A possible house fire is reported at 1749 Judge Road, Alabama.
The homeowner reports a fire in the wall.
Alabama fire along with East Pembroke dispatched.
UPDATE 1:26 p.m.: All units can respond non-emergency. Alabama command believes the fire is knocked down.
A 33-year-old man from Hilton accused of illegally possessing a semiautomatic .223-caliber rifle and large capacity magazine in violation of New York State law while in Byron in March entered a guilty plea this morning to a single felony count of criminal possession of a weapon, 3rd.
Under terms of the plea deal, if Charles S. Ganoung IV, avoids criminal legal trouble for the next year while on probation, his plea can be reduced to a misdemeanor, criminal possession of a weapon, 4th.
He would then serve two more years on probation.
Deputies arrested Ganoung March 25 while in the course of an unrelated investigation when Ganoung was found with rifle, which deputies said was unregistered and equipped with a telescoping stock, pistol grip, detachable high-capacity magazine, loaded with 28 live rounds, flash suppressor/muzzle break and a bayonet mount.
The Army veteran admitted to the second count of the indictment, the one dealing with the large capacity magazine, in Genesee County Court this morning but made no other statements.
Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 24.
Laurie J. Lerkins, 40, of Harvester Avenue, of Batavia, is accused of selling cocaine to an agent of the Local Drug Task Force within the past eight months.
With the help of Batavia PD, she was located on Harvester Avenue and taken into custody.
She was jailed on charges of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd, and criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd. Both are Class B felonies.
Deborah R. Blatt, 56, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd, and criminal trespass, 3rd. After refusing medical treatment in the emergency room of UMMC, Blatt allegedly sat down in the waiting area and refused to leave after being told by hospital staff to leave. Blatt allegedly pushed a responding officer.
Brian L. Erickson, 52, of Cherry Street, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Erickson allegedly pushed another person during an incident reported at 5:32 p.m. Tuesday at a location on Ross Street.
Robin L. Walsh, 50, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Walsh allegedly concealed several items in her purse at Tops Market and walked out of the store without paying for them.
Trisha R. Santora, 35, Naramore Drive, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08, refusal to take breath test, aggravated unlicensed operation, 1st, driving a motor vehicle while on a mobile device. Santora was stopped at 9 p.m. Oct. 19 on Main Street, Batavia, by Officer Matthew Wojtaszczyk.
David L. Andrews, 29, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation, 2nd, and suspended registration. Andrews was stopped at 3:17 p.m. Sunday on Jefferson Square, Batavia, by Officer Christopher Lindsay.
Batavia's first snow of the season fell this morning.
Adriana Cox is ready for Halloween.
To send in pictures of children dressed for Halloween, email howard@thebatavian.com
Guinnevere Clark as a Creepy Ballerina.
Alexandria Wenzel, 2 years old
Two photos above, Isla Currier and her soon-to-be little brother.
Owen Currier's first Halloween.
Landon and Kalina
Emma Underhill
Three photos above, Kait Rowley, 11, Maeve Motz, 2, and Robert Motz, 9 months.
The staff at L&L Transmissions are ready for Halloween. Dressed up as Minions are Nick Newton and Greg Lyons.
If you and/or your co-workers dressed up for Halloween today, send a picture to howard@thebatavian.com and we'll add it to this post.
Submitted by Tammi Ferringer. Genesee County employees.
Four photos above, Grandma’s Luv’n Care had a "friendly grandmother" costume contest today.
Jeremy Yasses and Joe Pellegrino
As expected, resolutions calling for more than a half-million dollars to be allocated for special projects -- as well as others to accept a $236,0000 firefighters grant and to complete the final phase of the “Healthy Schools” sidewalk plan – were kept on the table by the Batavia City Council at its Conference meeting on Monday night.
Council, by unanimous agreement, moved to its Nov. 13 Business Meeting proposals that earmark $541,000 in unassigned funds to the Department of Public Works equipment reserve ($50,000), sidewalk reserve ($25,000), administrative services equipment and software reserve ($300,000), street resurfacing project ($20,000) and the Ellicott Trail project ($146,000).
Scroll down to see a previous story on The Batavian for details.
The board also agreed to consider resolutions accepting a $236,000 FEMA Assistance Firefighters Grant for the purchase of 24 self-contain breathing apparatus units – replacing the ones that have outlived their usefulness, account to Chief Stefano Napolitano.
Additionally, the grant will allow the department to purchase a Pak Tracker system that is used to locate a firefighter who becomes missing or trapped in a dangerous environment, Napolitano said.
The “Healthy Schools” resolution authorizes the City to contract with the state Department of Transportation to complete construction phases of the project in the amount of $982,238, of which 75 percent will be reimbursed to the City.
Previously, the City was awarded the funding to replace 12,300 feet of sidewalk for Liberty Street from East Main Street to Morton Avenue, and Washington Avenue from Ross Street to Bank Street.
DPW Director Matt Worth said bids will go out in December and construction will start next spring.
Council gave its stamp of approval to “Christmas in the City,” a four-hour yuletide celebration coordinated by the Downtown Batavia Business Improvement District on Dec. 1. The cost to the city for its part in the event is expected to be around $1,800.
In another development, Council seemed to agree with a recommendation by Worth, Police Chief Shawn Heubusch and Molino to beef up traffic control along Evans Street (in the Watson Street, Thorpe Street and Ganson Avenue areas) as an alternative to a resident’s request to install an “Autistic Child” sign.
The plan, according to a memo by Worth, is based on the premise that motorists’ driving speed needs to be addressed. Molino said the resident, Jonathan Bell, who has an autistic son, agreed with the following recommendations:
-- Installing a portable speed monitor trailer on Evans Street prior to the winter to let drivers know how fast they are going;
-- Using grant funding to increase traffic enforcement in this area, hopefully resulting in information that would determine if stop signs or reduced speed zone signs are warranted;
-- Placing a “Children at Play” sign on Evans Street at Watson Street, southbound, as vehicles exit an industrial area into a residential area.
Batavia is a small city but it’s not immune to big city problems when it comes to respect, responsibility and accountability from its youth and law enforcement.
That is the gist of the message shared at Monday night’s City Council meeting by longtime Batavian Bill Blackshear, who is calling for citizens to come together “for a better communication and a better understanding of each other.”
Blackshear, 61, has lived in Batavia for about 50 years – he was elected as Batavia High School’s first black “Mayor” back in 1975 – and has expressed his views in the past, always in a dignified manner.
Last night was no different as he appealed to council members to take action to stem what he sees as a growing unrest among youth, especially minorities.
“I am concerned about the rash of crimes committed by people 15 to 19 years old,” he said, specifically mentioning a recent incident where youths threw fluid in the face of a man, causing second-degree burns, and a previous incident where people were accosted by young men.
Blackshear said it’s time for people to “build bridges” to improve relations between the community and law enforcement, and that he welcomes all “feedback, guidance and your prayers.”
He believes that police, city agencies such as Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, parents and others should “establish dialogue to instill pride” in young people and promote programs – such as police ride-alongs and Q&A sessions – to get youths more involved.
“I would hate to see Batavia become another Rochester or Buffalo,” he said. “There is always room for enhancement to adapt to the new challenges that have arisen.”
Council President Eugene Jankowski responded to Blackshear’s plea by requesting Police Chief Shawn Heubusch to work through the Criminal Justice Advisory Council to “start some dialogue and see if there are programs out there.”
Afterward, Blackshear, who said he will be meeting with Assemblyman Stephen Hawley in the near future, elaborated on his views of today’s Batavia. He said is aware of destructive influences from outside the area but also believes there have been incidences of racial profiling.
“I fear that because of their youth that they may be easily manipulated by forces from some of the larger cities – and it is definitely having an impact in Batavia with the rash of crimes as well as a feeling of mistrust for law enforcement and vice versa,” he said.
“I understand that police officers fear for their lives as well, and so we need to establish some sort of dialogue for a better communication and a better understanding of each other through talking and some programs that can be innovative.”
Blackshear, an employee of Goodwill Industries of WNY in Batavia, said that “inclusion” is a way to give young people “a voice that matters.”
“Then they feel more empowered and it gets them to seek alternative means of pride as well as opportunity,” he said. “I’m not saying that it’s necessarily lacking; it’s more of a misunderstanding based upon a lot of elements coming from sources other than the home.”
He said he hopes that “a lot of the things we’ve seen happen … in the larger cities where kids have been shot and harmed because they were mistakenly taken for someone or suspects as far engaging in behavior that seems threatening” doesn’t become part of the fabric of Batavia.
“And vice versa -- police are concerned, too,” he said. “They may feel like everyone is suspect, and that’s not always the case. So we all need to sit down and communicate. Maybe some of these kids can get to know law enforcement and how it works better in order to understand that not everybody is an enemy.”
To make Batavia’s streets safe for everyone, there needs to be accountability on both sides, Blackshear said.
“(Young people) need not be profiled or suspected when they aren’t doing anything or if they are nonviolent (and) they shouldn’t be treated like criminals. There should be accountability on both sides. Kids should know that they’re accountable for their actions and their choices as well as anyone who deals with them. There’s always the accountability factor.”
Photo at top -- Batavian Bill Blackshear spoke at the City Council meeting tonight on the need for outreach to the City's young people.
Press release:
Congressman Chris Collins (NY-27) released the following statement applauding Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady’s decision to include a state and local property tax deduction in the House Republican tax reform bill.
"I am pleased that Chairman Brady has agreed to keep the SALT property tax deduction in the new tax reform legislation. It goes to show you that leadership does listen to the concerns we as members point out. Now, New York taxpayers are poised for a big victory when federal tax reform provides them with more money in their pockets and better economic opportunity. It’s time for Andrew Cuomo to follow our lead and deliver comprehensive tax reform when it comes to the state income and property taxes New Yorkers pay."
The Ways and Means Committee is expected to release its tax reform legislation on Wednesday. For more information on the unified framework for fixing our broken tax code, click here.
Lisa A. Slichta, a Certified Respiratory Therapist of 16 years, opened Respirations LLC, on Aug. 31, to better serve the community for greater patient care for sleep needs.
Slichta also provides liaison services to medical communities such as physician practices, hospitals and rehab facilities.
“Due to my experience, and relationships that I built over a decade with the medical communities, the medical offices call on me to make sure the referral order gets handled promptly for their patients and are serviced within a timely fashion,” Slichta said.
Respirations is located at 653 E. Main St. in Batavia, and can be reached at 344-3000.
The business is based on a contract service, working with several durable medical equipment, DME, companies and sleep medicine companies.
Respirations provides continuous positive airway pressure or bilevel positive airway pressure therapy, home oxygen services, home sleep apnea testing, non-invasive ventilation therapy and cough assist afflovest therapy, for obstructive sleep apnea, sleep disorder breathing patients, and patients with chronic lung diseases.
“As the contracted therapist, the DME companies and sleep [companies] provide me with the equipment needed to start patients on their prescribed therapy or needed sleep testing,” Slichta said.
Patients pick up their equipment and and are instructed during an appointment on how to use prescribed equipment in the office. Under certain circumstances, Slichta can travel to the patient’s home for setup.
“It’s part of my business to make sure that the patient’s insurance is covered by the DME or sleep medicine company that accepts the patient’s insurance,” Slichta said.
She said the physician offices that choose respirations no longer have to spend a large amount of time on the phone calling around to find their patient medical equipment.
“This concept helps these practices focus more on patient care and not wasting an astronomical amount of time on the phone trying to expedite a referral,” Slichta said.
She is planning on having several other therapists join the team, to continue with great customer service.
“My growth in the community is very important to me, and customer service is what I have always strived for,” Slichta said. “I am planning on expanding services and having more retail sleep products in the very near future, making my shop a one stop shop for all your obstructive sleep apnea needs.”
Tuesday marks the 500th anniversary of Reformation Day, celebrated alongside Halloween, by Protestant Christians.
On Oct. 31, 1517, German monk Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-five Theses on the door of the All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg, Germany.
Pastor Alan Werk from St. Paul Lutheran Church in Batavia, said Reformation Day is an important holiday that marks the beginnings of the church body.
“It shows recognition that the Bible is God’s word and it’s our sole authority for what we teach and believe,” Werk said.
On Nov. 4th from 2 to 4 p.m., St. Paul Lutheran Church will hold a family-oriented Reformation Day Celebration. There will be stations for people to walk around to learn more about Martin Luther and Reformation Day. St. Paul's is located at 31 Washington Ave. in Batavia.
“The other important recognition is that we are saved by Jesus Christ, not by the things that we do,” Werk said. “Jesus did for us what we couldn’t do.”
Earlier in the month, St. Paul members gathered to watch a documentary about Martin Luther, to start the celebrations of Reformation Day.
Every year, the congregation celebrates Reformation Day on the last Sunday of October.
“It lets us live with a whole lot more joy and peace,” Werk said. “We remind ourselves about all things the Reformation stands for in terms of our faith and Scriptures.”
The three key points celebrated are Scripture alone, faith alone and grace alone, Werk said.
When Martin Luther nailed the Ninety-five Theses to the church, he did not set out to create a new church body, Werk said.
“What he was really trying to do was correct some things that he recognized from his study of the Bible, that the church had been doing wrong,” Werk said. “He wanted to make some adjustments and corrections.”
Werk said he ended up getting kicked out of the church, which prompted him to start a new church body.
“He wanted to call the church back to the things the Bible taught,” Werk said.
The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for Genesee County covering today and tomorrow.
There is a wind advisory in effect until 2 a.m.
There is a flash flood watch in effect from 2 p.m. through Wednesday morning.
There is a 60-percent chance of rain showers on Halloween.
Today's winds are expected to remain 20 to 30 mph, from the west, with gusts up to 50 mph.
As for precipitation, the NWS is predicting heavy lake effect rainfall, though it much of it is likely to fall west of Genesee County. Runoff could create flash-flood conditions in low-lying areas. Gutters and drains clogged with leaves could increase the risk of street flooding.
Press release:
The City of Batavia will celebrate Halloween on Tuesday, Oct. 31 only. Trick-or-treating activities will take place from 5 to 9 p.m.
Drivers and walkers are asked to be especially cautious during this time. Have fun and be safe.
Press release:
The City of Batavia Fire Department will be flushing fire hydrants on Monday, Oct. 30, from approximately 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the general area north of Main Street and east of Bank Street. Homes and businesses nearby will be affected.
These tests may result in a temporary discoloration of water in that area. As in the past, please do not attempt to wash any clothing if your water appears discolored. If you do experience a discoloration of your water, run cold water for about five minutes or until clear.
Update -- 7 p.m.
City Manager Jason Molino’s recommendations for the allocation of $541,000 in unassigned funds to committed and restricted fund balances highlight the agenda of tonight's City Council meeting.
His recommendations are as follows:
-- $50,000 into the DPW equipment reserve, based on the current plan to replace a loader and single axle dump truck with plow over the next three years, and an expectation that close to $600,000 in equipment will need to be replaced by 2021.
-- $25,000 into the sidewalk reserve, based on plans to replace about 15 percent of the sidewalk within the City limits at a cost of $2.35 million. Sidewalk replacement targets for 2018 are Tracy and Washington avenues and Liberty Street and for 2019 are State and Bank streets and Washington and Richmond avenues. Federal grants will cover the majority of the cost.
-- $300,000 into the administrative services equipment and software reserve, which is deemed necessary to upgrade the City’s information technology software and management operation.
-- $20,000 in Bond Anticipation Note financing for capital projects, specifically to cover preparatory costs for a $2.55 million project to resurface several streets in 2018, first reported in The Batavian. Those streets include Union, Clinton, Vine, Liberty and South Liberty streets, and East Avenue. Eighty percent of the cost will be covered through federal transportation funds.
-- $146,000 for Ellicott Trail, the 4-mile pedestrian trail with off-road segments for pedestrians and bicyclists running through the Town and City of Batavia. These funds will go toward the City’s local match ($170,000) of the $1.3 million project.
Also, City Council will be asked to approve “Christmas in the City,” a four-hour yuletide celebration coordinated by the Downtown Batavia Business Improvement District. The event is set for 5-9 p.m. Dec. 1, with a parade from Jefferson Avenue to Summit Street set for 8 p.m.
The 21st annual John Gardner Society gathering at the Pok-A-Dot to remember Batavia's most famous novelist at his favorite local restaurant brought people in from some distance this year. There were two people who drove in from Pennsylvania, two from Indiana, and one of Gardner's best friends, who drove up from Binghamton (playwright Jan Quackenbush). Among the travelers, a former student and a former dorm mate of Gardner's. First-timers to the reading also included a couple from Buffalo.
Reading in the top photo, Beth Buechler, who was one of Gardner's students in Binghamton and traveled to Batavia from Indiana.
Tracy Ford
Bill Kauffman
Terry Abrams, of Basom, reading, as he does every year, from "On Becoming a Novelist."
Norm Morford, a dormmate's of Gardner's while in college.
Helen Maier
Other readers included Byron Hoot, from Pennsylvania, Lucine Kauffman, Steve Lewandowski, JoNelle Toriseva, and John Maier.
Dan Eberly and his wife, Sarah, hosted a carnival in their backyard yesterday for the children living on and around Thorpe Street in Batavia.
"This is a busy neighborhood and there are lots of kids and we just wanted to get to know them," Dan Eberly said.
The carnival had various games that allowed the children to earn tickets that could be redeemed for prizes. There were also hotdogs, snacks and drinks.
It was all free.
Most of the year Eberly, who is originally from Baltimore, works overseas but with an extended stay at his home in Batavia, he thought it was a good time to do something for the neighborhood kids.
"I had carnivals in my neighborhood when I was growing up and they were the highlight of my fall," he said.
The Eberlys also host Nerf gun games every Wednesday evening in their backyard. If kids show up and don't have their own Nerf guns, the Eberlys supply them.
Eberly is also mindful that Thorpe has a reputation for being a troubled neighborhood.
"We had the shooting — it was literally out my front window -- a couple of weeks ago, and we just figure this would be a good way to start changing the community by getting to know everybody," Eberly said.
Jenn Boyki will move into her new home on Bloomingdale Road in Basom with a new sense of opportunity and freedom thanks to Habitat for Humanity.
Volunteers started working on the house, built in 1900, before a potential Habitat owner had been identified, so by the time Boyki applied and was approved, there wasn't much time for her to complete the required 300 hours of "sweat equity" to qualify for the purchase of the property.
But she got it done, all while raising two young children and working as a supervisor at Tim Horton's in Batavia.
"This speaks to her dedication and determination to provide a safe and stable home for her family," said Lauren Casey, CEO of Habitat in Genesee County.
The work was worth it, Boyki said.
"I loved it," she said. "I absolutely loved it. It gives you more enjoyment of being a homeowner versus just moving into a house."
With a piece of property out of the city she thinks she and her kids will have more freedom for themselves.
'It's an opportunity," she said. "The kids love animals, so we will be able to own some animals. I don't have to worry about a landlord and if something breaks, them fixing it on their own time."
Mary Case presented Boyki with a quilt she made to add comfort to the new home during the dedication ceremony.
Marie Scofield presented a symbolic loaf of bread.
Section V Girls Championships were held yesterday Rochester Institute of Technology college. The Batavia cheerleading team won the Division 2, Small A school sectional title, which ended the nine-year drought since back in 2008.
"We had a rough start," said Co-Coach Stacy Squire. "We had to change everything the day before homecoming when unveiling the new routine. Placed second in our first two competitions but kept improving our scores and working hard.
"These kids worked so hard this season and wanted this more than anything. Justine and I couldn't be more proud and happy for them!"
Senior Elisa Swinehart, pictured below with both coaches, was chosen for the Nancy Saxton Leadership Award, which is given to a senior on the championship team.
Coach Squires spoke of how Elisa was chosen for this award. She is the definition of dedication to her team. Cheerleading is her passion, it shows in practice and performance times. She is first to be ready to start practice and the last to make sure the mats are rolled every day. She inspires her team to push themselves and get what her coaches ask of her done.
Pictured above, from left, in front row: Kelsey Verton, Natalie Clark, Bethany Ruffino, Felicity Anderson, Lydia Wahr, Taylor Smith.
Back row, from left: Coach Stacy Squire, Elisa Swinehart, Morgan Olverd, Karleigh Amthor, Julie Wetsell, Kendra Cook and Coach Justine Briggs.
Not pictured: Kristen Corp.
Story and photos submitted by Stacy Squire and Sherri Buchholz Wahr.
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