Sarah Della Penna takes walks with her Great Danes out on a piece of property off Creek Road, Batavia, and always takes her camera. She sent in some of her recent pictures.
It's that time of year when the small woodlots on either side of our property attract a variety of bird life, none more colorful than the Baltimore oriole. Though they didn't arrive as early or in such great numbers as last spring, they did arrive to feast on the small insects among the apple blossoms.
Having grown accustomed to their visits in recent years, by their song alone we know when the orioles have arrived. Their sound is distinct and pleasing to the ear.
Partially obscured by apple blossoms, I'm guessing this to be a member of the warbler or finch family.
Here seen upside down in its quest for bugs, it was difficult to get a clear pic as it darted quickly about in search of food.
A pair of fledgling robins seem uninterested in the juicy worm provided by their mother. Not a year passes when a robin has not failed to nest in our garage, always using one of two nests that have been in place for years and each year the same nest produces a double clutch.
A male and female goldfinch search the ground for a meal.
Morning sun highlights the crest of a pileated woodpecker.
Working its way around the tree, it has moved into the shade and this angle reveals the size of its bill.
A lone crow perched in the cottonwood.
The cottonwood towers above the other trees in the woodlot and it's in cottonwood where the crows often gather. This foursome no doubt has mischief on their minds, waiting to harass an unsuspecting hawk or waiting for the neighbors to take out the trash.
This photo was taken in late winter. At first I thought this crow was hard up for a meal as I've never seen a crow attracted to sumac drupes before. As I watched, he didn't eat the drupes, he tore them apart. Did it think something was inside? Or was it hell-bent on destroying the drupes because song birds eat them? And crows are notorious for raiding the nests of other birds and destroying eggs or killing the young.
County legislators got their first look today at the proposed 2013-2014 for Genesee Community College, which asks the county for another $100,000 in local share and includes a $75-per-semester fee increase for full-time students.
While other community colleges in the region are suffering declining enrollment rates of 5 to 8 percent, those trends aren't hitting GCC quite as hard, College President Jim Sunser said.
Next year, the college could even see a slight bump in enrollment, thanks to more programs and students looking for mid-career training.
"Some of that (anticipated increase) has to do with our effort to reach out to the non-traditional population," Sunser said. "We can help them retool their skills. I thnk that's an area where we can look at providing new services and move enrollment."
Examples include a supply chain management and food processing -- programs that were created in response to construction of two big yogurt plants at the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park.
The college's veterinarian tech program has also proven to be popular, Sunser said.
GCC is not exempt from the decline of enrollments of high school graduates. Throughout the state, Sunser said, population declines mean fewer high school students, but GCC has done better at attracting those students, Sunser said, because GCC has a solid reputation for preparing students for four-year programs.
The total budget is $38 million, a 2.7-percent increase over this year's budget.
The county share is proposed to jump over $2 million for the first time, with an increase of $100,000, but the share remains at 5.3 percent of the school's total budget.
There was no push back from legislators during today's Ways and Means Committee meeting, where Sunser presented the budget.
Sunser said the college expects to neither lay off employees nor create new positions.
The committee set a public hearing on the budget proposal for 7 p.m., June 12.
Local governments, including Genesee County, that participate in pooling a workers compensation insurance program have a chance to get help reducing workplace injuries using consultants for essentially no cost.
Bill Fritts, president of Lawley Genesee, explained what his company is prepared to do for local governments if Lawley becomes the worker compensation insurance broker.
The possibility came to Fritts's attention, he said, after receiving a request for proposal from the county for a new workers comp plan.
As a broker, Lawley can apply its commissions to provide a variety of services to members of the pool.
Genesee County, along with all of the local school districts and most towns and villages (but not the City of Batavia) are part of a self-insurance pool for workers compensation.
If a worker is injured on the job, the pool will pay the first $500,000 of coverage.
What the county has been shopping for is a new carrier for "excess coverage" -- an insurance company that pays any claims in excess of $500,000.
There are only three such carriers in the nation.
Under the plan presented by Fritts, Lawley will accept bids from the carriers, select one and manage the relationship.
With its commissions, Lawley will then use its own experts to identify areas where worker safety can be improved and look for other cost-saving opportunities.
Lawley's consultants will study claim history, look for departments that have safety records that can improve and then study work that's going on in those workplaces to see what safety improvements can be made.
"We'll look at what members are hurting and helping you," Fritt said. "We send in loss-prevention consultants to those areas first that hare hurting you and see what safety programs are needed. We might create incentive programs if they need to change their culture and help them change their culture."
There is no additional fee for the pool members for the extra services.
"I've seen the results and it's pretty amazing," Fritts said. "It makes you feel pretty good because you're preventing injuries."
At the next Ways and Means Committee meeting, legislators will have a chance to vote on the offer.
When I showed up at the park between County Building #1 and the Old Courthouse, I spotted a new directional sign near the main county administration building.
Our friend Sean Carroll from WHAM 13 was in Oakfield today to talk with Scott McKenzie, the 26-year-old accused of driving a lawn mower while intoxicated late at night. It's a good story by Sean.
Yesterday, for the first time -- believe it or not -- I visited the mucklands. I was back out there today (yes, there's a related story coming). The mucklands are an impressive sight, to say the least, and entirely fascinating, as I have learned over the past 48 hours or so. There are several of these type of old, low-slung barns out there.
Press release:
Outraged over recent revelations that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) singled out and targeted conservative political groups, Congressman Chris Collins (NY-27) has signed a letter to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew voicing concern and demanding answers.
Drafted by Congressman Jim Bridenstine (OK-1), the letter calls for an explanation regarding reports that Lois Lerner, the IRS head for tax-exempt groups, admitted that the IRS treated conservative political groups unfairly by screening organizations with “tea party” or “patriot” in tax-exempt status applications, and violated IRS policy by asking these groups for donor lists.
“The actions of the IRS are inexcusable. The American people have questions and Secretary Lew, with the ultimate authority over the IRS, must provide answers,” said Congressman Collins. “I am one of many members of Congress, on either side of the aisle, who continues to seek more information.”
This letter is a first step in calling for the responsible individuals to be held accountable, and requests assurance from Secretary Lew that the targeted groups are notified, among other actions.
The full text of the letter can be found here.
An Alabama resident this morning watched his car go up in flames following a one-car accident on Lewiston Road, then he was hauled off to Town Court on a DWI charge.
Joseph Bennett Clark, 20, of Reuben Road, Alabama, reported the accident at about 6 a.m. in the area of 383 Lewiston Road.
By the time the first deputy arrived, his car was on fire. By the time the first Alabama fire chief arrived, it was fully engulfed in flames.
A deputy had a hard time getting identifying numbers off the car once the fire was out, it was so badly burned.
Clark was taken into custody by Deputy Jason Saile and charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or higher, speed not reasonable and prudent, moving from a lane unsafely and driving left of pavement markings.
Clark reportedly suffered a minor injury as a result of the accident.
The junior and senior classes at Byron-Bergen saw today a bit of what it's like at a fatal DWI accident. Their prom is this weekend and officials, like at many local high schools, want to emphasize the message: don't drink and drive.
The Bergen and Byron fire departments participated in the drill along with Coroner Karen Lang, H.E. Turner Funeral Home and Deputy Chris Parker.
The DOA accident victim was played by Sara Donovan. Andrew Magin was the seriously injured victim and the alleged drunken driver was Lucas DeValder.
HS Principal Aaron Johnson
Deputy Chief Doug Van Slyke
Wires are arcing and smoking at 1966 Lewiston Road. A tree has fallen or is leaning on some wires. A secondary line is down and completely blocking the roadway. Alabama Fire Department is on scene. Alabama Fire Police are shutting down Lewiston Road between Knowlesville and Alleghany. Oakfield Fire Police are shutting down Lewiston at Lockport Road.
UPDATE 4:29 p.m.: Alabama commands says that only tractor-trailers will not be allowed through. Personal vehicles will be handled by fire police. Oakfield has opted to shut down Lewiston at Judge Road. A tree crew from the power company is at the scene.
UPDATE 5:08 p.m.: Roads are reopened. Alabama and Oakfield are back in service.
A structure fire is reported at 109 Oak Street, Batavia. Fire and smoke are reportedly coming from an electrical power outlet. City fire is en route.
UPDATE 3:53 p.m.: City Engine 11 and Ladder 15 are there and the chief reports no smoke or fire. Investigating further.
UPDATE 4:13 p.m.: City assignment is back in service.
Batavia's Business Improvement District kicked off its promotional campaign, "More Feet Downtown," today.
Banners were hung at light poles downtown to help spread the word.
Pictured are Amy Worthington, left, Jeff Gillard, Don Burkel, Paul Marchese, Mary Valle, Beth Kemp and Lusanne Simard.
More than 600 National Grid customers in Genesee County are with out power this afternoon, including 590 in Batavia, as high winds play havoc with trees and power lines.
A tree came down on Clinton Street, which is what knocked out power around East Main and Clinton, including the intersection lights.
About 90 customers in Pembroke are also without power and there are a couple of small outages elsewhere in the county.
Power should be restored in Batavia by 4:45 p.m. and in Pembroke by 3:45 p.m.
There is a hazardous weather outlook in place because of strong winds into tonight. Winds are hitting 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.
Law enforcement will be closing Clinton Street at East Main Street to traffic until wires and tree branches in the roadway by Grandview Cemetery can be safely removed.
UPDATE 2:21 p.m.: The traffic lights are out at that intersection, too.
Three primary power lines / poles are down in the roadway in the area of 1428 Main Road in Pembroke, just past Boyce Road. The wires were arcing and smoking. Cables lines are also hanging low across the roadway, and a fallen tree is laying on them. Tractor-trailers will be stopped by fire police at routes 5 and 77.
Pembroke, East Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding. National Grid and the cable company have been notified.
UPDATE 1:22 p.m.: National Grid and Time Warner reps are on scene. Once the low-hanging cables wires are disconnected, tractor-trailers will be allowed through.
UPDATE 1:29 p.m.: All traffic can proceed; roadways reopened.
UPDATE 1:33 p.m.: Pembroke and Indian Falls are back in service.
Scott Edwin Mckenzie, 26, of South Main Street, Oakfield, was reportedly driving a 2011 Troy-Bilt Lawn Mower on North Main Street, Oakfield, last night when he was stopped by a Sheriff's deputy and found to allegedly be under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
Mckenzie was charged with operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs, DWI, unlawful possession of marijuana and failure to display slow moving vehicle emblem.
Deputy Joseph Corona stopped Mckenzie at 11:16 p.m. in the area of 107 Main St., Oakfield.
Pavilion Fire Department is being requested to Route 63 to shutdown all southeast traffic into Livingston County due to a serious injury accident on Route 63 near the York Central School.
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