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An accident with minor injuries has been reported at Court and Ellicott streets, Batavia, involving a city plow.

City fire, Mercy EMS and City PD on scene.

After watching the Genesee County Planning Board quickly place its stamp of approval on a project that would result in the tallest thrill ride in New York coming to Six Flags Darien Lake, the theme park general manager couldn’t hold back his enthusiasm.

“The sheer magnitude of the ride – which will be the highest structure in the state – will make it the new signature ride and beacon of the Six Flags brand,” said Chris Thorpe, who attended the meeting tonight at Genesee County Building 2 on West Main Street Road. He was accompanied by Edward McCarthy, Darien Lake's maintenance & construction director.

County planners reviewed and saw no problem with the site plan that calls for the new Six Flags SkyScreamer to replace the Twister. The measure now goes before the Town of Darien Planning Board for final consideration.

If all goes according to plan, the new ride will be ready by opening day of the 2019 season at the park, which has changed its name to Six Flags Darien Lake in an effort to promote the well-known corporate brand, Thorpe said.

The SkyScreamer is a 242-foot tall (24 stories) swing ride that holds 32 riders, sitting two across in 16 open-air swings, and spins round and round a 98-foot circle at 35 miles per hour. At night, the ride’s dazzling, synchronized light package will be in full view.

According to documents from the Genesee County Economic Development Center, Six Flags Darien Lake is investing around $2.1 million for the new ride and has been granted a sales tax exemption of approximately $166,000.

 In other action, the planning board recommended:

-- Approval of zoning text amendments for the entire Town of Pembroke to add the definition of service organizations, allow them by special use permit in the Agricultural-Residential District and add language allowing for the revocation of a special use permit.

The changes were prompted by a request from the American Legion, which is looking to purchase a parcel of land near the new Western New York National Cemetery in Indian Falls, said County Planning Director Felipe Oltramari.

-- Approval with modifications of an area variance request by Batavia Downs Gaming to install an off-premise 25-foot pole sign to assist motorists.

The modifications call for the applicant to erect a monument-type sign, which are permitted in a Residential-1 District, and to explore a directory-style sign at the specified intersection with other Park Road businesses in order to avoid similar requests in the future.

-- Approvals of the following:

            -- A sign permit for Koolatron to add two signs at its Commerce Drive location;

            -- A special use permit for Lynn Strzelecki of Bergen to operate a hair salon by appointment only at her home;

            -- A special use permit for William and Patricia Cultrara to install a ground-mounted solar array for use at their Galloway Road, Batavia residence;

            -- A special use permit for Renee Franclemont of Allegany Road, Pembroke, to convert a portion of a commercial building into a single-family home.

The Alumni Affairs Office at Genesee Community College is spending the snowy season thinking about warmer days and golf!

Under the direction of Cougar Classic Scholarship Scramble Honorary Chairperson Wesley Bedford, GCC Class of 2006, plans for the event are well underway.

Registration is now open for the fourth annual Cougar Classic Scholarship Scramble scheduled for Monday, July 22, at the Stafford Country Club, 8873 Morganville Road (Route 237) in Stafford.

The Cougar Classic Scholarship Scramble allows up to 36 foursomes for the 18-hole event at the esteemed Stafford Country Club.

Sign-in starts 11:30 a.m. with lunch available, and golfers tee off in "shotgun" style at 12:30 p.m. Registration is $125 per golfer and includes 18 holes of golf, a golf cart, all beer and nonalcoholic beverages during play, lunch and dinner with a cash bar, and much more!

To join the event for dinner only is $25. Most importantly, all proceeds go directly to the GCC student scholarship program, making higher education possible for deserving students in our community.

Additional opportunities to sponsor GCC scholarships are available at a number of levels ranging from $100 to $3,000. Sponsorships for golf games, including a putting contest, longest drive, closest to the pin, and beat the pro and other in-kind support efforts are also being accepted.

A sponsorship sign-up form with all donation details is available here and should be sent to Jennifer Wakefield at jgwakefield@genesee.edu to reserve a sponsorship level.

(Photos from 2018 Cougar Classic Scholarship Scramble.)

Press release:

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced her nominations for candidates from the Rochester-Finger Lakes Region to two of the nation’s leading service institutions: the United States Naval and Air Force academies.

This year, Senator Gillibrand nominated five candidates from the Rochester-Finger Lakes Region to the service academies.

Only one candidate nominee is from Genesee County: Edward Foeller (Darien Center) – U.S. Air Force Academy.

“I am honored to nominate such dedicated and talented students to our nation’s service academies," Senator Gillibrand said. "They have demonstrated exemplary leadership abilities and an outstanding academic record, as well as a passion to serve our nation.

“Our service academies cultivate top-tier officers who bravely protect our nation, and I look forward to these nominees’ successes as they further their education and continue their commitment to our country in the armed forces.”

A selection committee formed by Senator Gillibrand chose the nominees from a large group of qualified applicants. Decisions were based on criteria including academic record, leadership potential, and overall achievement. Final acceptance is determined solely by the service academies.

The United States service academies offer a first-class education as well as a chance for young people to serve our country upon graduation as commissioned officers in the United States Armed Services.

Cold temperatures and cold winds will make for even colder feelings tonight and tomorrow morning, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.

The wind chill is expected to drop below zero throughout most of Western New York, with values as low as 25 below zero east of Lake Ontario.

Frostbite and hypothermia can occur if precautions are not taken. Make sure to dress properly if spending time outdoors during the cold period.

The Child Advocacy Center should be a place where children who have been physically and sexually abused feel safe and cared for when they visit.

That means the center needs to have a home-like feeling, not a clinical atmosphere, said Theresa Asmus-Roth, program coordinator for Justice for Children.

While that has always been the goal of the center, Asmus-Roth said she and the staff and the board of directors think it's time to renovate their office location at 301 E. Main St., Batavia, to help make the center more friendly and welcoming.

"We want this environment to feel like the kind of place that you would go to get away from all the worries of the world," Asmus-Roth said during an open house Wednesday unveiling plans to remodel the building.

The First Presbyterian Church of Batavia donates the two-story building to Justice for Children and the agency, supported by grants and donations, has a long-term lease.

When it became clear a few years ago that the center's old location on Bank Street was no longer adequate, the Kiwanis Club of Batavia took on the major financial goal over five years of raising funds to support the center's move to a new building. When the Presbyterian church made its building available, the center moved into the new location and decided to forego building a new structure. The Kiwanis Club raised $190,000, which will go a long way to covering the cost of the more than $250,000 in renovations to the current location.

Asmus-Roth said the Justice for Children Foundation is seeking additional donations from the community in order to complete the project.

The renovations will first create all new office space on the second floor. That will enable the first floor to be dedicated entirely to caring for children and their families in times of crisis.

"We want families coming in to feel like they're coming to visit a friend or relative instead of coming for a doctor's appointment," Asmus-Roth said.

To that end, the renovations will include installing a wraparound porch outside and a waiting room inside. There will be more private meetings rooms as well.

Since construction and visiting with children who have been abused aren't a good match, during the first-floor renovations, clients will be seen in the Albion and Warsaw offices or in space being made available in the church next door.

More than 20 years ago, if a child was abused, if they were believed, the investigation and prosecution involved multiple examinations and interviews and multiple locations. That, in itself, Asmus-Roth said, was traumatic, and by the nature of things, could lead to inconsistencies in stories that made prosecution harder.

Now, because of the center, all of the professionals involved in a case -- attorneys, investigators, caseworkers, victim's advocates, and doctors, are all in one place and can be seen in one visit.

The work of the center is important, Asmus-Roth said, because she remembers what she heard in a previous job from adults who had been abused as children. They were often ignored or told they were making it up.

Today, she said, child abuse is less frequent, but because of greater awareness more often reported.

"Being here enables all of us to make sure that no kid who walks through our doors is going to say 50 years from now, 'no one believed me. No one supported me. I felt like I was all alone,' " Asmus-Roth said.

"I go back to that sense of wanting this to be the shelter in the storm. It's important to me that the children in our community know that no matter what happens outside when they come here, they'll be believed and they'll be supported."

For more about the center or to make a donation, visit www.justiceforchildrenadvocacycenter.org.

Kathleen Kogut, architect and project manager, from LaBella Associates, and Theresa Asmus-Roth, program coordinator for Justice for Children.

The staff of the Child Advocacy Center: Theresa Asmus-Roth, Brenda McQuillan -- mental health therapist, Amanda Czworka -- mental health therapist, Breana Crane -- victim assistant, Dave Libick -- family advocate, and Jessica Mitchell -- forensic interviewer.

New charges have been filed against a 22-year-old Batavia resident who is accused of taking an underage girl away from her home in Bergen on Nov. 29 and driving her to Pennsylvania.

Guillermo Jose Torres-Acevedo has been charged with custodial interference in the first degree, criminal contempt, 2nd, and endangering the welfare of a child.

The Nov. 29 incident prompted an amber alert for the girl. She was later located, allegedly with Torres-Acevedo at a Walmart in Mansfield, Pa., through a geolocation ping of her mobile phone.

Torres-Acevedo was taken into custody by authorities in Pennsylvania without incident and the girl was returned to her parents.

The girl and Torres-Acevedo knew each other and Torres-Acevedo had already been arrested in connection with his relationship with the girl and issued a stay-away order, which he allegedly violated, leading to a criminal contempt charge.

He's also been charged with grand larceny, 3rd, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle for allegedly stealing the Dodge Journey he is accused of using to transport the girl.

Torres-Acevedo remains in jail without bail.

Press release:

Graham Corporation (NYSE: GHM), a global business that designs, manufactures and sells critical equipment for the oil refining, petrochemical, power and defense industries, today announced that it has established Graham India Private Limited (“GIPL”) as a wholly owned subsidiary. GIPL, based in the northwest region of India, in Ahmedabad, has been initiated as a sales and market development office with an Indian national as sales director and business development leader.

Graham’s establishment of this new entity was driven by several strategic and macroeconomic factors. Asia is a key region for investment in new crude oil refining and petrochemical capacity, with India being an important market for such investments. The Company anticipates that stronger and more consistent consultative customer support will lead to expanded bidding participation in the region. Further, having a local presence is expected to enhance Graham’s development of India fabrication partners who can assist the Company in addressing government policy and preference for fabrication in India. Finally, Graham believes that having a local entity demonstrates its enduring commitment to the Indian refining, petrochemical and fertilizer markets.

James R. Lines, Graham’s president and chief executive officer, commented, “India continues to experience strong economic growth, projecting ongoing GDP growth surpassing 6 percent annually. We expect this growth will drive capital investment in new refining, petrochemical and fertilizer capacity, all of which are important end markets for Graham. Over time, we plan to build out GIPL’s organization structure with additional sales and engineering support staff, along with fabrication and quality control specialists. We believe that our local presence will increase bidding participation and, ultimately, increase market share within our targeted end markets.”

A hit-and-run accident is reported on Lewiston Road.

The suspect vehicle is a white Ryder box truck. Unknown direction of travel.

The victim is now at West Main and Woodrow Road.

A deputy is responding from Bethany.

A motor-vehicle accident is reported in the area of 677 Genesee St., Darien.

There are no injuries. The driver is out of the vehicle and walking around; however, the vehicle struck a gas meter causing a gas leak.

Darien fire dispatched.

A deputy on scene says, "you can contact the gas company. I can just hear the gas pouring out of there."

A dispatcher says they're on the phone with National Fuel now.

UPDATE 10:18 a.m.: Corfu fire requested to the scene.

UPDATE 10:38 a.m.: Genesee Street (Route 33) is being shut down west of the Village of Corfu.

At last night’s Jan. 8th regular meeting, the Le Roy Central School District Board of Education acknowledge receipt of the formal resignation of Board Member Lawrence Bonacquisti.

In Mr. Bonacquisti’s letter he noted, “I feel that being away for months at a time plus plans for extended vacations is not in the best interests of the community and the students whom I represent. It has been a real pleasure sharing Board efforts with such a fine staff, administration, and fellow colleagues.”

Mr. Bonacquisti has spent 78 years of his life in public education as either a student, teacher, coach, adjunct professor, mentor, and/or board member. He retired in 1993 after a 36-year teaching career at York Central School District, only to then continue on at Genesee Community College as an adjunct professor teaching Psychology. In 1997, Mr. Bonacquisti also supervised student teachers as a senior clinical supervisor at SUNY Geneseo.

Mr. Bonacquisti was an Advisory Member of the Genesee Wyoming BOCES Board from 1978 – 2002, and served on the Le Roy Central School District Board of Education from 2003 – 2018. During his time as a Le Roy school board member, Mr. Bonacquisti was selected as the 2014 Al Hawk Award Recipient for his “outstanding contributions to public education and children in his own community.”

Le Roy School Superintendent Merritt Holly stated, “It has been an absolute honor working with Mr. Bonacquisti over the past three years. His knowledge, experience, and passion for students will be sorely missed. On behalf of the Board, we wish Mr. Bonacquisti the best in his extended upcoming travels!”

Lastly, the Board of Education has decided to wait for the board election process to take place in May in order to fill the remainder of Mr. Bonacquisti's two-year term.

Winter activities may call to mind snuggling up on the couch with a good book or movie and a hot drink, but there’s so much more to enjoy from this snowy season. Cabin fever? Winter Blues? Not in Genesee County! Activities and fun abound -- indoors and out. With so much to do, there’s no need to go anywhere else for entertainment. So, let the staycation begin!

Think Family Fun

Let the kids burn off steam at the Falleti Ice Arena, with a Sunday family special package of just $25 for admission and rentals. Put your reasoning and detective skills to work at Six Senses Escape Rooms as you work together to find hidden objects and clues to earn your freedom. Need to warm up from the inside out? A day at Palm Island Indoor Water Park may be in order, where it’s always 85 degrees and sunny. Hit the waterslides, let the little ones splash around before going head-to-head in the arcade room. Complete the staycation with an overnight at the hotel with packages starting at just $185.

Think Lanes and Games

A classic sport for family fun! Genesee County has several bowling alleys sure to deliver an afternoon full of fun and friendly competition. Whether you put your skills to the test at Mancuso Bowling Center, Scopano's Paradise Lanes, Rose Garden Bowl, or Le Roy Legion Lanes, nothing says excitement like bowling that first strike -- or the ninth one! 

Think of Treating Yourself

Experience big city luxury with local convenience. The Spa at Artemis is the perfect way to relax and unwind. Bring some friends and make a day out of their manis/pedis and facials or enjoy alone time with massages and peels. Whatever service you come for, you’ll leave feeling brand new.

Think Mindfulness & Mediation

Re-center yourself with time to breathe and be present with a class at Blue Pearl Yoga. Their January schedule is full of classes for all skill levels, as well as unique workshops. Try a foundations class, a series in restoration, a guided meditation, or Reiki healing. 

Think of Unleashing Your Inner Artist

Get hands-on, get messy – just get creative! Stop by Fired Up for ready-to-paint ceramics whenever you’re in the mood. You can paint a squirrel, elephant, plate – or whatever strikes your fancy. Paint in house or take it home with you and use your own supplies. For a more guided setting, take a class at Art Ah La Carte. Enjoy a paint and sip class, kids group painting, adult group painting, camp and more.

Think Nature and the Great Outdoors  

Winter doesn’t mean you have to stay indoors! With guided hikes and explorations at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge and Genesee County Park & Forest Interpretive Center, winter adventures have never been easier. Enjoy guided snowshoe hikes, moonlight walks, bird watching, and more. These events are free of charge with only a reservation required. Perfect for all ages!

Make this winter a “win” all around! Seek out more activities and events at: https://visitgeneseeny.com/events.

Press release:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) will consider accepting an application for incentives from Churchville Fire Equipment Corp. at the agency’s Jan. 10^th board meeting. 

The company is seeking to purchase land and build a truck setup facility in an existing facility on 10246 Perry Road in the Town of Pavillion.  The $900,000 investment by the company would create three new jobs.

Churchville Fire Equipment Corp. is seeking just over $50,000 in incentives, including sales and mortgage and property tax exemptions.

Churchville Fire Equipment Corp. has decades of experience in the fire and emergency services industry, and supplies area fire companies with life-saving equipment.

A hazardous weather outlook is in effect this afternoon and tonight, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.

A winter weather advisory is in effect until 1 p.m. Thursday.

Lake effect snow is expected. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches expected in the most persistent lake snows.

Winds gusting as high as 45 mph also producing areas of blowing snow. This includes Niagara, Orleans, Northern Erie and Genesee counties.

Greatest snow accumulation will be south of Route 104, across Northeastern Erie and Genesee County.

Expect slippery driving conditions. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute.

Lake effect snow will fall in relatively narrow bands. If traveling, be prepared for rapidly changing road conditions and visibilities.

Suspected puppy abuser Brandon Joseph Welch was in Batavia City Court Tuesday afternoon for discovery and pretrial motions in his case.

The 23-year-old, who lived at an apartment on East Main Street in the city at the time of his arrest Oct. 18 (above photo), is charged with falsely reporting an incident in the third degree (for claiming he found the starving puppy); torturing/injuring/not feeding an animal; and owning/harboring an unlicensed dog -- all misdemeanors.

He was also charged with making a terroristic threat, a Class D felony, for allegedly threatening to shoot the next police officer who showed up at his home. The status of that charge is unclear because of difficulties the prosecution has had with getting two witnesses, who live out of the area, to travel to Batavia to testify.

That was why bail for the felony was moot at Welch's last court appearance Oct. 25 when City Court Judge Robert Balbick set Welch's bail at $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond solely on the misdemeanors.

At some point, Welch got out on bail; he sat with a buddy at the back of the gallery Tuesday until his case was called after 2:30 p.m. He stood with his private counsel Frank Ciardi before Judge Balbick; Welch was clad in a long-sleeved, medium-blue dress shirt and dark gray pants, his brown hair in a burr cut and beard neatly clipped.

Ciardi told the judge they would like the case "to come to a disposition" (rather than go to trial). 

First District Attorney Melissa Cianfrini said she is not sure of the terms or status of plea negotiations with District Attorney Lawrence Friedman and must confer with him about it.

"The sooner we can resolve this the better," Balbick said.

The next court appearance is set for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29.

The emaciated 9.2-pound pit bull mix pup -- named "Opal" by the Volunteers for Animals at the shelter -- was found roadside by a Good Samaritan in Stafford on Oct. 4. Welch was arrested after a tip to police.

Opal was nursed back to health by vets and volunteers and subsequently adopted.

Three other animals in Welch's care were seized from his home -- a bearded dragon lizard and two other mixed-breed dogs.

Welch is not liable for vet and shelter bills for the animals because he forefeited ownership of them.

Previously:

City resident accused of threatening to shoot cops in case of starving, neglected pup

Suspected puppy abuser gets bail, forfeits pet ownership

The Batavia Players will hold their first blood drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12, in the reception area of Harvester 56 Theatre, located at 56 Harvester Ave. in Batavia,

To schedule an appointment go online here and enter sponsor code 000489; or call Unyts at (716) 512-7940.

A photo ID is required to donate blood.

The Genesee Community College History Club is excited to invite the public to the first Spring 2019 Historical Horizons Lecture Series event on Wednesday, Feb. 6, at 7 p.m. to hear Rozenn Bailleul-LeSuer, Ph.D., discuss the "Winged Jewels of the Nile."

Birds and bird imagery filled the world of the ancient Egyptians. Every fall, the arrival of millions of waterfowl in the delta marshes coincided with the Nile flood.

The Egyptians saw in these natural and cyclical events a symbolic reenactment of the moment of creation when, according to some versions of the myth, a divine goose laid an egg on the first mound emerging from the water. From this egg hatched the sun god, who flew high in the sky and created the other gods and humanity.

In addition to presenting how birds, from cradle to coffin, permeated most aspects of Egyptian society, Bailleul-LeSuer will discuss the work she has conducted and is pursuing on a selection of bird mummies held in museum collections.

Using medical imaging and scientific analyses to complement findings from ancient texts and artifacts, her research aims at shedding some additional light on the phenomenon of Sacred Bird Cults, in which these mummies played a significant role. With her expertise in this unique field of study, Bailleul-LeSuer has edited the book, "Between Heaven and Earth, Birds in Ancient Egypt," which was published by the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago in 2012.

The lecture begins at 7 p.m. in room T102 of the Conable Technology Building, is free and open to the public. The other upcoming Historical Horizons Lectures scheduled on the first Wednesday of each month during the Spring 2019 Semester include:

• Wednesday, March 6: " 'Race' and the Dilemma of the New England Puritan: Intersections of Ideas and Identities" presented by Richard Bailey, Ph.D., associate professor of History at Canisius College and author of "Race and Redemption in Puritan New England" (Oxford 2014);
• Wednesday, April 3: "The Shadow of Slavery: Black Women and Political Mobilization during Reconstruction" presented by Justin Behrend, Ph.D., associate professor of History, SUNY Geneseo and author of "Reconstructing Democracy: Grassroots Black Politics in the Deep South after the Civil War" (University of Georgia Press, 2015.);
• Wednesday, May 1: "Military Campaigns of 1755 -- French and Indian War" presented by William Griffith, associate at the Gettysburg Foundation.