More than 90 children from age 4 to age 8 turned out at the Batavia Sports Park on Friday for Ricky Palermo's annual soccer clinic.
This was the 15th year Palermo hosted the clinic.
"It grows a little bit every year and that's exciting," Palermo said.
The clinic helps raise awareness about spinal injury, Palermo said, and shows the kids that even a person with a spinal injury can still do things.
Keeping busy is one reason two seniors believe they are enjoying life into their 90s.
Madeline Harding, of Batavia, turned 90 on June 15, while Mary Tuttle, also of Batavia, was 94 on July 18. Harding was born in Yorkshire and graduated from Wyoming County Academy, where she studied Nursing. She became a nursing supervisor at the former St. Jerome Hospital, then retired from the Genesee County Nursing Home.
She and her husband, Frank, 93, have four children, six grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. They enjoyed traveling all over the world, but aren’t able to do it anymore. England was her favorite destination, Harding said. They have been there several times.
Harding said she joined the Senior Quilters because she has always liked to do crafts and her mother was a quilter.
She still drives, “but very carefully,” she said.
Tuttle was born in Blossburg, Pa., and met her husband when her father moved to Perry for work.
She learned to quilt after they retired to Florida, where they lived for 21 years until moving back to Batavia for his health.
Tuttle has always loved to sing and said she would sing “Anywhere they let me.” She starred in her first operetta at age 5 at PerryHigh School, playing the part of Baby Bear.
“You gotta’ stay happy,” she said.
She and her husband had two children, five grandchildren, and 11 grandchildren.
When decided where they wanted to celebrate their birthdays, Harding and Tuttle chose Fortune’s at Batavia Downs, because it was a favorite spot of their friend and former quilter, Frances Ford. Ford, who would have been 102 a week ago, died in May.
The Senior Quilters have made more than 15 quilts for Quilts of Valor. They donate quilts to the VA Nursing Home, Migrant Day Care Center, Cancer Treatment Center, Social Services and the surgical center at Golisano Children’s Hospital in Rochester.
Their newest quilt raffle will be in September. They are selling tickets for $1 each or three for $2.
New quilters are welcome to join the group from 9 a.m. to noon every Wednesday.
Top photo: The Senior Quilters, who meet Wednesdays at the Genesee County Office for the Aging, celebrated the birthdays of two of their members, Madeline Harding and Mary Tuttle (both seated) this week. Holding a quilt they will raffle off in September are, from left, Cheryl Bauer, Marge Coniber, Linda Nalbach, Donna Tomski, Harding, Tuttle and Irene Pierce.
Two seniors chose to celebrate their special birthdays' quilting at the Senior Center on Bank Street, before going to lunch at Fortune’s in Batavia Downs. Madeline Harding, left, turned 90 on June 15 and Mary Tuttle was 94 on July 18.
A property-damage accident is reported at Route 77 and Route 5 in Pembroke. One subject is reportedly intoxicated and an argument was reported.
Deputies are responding.
A grass fire is reported at Route 33 and Warner Road, Byron.
The fire is 150 feet from a house.
A fire chief on scene has requested a law enforcement response, no reason given. A trooper is responding.
Byron and South Byron fire departments dispatched.
UPDATE 7:21 p.m.: All equipment can be held in quarters at this time.
A two-vehicle accident is reported at Bank and Main streets in the city. One person has a leg injury. It is blocking traffic. City fire and Mercy medics are on scene.
A motorcycle vs. vehicle accident is reported at 4170 Batavia-Elba Townline Road. The location is between Pekin Road and Batavia Oakfield Townline Road.
Town of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. A first responder asks that medics come in emergency mode. There are two patients.
DriVen -- a power trio comprised of Dylan Desmit on guitar, Mike "Thunder" Warran on base, and Alex Desmit on drums -- beat out Invictra to win the 2018 Genesee County Fair Battle of the Bands.
I first saw Dylan Desmit play a few years ago and he was a good, young guitarist. He's become a great guitarist.
As the winner, DriVen is tonight's entertainment at the fair. They are scheduled to play from 7 to 11 p.m.
It's also Demolition Derby night and there will also be barrel racing at 8 p.m.
Corinne Rhoads was a big hit with the crowd when it came time to auction off the chickens she had raised during the annual 4-H Club Livestock Auction at the Genesee County Fair. Bidders purchased 112 animals during the charity auction, usually at prices well above market value, which included not just chickens, but goats, lambs, beef steers, dairy steers, and hogs.
William Kent Inc. conducted the auction.
Clare Mathers
Madelynn Pimm
Mya Grant
Hunter McCabe
Pete Broughton making a bid.
Bob Bowen, Circle B Winery, holds up his bidder number so the auctioneer can record his winning bid on an animal.
Audre Dorman
Press release: Found bone
On Thursday, July 19, the Batavia Police Department received information that a citizen found what appeared to be a human bone along the Tonawanda Creek bank in the City of Batavia.
Officers responded and took possession of the bone. It is believed the bone has been on the creek bank for an extended period of time. The creek bank was searched and no other remains were located.
Anyone with information in reference to the case may contact the Batavia Police Department at 585-345-6350, the confidential tip line at 585-345-6370 or online here.
Police Department
10 Main St.
Batavia, NY 14020
Phone: 585-345-6350 / Fax: 585-344-1878 / Records: 585-345-6303 / Detective Bureau: 585-345-6370 www.batavianewyork.com
A two-car head-on collision is reported at 1396 Main Road in Pembroke. The location is between Boyce Road and Alleghany Road. The driver of one of the vehicles has a head laceration; three others are "shaken up" but otherwise OK.
No word on injuries in the other vehicle. The accident is blocking traffic.
Law enforcement is en route. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding along with two ambulances, one from Mercy -- the second either Mercy or Darien. Mercy Flight is on standby.
UPDATE 3:32 p.m.: There are a total of two patients with minor injuries; one has a small head laceration; the other a leg injury.
UPDATE 3:52 p.m.: Three patients were transported. This was not a direct head-on collision. A Ford Escape was westbound on Main Road when it veered into the eastbound lane and struck a Chevy Traverse; neither vehicle sustained significant damage. The Ford had damage to the passenger side; the Chevy had passenger front-end fender damage. A third, unspecified vehicle, was sideswiped in the collision but no one was injured. Two patients in the Ford Escape were transported to a hospital. The passenger in the Chevy was also taken by ambulance to a hospital.
Genesee County Sheriff's Sgt. Thomas Sanfratello was on Route 262, heading to the barn fire on Terry Street in Byron when his unmarked SUV was struck by a van traveling on Byron Road. The impact pushed the unmarked vehicle into a utility pole.
No one was injured.
Sanfratello had his emergency lights flashing and siren blaring when he slowed at the intersection, but the van's continued through the intersection. The male driver of the van was evaluated at the scene and released. Three dogs that were traveling in the van with him were likewise uninjured.
A memorial at the utility pole that was struck -- to two Byron-Bergen School students killed in a crash at that intersection years ago -- was "obliterated."
UPDATE 3:50 p.m.: Reader Valerie Patrick informs us that the memorial was for two students -- Christopher and Victoria Claus.
A working barn fire is reported at 6866 Terry St. in Byron. It is almost on the ground and smoke can be seen from the Town of Batavia. There are several exposures and trees are said to be catching on fire.
Byron and South Byron fire departments are responding along with mutual aid from Bergen, Elba and the City's Fast Team. It has gone to a second alarm.
UPDATE 2:21 p.m.: All responding units to Terry Street are told by command "to back it down."
UPDATE 2:44 p.m.: The residents at the property where the barn is located were not home at the time. The mother of one of the residents said a young couple passing by rescued a cat that was inside the barn, which was a small two-story wooden structure.
Notre Dame High School sophomores Benjamin Streeter and Krysta Hansen, as well as junior Maddie Payton -- local leaders in exposing what they see as the manipulative and deceptive marketing tactics of the tobacco industry -- have just returned from the annual Reality Check Youth Summit at Cazenovia College in Central New York.
During leadership workshops and teambuilding exercises with 150 other youth from around the state they made plans for raising awareness in their own communities about the impact tobacco marketing has on youth.
“The average age of a new smoker in New York is just 13 years old, and no one wants to see a kid start smoking,” Maddie said.
“It seems like tobacco companies are trying to deceive kids with packaging that looks like candy and thousands of flavors that appeal to kids like strawberry and bubble gum,” Krysta said.“The more kids see tobacco the more likely they are to start smoking. And we’re here to say we’ve seen enough tobacco in our communities.”
“Tobacco companies put most of their marketing in stores where 75 percent of teens shop at least once a week,” Benjamin said. “We’re speaking out in our communities and all across the state to protect youth from tobacco marketing and the dangers of tobacco use.”
Youth Demonstrated How Bright Colors, Tobacco Displays Appeal to Kids
During the Youth Summit, Reality Check members demonstrated how they believe tobacco companies’ deceptive marketing draws kids to tobacco products, using large displays of what would normally be considered kid-friendly items including large cutouts of:
At each demonstration, Reality Check youth explained how the supposed kid-friendly exhibits grab the attention of passersby just as the tobacco industry is grabbing youth’s attention with tobacco marketing in stores.
Reality Check empowers youth to become leaders in their communities in exposing what they see as the manipulative and deceptive marketing tactics of the tobacco industry.
The organization’s members produce change in their communities through grassroots mobilization and education.
Reality Check in this area is affiliated with Tobacco-Free Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties (TF-GLOW).
#SeenEnoughTobacco is an online campaign with the goal of safeguarding children from the billions of dollars of hard-hitting tobacco promotions in places where children see them.
Parents, community leaders and others interested in protecting youth are encouraged to learn more at SeenEnoughTobacco.org.
A hay baler in a field at 7088 Dillon Road, Pavilion is reportedly on fire.
Pavilion fire along with Le Roy's brush truck requested to the scene.
Congressional challenger Nate McMurray made a series of campaign stops in the NY-27 yesterday, including in Batavia at the Genesee County Fair, to call out Rep. Chris Collins for not calling out President Donald Trump over, what McMurray said, was Trump's false equivalency between the United States and authoritarian-ruled Russia.
Collins has stood by Trump following Trump's press conference with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, which followed a private meeting between the two leaders, where Trump seemingly dismissed U.S. intelligence reports of Russian interference in the 2016 election.
"I’m disappointed our congressman didn’t come out boldly — I don’t care, if Donald Trump were a Democrat, I don’t care who he is — when someone gets up on a stage and compares America to an authoritarian state you have to stand up and say that is wrong," McMurray said. "As a kid growing up in this country and believing in the future of our country, I am saying that is wrong."
In the midst of bipartisan criticism of Trump's remarks, Collins issued the following statement:
“I share President Trump’s continued frustration as the left continues to try to nullify the 2016 Presidential election with claims of Russian interference. The fact is, any Russian meddling did not make a difference in the election and there was no campaign collusion. It’s time the Mueller investigation comes to a conclusion. I also urge the President to work with Congress to ensure any future Russian attempts to influence our elections are stopped at our border. Unfortunately, this is something the Obama administration failed to do."
McMurray said in the 48 hours after the press conference, his campaign was re-energized by new supporters and new volunteers signing up.
"Republicans, Democrats, and independents alike are getting involved in our campaign and they’re getting involved because they’re worried about the state of our country," McMurray said.
About 24 hours after the press conference, Trump said he misspoke in Helsinki.
"I thought that I made myself very clear, but having just reviewed the transcript ... I realized that there is a need for some clarification," Trump said. "The sentence should have been ... 'I don't see any reason why it wouldn't be Russia.' "
He said he meant to say "wouldn't" instead of "would."
McMurray thinks Collins has a job to do and he's not doing it: Being a check on executive power.
"A big part of being a congressman is you must be a check on the executive branch, even if you love Donald Trump," McMurray said. "We do not live in an authoritarian state like Putin has. We live in a country where people who go to Congress, people who fight for the people of Western New York, need to be a check on the executive branch so we don’t have an expansion of unwarranted power."
The Batavian contacted the Collins campaign and requested a response. Spokesman Bryan Piligra sent over the following quote:
“Residents of Genesee County know Chris puts their interests first in Washington, fighting for our farms, veterans, and small businesses. They also know he proudly supports President Trump and he won’t back down from that support because radical progressives can’t get over the 2016 election."
Press release:
The Genesee County STOP-DWI and Youth Bureau are having their Annual Night at the Ballpark on Wednesday, July 25th at Dwyer Stadium.
The first 250 youth under 16 can get in free if they contact the Youth Bureau at 344-3960 to reserve tickets for the event.
Youth can come to the Youth Bureau to pick the tickets up or we will take their information and they can pick them up at the box office.
There will also be free Muckbucks to the first 60 youth, and more than 500 prizes and giveaways on hand. There will also be two bikes from Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle given away, one for a boy and one for a girl.
There will be educational booths on hand, including one with the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office with child ID kits. A juggler will be on hand as well for the kids’ entertainment.
Genesee County’s #1 crime fighting K-9 will be there to assist with the first pitch!
All of this is made possible from our wonderful sponsors and contributors: GCASA, Genesee County Sheriff’s Association, Kiwanis Club of Batavia, United States Gypsum Co., Batavia Lions Club, City of Batavia Police Benevolent Association, The Original Red Osier Landmark Restaurant, Western New York Association of Chiefs of Police, Gerace Realty, Polish Falcons, Tops Friendly Markets, Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle, and Alex’s Place.
Gates open at 6 p.m. and the game starts at 7:05.
Press release:
Today, Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) announced that a bill passed earlier this year aimed at helping local breweries, wineries and distilleries attain tax-exempt status when doing various sampling events in New York State (A.11203) will be amended to become congruent with current law.
Under the current version of the bill, a portion of the legislation restricts anyone between the ages of 18 and 21 from serving alcohol, which is contrary to current state law. Hawley announced the legislature has agreed to pass a chapter amendment resolving this issue before the bill is signed into law.
“It is extremely important to our producers, wineries, distilleries and breweries, who host many tasting and sampling events, that employees under the legal drinking age are still allowed to work at these events,” Hawley said. “Furthermore, this legislation provides a great boost to local businesses and tax credits will be available to New York producers who offer tastings on their own premises.
"I hope these sales tax exemptions will help boost economic growth in our state and encourage new businesses to open here as well. The bill will not be sent to the governor until the end of the year, but I’m pleased by its widespread support. I’d like to thank the sponsors of this legislation for dedication to helping and promoting our state’s businesses.”
After being paralyzed in a motor-vehicle accident at the age of 21, Ricky Palermo, 58, could be bitter.
Yet, he considers himself blessed.
One reason is the support team of family and friends who not only help him day to day, but the dedicated committee members who have volunteered to make the annual Ricky Palermo Spinal Injury Golf Tournament a success.
The tournament scheduled Aug. 4 will be the 22nd, and Palermo hopes it won’t be the last.
He fears as people age and lives get harder, the people who have helped him all these years won’t be able to keep the pace. He cites as an example losing his brother-in-law Joe last year.
The thought of his benefit tournament dying out is almost unbearable. In its 21 years, the tournament has raised more than $1.2 million for spinal injury research.
Annually, money from the golf tournament is donated to four causes – the Emergency Room at United Memorial Medical Center, where Palermo was treated; Strong Memorial Hospital’s Spinal Unit; the Batavia YMCA, where Palermo regularly exercises on a Functional Electrical Stimulation bike; and the Miami Project in Miami, where doctors and research scientists are working to find a cure for spinal injuries.
Palermo was one of the first six patients to take part in the Miami Project after it was established in 1985, just four years after his accident.
A key figure in founding the Miami Project was NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Nick Buoniconti, whose son Marc had been injured playing football. The Buoniconti family vowed that progress in spinal injury research would not be slowed because of lack of funds. To date, their foundation has raised one-half billion dollars.
One of their fundraisers is the Great Sports Legends’ Dinner in New York City, to which Palermo is sent tickets every year.
“I am so blessed that they think of me,” Palermo said.
Another reason the Miami Project is so special to Palermo is because his niece, Batavia native Dr. Annie Palermo, has just been hired there. One of the studies he will be involved in will be led by Annie.
The first study he participated in proved to doctors that someone with a spinal cord injury could stay in shape with proper exercise. Several times a week, Palermo goes to the YMCA, where he rides the Functional Electrical Stimulation bike, which his golf tournament helped fund.
Palermo hopes the golf tournament will continue to be a success. In the past, golfers have come from eight different states. Many plan their vacations around the event, he said.
The first year they set a goal of $5,000, but actually raised $11,500.
“That’s when we knew we had to try again,” Palermo said.
Last year’s tournament raised $74,000. They have had as many as 224 golfers participate in one year.
“We’ve met so many caring, wonderful people,” Palermo said. “I consider myself lucky.”
Terry Hills, where the tournament takes place, has been so good to them, Palermo said. While the scheduled tee-off isn’t until 11 a.m., some start at daybreak to get everyone in.
Genesee Community College is also a big supporter, hosting the dinner, auction and show in the evening.
Cost for lunch, golf, and dinner is $120 per person. Just hors d'oeuvres, dinner and the show is $50.
The show will include a video and a presentation by two doctors from the Miami Project. The video will feature footage shot of Palermo when he was in Miami.
There will also be a live and silent auction and raffles.
Donations of cash, prize items, and auction items are welcome.
To register to golf or for information on making a donation, contact Palermo at (585) 739-8522.
Photo (by Howard Owens): Ricky Palermo with his cousin John Curtiss.
No young man forgets his first new car, especially when it is the car of his dreams.
And few get the chance to own that car again more than 50 years later.
The first time Peter Lockner saw the “Dodge Girl” advertise a 1966 red Dodge Charger, he knew he had to have one.
That was in December 1966, the first year Dodge made the Charger. Lockner had a young wife and had just quit his job at Kodak to get his master’s degree at Cornell University.
“We had several junk cars, but I couldn’t leave Marilyn with a junker while I was at college,” said Lockner, a flight instructor at Genesee County Airport. “I had seen the Dodge Girl on TV and I went to McAvoy Dodge in Rochester and said I wanted a red Charger. They had only one, but it had an anemic 361-cubic-inch V8 engine with a two-barrel carburetor.”
Lockner really wanted a Hemi but was told that would take two months to get.
“So I bought the ‘anemic’ Charger,” Lockner said.
The original bill of sale lists the base price as $3,122.00. With optional add-ons for four-speed transmission, emergency flashers, padded sun visors, power steering, AM radio, white sidewall tires and $51 for shipping, the final price was $3,618.88.
Lockner’s wife drove the car that winter and he got his master’s and returned to Kodak, where he was sent to California for two years. He drove the Charger to California and back to their home in Byron.
Lockner had put a 440 police interceptor engine in the Charger.
“I used to race a Corvette on Ford Road and the third time I beat him, I blew the engine,” Lockner said. “Then I put a Chrysler Imperial engine in it which I had rebuilt with a racing cam and Holley 750 CFN carburetor. It idled real nice and it ran nice.”
Lockner said Marilyn once got ticketed for speeding in Elba. Two state troopers had to chase her to Saile Drive before they could stop her. She told them the car wouldn’t slow down.
Lockner said he once pegged it at 160 mph on the I-490.
In 1985, Lockner’s cousin’s son was graduating from high school and she wanted to give him a car. The Charger had almost 140,000 miles on it, and Lockner was tired of fixing it and treating it with tender, loving care. So he sold it for $1,500.
The car was last driven in 1987 and the registration sticker was still on the windshield when Lockner discovered just over a year ago his cousin still had the car.
“It has been stored in Ohio since then,” Lockner said. “I had sold it with the understanding I had first dibs to buy it back if she ever wanted to sell it.”
In 2017, Lockner paid $6,000 to buy the Charger back and towed it to Batavia, where he and his son Steven have worked nearly a year to get it running again.
That entailed all new brakes and completely cleaning and rebuilding the carburetor. When they were ready to start it, Lockner hooked up a drill to the oil pump and moved the oil around.
“Then she started right up,” he said.
Genesee County DMV helped Lockner reregister the car. He got insurance and now he’s driving it.
Of course, he only gets about 10 miles to the gallon, but doesn’t bother Lockner at all.
It’s still the car of his dreams.
Below: Pete Lockner, of Batavia, shows off the 1966 Dodge Charger he purchased new. He recently located the car in Ohio and purchased it back. He has the original invoice from McAvoy Dodge in Rochester, showing a final price of $3,618.88 with options and shipping. Photos by Virginia Kropf.
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