Friday was the gala opening of the annual Wonderland of Trees at the Holland Land Office Museum.
The event features trees decorated in themes selected by their sponsors, which are local businesses, government agencies and charities.
The Wonderland Of Trees will be open at HLOM through the holiday season.
Crash Team members were called to the scene of a fatal one-car accident in Elba yesterday evening, but their initial investigation reveals no reason why the Toyota Highlander driven by 69-year-old Vincentia Smith veered off the roadway and slammed into a tree.
All they know at this time is Smith was westbound on North Byron Road at 4:44 p.m. when her vehicle crossed the eastbound lane, went off the roadway and hit the tree.
There were no skid marks.
Smith was unconscious when first responder's arrived. Mercy Flight was called, but she was apparently not stable enough for air transport, so she was taken to UMMC by Mercy EMS, where she was pronounced dead.
The location of the accident, North Byron Road, a tenth of a mile east of Log City Road, is just yards from where Elba resident Linda Brown was killed one year and eight days ago in a single-car accident.
It's too early to determine if there is any common factor between the two fatal crashes.
"It’s a straight road, you’ve got some hills, you’ve got some deer out here, any number of things could be a factor here, or not," said Investigator Timothy Weis. "It could be simply, she drifted off the road."
A medical examiner will try to determine if Smith, a resident of Miller Road, Elba, had a health issue that contributed to the crash and investigators will take a look at her car and try to determine if there were any mechanical issues.
"If (the mechanical inspection) comes back fine and the medical exam comes back fine, this could be one where we never know the reason," Weis said.
Assisting at the scene was the Elba Fire Department and State Police. The investigation is being conducted by Weis, Deputy Kevin McCarthy and Sgt. William Scott.
A woman is complaining of chest pains following a car vs. deer accident which just occurred at the intersection of Byron Holley and Cochran roads. Byron and South Byron fire companies are responding.
UPDATE 6:50 p.m.: The scene of the accident is determined to be a half-mile north of Cochran Road on Route 237.
UPDATE 7:17 p.m.: The victim was transported by Mercy medics to Lakeside Memorial Hospital in Brockport. The road is clear and the responders are back in service.
CORRECTION: Byron's ambulance responded to the scene and transported the patient to Lakeside.
A one-vehicle rollover accident, blocking traffic, unknown injuries, is reported in the City of Batavia at West Main and River streets. Mercy medics and city fire are responding.
UPDATE 5:27 p.m.: A woman in her 50s is being transported to UMMC. A car is on its roof and a flatbed tow is called.
UPDATE 5:45 p.m.: One person was a sign-off. The city assignment is back in service.
UPDATE 6:04 p.m.: Here's a statement made to Howard at the scene about what a witness saw:
Conor Wilkes: "I was riding right behind the car when it happened. I was behind the white Toyota and the (Ford) Ranger that was in front of her made an abrupt stop. I think she was trying to change lanes at the same time. But the Ranger stopped so suddenly that when she made the turn, the front side of her car clipped the back side of the Ranger.
"I think her front tire rolled up on the rear tire of the Ranger just right and flipped the car. The Toyota wasn’t speeding. It was just a (freak) accident. Normally it would be just a quick fender-bender and everybody’d be OK, But it just happened so quick.
"As soon as I saw it happen, I pulled to the side and called 9-1-1 and got those guys going pretty quick. I put my jacket on, I got out and looked around the car and looked to see how many passengers there were, how the car was. A couple of pedestrians helped out.
"I got the keys out of the vehicle and made sure it was secure. She seemed to be alright except she was upside down. And then we just waited for fire and EMS to come and extricate her. The woman in the Ranger was just flustered and the other woman in the Toyota just seemed concerned that she was now upside down."
A male wearing tan coveralls reportedly refused to leave the Calvary Baptist Church in Le Roy and police responded to the scene. They are out with him now in front of the Urgent Care Center. It is believed he may be intoxicated.
UPDATE 5:19 p.m.: The officer at the scene says he's from Rochester and that he told her he came out this way seeking "help with Thanksgiving dinner."
UPDATE 5:25 p.m.: The man will be taken to the bus station and given fare for the ride home.
A serious injury, motor-vehicle accident is reported at North Byron and Log City roads in Elba. A car has plowed into a tree and the female driver is unconscious. Mercy Flight out of Buffalo is going to respond. Elba fire and Mercy medics are responding.
Fire police are called to the scene and to the juncture at North Byron and Strouts roads.
UPDATE 4:55 p.m.: Mercy Flight has a five-minute ETA.
UPDATE 5:03 p.m. Mercy Flight has landed.
UPDATE 5:06 p.m.: The patient has been extricated. A crash team and investigator are called to the scene.
UPDATE 5:41 p.m.: Mercy Flight left the scene about 15 minutes ago.
UPDATE 6:24 p.m.: It's been confirmed with authorities that this was a fatal accident.
UPDATE 7:03 p.m.: The victim has been identified as 69-year-old Vincentia Smith, who was taken by Mercy EMS to UMMC where she was pronounced dead.
UPDATE 8:33 p.m. (by Howard): The cause of the accident remains undetermined at this time. We'll post a fuller story on the accident later tonight or in the morning.
A field fire has been reported in the area of 9384 Shepard Road, Batavia.
Town of Batavia fire responding.
UPDATE 5:23 p.m.: The fire is out. Town of Batavia is back in service.
There's a bit of myth and mystery surrounding the couple that lives at 71 Ellicott Ave., Batavia.
There's a rumor that it's "the couple who starred in L.A. Law."
Not true. Hiram Kasten has appeared in dozen of TV shows, mostly sitcoms -- and one episode of L.A. Law -- but never starred in any of them. His wife, Diana, an alumna of Alexander High School, had a theater career but spent most of the couple's 25 years in California working in information technology.
And there's the assumption that they're millionaires.
Not true. Kasten said the couple has the same financial struggles as any other middle-class family. One reason Diana bought a house in Batavia was real estate is so much more affordable here.
"It was time for us to stop living like Bohemians," she said.
And a lot of people assume that the couple only lives in the Rowell Mansion in the summer.
Once true. True no more.
In August, Hiram and Diana Kasten loaded up a trailer and moved from Los Angeles to the closest thing to a hill in Batavia. They now plan to make Genesee County their base of operations while Hiram continues his acting career in New York City.
"I like Batavia a lot," Diana said. "It’s a nice place to come back to at this point in my life."
When Hiram met Diana more than two decades ago, he was an up-and-coming comic on the New York-New Jersey circuit and she was a young actress whose career path had finally brought her to NYC.
Back then, most of the professional comics knew each other, Hiram said. It was before cable TV and the proliferation of part-time and wannabe stand-ups. It meant something then, Hiram said, to be a comic and the girls were always around.
His act was old school. He grew up with the likes of Alan King.
"I grew up watching Ed Sullivan," Hiram said. "A comedian should dress better than the audience. If he’s a Jewish guy, he should be a tough Jewish guy. He shouldn’t be a momma’s boy. He should be tanned. He should wear cufflinks."
After graduating from college with a performing arts degree, Kasten developed his stand-up routine, but he said he always had a quick mind and could ad lib if he needed to get a crowd's attention.
Kasten first met Jerry Seinfeld at a comedy club in New Jersey. It was a tough crowd, he said. Kasten was jeered and heckled, but he held his ground.
Seinfeld got up and just delivered his lines in his casual, soft-spoken way.
"I was doing like Milton Berle," Hiram said. "I would do anything, drop my pants, anything to get their attention, and then Jerry goes on. This was 1979. ... slowly the crowd quiets down. They’re turning to listen to him. He’s not raising his voice. They lower their voices. He had a self assurance. People say he took a little Scientology courses. I never asked him, but I’ve never known a more fascinating mind. I mean, I’ve seen it up close.
"So he got off stage," Hiram added, "and he says, he comes off and he says to me, that will be my second of five Johnnys."
Seinfeld was already planning his conquest of the Tonight Show (with Johnny Carson).
Both Hiram and Diana had made it to 30 without getting married before they met and found they made a good match.
"I came from a small city and he came from a big city, but our values were very much the same," Diana said. "He had a great family, all of these cousins who lived in the Bronx, and I had a lot of cousins that I grew up with on both sides of my family. We both valued family, and I don't just mean immediate family, but extended family."
Hiram said he and his wife don't always agree on everything, but they agree on the big things, the important things.
"It's funny, but marriage is obviously not a barrel of laughs," Hiram said. "The word 'fun' isn’t in the contract. Read at the contract. People are divorcing. We’re not having fun any more, they say. That’s not in the contract. It’s two souls. The rabbis said, it’s two souls that become one."
After they were married, Diana told Hiram that if he wanted a career in TV, he needed to move to Los Angeles.
"If I hadn’t gotten married I would have stayed in the exact same rent-control apartment in the Bronx, descended into alcoholism and an early death," Hiram said.
It didn't take long for Hiram to establish himself in Hollywood. Over the next 25 years, he appeared in more than 30 different television shows, including Seinfeld, Everybody Loves Raymond, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Saved by the Bell, Without a Trace and, yes, L.A. Law.
Hiram got one shot at co-starring in a sitcom. A pilot was produced, but CBS turned it down.
There's a blueprint for sitcom success in Hollywood, Hiram said, and he just never bothered to follow it.
Before Carson retired, it was all about appearing on the Tonight Show, and if Johnny liked you, he would call you over to his desk.
If that happened, the next morning your agent's phone would be ringing and offers for starring roles in new sitcoms would come rolling in.
Drew Carey, Hiram said, struggled for years, then put on the horn-rimmed glasses, the thin tie and the white shirt and did the Tonight Show. Johnny loved the act and Carey's career was made.
"I don’t live with any regrets," Hiram said. "I knew exactly what they were doing. It’s an art. It’s the creative arts. It’s like I’m Jackson Pollack and this guy’s doing still lifes. I like ad-lib comedy. I like the Shecky Greenes and the Don Rickles. We have an act, but we play off of that. I’ve never done the same show twice."
A sitcom star used to make $2 million an episode (those days are over, Hiram said, disrupted by webisodes and reality TV), and the Kastens would have had it made if Hiram had gotten just one starring role under his belt.
But even so, he said, some of the residual checks he gets can be quite handsome (and some miniscule -- he carries around in his wallet a residual check for one cent).
Asked for a single key memory from his time in Hollywood, Hiram said it was getting to know Jerry Lewis a bit. He demurred when asked if Lewis was a friend. He just said, "he knew my name."
"Once I wrote him a note," Hiram said, "and he called me. I was in my kitchen in Los Angeles. 'Hello, Hiram, it’s Jerry Lewis.' You know, he has that voice, and I saw him at 9-years-old in the moves. That was big thrill. I could barely speak. I thought, 'Oh, I wish my mother was alive so I could call her up and tell her, 'Jerry Lewis just called me.' "
As Hollywood shifted away from paying actors and creating reality show celebrities instead, and as Hiram turned 50, he started to think it was time for a change.
Little did he know in December of 2004, his wife was putting in an offer on the Rowell Mansion. She didn't tell him about her plans to buy the property from Terry Platt until it was almost a done deal.
"She made me a martini and said, 'We now own real estate,' " Hiram said.
It would be quaint to imagine a young Diana Kisiel going past the Rowell Mansion and saying quietly to herself, "someday I'm going to live here."
Nothing, she said, could be further from the truth. Her dream house was on Creek Road, around the corner from her parents. Her aunt lived there and she would have bought it in the early 2000s if it hadn't been sold first to a local minister.
Unlike many middle-class couples, the Kastens never took regular family vacations -- no weekends in Mexico, holidays in Aspen or trips to the Grand Canyon. Instead, when they had time off, they came to Batavia.
Hiram said they flew into Buffalo from Los Angeles at least two or three times a year.
Diana's father, Henry Kisiel, founded Pinnacle Manufacturing Company, Inc., in the 1970s for his wife, Lois Quartley Kisiel, and his three children, and today, his children share responsibility for the company. Diana is secretary, her brother, Kim, is president and brother, Kevin, is vice president. Many of Diana's extended family remain in Genesee County.
Lois Kisiel passed away two years ago.
On one trip home to see family, Diana learned that the Rowell Mansion was up for sale. With her dream home on Creek Road recently sold, she started to think about the Rowell as a possible vacation home. On the next trip, the house was still for sale, so the Kasten family took a look inside, but more as a sightseeing adventure than real estate consideration.
Diana decided that if it were still for sale when she returned in October, she would make an offer. It was, she did, and after some negotiating she learned she would close on the house Dec. 29.
That Christmas she announced the purchase to her family during a dinner at Sunny's Restaurant. Nobody, she said, believed her at first.
The Rowell Mansion was built in 1920 by E.N. Rowell, who opened a box making company in Batavia in 1888. Rowell is best known for killing the lover of his first wife in their home on Bank Street in 1893.
After shooting the naked man, Rowell told a neighbor, "I found this man in my house and I shot him. He had seduced my wife. I caught him in the act."
Rowell was charged with manslaughter and a jury found him not guilty. The case was a national sensation at the time.
The E.N. Rowell Box Factory grew into one of Batavia's largest industries and after Rowell's death in 1929, May Emke Rowell, his second wife, ran the business and lived in the mansion until her death in 1972. Their children had no interest in Batavia or the business, sold it, and the new owners closed it in 1980.
The Rowell Mansion passed through a few owners, at one point falling into a good deal of disrepair, until Diana Kasten acquired it in 2004.
She understands the home is a historical landmark, she said, and wants to see it restored to his former glory. While the exterior needs some masonry work, so far her efforts have been focused on the interior.
She's redone the electrical, removed or moved book cases that weren't original, repaired plaster and molding damage, and refurbished fixtures.
"This is all work that nobody sees so people think you're not doing anything, but that's where you're sinking the bulk of what you're doing," she said.
As part of her restoration goals, Diana is hoping there may be people in the area who have old photos of the house. She has had a particularly hard time -- she's search the library, county history office and Holland Land Office Museum -- finding pictures of the house when there was a wrought-iron fence in the front yard. She wants to restore it.
One of the "most exquisite" features of the interior, DIana said, is the Italian, Spanish and Portuguese tile flooring in nearly every room. The tiles are pressurized, not baked, and have a matte rather than glossy finish. Each room is accented with a different tile color.
"Over the years people really ruined it," she said. "They didn’t take care of it."
One former owner drilled holes through the tile in the foyer, she said.
Kasten hired an expert from Buffalo to clean it and lightly sand it to bring back the original look. She also has replacement tiles Rowell left in the basement.
"We've got three rooms done," Diana said. "It's terribly expensive, but the tile is really lovely."
Meanwhile, Hiram is working on getting work in New York City. If not for Superstorm Sandy, Hiram would have been in the city signing contracts with a new agent and new manager.
Hiram said he owes it to Diana to make a go of it on the East Coast. She's meant so much to his life and career.
Diana said she has a lot of confidence in her husband.
"You don’t make a living in this business and last and preserve in this business for 40 years unless you’re talented," Diana said. "He’s extremely talented. It's amazing how he can stand on stage make people laugh by just saying what comes into this head."
Black and white film photo of the Rowell Mansion by Howard Owens, October 2011.
Press release:
YWCA of Genesee County has announced this year's Fabulous Females recipient.
Beth Allen, DVM, of Elba, has been chosen for her courage, dedication and willingness to share her life's experience with the community.
The yearly award goes to a woman who has given exemplary service and has served as a role model through personal or professional endeavors. Allen fit the bill through her work as a veterinarian and animal advocate and her volunteer work as facilitator for a bipolar support group at Mental Health Association in Genesee County.
A victim of domestic violence and sexual abuse, Allen has dealt with her own mental illness, including bipolar disorder and depression.
"I believe with all my heart I am here for a purpose," Allen said. "And to pass on as much as I can about what I learned through all this to others going through recovery from trauma or mental illness."
She has also been active in Crossroads of Harmony, as a photographer and artist.
The 14th Annual Fabulous Females brunch is set for noon Nov. 17 at Batavia Downs on Park Road. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. and the event includes a delicious sit-down meal and white chocolate raspberry torte.
The event will serve to honor Allen and offer some inspirational moments from guest speakers Diana Beechler, of Oakfield, who will give an update on how she is recovering from a horrific farm accident and Melinda Rath Sanderson, who heads the Women's Business Center at Canisius College.
Tickets are $25 each or $160 for a table of eight. For more information or to reserve seats, call 343-5808.
The Grand Jury of Genesee County has issued the following indictments:
Kevin C. Johnson is indicted on a count of failure to register change of Internet access. Johnson, a convicted sex offender, is accused of not notifying authorities within 10 calendar days of a change in Internet access accounts.
James D. Ferguson is indicated on counts of DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and aggravated unlicensed operation. Ferguson is accused of driving drunk May 28 in Pembroke while having a revoked license due to a prior conviction in Buffalo in 2011 of driving while ability impaired.
Xzavier A. Davis is indicted on felony counts of DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater and aggravated unlicensed operation. Davis is accused of driving drunk May 13 in the Town of Darien. Davis has a prior DWI conviction in the Town of Cambria in 2012.
Shawn A. Johnson Jr., is indicted on four counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument, 1st. Johnson is accused of possessing forged $20 bills in the Town of Darien.
Robert L. Hizer is indicted on counts of felony DWI, aggravated felony DWI and robbery, 3rd. Hizer is accused of driving drunk June 23 in the Town of Le Roy while children under age 15 were in the vehicle. He is accused of, on that same date, stealing $138 and a pack of cigarettes from the Wilson Farms store at 13 Lake St., Le Roy.
Laszlo Szabo is indicted on counts of felony DWI and driving with a BAC of .18 or greater. Szabo is accused of driving drunk Sept. 23 in the Town of Le Roy. Szabo has a prior DWI conviction from 2005 in the Town of Greece.
Drivers who illegally park in handicapped spaces, be warned: James Sheflin is on the job.
Sheflin started three weeks ago with Batavia PD as the city's new parking enforcement and dog control officer.
The part-time position was vacant for a few months before Sheflin's hire.
The 22-year-old Sheflin is from Le Roy, the son of a former Le Roy Fire Department chief, and is a part-time dispatcher for the Sheriff's Office.
Chief Shawn Heubusch said among the things he likes about Sheflin is that he will take on the job enthusiastically, but not over zealously.
Parking enforcement downtown is important, Heubusch said, but parking 30 minutes in a 15-minute zone is not the same as parking in a handicapped spot.
And Sheflin said that illegal parking in handicapped spots is one of his personal pet peeves.
"To me I think it’s just complete laziness when somebody who is not handicapped parks in one," Sheflin said. "That’s not acceptable to me. Those spots are there for a reason and you need a permit for a reason."
The job is a uniformed, civilian position in the department. Parking enforcement officers are responsible for patrolling the entire city limits and enforcing all parking regulations.
Part of the dog control officer's job is to ensure dogs in the city are licensed and to protect animals from inhumane treatment. The dog control officer enforces state, county and city ordinances.
Sheflin said he's a dog lover and isn't concerned about dealing with vicious dogs and wants to protect animals against mistreatment.
His ultimate goal is to become a police officer, ideally in the City of Batavia.
"It's good to get my foot in the door and prove to Chief Heubusch I can be a good employee," Sheflin said. "I figured if I come here, do a good job, it looks good on the resume, at least.”
Press release:
Sheriff Gary T. Maha announces that effective Saturday, Nov. 24, Sergeant Gregory Walker, a 25-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office, will be assigned as Criminal Investigation Sergeant and will oversee the Local Drug Enforcement Task Force.
Sergeant Walker started his career with the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office in October 1987 as a deputy sheriff. He was promoted to investigator in 1994 and gained experience in drug enforcement. In 1997, he was promoted to sergeant and was assigned as a road patrol supervisor. Sergeant Walker is a 2006 graduate of the F.B.I. National Academy.
Sheriff Maha also announces the promotion of Deputy Ronald Meides to sergeant, effective Nov. 24. Sergeant Meides will be assigned as a road patrol supervisor.
Deputy Meides started his career with the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office in March 1991 as a correction officer. In 1993, he was appointed a deputy sheriff and assigned to road patrol. Deputy Meides was the Sheriff’s Office “Officer of the Year” in 2009 and was recognized by the Kiwanis Club of Batavia in 2011 for his law enforcement service. Deputy Meides has vast experience in road patrol operations and D.W.I. enforcement.
Last week's winner was Matt Scott, who was selected in a random drawing from among the 10 people who correctly named Arian Foster as the running back most likely to rack up the most rushing yards (from among the 10 choices in the contest).
To play this week's contest, click here.
Press release:
As we all know, the East Coast was recently struck by Hurricane Sandy and has much devastation. Members of our community have decided to start a donation drive at the Pembroke High School (routes 5 and 77 in Corfu) on Friday, Nov. 16, from 3 to 7 p.m. with the help of students of the high school.
The students are really coming together to all participate in making this happen. We have been in direct contact with the location where we are making our drop and the following are their specific needs.
We will be accepting: bottled water, toiletries, non-perishable food items and bulk food items for the location because they are making daily hot meals for those who continue to have no electricity. Also needed are: blankets, gently used coats, hats and gloves, and new or gently used toys and Home Depot gift cards, but please no money.
But money can be given to the American Red Cross <www.redcross.org> and checks made out to the American Red Cross can be accepted during the charity drive at the high school.
After, we will be joining with Alden Presbyterian Church to move the goods to another church in New Jersey. Thank you for your time and generosity!
Also, an update on the Rotary drive, from Samantha Vagg, who said specific items are needed:
The drop-off location for the Rotary drive is the American Legion post in Le Roy, 53 W. Main St. Donated goods will be accepted until 6 p.m. today.
Press release:
The seasonal Yard Waste Station hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. The Yard Waste Station will be closed for Thanksgiving on Thursday, Nov. 22. The seasonal hours will resume on Friday, Nov. 23. The station will remain open through Dec. 8, weather permitting.
Residents are encouraged to bring yard waste debris to the Yard Waste Station.
Curbside leaf pickup will continue as weather permits or through Wednesday, Nov. 21.
Press release:
As part of MVP Health Care’s fall brand campaign, MVP asked the community “Who Inspires You?” and received more than 150 nominations and 40,000 votes in its quest to find the Ultimate Game Changer.
The contest — which was looking for people who make a significant difference in their communities by making them better, healthier places to live — concluded with an event on Saturday, Nov. 10, honoring the top 10 finalists and naming the Ultimate Game Changer.
Donald Carroll, of Batavia, NY, is the grand prize winner in the Ultimate Game Changer contest. Don, who is battling inoperable cancer of the stomach and esophagus, was not able to travel to Clifton Park for the event, but was there in spirit.
Don, who was orphaned at the age of 5, said that the kindness of family, friends and strangers deeply moved him as a child and young adult. It motivated him to “pay it forward” by sending local kids to summer camp, raising money to buy underprivileged kids toys and clothing at Christmas and funding college scholarships at Genesee Community College.
“I strongly believe all of us become who we are because of life experiences and the way we react to those experiences,” Don said in a statement read by a friend at the event. “We can pick up the ball and run with it, or we can fumble our way through life. I chose to run.”
Don and his former sixth-grade teacher, Jerry Foster, who nominated him, have each won $1,000. Jerry plans to donate his prize money to the cancer support fund established to help Don with his medical and other financial obligations.
“I nominated Don because I’ve had the opportunity to see him grow from a quiet, shy sixth-grader to a humble, compassionate man,” said Jerry, who taught Don at Oakfield-Alabama Central School in Oakfield, NY. “I know of no one who believes more in ‘paying it forward’ than Don. I have always believed in Santa. His nickname is Don.”
“All of the game changer finalists are examples of the kinds of everyday heroes MVP wanted to celebrate,” said Denise Gonick, MVP’s president of Operations. “Don’s story, especially, is wonderfully inspiring. Despite all the hardship in his life and, now, his illness, Don has never stopped giving back and paying it forward. It’s a reminder that wherever you are, whoever you are, you can make a difference.”
The Ultimate Game Changer Contest invited kids age 13 and older and adults in New York and Vermont to nominate someone they felt is making a significant contribution to their local community.
Timothy E. R. Backes, 31, of Summit Street, Batavia, is charged with assault, 3rd. Backes is accused of hitting another man in the face, fracturing facial bones. The incident was originally reported at 2:30 a.m., Oct. 21, to Batavia PD. Investigation revealed the alleged incident occurred at an address on West Main Street Road, Town of Batavia.
Emily R. Diamond, 34, of Lyndonville, is charged with petit larceny. Diamond is accused of stealing from Kmart. The alleged incident was reported to State Police at 4:05 p.m., Wednesday. Diamond was held in jail, no bail amount, if any, released. No further details released.
For 35 years Bob Zehler has enjoyed his work and his coworkers, but the time has come to hang up his badge, he said.
"I'm not quite ready, but now is the time to get out while I still like the place," Zahler said.
Today, in the basement of the jail, coworkers, colleagues and friends gathered for lunch and cake to celebrate Zahler's career.
Many years ago, the Sheriff's Office switched from hiring deputies to work in the jail to hiring corrections officers. Zahler, a supervisor, is the last deputy sheriff to work in the jail.
As for retirement, the Bethany native said he'll spend more time with his 87-year-old mother, complete remodeling his home -- a project he started 20 years ago -- and take care of some neglected work around the family farm.
With Zahler, left in the photo, is the current director of the jail, Ed Minardo.
A brown out, or partial power outage, is reported in Northwest Genesee County. The cause is unknown at this point but we are seeking more information. National Grid was notified by the Emergency Dispatch Center about 20 minutes ago, and now a power company rep(s) is heading into the area to check it out.
Most of the Village of Oakfield is affected, a "good portion" of the Town of Oakfield, and half of south Alabama.
This has prompted numerous calls about the power outage and, in some cases, smoke alarms and CO detectors have gone off and there have been reports of the smell of smoke at some locations.
Fire crews in both communities are responding.
UPDATE 8:17 p.m.: We just received this e-mail from Stephen F. Brady, media relations manager for National Grid:
"The cause isn't known yet, but we have a crew at the substation and they're working to restore and close in the breakers. I was told 30-45 minutes to restoration. Number of customers affected is around 500. Our Web page is likely showing more than that, but that too is being corrected. It could be morning before the exact cause (is known)."
UPDATE 9:24 p.m.: According to National Grid's Web site, power has been restored.
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