To purchase prints, click here.

A car has reportedly hit a pedestrian in the area of 42 Clinton Ave., Batavia.

The car has left the area.

City fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 5:04 p.m.: City fire back in service.

A nonprofit corporation called We R 3C a has devised a curriculum using different techniques to teach students the value of respect and skills needed to create caring communities. 

Robert Purifico, president of We R 3C, and Bart Dentino, program founder, believe school administrators are looking under the wrong rock when it comes to teaching students character education and development. As an alternative to many of the behavior programs that are based on extrinsic forms of motivation such as rewards, Purifico and Dentino, who both come from educational backgrounds, launched the We R 3C curriculum. 

It focuses on developing pro-social behaviors through intrinsic motivation. The goal is to teach students to develop an understanding of values such as respect, empathy and forgiveness. According to Dentino, once students are able to understand and find the value in one another, they will become intrinsically motivated and sincere in their demonstrations.

“Kids learn pro-social behaviors, understand it and do acts of kindness, not for a reward, but because it is an appropriate concrete operational social behavior that they demonstrate 365 days a year,” Purifico said.

The foundation of the curriculum is based on the work of three psychologists, Jean Piaget, Lawrence Kohlberg and Benjamin Bloom. Using principles from their research, the process-based curriculum moves students through the moral stages of development from the egocentric stage to the concrete operational stage.

The first part, "beginnings," teaches children in kindergarten through second grade how to start considering the world outside their ego. The lessons teach the children to think about others around them.

The second part teaches students in grades three through 12 how to understand the value in someone and demonstrate it in the community. The curriculum is divided into five themes, which include the meaning of respect, fixing a problem, self-respect, bullying and communities within communities. Each theme has several lessons and the lessons are broken into approximately 30 learning blocks. In the learning blocks, all of the presentations and activities are written out for teachers.

Dentino has taught several piloting lessons at Elba Central School District.

Dentino recalls talking about a bully during a learning block he taught to a fifth-grade class. He started off the conversation by asking the class what they knew about the boy who was bullying the students. The students shared that his mom works two jobs and his dad is a truck driver who he only sees two weekends a month. Dentino then asked the students how the boy felt and they mentioned how he really missed his dad.

"I looked at one of the girls in the back and she had her head down and I asked her what's the matter," Dentino said. "She responded I feel so sad for him."

From discussing the situation, the students began to empathize with the boy and that understanding made it easier to forgive him. To heal the relationship with the boy, Dentino told the class they had two weeks to let him know he matters.

When Dentino came back, the students shared their stories. One student told of an experience he had with the boy while playing baseball during gym class.

"When the boy came to the plate the student yelled to the pitcher 'you better pitch well to him because he is a really good hitter,' " Dentino said. "This student didn't get a reward for saying it. It was intrinsically motivated behavior to demonstrate kindness to someone whose only relationship to him up to that point was the boy hurting him."

The curriculum has also proven to be beneficial for students at the Lyndonville Middle-High School in grades seven through 12 last school year. Superintendent Jason Smith has received positive feedback from both teachers and students.

"The students thought the curriculum was well needed and the lessons were well run, Smith said. "Students were anxious to have conversations about value, respect and community and teachers commented the lessons proved to be effective as well."

Principal Aaron Slack believes the curriculum is less procedural and rule-based like some other behavior programs. Students learn important skills they can use beyond the classroom.

"The curriculum teaches students how to value others and to look at differences in others as an asset," Slack said.

Due to the success of the curriculum at the middle and high school levels, the district will start using the curriculum at the elementary school level in September.

Dentino's goal is to raise awareness for the curriculum and gauge the interest of as many educators as possible. He is currently working on full implementation of the curriculum at Elba Central School District. School districts that are interested in implementation receive an extensive training workshop and all the curriculum materials.

In addition to New York, Purifico is working on implementing the program in New Jersey and Tennessee. Purifico hopes the curriculum will be used as a character educational tool in schools nationwide in the future.

The Sheriff's Office is investigating the unattended death of a 20-year-old Depew man found in a field at 1756 Chick Road, Darien.

Garry P. Pitz was found in the field shortly after midnight and first responders administered CPR, but were unable to revive him. He was pronounced dead by County Coroner Karen Lang.

The Sheriff's Office was assisted at the scene by troopers, Mercy EMS and the Town of Darien Volunteer Fire Department.

(Pictured: Vanessa Andrews, Jim Andrews, Bob Mullen, Gina Mullen, Peg Patterson, director of development at Crossroads House, Anthony LoCastro, Paul Ohlson, founder of Care-A-Van Ministries, and Jeff Allen, executive director at Crossroads House.)

Proceeds from the fifth annual Jerry "Rat" Cone Memorial Run were donated to Crossroads House this afternoon. The total amount raised from the bike run was $1,192. CMA Barnabas Riders put on the pancake breakfast and Care-A-Van Ministries provided tailgate grilling for the event.

The way District Attorney Lawrence Friedman sees it, Kasean Shannon is a dangerous sexual predator who is unable to comprehend the damage he does to his victims and therefore should spend the maximum amount of time available in his plea deal in prison.

That is 15 years.

Judge Robert C. Noonan agreed.

"The defendant says he made a mistake," Friedman said. "That's how he characterized his sexual assault on five females. He said he never intended to hurt them. I think that shows his total lack of understanding of what he's been doing over the years."

Before handing down the 15-year sentence on his guilty plea to attempted first-degree rape, Noonan told Shannon, "You're a predator and a serial sex offender. You don't seem to have any regard for the female person on this earth when you want what you want."

Shannon was also sentenced on his guilty pleas to sexual abuse, incest and criminal contempt. 

None of Shannon's victim's appeared in court, as they could have, to plead for a stringent sentence, but the mother of his child did speak to the court, urging Noonan to not issue an order of protection in her name or the name of their child.

"I am very much in love with him and wish to get married to him as soon as I can," the woman said. "I know what he did is awful, but I want our daughter to know him. She needs to know what he did, but she also needs to know him and make up her own mind about him and not what everybody says about him."

Rarick urged Noonan to sentence Shannon to only five years, giving him time to learn from his mistakes and turn his life around.

Shannon told Noonan that he knows what he did is wrong.

"I'm willing to learn from what I've done," Shannon said. "I will enter any program I need to enter in. I want to be there for my daughter."

Once released, Shannon will be on parole for 15 years.

A 30-year-old Attica resident will spend at least the next year of his life in state prison for a burglary in Batavia last November, though he would rather spend the time with his young son.

Jason L. Cramer Sr., told Genesee County Court Judge Robert C. Noonan that he knows he has a drug problem, but that's no excuse of his criminal activity.

"I know what I did is wrong," Cramer said. "I intend to use whatever time you give me as a time to better myself and become a better man."

His attorney, Fred Rarick, said Cramer started using heroin when he was 16.

"He continued to use heroin even though he knew it might lead to his death, even though he knew that it might lead, as it could today, to time in prison," Rarick said. "In spite of that, he's been unable to combat his addiction."

Rarick said he thought his client would benefit from rehabilitation programs available through the Department of Corrections. 

Noonan sentenced Cramer to an indeterminate one to three years, which is a slightly less than the maximum sentence available to the judge.

To give back to employees for their contributions to the ongoing success of Liberty Pumps, President and CEO Charlie Cook announced today that eligible workers will get a share of the company's profits.

The Employee Stock Ownership Plan is a form of retirement plan and eligible employees will receive shares. The amount of shares an employee receives depends on how long they have been working at the company. To be fully invested, they must work for the company for five years. Every year, employees get a statement with their share information and can sell their shares back to the company when they retire. 

"We have a great bunch of hardworking employees in our company," Cook said. "They act like owners so they deserve to be a part of the ownership."

Employees are excited about the potentially lucrative contribution. They received their first statements in May along with an actual piece of pie to celebrate.

According to Cook, the plan will not change company operations and the current leadership team will remain in place. The company has been family owned for 50 years.

Historically, the company has grown 13 percent yearly and the quantity of shares each employee receives will increase with growth. 

Liberty Pumps is in the process of expanding its facility by 123,000 square feet. The addition will significantly increase the size of the warehouse as well as the product research and development area. Cook plans to continue growing the company and is glad his employees will be benefiting from it.

Photo: Charlie Cook, right, with employees John Hasnay, Jared Murray, Julie Scott, Pamela Parton and Tina Root, on the factory floor of Liberty Pumps. Photo by Howard Owens.

Tonight's Jackson Square concert, featuring Penny Whiskey, is being moved to City Centre because there may be rain.

The show is at 7 p.m.

A Batavia resident was jailed without bail following a motor-vehicle accident in a parking lot near Tim Horton's on Main Street at 9:51 .m., July 10. 

Richard M. Schiersing is charged with DWI, combined influence of drugs and alcohol.

Police initially responded to the area after receiving a report of an erratic driver.

Schiersing was reportedly driving a 2005 Scion XA and hit a curb and allegedly committed numerous traffic offenses before striking a vehicle in the parking lot between the U.S. Post Office and Tim Horton's, located at 20 Main St., Downtown. 

Officer Kevin DeFelice conducted a standardized field sobriety test, which Schiersing allegedly failed. A drug recognition expert was called in to assist in the investigation, lead to the charge of combined influence of drugs and alcohol.

The man accused of shooting Alexander resident Nicholas Mruczek with a shotgun in a fit of jealous rage has been charged with murder, according to the Chester County District Attorney.

Zachary Ludwig, 22, of King Street, Spring City, Pa., is accused of going to the residence of an ex-girlfriend in North Coventry Township, Pa., with a shotgun and firing it at Mruczek at close range.

Ludwig was reportedly upset that Mruczek was with the woman.

"Love and anger can be a dangerous mixture," said DA Tom Hogan in a statement.

The rest of the press release:

On July 15, 2015 at 2:18 a.m., North Coventry Police responded to a call for a shooting at Apartment #218, 858 E. Schuylkill Road, Pottstown, North Coventry Township, Pa. The victim, Nicholas Mruczek, had been shot in the chest and was bleeding heavily.

The victim’s roommates stated that somebody had come over to the apartment and confronted the victim outside. The victim then came back into the apartment with a gunshot wound to the chest. The roommates called the police and attempted to stop the bleeding.

The victim told his roommates that he was dying and to tell the victim’s father that he loved him. The victim stated that “Zach” had shot him. When the police arrived, the victim told them that his girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend “Zach” had shot him. The victim was taken to a hospital for surgery. Prior to surgery, the victim informed medical personnel that “Zach L.” shot him. The victim was pronounced dead from the gunshot wound on July 16, 2015.

While the victim was still in surgery, the police located the victim’s girlfriend, whose identity is known to police but is being withheld for security (the “Girlfriend”). The Girlfriend identified “Zach” as the defendant, Zachary Ludwig. She stated that the defendant was her ex-boyfriend, that he was angry about the relationship between her and the victim, and that the defendant owned guns. The defendant previously had stated to the Girlfriend that he would get a “dirty gun” and shoot the victim.

Subsequent investigation by the police revealed the following. The defendant purchased an unregistered .410-bore shotgun approximately two weeks before the shooting. The defendant sawed down the barrel of the shotgun. On the evening of July 14, 2015, the defendant drove by the victim’s residence and observed that the Girlfriend’s car was at the victim’s residence.

After switching vehicles, the defendant later returned to the area of the victim’s apartment in the early morning hours of July 15. The defendant brought the sawed-off shotgun with him. The defendant parked his vehicle in an empty lot away from the apartment complex and walked across a field to the back entrance to the victim’s apartment building. The defendant got the victim to meet with him at the back of the apartment building. The defendant confronted the victim and shot him in the chest with the sawed-off shotgun.

The defendant then returned across the field to his vehicle and fled from the area. He took the sawed-off shotgun to French Creek and threw the shotgun into the water. The defendant then returned to his residence. Police subsequently recovered the shotgun from the stream.

The defendant was arrested by the police while the victim was still alive, and charged with attempted homicide and related charges. Subsequent to the victim’s death, the defendant additionally has been charged with murder. The defendant did not post bail and was remanded to Chester County Prison.

North Coventry Police Chief Robert A. Schurr stated, “This was an excellent cooperative investigation by the North Coventry Police Department and the Chester County Detectives. We extend our condolences to the victim’s family and pledge to keep working on this case until justice is served.”

District Attorney Hogan added, “This was a senseless and premeditated killing. One young man is dead, one young man faces murder charges, and two families are shattered. The only good thing to report is that the North Coventry Police Department and Chester County detectives did an outstanding job to investigate this case rapidly, thoroughly, and professionally.”

This case was investigated by the North Coventry Police Department and the Chester County detectives, with assistance from the West Pottsgrove Police Department, Pottstown Police Department, Spring City Police Department, and East Pikeland Police Department.

UPDATE: According to the Police Criminal Complaint, filed by Chester County Det. Thomas Goggin, Mruczek was living with a man who initially attempted to provide first aid on Mruczek after he was shot in the chest. He was bleeding heavily. Mruczek told the roommate that he thought he was dying and to tell his father he loves him. Mruczek identified Ludwig as the shooter to the roommate and to police once they arrived on scene. He later identified the same person as the shooter to a nurse at the hospital. Ludwig was interviewed after receiving his Miranda warnings that same day. He allegedly admitted to shooting Mruczek. He reportedly said he purchased the shotgun a week or two prior from a fellow employee at his job. He said he used a hacksaw to cut off the barrel in his parents' garage. He said he drove to Mruczek's apartment complex at 5:30 and saw his ex-girlfriend's car there. He went to his parents' house and switched trucks, he said, and drove back to the apartment complex with the .410 shotgun. He parked in an empty lot near an ice cream store. He concealed the shotgun, he said, in a long-sleeve black shirt. Ludwig said he approached the complex from a field in the rear of the building and called for Mruczek to come outside. Mruczek came outside and the two spoke briefly before Ludwig allegedly shot him. Ludwig said he fled the scene and drove to French Creek and tossed the gun into the water and then returned home. Police recovered the shotgun from the creek.

All Day - Wade Henry - Entertainment Tent
8am-12pm - Final Set-up of Merton & Kennedy Building - Merton Building

    4-H Club Exhibits in place
    4-H Community Service, Promotional & Project Displays

9am - 4-H Market Swine Show & Showmanship - Show Ring
10am - Open Class Rabbit & Chicken Show    - Merton Building
12pm - 4-H Market Goat Show & Showmanship - Show Ring
2:30pm - 4-H Market Sheep Show & Showmanship - Show Ring
2:30pm - 4-H Meat Goat Show & Showmanship - Open Dairy Building
2-8pm - Mr. Scribbles - Exhibition Building
5-10pm - MIDWAY OPENS - Amusement Area
5:30pm - PARADE LINE-UP, Raceway 5 Pits - Fairgrounds
6pm - 4-H Beef Show & Showmanship - Show Ring
6:30pm - GENESEE CO. FAIR GRAND PARADE through the Fairgrounds
7:30pm - Barrel Racing - Horse Arena
8pm - Fair Queen Part 1 - Entertainment Tent Stage
10pm - EXHIBIT HALLS & BUILDINGS CLOSE 

WEDNESDAY, JULY 22ND - CHILDREN’S DAY / 4H FAMILY NIGHT

All Day - Wade Henry - Entertainment Tent
9am - 4-H Dairy Goat Show & Showmanship    - Show Ring
9am - Draft Horse Halter Classes - Arena
9am - Regional Tunis/Shropshire Sheep Show - Open Dairy Barn
11am - EXHIBIT HALLS & BUILDINGS OPEN
11:30am - GPS & Solar Fun Fest- Merton Building
12-3pm - MIDWAY OPEN for SPECIAL KID'S DAY $5 Ride Wrist Bands - Amusement Area
12pm - CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES - Exhibition Building
1:30pm - 4-H Sheep Show, Showmanship & Breed Show - Show Ring
  Followed by 4-H Sheep Leadline Classes and 4-H Sheep Costume Class
2-4pm - Balloon Animal Demonstration - Exhibition Building
3pm - Small Fry Tractor Pull - Exhibition Building
5-10pm - MIDWAY Re-OPENS - Amusement Area
5pm - Draft Horse Show Hitch Classes - Arena
5pm - Classic Car & Street Rod Cruise
6pm - 4-H & Open Swine Breeds & Showmanship - Show Ring
6pm - 4-H Rabbit Show & Sportsmanship - Merton Building
7pm - Beer Tent Opens - Beer Tent
7-11pm - In The House - Band - Beer Tent
7pm - Fair Queen Crowning - Entertainment Tent Stage
  Karaoke (Following Fair Queen) - Entertainment Tent Stage
10pm - EXHIBIT HALLS & BUILDINGS CLOSE

THURSDAY, JULY 23RD - VETERAN’S DAY AT THE FAIR
All Day - Wade Henry - Entertainment Tent
9am - 4-H Dairy Show & Showmanship - Show Ring
9am - 4-H Horses In Place
10am - 4-H Horse Show, Fitting, Showmanship and English - Horse Ring
11am - EXHIBIT HALLS & BUILDINGS OPEN
1pm - 4-H Goat Knowledge Olympics Contest - Livestock Building
2pm - 4-H Horse Show Dressage Classes - Horse Ring
5-10pm - MIDWAY OPENS - Amusement Area
5pm - NCCC Tanzen Dance Team - Entertainment Tent
5:30-7pm - 4-H Market Animal Auction Buyers Dinner - Entertainment Tent
6pm - RACEWAY 5 SPECIAL STOCK CAR RACES    - Grandstand
7pm - “Genesee’s Got Talent” Talent Showcase - Entertainment Tent
  Karaoke (Following Talent Show)    - Entertainment Tent
7pm - 4-H Market Animal Auction - Show Ring
8pm - Beer Tent Opens - Beer Tent
8-11pm - Julie Dunlop & High Maintenance - Country Band - Beer Tent
10 pm - EXHIBIT HALLS & BUILDINGS CLOSE

FRIDAY, JULY 24TH - COMMUNITY DAY & THRILL NIGHT
All Day - Wade Henry - Entertainment Tent
9am - Open Class sheep Show - Open Sheep Barn
10am - 4-H Horse Show Fitting, Showmanship & Western - Horse Ring
11am - EXHIBIT HALLS AND BUILDINGS OPEN
1pm - Open Class Beef Show - Show Ring
1-11pm - MIDWAY OPENS - Amusement Area
     4-H Goat Obstacle Course Contest - Livestock Building
3pm - 4-H Sheep Trimming and Blocking Contest - Sheep Barn
5:30pm - 4-H Tractor Driving Contest - Via Pre Registration - Kennedy Building
5:30pm - 4-H Goat Costume Contest - Kennedy Building
6pm - NIOGA Jr. Showmanship - Show Ring
7pm - 4-H Fur & Feather Knowledge Contests - Merton Building
7pm - COUNTY FAIR GRAND DEMOLITION DERBY - Grandstand
7pm - Beer Tent Opens - Beer Tent
8pm - 11 pm Audibull - Band - Beer Tent
10pm - EXHIBIT HALLS AND BUILDINGS CLOSE

SATURDAY, JULY 25TH - GENESEE COUNTY FARM BUREAU DAY & BRING YOUR TRACTOR TO THE FAIR DAY
All Day - Wade Henry - Entertainment Tent
8:30am - NIOGA Colored Breed Show - Show Ring
9am - NIOGA Holstein/Open Class Dairy Show - Show Ring
9am - Open Class Goat Show - 4-H Goat Barn
10am - 4-H Horse Gymkhana & Games Classes - Horse Ring
10am - FARM STOCK TRACTOR - Bring your tractor!! - Grandstand
  Enhanced Tractor & Garden Pullers
11am    EXHIBIT HALLS & BUILDINGS OPEN
1-11pm - MIDWAY OPENS - Amusement Area
1pm - NCCC Tanzen Dance Team - Entertainment Tent
2pm - 4-H Sheep Bowl - Entertainment Tent
2-4pm - 4-H Vegetable Art Fun Fair Activity - Kennedy Building
3:30pm - Small Fry Tractor Pull
4pm - 4-H Master Showman Contest - Kennedy Building
6pm - Empire State Pullers Tractor Pulls.
   Immediately following ESP are Outlaw Pulling Series Semi Trucks & Stock Pick Up Trucks       “Run what you Brung” - GRANDSTAND
6:30pm - 4-H Scavenger Hunt - Kennedy Building
8pm - Beer Tent Opens - Beer Tent
8pm - 12am - Dave Lockwood, Worthy Duncan & Paul Cummings - Band - Beer Tent
8pm - 4-H Dairy Animals released
8:30pm - 4-H Horse released
9pm - 4-H Fur & Feather Club Animals released
9pm - 4-H Non-market auction animals - Beef, Goat, Sheep & Swine released
10pm - Kennedy, Merton & Exhibition Buildings open for pick up of entries

For more information on the fair's event, click here!

Former classmates and members of the community attended a candlelight vigil at Alexander Central School in memory of Nicholas Mruczek, who died this afternoon.

The vigil was organized by Taylor Quinn, a close friend who graduated with Mruczek. Quinn said he was a big teddy bear and always knew how to make her smile. She remembers cheering for him on the sidelines while he played his heart out on the football field. 

Mruczek was a 2012 graduate of Alexander Central School. He was a well-known athlete and a member of the football, wrestling and track teams.

Coming from a small town and a graduating class of 65, everyone knew him and the grin he always had on his face, said Emilee Piechocki. She stated to all those who attended the vigil to remember the good times they shared with him and to keep those memories in their hearts.

Previously: Man from Alexander shot in Pennsylvania

Nicholas Mruczek, 20, from Alexander, is in critical condition after he was shot in his apartment in Pottstown, Pa., Wednesday morning.

According to an article from The Mercury, North Coventry Police responded to the scene at Highland Manor Apartments around 2 a.m. and found Mruczek in his apartment with a serious gunshot wound to the chest.

Mruczek was transported to Pottstown Memorial Medical Center and transferred to Lehigh Valley Hospital's trauma unit. Hospital staff confirmed he had a collapsed lung.

Mruczek identified the shooter as his girlfriend's ex-boyfriend, Zachary Ludwig, 22, of Spring City, Pa. Ludwig allegedly went to Mruczek's apartment Tuesday night and found his ex-girlfriend's car parked outside. Then Ludwig allegedly drove to his home and loaded the barrel of his .410 shotgun and returned to Mruczeck's apartment. Ludwig admitted to police that he had his finger on the trigger when Mruczek grabbed the barrel and the gun discharged. 

Ludwig is charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, possessing instruments of crime, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person. He was put in the Chester County Prison on $500,000 bail.

Mruczek is a graduate of Alexander Middle-High School. He is studying to be an auto mechanic at the Universal Technical Institute in Exton, Pa.

Lauren L. Heale, 26, of Main Street, Alexander, is charged with petit larceny. Heale allegedly stole a video game system from a residence. She was jailed on $500 bail.

Ashley M. Morgan, 24, of South Main Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. The incident happened on Veterans Memorial Drive in Batavia.

Tyler J. Cutajar, 19, of 80th Street, Niagara Falls, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana following a traffic stop by Deputy Joseph Corona on Alleghany Road in Darien.

The City of Batavia is just beginning what will be a nearly two-year process to review and rewrite its comprehensive plan, and one topic of discussion that will certainly come up is whether -- or to what degree -- should the city adopt what's known as "form-based codes."

Form-based codes move community planning and development away from complex regulatory zoning codes and into a planning document that sets the parameters of what a community wants to be. A community is still divided into zones -- commercial, residential, industrial, for example -- but the form-based code sets the vision for the kind of structures that should be encouraged and what the outcome of new construction or remodeling should be.

An increasing number of communities throughout the United States are going to a form-based code process and Felipe A. Oltramari, director of planning for Genesee County, and Derik Kane, a senior planner with the county, presented a seminar Wednesday night for a handful of community planners on form-based codes.

City Manager Jason Molino attended, as did Matt Gray, a member of the city's Planning Board.

"This is one direction we could go in," Molino said. "It may not be, but that's a discussion you need to have to see if there is a consensus in the community."

The comprehensive plan process is built around the idea of gathering input and feedback from members of the community who care enough and engage enough to ensure their voices are heard. Consultants will be hired -- the city has a $100,000 budget for the comprehensive plan process -- and many meetings will be held, where views and visions will be aired.

The city's current comprehensive plan was drafted in 1997. The city is currently collecting bids from consultants to help with drafting a new plan. Soon, the planning board will review those bids and make a recommendation to the City Council. Meetings, hearings and reviews will begin once the contract is awarded.

Molino expects the city will hear concerns about how difficult the current planning process is. It's already a common complaint, that it's too hard to develop either commercial or residential real estate, that the regulatory process is cumbersome, arbitrary and too much is left open to interpretation.

Form-based codes are designed to fix those issues, which are so common to traditional zoning regulations.

Gray, owner of Alex's Restaurant as well as three restaurants in Raleigh, N.C., has some experience dealing with Byzantine planning methods. He's also been on the other side now for a few months, trying to make decisions about development applications.

"Form-based codes will help developers and the inspection department administer new building," Gray said. "From that angle, I think it will facilitate a much quicker and better-understood design. Period."

One outcome that has been consistent for communities that have implemented form-based codes is developers are more attracted to those communities. It's economically beneficial for them to build where the planning process is clear, concise and simplified. 

A form-based code could help increase interest in the city's Brownfield Opportunity Area sites, all of which are already drawing some degree of developer interest, Molino said.

"Everything we've done and tried to begin (regarding) redevelopment of the BOA sites is about making it easier for the developer to come in and start redevelopment," Molino said. "This may dovetail right into that. This may be our perfect transition into what else we can do."

Form-based codes are a favorite planning tool of new urbanism's acolytes.

New urbanism promotes more mixed-use communities with a density of structures that is less car-oriented and tailored more toward pedestrians and bicyclists.

A form-based code does not necessarily have to lead to a community vision that follows the goals of new urbanism, but it can help in that process.

A key concept of form-based codes is something called the "transect," a word borrowed from the world of natural environment planning. A transect is a gradient between the lowest land -- sea level, up to the mountains, and all of the changes in environment and microenvironments in between. 

In a form-based code environment that takes on a large geographical area, a transect is planned between the very rural to the very urban.

The idea is to find the right form base for each point on the continuum of the transect. Those zoning areas are written into the code, based on what the community wants. The process that uncovers these wants, dreams and desires and concerns is known as the charrette.

Gray thinks a form-based code could help the City of Batavia.

He's seen firsthand what sprawl does to a community, which is why he and his family returned to his hometown after living in Raleigh for a while.

"We couldn't take the commute anymore," Gray said. "It took 40 minutes to get to work and it really wasn't that far."

If a form-based code implemented along new urbanism's lines helps spur greater commercial and residential development Downtown, that could help alleviate the traffic congestion building up on the west side of the town, Gray said.

Whether Batavia adopts a form-based code, either for the whole city, or just a portion, such as Downtown, will really be up to the community members who participate in the comprehensive plan process, Molino said.

As it proceeds, there may be no demand for form-based code, or people may decide that the current code is good enough even as complicated as it is, or perhaps some new idea pops out.

"A form-based code isn't the only option," Molino said.

Press release:

The City of Batavia Summer Recreation Program is well under way and is entering the third week of the six-week program. Each year the program sponsors a Community Service Day for all of the children to volunteer and give something back to their community.

This year’s Community Service Day project is scheduled for Tuesday, July 21, with all of the parks participating. There will be a community-wide can/bottle drive to raise money for the Michael Napoleone Foundation.

If anyone would like to contribute to this worthy cause, please feel free to deliver your cans or bottles to any of the parks (Farrall, John Kennedy, Lambert, Williams, Lions) on or before July 21 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, or at the Batavia Youth Bureau located at 12 MacArthur Drive. Program sponsors will make sure the donations are delivered to the parks.

The kids and the Rec Leaders from each park will also visit homes in their park’s neighborhoods on July 21 to solicit donations of cans and bottles.

If you have any questions or would like to help in any way, please call the Youth Bureau at 345-6420. Thank you for your anticipated assistance and support!

Press release:

The American Legion Post 576 Le Roy is asking that each club, church, society, organization or individual submit a nominee to be considered for the 2015 Le Royan of the Year Award. Deadline is Aug 17th.

The award recognizes people who demonstrate the following qualities:

- A man or woman who exemplifies the true spirit of Americanism, its ideals, love of flag and country, regardless of race, color or creed.
- Good citizenship by carrying out these principles, often beyond what is expected.

- Good citizenship by carrying out these principles, often beyond what is expected.

- Service to the community signified by excellence in life of purpose and accomplishments.

Applications can be obtained from the Legion Post.

Mail applications to:

American Legion Post 576
Attn:  Jerry Diskin

53 W. Main St., Le Roy 14482

Press release:

The Genesee County Youth Bureau has been notified that our AmeriCorps application has been approved for another year of funding by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

As a result of this good news, we have begun planning for year 12 of our program, which will begin October 1. As part of this process, nonprofit and government agencies are invited to attend an information session to receive details about AmeriCorps.

Presentations are being held at Wyoming County Cooperative Extension in Warsaw and the Hoag Library in Albion on July 27 as well as at the Genesee County Senior Center on July 28.

Organizations have used AmeriCorps members for a variety of projects. Assignments include activities that fall under one or more of these focus areas: healthy futures fitness and nutrition education for youth; environmental stewardship education; and agency capacity building. Host sites complete a proposal that outlines the duties for each position. Members can create new programs or enhance existing services, and their work can benefit different parts of your agency.

Proposals requesting members to begin serving this fall are due by Aug. 10. Member recruitment and selection will begin after that date.

Please contact Kathy Frank at 585-344-3960 or Kathy.Frank@co.genesee.ny.us for more details about the information sessions or to discuss options for your organization further.