Board of Trustees:

• Heard a report from Barbara Sadden, director of the Upward Bound program, which is celebrating its 32nd year as part the federally funded TRiO Program. Through a partnership between Genesee Community College and numerous area secondary schools, the program serves students in Genesee and Wyoming counties from low-income families and/or families where neither parent holds a bachelor's degree. Upward Bound provides these students with year-round academic instruction, tutoring, counseling, mentoring, cultural enrichment, work-study programs and other activities all focused on increasing their likelihood of graduating from high school and enrolling in a college or university. Since 1984 when the program was introduced, 1,671 students have been served, and Upward Bound students have successfully enrolled in more than 24 different colleges and universities. In addition, as high school students enrolled in GCC's Accelerated College Enrollment Program, Upward Bound students have taken 324 college credits. 

• Approved President James Sunser's report on the reaffirming of the following College policies with minor revisions: Use of Equipment (5006), On-Campus Sales (5007), Parking Regulations (5008), External Support of Research and Development Activities (5010), Process for Independent Auditing Services (5011), Purchasing Policy (5015) and Petty Cash (5016). 

• Appointed the Board of Trustee committee assignments as follows: Buildings & Grounds -- Donna Ferry (chair), Peter Call, Maureen Marshall, Laurie Miller and Jacalyn Whiting; Personnel -- Laurie Miller (chair), Benjamin Bonarigo, Robert Boyce, Maureen Marshall, and Diane Torcello; Policy -- Benjamin Bonarigo (chair) and Jacalyn Whiting; Finance -- Peter Call (chair), Donna Ferry and Diane Torcello; NYCCT -- Donna Ferry; Foundation -- Robert Boyce, Peter Call, and Jacalyn Whiting; GCC Association -- Laurie Miller; Nominating -- Donna Ferry (chair) and Robert Boyce.

• Heard President Sunser report on the following new personnel appointments:

• Laurel Sanger, will begin as the new director of GCC's Nursing program on Sept. 5. She leaves Monroe Community College after nearly 20 years of experience as the dean of Science, Health and Business, the chair of the Nursing department and a nursing instructor. She earned two master's degrees, in Gerontology Nurse Practitioner and Public Administration from Nazareth College and The College at Brockport, respectively. She resides in Rochester.

Other new Nursing program instructional staff include: 

• Crystal Shelanskey earned her master's degree in Nursing Education from Roberts Wesleyan College, and has been clinical adjunct instructor at GCC for three years and a visiting nurse in the Rochester area performing in-home patient support. She resides in Rochester.
• Beth Felix also earned her master's degree in Nursing Education from Roberts Wesleyan College. She has worked as a clinical instructor for both GCC and MCC and currently works as an intensive care RN in the Rochester Regional Health System. She resides in Rochester.
• Sabrina Schwartz is a 2010 graduate of GCC's Nursing Program and earned her master's degree from SUNY-IT Utica. She has worked in a variety of nursing specialties including clinical teaching, in-service and telehealth, and has three years of maternity experience. She currently is a per diem nurse in maternity and newborn nursing. She resides in Newfane.
• Mary Dixon is a 1984 graduate of GCC's Nursing Program and earned her master's degree in Nursing Education from St. John's Fisher College. She has since served as an adjunct nursing instructor at both institutions. As a certified oncology nurse, she currently practices oncology and hematology nursing. She resides in Batavia.

Press release from the city Department of Public Works:

Paving operations are scheduled to begin on Washington Avenue and Jefferson Avenue with pavement milling on Thursday, Aug. 25, and work continuing through next week until the new pavement is completed.

The paving aspect of this project includes Washington Avenue in its entirety and the northern end of Jefferson Avenue.

Traffic delays can be expected during this phase of contruction and alternate routes should be used when possible.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

If you have ever attended live harness racing and realized you may be interested in becoming an active participant in America’s oldest organized sport, Batavia Downs is offering a new owner seminar at 3 p.m. on Saturday (Sept. 10) in the Robert J. Kane Boardroom, located in the lower grandstand. It is being held in conjunction with the United States Trotting Association and the Harness Horse Breeders of New York State.

The program will include a two-and-a-half hour classroom presentation by representatives of the United States Trotting Association (USTA) and the Harness Horse Breeders of New York (HHBNYS) and will include guest trainers, drivers, owners and management from Batavia Downs Racetrack. Topics will include risk and reward, what it costs, choosing your horse, trainer and driver, and time will be allowed for questions and answers throughout the evening.

The package includes:

• All needed classroom materials;
• A hands-on tour of the paddock as horses prepare for the night's action;
• Reserved seating in the clubhouse;
• Dinner at the prime rib, crab leg and shrimp buffet;
• A trip to the winner’s circle for a win picture after a race;
• Membership to the Harness Horse Breeders of New York State;
• $20 worth of free-play on the gaming floor;
• and a free one-year subscription to the industry’s award-winning publication, "Hoof Beats Magazine."

The cost is only $30 for a single and $50 for a couple. Reservations should be made in advance but payment will be made at the door. There are several ways to register. There are links on both USTA and Batavia Downs Facebook pages or go to shop.ustrotting.com and click Prospective Owners Events. You can also e-mail owners@ustrotting.com or call 877-800-8782, ext. 5555 or 585-343-375, ext. 6322.

This is your opportunity to own your own sports franchise and go from the grandstand to the winner’s circle with your winning horse. Purses have never been higher at many tracks in North America and there has never been a better time to get involved in all the fun and excitement of harness racing ownership than right now.

A caller at 7051 Pearl Street Road, Oakfield, reports the smell of electrical burning in the residence.

Oakfield fire along with Alabama, East Pembroke and Elba dispatched.

A first responder reports nothing showing.

UPDATE 9:26 p.m.: Oakfield chief on scene says Oakfield can respond non-emergency, all other units can remain in quarters.

Salvatore Sam Sciarpa, 19, Chili Avenue, Chili, is charged with driving while intoxicated with a BAC of .08 percent or more, DWI, and failure to yield the right-of-way of approaching an intersection. At 10:26 p.m. on Aug. 19, a two-car accident was reported at the intersection of Route 98 and Lockport Road. Upon investigation, Sciarpa was arrested on these charges. He was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Elba Town Court on Sept. 26. The case was handled by Sheriff's deputy Rachel Diehl, assisted by Deputy Ryan DeLong.

Joseph Matthew Barnaby, 20, of Main Street, Alexander, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. At 10:10 p.m. on Aug. 19, upon responding to Barnaby's residence for a noise complaint, Barnaby was allegedly found to be in unlawful possession of marijuana. He was released on an appearance ticket to Alexander Town Court on Sept. 13. The case was handled by Sheriff's Deputy Kevin Forsyth.

Khem Bahadr Adhikari, 25, of Parkway, Rochester, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. The subject was allegedly in possession of a marijuana cigarette during a traffic stop in which he was a passenger in the vehicle. The traffic stop was made at 3:22 p.m. on Aug. 20 on Alleghany Road in Pembroke. The case was handled by Sheriff's Deputy Chris Parker.

A one-vehicle accident occurred on Lewiston Road in front of the Town of Batavia fire station and the driver may have a minor injury.

"The vehicle then continued, unoccupied, across the street into the Tops parking lot," says the dispatcher.

It struck a parked vehicle and came to rest against it. 

Because multiple jurisdictions are involved, town and city fire were notified. A State Trooper is responding and so are Mercy medics.

Country star Brad Paisley joins members of the Genesee County Sheriff's Office prior to his recent show at Darien Lake with a Badge of Honor bracelet in support of WNY's fallen members of law enforcement and their families. 

Pictured with Paisley are Sgt. Tom Sanfratello, Deputy Brad Mazur and Sgt. Greg Walker, who is the chapter president for the Badge of Honor Association.

The association provides support for families whose loved ones in law enforcement passed in the line of duty and assists officers seriously injured in the line of duty. 

The bracelets can be purchased on the association's website.

Photo courtesy the Badge of Honor Association.

Press release:

The Oakfield Honor Guard returned Saturday, Aug. 20, from training with the staff of Sgt. Kenneth Newton, the 37^th  Colors Sergeant of the President’s Own Color Guard at Marine Barracks “8^th and I” in Washington, D.C.  The Guard trained in flag etiquette and drilled in ceremonial marching and maneuvering techniques.

“The knowledge that we received was certainly second to none,” 2^nd Assistant Chief Randy McIntire said. “From the very beginning, Lance Corporal James Shay and his staff, made our visit a priority. Just being in the presence of these Marines was a great privilege. It seemed that every Marine, from Lance Corporal to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Robert B. Neller, knew that the Oakfield Fire Department’s Honor Guard was ‘on deck’ and they were truly pleased to provide this training opportunity to us.”

The Honor Guard, consisting of Jeffery McIntire (lieutenant and former staff sergeant in the Marine Corps), Sean Downing and Randy McIntire (assistant chiefs), Casey Arnold, Tyler Hamm and Nate Klos (firefighters), also traveled to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to experience the changing of the guard. At the completion of the change, the Guard was afforded the privilege of interviewing Staff Sgt. Massey, 3^rd Relief Commander, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He spoke of the dedication and commitment of the Tomb Guards and answered many questions.

On completion of Friday’s training, the Oakfield Fire Department Honor Guard’s Lt. Jeffery McIntire presented a plaque thanking the Marine Barracks Color Guard Platoon for the opportunity to train with them and Chief McIntire read and presented a letter of thanks from the Village of Oakfield’s Mayor, Jason Armbrewster. Both of these items were gratefully accepted by Sgt. Newton on behalf of the Commandant and an invitation for the Honor Guard to return in the future was extended. Oakfield Fire Department T-shirts and patches were presented to members of the training staff.

The Honor Guard was treated with VIP passes to the Commandant’s Friday Evening Parade. The evening started in the presence of veterans of WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, each a guest of a Marine stationed at the Barracks. VIP seating was provided at mid-field for the parade. The “President's Own” Marine Band, the Commandant’s Color Guard, and Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, and the post’s A and B companies of approximately 200 Marines including the Silent Drill Platoon performed a number of patriotic musical pieces and demonstrated precision military drill. 

The Oakfield Fire Dept. Honor Guard is working toward the capability of assisting Genesee County fire departments in providing dignified services should a line of duty death occur. The Honor Guard formed following the Chief of EMS and firefighter Barry Miller’s death in the line of duty.

“We are grateful to our department for financially sponsoring our trip. We are thankful for donations made by H.E. Turner & Co. Funeral Home, M&S Tactical Solutions and First Choice Travel,” Assistant Chief Sean Downing said. “Support from the Village of Oakfield and the Town of Oakfield was also appreciated.”

A motor-vehicle accident with unknown injuries is reported on Oak Street at Burke Drive.

City fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 7:47 a.m.: Single vehicle. One patient, who will be a sign-off.

A Rochester resident who was apparently thrown from his vehicle in an accident last night on Clinton Street Road is listed in fair condition this evening at Erie County Medical Center, where he was taken by Mercy Flight after being found laying in the roadway.

While the accident remains under investigation, the Sheriff's Office reports that Derek E. Wilcox will be charged with DWI. Other charges are pending and the Sheriff's Office alleges that speed was a contributing factor to the crash.

Wilcox was reportedly eastbound on Clinton Street Road at 10:09 p.m. when his vehicle traveled off the north shoulder hitting a sign, a large tree and a junction box as it overturned in the embankment along the roadway and struck another tree.

The first people on scene called 9-1-1 and reported a pedestrian who had been struck by a car was lying the road.

First responders quickly determined that it was the driver, and not a pedestrian, who was on the pavement of Route 33.

A mobile home was damaged by debris from the accident. 

The accident was investigated by Sgt. Jason Saile and Deputy Micheal Lute. Town of Batavia fire, Batavia PD and State Police assisted at the scene.

(Initial Report)

A car has reportedly hit a pedestrian in the area of 5210 Clinton Street Road.

A man is reportedly down in the road.

There's a second call on Clinton Street Road in the same vicinity for a car into a house.

Town of Batavia fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 10:43 p.m.: The person reported in the road was the driver of the car. He was apparently thrown from the car after it left the roadway, while heading north, striking a mobile home, a couple of trees and rolling over in the ravine along the west shoulder. The driver was taken by Mercy EMS to the airport. He will be transported by Mercy Flight to ECMC. His injuries appear to be serious. Route 33 is being shut down now at East Avenue. NOTE: We're withholding photos that clearly show the vehicle involved until the morning, by which time we should have the press release from the Sheriff's Office with more details.

One person was arrested on Aug. 19 during the Brad Paisley concert at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center.

Daniel J. Golba, age unknown, of Sebring Drive, Depew, was charged with disorderly conduct after allegedly fighting with security guards while being ejected from the venue. He is due in Town of Darien Court on Sept. 6.

Shawn Thomas Rushok, 17, of Swan Street, Batavia, is charged with first-degree sex abuse. He is accused of having "inappropriate sexual contact with another person" on May 24 in the Town of Le Roy. He was arraigned on Aug. 15 in Le Roy Town Court and released under supervision of Genesee Justice. The case was handled by Sheriff's Deputy John Dehm.

Gannon David McNall, 20, of Centerline Road, Varysburg, is charged with public lewdness. He was arrested on Aug. 15 after allegedly being observed masturbating in the parking lot of a Batavia department store on Veterans Memorial Drive at 5:39 p.m. He was released on an appearance ticket returnable to Town of Batavia Court at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22. The case was handled by Sheriff's Deputy Michael Lute.

John Kauffman Stone, 49, of Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with second-degree harassment. The defendant was arrested for allegedly pushing and slapping another person on West Main Street Road, Batavia, at 8:52 p.m. on Aug. 14. He was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court and jailed on $500 bail. The case was handled by Sheriff's Deputy Robert Henning, assisted by Deputy Kevin McCarthy.

Michael John Jarmuz II, 26, of Idlewood Drive, Tonawanda, is charged with second-degree criminal impersonation and second degree aggravated unlicensed operation. The subject allegedly gave the arresting officer his brother's information during a DWAI/drug arrest at 3:06 a.m. on Aug. 13 on Oak Orchard Road, Elba. The subject's "common law" stepmother reported to the arresting officer two days later with the subject's correct information. The subject allegedly gave his brother's information because he had a suspended driver's license and a warrant from another county. He is due in Elba Town Court on Sept. 7. The case was handled by Sheriff's Deputy Chris Parker, assisted by Deputy Eric Meyer.

Bradley Edward Moore, 18, of Manning Road, Holley, is charged with petit larceny. The subject allegedly stole two cartons of cigarettes from a smoke shop on the Tonawanda Indian reservation at 2 p.m. on June 6. He is due in Alabama Town Court on Aug. 30. The case was handled by Sheriff's Deputy Chris Parker.

Gina Lynn Avino, 41, of Haven Lane, Batavia, was arrested Aug. 19 on a bench warrant out of the City of Batavia PD following the investigation into a motor-vehicle accident in the Town of Batavia on that date at 3:25 p.m. on West Main Street Road. The case was handled by Sheriff's Dpeuty Michael Lute, assisted by Dpeuty Rachel Diehl.

Genesee County Master Gardeners will be hosting their annual Fall Garden Gala from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17, at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County, 420 E. Main St. in Batavia.

There will be a plant sale featuring hardy perennials, house plants and local field grown Mums. Fall is a good time to plant many perennials as they will have several months to grow a strong root system. There will also be a Chance Basket Auction, free soil pH testing and plenty of gardening advice from Master Gardeners.

There will be a “Flower Arrangements from the Garden” demonstration at 11 a.m.  Learn how to artfully arrange fresh flowers from your garden. A variety of fresh flower arrangements created by Master Gardeners will also be available for sale.

Don’t miss your chance to pick up some great plants for your garden! Plant sale starts promptly at 10 a.m. No early birds please. Due to the drought, the number of plants we have to offer this fall may be limited. The Chance Auction drawing will begin at 12:30 p.m.

For more information contact Brandie Schultz at CCE of Genesee County, (585) 343-3040, ext. 101, stop by the Extension office at 420 E. Main St. in Batavia, or visit our new CCE website http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu/gardening or Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CCEofGenesee.

A first responder on scene confirms a working garage fire at 25 Trumbull Parkway. City fire is responding. A dispatcher says several callers report hearing explosions inside the garage.

An accident with possible injuries is reported on Lockport Road at Quaker Hill Road, Elba.

Elba fire and Mercy EMS responding.

Genesee Cancer Assistance held its annual golf tournament fundraiser at Batavia County Club today and with the support of numerous volunteers, the nonprofit hosted a couple hundred golfers and bocce ball players.

One of the features of the tournament this year was a floating green challenge -- a small green floating in the middle of a lake. If a golfer could land a ball on the green -- at $5 a try, he or she could win a new driver. If nobody made it, each entrant would have a chance to win through a drawing. No word on who the winner was yet.

Joe Gerace, a stalwart among Genesee Cancer Assistance volunteers, insisted on working the tournament, as he usually does, as a marshal. He's pictured below with Peter Guppenberger, who came within feet of hitting the floating green with his shot above.

A caller who lives on Bank Street called city police earlier today and accused her neighbor of stealing a white, wooden church replica from her garden. Now she reports that she just witnessed the neighbor whom she accused of stealing the church earlier, taking pieces of the church inside her house. Police are responding to speak with the complainant again.

Zachary Dabb, 23, of Westwood Road, Alden, is charged with DWI, aggravated DWI (BAC .18 percent or higher) and open container of alcohol while operating a motor vehicle.

The charges stem from an accident last night around 9 in which Dabb was the operator of motor vheicle that struck the east side of Burger King on West Main Street in Batavia.

Dabb told police he thought he was in another one of his vehicles, which has a standard transmission. Thinking the vehicle on Thursday night was in neutral, Dabb took his foot off the brake, causing the car to move forward and collide into the east side of the building.

Following field sobriety ptests, Dabb was allegedy determined to be driving while intoxicated and was arrested on the charges. He was processed and released on an appearance ticket. He is due in Batavia City Court on Aug. 31. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Chad Richards, assisted by Officer Mitchell Cowen.

According to our news partner WBTA, a lucky patron inside the restaurant had just gotten up to get a beverage when the vehicle crashed into the building.

Press release:

After being interviewed by the Western New York Council of the Communications Workers (WNY CWA), Diana Kastenbaum was endorsed by the union on Wednesday, Aug. 17th. She is the Democratic candidate in the NY-27 Congressional District race.

Kastenbaum is an avid supporter of the CWA and marched in solidarity with Local 1133 in a rally at Mercy Hospital in Buffalo earlier this month.

“I am honored to be endorsed by a union that does so much to help working families throughout my district," Kastenbaum says. "I stand with the WNY CWA in their fight for fair contracts, wages, and for bringing jobs back home.”

This is the third union to have endorsed Kastenbaum. She has also been endorsed by NYSUT and the UFCW Local One.