It was supposed to be a just a little Christmas decoration contest with the loser buying the winner pizza, but both the order processing department and the technical customer service department at Liberty Pumps in Bergen have gone full Clark Griswold this year.
"I'm sure the money spent individually by these Liberty members is way more than free pizza," said Laurie Pfaff, who sent in the pictures.
If you have a weather photo you want to share with the community, email it to howard@thebatavian.com.
The first two are from Brandi Kaplun.
From Michael Dirham at Z&M Ag & Turf in Oakfield.
Closings and cancellations for Thursday, Dec. 15:
Email closings and cancellations to howard@thebatavian.com
A T-bone accident with airbag deployment is reported on Route 262 at Jerico Road in Bergen.
Unknown injuries.
Bergen fire along with Bergen's ambulance and Mercy EMS dispatched.
UPDATE 8:03 a.m.: An Oakfield chief is on scene indicating extrication will be needed, but minor injury.
Press release:
The Genesee County Sheriff's Office has issued a travel advisory for all of Genesee County. Current and forecasted weather conditions consisting of steady snow, along with strong winds, have caused whiteout conditions that have contributed to numerous motor vehicle accidents and stranded vehicles on roadways. Motorists are strongly encouraged to avoid any unnecessary travel until weather conditions subside.
Undersheriff William A. Sheron, Jr.
UPDATE: The travel advisory was lifted at 2 a.m.
Press release:
For nearly 80 years, Ferrellgas has provided propane service to homes, farms, and businesses in our community and across the nation. With the help of local residents, Ferrellgas plans to deliver more than just propane this holiday season.
Ferrellgas is collecting new and gently used coats, hats, scarves, and gloves this year and putting them into the hands of less fortunate members of our community.
Donations can be given to Ferrellgas deliverymen or brought to the Ferrellgas office at 655 Ellicott St. Batavia, NY 14020 through Dec. 30. At the end of the coat drive, Ferrellgas will donate items collected to one or more local charities.
“Ferrellgas is proud to provide a product that helps keep people in our community warm and provides some comfort in their lives,” says Doug Muha, Ferrellgas’ local director of Operations. “But we realize that too many local residents will struggle to stay warm this winter because they don’t have an adequate coat. Our goal is to help provide one to as many people here as possible. Thanks to the generous members of our community, we look forward to doing just that.”
Muha said local residents do not have to be customers of Ferrellgas to participate in the coat drive.
More information about Ferrellgas can be found at www.Ferrellgas.com.
A full-on winter storm has hit Genesee County with bitter cold and heavy snow.
Top photo, Jackson Street.
Send your snow storm photos to howard@thebatavian.com.
Cornell Cooperative Extension on East Main.
Jackson Street.
Email cancellations and schedule changes to howard@thebatavian.com.
Bradley J. Broadbent is indicted for the crime of promoting prison contraband in the first degree, a Class D felony. It is alleged that on April 24 at the Genesee County Jail, Broadbent, while confined in the detention facility, knowingly or unlawfully made, obtained or possessed dangerous contraband -- heroin. In count two, Broadbent is accused of the crime of criminal possession of a controlled subtance, a Class B felony, for allegedly knowingly and unlawfully possessing a narcotic drug -- heroin -- with intent to sell it while at the jail. In count three, he is accused of the crime of criminal sale of a controlleged substance in the third degree, a Class B felony, for allegedly knowingly and unlawfully selling a narcotic drug -- heroin.
Roberto F. Fuentes Jr. is indicted for the crime of driving while intoxicated as a Class E felony. It is alleged that on July 14 on Alleghany Road in Corfu, Fuentes drove a Pontiac while intoxicated. In count two, he is accused of DWI, per se, also a Class E felony, for allegedly having a .08 BAC at the time. In Special Information filed by the district attorney, Fuentes is accused of having been convicted of DWI, as a misdemeanor, on May 28, 2014 in the Town of Amherst, Erie County, and that occurred within 10 years of the crimes alleged in this indictment.
Nicole A. Mickey is indicted for the crime of driving while intoxicated as a Class E felony. It is alleged that on July 10 on Richmond Avenue in Batavia, Mickey drove a 2004 Toyota while intoxicated.
Sergio A. Forte is indicted for the crime of unauthorized use of a vehicle in the second degree, a Class E felony. It is alleed that on June 30 in the Town of Le Roy that Forte, while knowing he did not hoave the owner's consent, took, operated and exercised control over, rode in or otherwise used a 2003 Ford Focus. In Special Inofrmation filed by the district attorney, Forte is accused of having been convicted of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in the third degree, a Class A misdemeanor, on March 10, 2007, in the Town of Le Roy, and that occured within 10 years of the crime alleged in this indictment.
Temperatures tonight are expected to dip as low as 10 degrees, and in each of the past two winters, a group of volunteers has created a warming shelter for anyone who might need a warm bed for a night like this, but this year, shelter will be provided on a case-by-case basis.
Last year, a local church provided the shelter, but a church secretary referred us to the Salvation Army and the Salvation Army referred us to Tim Yaeger, emergency management coordinator for Genesee County.
Yaeger said he and officials at the Salvation Army discussed options and the best course -- given the low demand for beds in cold weather locally, and with limited staff available -- is to respond to requests for shelter rather than keep a shelter open all night.
If anybody finds themselves without shelter at night, they should either call emergency dispatch or go to the nearest fire hall. That will trigger officials to contact the Salvation Army to assist that person or group of people with finding a safe place for the night.
The local Salvation Army doesn't have the staff available to specifically keep a shelter open all night, but staff is always on call and available to assist anybody with an urgent need for shelter, Yaeger said.
During the weekdays, the Salvation Army at 529 E. Main St., Batavia, is open for anybody who needs assistance.
In the past, the shelters have been barely used, if used at all. People living in the area who may lack permanent housing seem to be able to find a friend or family member to stay with in cold weather.
There is a lake effect snow watch in effect now until 1 a.m., Thursday. Storm totals of 5 to 10 inches of snow are expected in the region. Winds will reportedly be 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph, creating blowing and drifting snow and low visibility.
Melissa R. Piazza, 27, of Central Avenue, Batavia, is charged with trespass. Piazza was allegedly found going through vehicles on Pearl Street at 1:23 a.m., Dec. 2.
Victor D. Albert, 55, of Clinton Street, Buffalo, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Albert was charged after police were called to Batavia Downs at 1:34 p.m., Sunday, to investigate an incident and Albert was allegedly found in possession of marijuana.
Joshua Micheal Bratcher, 26, of Fargo Road, Bethany, is charged with obstructing governmental administration and unlawful possession of marijuana. Bratcher was arrested after Batavia PD was dispatched to the area of 17 Central Ave. for a report of several people fighting.
Woodrow C. Horseman, 40, of South Main Street, Batavia, was arrested on two warrants. The warrants stem from charges of petit larceny and criminal trespass in two separate incidents. Horseman was jailed on $5,000 bail.
Darrell Smith, 49, of Pearl Street, Batavia, is charged with failure to pay fine. Smith turned himself in on a warrant.
Jacklyn M. Ganzhorn, 29, of Central Avenue, was arrested on a warrant. Ganzhorn was arrested when located on Alva Place for alleged failure to appear in court. Ganzhorn was held on a bail.
Nikki L. Stonebraker, 28, of Liberty Street, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant.
Joshua A. Porter, 19, of Bank Street, Batavia, is charged with unnecessary noise. Porter is accused of hosting a loud party in his residence, which was reported at 12:06 a.m., Dec. 8.
Cheryl M. Lyons, 51, of Tracy Avenue, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant. Lyons is accused of violating terms of probation. She was arraigned and jailed.
Joey A. Evans, 26, of Hutchins Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property, 5th. Evans allegedly possessed property stolen from another individual.
Jaylyn S. Strong, 21, of Holland Avenue, Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, driving a vehicle without stop lamps, aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd, and unlicensed operator. Strong was stopped at 10:40 p.m., Dec. 1, on East Main Street, Batavia, by Officer Chad Richards.
Robert S. Sodja, 52, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Sodja was arrested on a warrant.
Harry T. Gibson, 52, of West Main Street, was arrested on a warrant. Gibson is charged with petit larceny. Gibson was sentenced in City Court to six months in jail, to run concurrent with a sentence out of Town of Batavia Court.
Bradley R. Jordan, 23, of Colby Road, Darien, is charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, 3rd. Jordan allegedly entered and started a vehicle that didn't belong to him at 6:55 p.m., Nov. 16, at 4 Treadeasy Ave., Batavia.
Martin F. Jones, 45, of State Street, is charged with petit larceny. Jones allegedly stole a phone from a residence on State Street at 9:30 p.m., Nov. 27.
Andrei Peter Sliker, 25, of Hutchins Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. Sliker was allegedly found in possession of cocaine and buprenorphine during at traffic stop initiated by Deputy Eric Meyer at 7:45 a.m. Dec. 23, 2015 on Route 5 in Stafford.
Amandarae L. Moore, 29, of Route 31, Albion, was arrested on a warrant. Moore is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation in the Town of Elba.
Pembroke beat Byron-Bergen in a home game for the Bees last night, 55-46.
Olivia Kohurst scored 14 points for the Lady Dragons, with six coming off a pair of three-pointers. Mackenzie Jurek had 11 and Mackenzie Johnson, who also had a pair of three-point buckets, had 10.
For Byron-Bergen, Karson Richenberg had 11 points, Dana VanValkenberg, nine, Jenna Amesburg, nine, Hailey Hubbard, eight, and Kelsey Fuller, seven. VanValkenberg and Amesburg each hit three-point shots.
A larceny from Kay Jewelers around 6 p.m. led local law enforcement agencies on a high-speed chase through the city and then down Route 33 into Corfu before a sergeant called off the pursuit.
The suspect vehicle, a black Chevy Impala, was last seen heading onto the Thruway, according to information obtained from the Sheriff's Office.
The Sheriff's Office is planning a press release later tonight on the incident.
The suspect vehicle was pursued by deputies, troopers, City PD officers and a Corfu officer, before Sgt. Jason Saile said he canceled the pursuit out of concern for public and officer safety.
It was a newer Impala, said Sgt. Greg Walker. It had tinted windows, no rear plate and entered the Thruway in Pembroke, but unknown direction of travel at this time.
We'll update this post with more information when it becomes available.
UPDATE 10:30 p.m. (by Howard): A suspect described as a black male entered the store and stole something, according to the Sheriff's Office and then left the store and got into a black Impala. The vehicle was pursued down Route 33 into Corfu. The call came in at 5:55 p.m. Information was not released about what was stolen. No information was released about possible other occupant(s) of the vehicle. The investigation is ongoing.
NOTE: Story given a new headline and rewritten by Howard Owens at 9:15 p.m.
Press release:
State Senator Michael H. Ranzenhofer has started a new petition for residents to urge Governor Cuomo and members of the State Legislature to expand ridesharing services, such as Uber and Lyft, to Upstate New York. The petition is available online at ranzenhofer.nysenate.gov.
“While New York City residents are able to enjoy ridesharing services, Upstate New Yorkers have been left behind. Expanding access to these transportation companies is long overdue,” Ranzenhofer said. “Working together, we can send a strong message: give the green light to ridesharing in Western New York. I encourage residents to express their support for this legislation by signing my petition.”
Currently, transportation network companies operate only in New York City. Senator Ranzenhofer has co-sponsored (S.4580A) and voted for legislation (S.4108D) to make these transportation services available across the entire state.
“New York has repeatedly stood in the way, whether by over-regulation or outright banning, of professional services that are legal and available in most states and cities across the nation. There is no reason why residents, from Rochester to Buffalo, should be prevented from requesting an Uber when they could easily do so in Boston, Cleveland and Milwaukee,” Ranzenhofer said.
After a search of the woods last night in the area of Keeney Road and Quinlan Road, Le Roy, two suspects in a series of incidents were located and arrested.
The call to police started with a report to Le Roy PD of suspicious activity at the Kwik Fill in Le Roy, followed by the report of an accident on Keeney Road at about 10:13 p.m.
Two people were seen fleeing into a wooded area.
Deputy Ryan Young along with the K-9 patrol led by Livingston County Deputy Michael Wade responded and started a search.
Also assisting were other Le Roy PD officers, local deputies, troopers and State Police aviation.
After a lengthy search, the suspects were located and identified as Haleigh I. Ogden, 18, of East Avenue, Batavia, and Giancarlo A. Miranda, 18, of Clipnock Road, Stafford.
During the course of the investigation, Ogden and Miranda were identified as suspects in a burglary that occurred sometime between Dec. 8 and 9 at the Genesee County Animal Shelter. A pit bull was stolen from the shelter.
Last night, they were found in possession of the pit bull.
Both were charged with burglary, 3rd, and jailed on $15,000 bail each.
The pit bull was returned to the animal shelter.
A truck that was stolen from a location on Route 77 in Darien yesterday was recovered overnight on Route 219 in Erie County, along with the trailer that was hitched to it carrying two brand new Polaris 450 four-wheelers.
But the two four-wheelers are still missing, according to Chief Deputy Jerome Brewster.
If anybody has information that may assist in the investigation, call (585) 343-5000.
Yesterday, we launched our new local business promotion site, ShopLocal.TheBatavian.com.
One of the first features we added to the site (there are more to come) is a way for you to post recommendations for your favorite local businesses. Recommendations are a great way for you to help spread the word about your favorite local businesses and encourage your friends, family members and neighbors to give these businesses a try.
If you post a recommendation on ShopLocal.TheBatavian.com in the next week, you will be entered into a drawing for a free $100 gift certificate to Valle Jewelers. In fact, it gets better: the more recommendations you post, the greater your chance of winning because you get one ticket in the drawing for every recommendation you post.
This contest will end the morning of Dec. 21. That gives you a week to post as many recommendations as you can and get as many chances as you can to win a $100 gift certificate to Valle Jewelers.
No purchase necessary. Employees of The Batavian are excluded from the drawing.
To post a recommendation, you need to register on the site. Here's the easy part: if you've already registered for Deal of the Day, just use your same email and password to sign in.
These projects, along with a handful of other grant-aided ventures, signal a continuing, successful effort by the Batavia Development Corp. to revitalize the city’s downtown and broaden the tax base throughout the municipality, said the president of the organization’s board of directors.
Speaking Monday night at the City Council meeting, Ray Chaya, a BDC board member for nine years who is “terming out” next month, said Batavia’s positive, can-do message has resonated with regional and state economic development agencies. As a result, grants have been awarded to initiatives to the tune of more than $2 million.
“We’ve come to be a community of believers,” Chaya said, noting that the passing of resolutions by government boards, phone calls from local leaders to regional executives and media coverage were key factors in last week’s awarding of the $1.9 million Consolidated Funding Application grant by the Finger Lakes Regional Development Council for the Ellicott Station project.
He added that the BDC also expects to receive a $500,000 Restore NY grant for environmental remediation of the Santy’s/Della Penna site, and the developer, Savarino Cos. of Buffalo, is in line to receive federal new market tax credits “to help close the gap” and make the project worthwhile.
City Manager Jason Molino said the BDC is looking into “multiple funding sources to offset the cost,” including Brownfield cleanup tax credits and the Batavia Pathway to Prosperity fund – a partnership of the City of Batavia, Genesee County, Batavia City School District and Genesee County Economic Development Center.
“The Pathways to Prosperity addresses the anti-poverty issue and is a feather in the cap,” Molino said. “The way we were able to transfer the property as an LLC to the BDC and then to the developer is the first of its kind on several different levels … and that’s what has drawn attention to it.”
Chaya named seven businesses that participated in the BDC’s microenterprise grant program, which empowered the agency to piecemeal the distribution of $200,000 to qualifying entrepreneurs who participated in the program.
Those businesses are Hidden Door, Batavia Brewing Co., Gams Sweet & Savory, Teddy Bear Day Care, T-Shirts Etc., Amy’s Fluffy Friends and Trash Away. All of the businesses’ expenditures are closely monitored by the BDC and the state’s Office of Community Renewal, with milestones and metrics having to be met per grant regulations.
The Batavia Brewery Co./freshLAB project also has been boosted by several performance-based grants, Chaya said, namely a $500,000 Main Street anchor grant, $60,785 from the United States Department of Agriculture and a $100,000 National Grid Revitalization grant.
Additional tax credits could come if the building – which also will house market-rate apartments on the upper floors -- is put onto the National Register of Historic Place as sought by owners Matthew Gray and Matt Boyd.
Chaya said that bidding on construction is taking place through Jan. 6 and work is expected to begin in late winter. The overall cost of this project is estimated at $1.5 million.
The city also received two other FLREDC grants -- $25,000 for the Downtown Batavia Healthy Living Campus’ feasibility study and $12,500 to the Batavia Business Improvement District for a Downtown Batavia Public Market Study.
Chaya also reported that an Empire State Development grant in the amount of $15,000 is being used to develop a plan for the Harvester Park subdivision.
Batavia City Council set a public hearing on its amended sign code Monday night, but not before President Eugene Jankowski Jr. made sure three key changes had been made to the regulations.
"They added the 10 seconds like we asked, and also the nonconforming provision and removed the whole section about charging (an annual) fee," Jankowski said prior to the unanimous vote to schedule the public hearing for 7 p.m. Jan. 9 -- the date of Council's next Business meeting.
The revised sign code reduces the amount of time that the message on an electronic digital sign could be changed -- from once every hour to once every 10 seconds. It also eliminates an annual $25 fee that would have been imposed upon a business owner to operate a digital sign, and "grandfather's" in digital signs that currently are located in zoning districts (such as residential and/or Industrial) not authorized to have electronic message boards.
Another important revision is the elimination of county and city planning board reviews and special permits for those seeking area variances (example, changing the size of a sign). Upon passage of the amended code, an applicant would be able to go directly before the Zoning Board of Appeals, thus cutting the time frame of the approval process considerably.
In other action, Council:
-- Approved a resolution authorizing an agreement with the state Department of Transportation for preliminary engineering and design for preventive maintenance of six city streets: Clinton Street, East Avenue, Liberty Street, South Liberty Street, Swan Street and Vine Street.
Council appropriated $60,050 toward this phase of the milling and resurfacing project, which is expected to cost $2.5 million. Eighty percent of the work will be funded through Federal Transportation Funds, with the remaining 20 percent to be provided through a local match.
Councilwoman Rose Mary Christian inquired why Harvester Avenue wasn't included on list, stating that it is "one of the worst streets in the City of Batavia."
City Manager Jason Molino responded that the street's Paving Condition Index did not warrant it to be placed at or near the top of the list, while Councilman John Canale added that the problem is with the "manhole covers that are so sunken in that it's like hitting a pothole -- and you can't avoid them."
-- Authorized renewing the Inter-Municipal City Court Prosecutorial Service Agreement with Genesee County. The contract was set to expire at the end of this year.
-- Agreed to consider a two-year extension of the city's lease and sublease agreement with the Rochester Red Wings and Genesee County Baseball Club for the management of Dwyer Stadium and the Batavia Muckdogs. The current lease terminates on April 2.
Molno said there would be no change in terms and conditions. The agreement also involves the Batavia Regional Recreation Corp. and the Rochester Community Baseball Inc., with day-to-day operations the responsibility of the Red Wings organization and GCBC, and capital improvements the responsibility of the City of Batavia.
The pact also calls for the GCBC to sumbit a capital project plan and budget for next year, to be approved by City Council. Molino said all parties have had preliminary talks about what improvements need to be made for the 2017 season.
From 5 to 9 inches of snow is expected to hit the area on Wednesday, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a lake effect snow watch starting Wednesday afternoon and lasting into the night.
Winds will blow at 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph, producing significant blowing and drifting snow.
Hazardous travel conditions are predicted.
The forecast confidence is rated as medium.
"There remains some uncertainty with respect to the intensity of the lake effect snow band," the weather service said.
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