A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported at West Bergen Road and Clinton Street Road, Bergen.
Bergen fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.
A car and motorcycle accident is reported in the area of 668 East Main Street, Batavia.
The motorcyclist reportedly suffered an ankle injury.
The location is east of Cedar Street.
City fire and Mercy EMS responding.
The Morganville United Church of Christ in Stafford is celebrating its 200th anniversary this fall, inviting members of the community to take part in the festivities.
On Oct. 14, there will be a spaghetti dinner for the community and the 200th anniversary service will be on Oct. 22. The church is located at 8466 Morganville Road.
“The service will go back 200 years,” Pastor James Morasco said. “We’re going to dress the part. We want to capture the time period.”
According to a history compiled by Grace Woodworth in 2003, on Oct. 20, 1817, Elders Levi Hathaway and Joseph Badger, traveling ministers, organized “The Church of God in Stafford, New York.” The church started off with 11 members, but grew to 50 in a couple months.
The church has around 70 members now. Morasco said the church is slowly growing.
“It’s a nice place to be,” Morasco said. “It’s very welcoming. People say when they come here that it’s a warm church. They feel the warmth from everybody.”
Marianne Garigen was baptized in 1952 at Morganville UCC and became a member 13 years later. Her mother was a member of the church.
“When I first started, [the church] was very active,” Garigen said. “Sunday School had 80 children. Back then, the church was your social network.”
She currently serves as the financial secretary, but has held many other positions with the church.
“I moved away for seven years and then moved back to the area,” Garigen said. “I’ve been here ever since. It’s a part of me.”
Her husband, Barry Garigen, has been a friend of the church for 45 years and recently became a member, but currently is the church moderator. He runs the quarterly and annual meetings, and serves as an ambassador for the church, speaking on behalf of the congregation.
“We got married in this church,” Barry said. “All our kids were baptized here, so it’s been a part of their lives since the beginning.”
Marianne said the future is looking better for the church, but she would like to see younger families join the church to keep it going.
“We would like to continue being a part of the community and reaching out,” Marianne said. “We want to let them know we are here and that anyone is welcome.”
The church organizes a food link once a month, serving hundreds of people. Barry said it is a way to reach out to the community.
“Anybody that needs it, gets it,” Barry said. “The volunteers from the church set up. People come through, sign in and they can help themselves to the provided food.”
Barry said people line up hours ahead of time and they are very thankful.
In celebration of 200 years, the congregation is attempting to perform 200 random acts of kindness by the end of the year. A member can do anything from welcoming a new neighbor, cook a meal for someone, or leave notes of encouragement on cars.
“It’s an opportunity to show the community that we’re here,” Morasco said.
The Morganville UCC has a Facebook page located here and Morasco said they’re currently working on a website.
After the 200th service, there will be a hymn sing at 2 p.m. with the organist, Carin Wade.
“We have an outstanding organist who will be very entertaining for the hymn sing,” Barry said. “Music is a big part of our service here and she’s added to it.”
A poem written by Pastor James Morasco for the 200th anniversary.
Submitted photo of musicians Marta Driscoll and John Ryan performing.
Press release:
GLOW Traditions at GO ART! presents "Accordions ‘round the World" -- the melodious sounds of accordions and concertinas from diverse musical traditions found in Western New York. It will take place under the tent at Le Roy Country Club starting at 7 p.m. this Friday, Aug. 18. A $5 donation is suggested.
The country club, which is cosponsoring the event, is located at 7759 E. Main Road, Le Roy. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs! A full menu is available in the Club or on the deck, so guests are invited to come early and enjoy a dinner, or snacks throughout the concert.
SUNY Geneseo Professor of Music Jim Kimball is the concertmaster.
As an ethnomusicologist focusing on traditional music of our region, Kimball has documented numerous old time and ethnic musical cultures in which the accordion takes a lead role. These include Irish, Italian, Danish, Polish, German, and old-time square dance music.
The concert will feature musicians from these communities: Ted McGraw, Marta Driscoll and John Ryan (Irish), Alex Alexandrov (Bulgarian and Eastern European), Ken Machelski and Casey Kliszak (Polish), and Frank Reino (Italian).
Each of the musicians have perfected their craft primarily in the context of their particular community: trading tunes at weekly Irish music sessions in and around Rochester; serving as concertmaster for the National Accordion Orchestra of Bulgaria; playing in nationally recognized Polish polka bands from Buffalo; or learning the accordion at a young age from an Italian uncle.
The performers collectively illustrate the breadth of experience found in traditional expressive culture in our region. They each perform on their own finely crafted and often unique instruments.
The accordion is a reed instrument developed in Germany in the 1820s. After traveling around Europe, it became popular in New York by the 1840s. As it moved through Europe, its form and sound changed in response to different musical cultures.
Accordions use a “free reed” system to produce their sound, similar in concept to the metal reeds in a harmonica, where the player blows air across the reed to produce musical notes. The accordion was the technical marvel of its day, and its portability enabled many an immigrant to carry his music along with him to New York, Louisiana, Argentina, Mexico, Asia and the Middle East—virtually everywhere.
Rose Caccamise at Roxy’s Music in the City of Batavia has provided additional promotion. Founded in 1934 by Roxy and Nellie Caccamise, accordion virtuosi in their own rights, Roxy’s Music has promoted the instrument throughout the region for more than 80 years, and remains a hub for accordion sales, repairs, information, players and enthusiasts.
The event is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the NYS Legislature.
Press release:
Save the date! Saturday, Sept.16, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. the Genesee County Master Gardeners will be hosting their annual Fall Garden Gala at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County, 420 E. Main St. in Batavia.
The plant sale features hardy perennials, most which are grown by Master Gardeners, as well as house plants. A selection of locally, field-grown mums will also be for sale. Fall is a good time to plant many perennials as they will have time to grow a strong root system before winter.
Stop inside to check out the Chance Basket Auction and Silent Auction. You never know what treasures may appear, including unique garden art. The Master Gardener Helpline will also be open to answer your gardening questions. Not sure what your garden pH is? Bring in a soil sample for free soil pH testing.
Learn how to artfully arrange fresh flowers at the “Flower Arrangements from the Garden” demonstration at 11 a.m. A variety of fresh flower arrangements and bouquets, created by Master Gardeners, will also be for sale.
Don’t miss your chance to pick up some great plants and treasures for your garden! Plant sale starts promptly at 10 a.m. No early birds please. The Chance Basket Auction drawing will begin at 12:30 p.m.
For more information contact Brandie Schultz at CCE of Genesee County, (585) 343-3040, ext. 101, stop by the Extension office at 420 E. Main St. in Batavia, or visit our new CCE website http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu/gardening or Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CCEofGenesee.
Press release:
Tompkins Insurance Agencies and The Selective Insurance Group Foundation joined forces to support the Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation.
The Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation was established in 2007 in memory of Michael C. Napoleone, the 8-year-old son of Mark and Laurie Napoleone from Batavia, who died from Burkitts Lymphoma/Leukemia, an aggressive form of blood cancer.
During Michael's illness, the community rallied around the family to assist with food, gas, medical bills and other necessities. The not-for-profit foundation was created to give back to those who cared, to give forward to those in need, and to support research efforts in finding a cure for childhood cancer.
“The Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation is a special organization, and its commitment to supporting those in need in our community is inspiring,” said David S. Boyce, president and CEO, Tompkins Insurance Agencies. “We are privileged to show our support through this donation.”
The $300 donation from Tompkins Insurance Agencies was matched by a $300 grant from The Selective Insurance Group Foundation. The Selective Insurance Group Foundation is a philanthropic affiliate of Selective Insurance Group, Inc.
“At Selective, Response is everything®… and this includes responding to the communities where we live and work to give back and help those in need. Together with Tompkins Insurance Agencies, we are proud to support the Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation and its efforts to make a difference in the community,” said Chuck Musilli, senior vice president, Distribution Strategies, Selective.
Press release:
Genesee County’s RSVP and AmeriCorps programs are coordinating a service project to help community members in need as a way to honor 9/11 victims and those who rose in service in response to 9/11. Non-perishable food items will be collected from Aug. 14 – 31 at the following RSVP volunteer stations, AmeriCorps host sites and County Government offices:
All donations will be delivered to local food pantries during the week of 9/11.
For more information, please contact Courtney Iburi (RSVP) at 585-343-1611 or Kathy Frank (AmeriCorps) at 585-344-3960.
Genesee County Sheriff's Office Investigator Tim Wescott will lead a free public workshop at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, on learning how to recognize and avoid scams.
It will be held at the East Pembroke Volunteer Fire Department's pavilion, which is accessible using either Main Road or Slusser Road behind the fire hall. The fire hall is located at 2663 Main Road in Corfu.
Topics to be covered include: identity theft, credit cards, telemarketing, Internet scams, and home-improvement scams.
The presentation is provided by the Sheriff's Office in conjunction with the East Pembroke Neighborhood Crime Watch.
Press release:
Due to a tremendous response from the community, the Muckdogs 2017 Youth Baseball Clinic to be held on Aug. 30th is completely filled up and registration is now closed. We will accept any mailed registration forms postmarked on or before Aug. 16th.
For those who did not sign up in time, please keep an eye out for the Muckdogs’ Youth Clinic in 2018.
A Niagara Falls man who walked into the Key Bank branch in Batavia in December wearing a Batman beanie and walked out with more than $10,000 in cash entered a guilty plea to robbery in the third degree yesterday.
Joel Zsebehazy, 33, an Iraq War vet who has a prior criminal record that includes bank robbery, will be sentenced Sept. 18.
Zsebehazy was arrested in April near Belle Rose, La., after being identified as Batavia's warrant suspect by authorities there.
A car that looks like this one (not actual picture) is missing in Le Roy. It went missing Aug. 9 during the early morning hours.
Le Roy PD is asking the public's assistance in determining its location and possibly who stole it from the East Avenue -- East Main Street area of the village. Anyone with information is asked to call (585) 345-6350.
Last week’s order by a U.S. District Judge in Kansas City, Kan., to appoint a plaintiffs’ settlement negotiating committee is an encouraging sign for New York State corn farmers who are suing Syngenta AG, a Swiss agrochemical company accused of misleading marketing tactics.
Justice John W. Lungstrum, in an Aug. 8 ruling, appointed a team of attorneys to work with Special Master of Settlement for Ellen K. Reisman “toward a fair and expeditious resolution” of several lawsuits filed against Syngenta in connection with its rollout of the Agisure Viptera corn seed in 2010.
Reisman is a partner in Reisman Karron Green LLP based in Washington, D.C.
Litigants contend that Syngenta failed to get approval from China to distribute the seed, which was found to have contained a seed trait (MIR 162 GMO) that the Chinese deemed unacceptable.
In 2013, China embargoed all U.S. corn and, as a result, corn prices declined sharply and American corn producers suffered extensive monetary losses.
Attorney M. Scott Barrett of Bloomington, Ind., who is representing farmers in the Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming region, said the judge’s order to form a settlement negotiating committee could mean that good news is forthcoming for his clients.
“We’re hoping that this would be settled by Sept. 11 (the date that a Minnesota class trial is scheduled to begin),” said Barrett, an Albion native. “With that being said, it’s still not too late for (New York) farmers to get in. If they wait to the last minute, they possibly will be unable to participate.”
Barrett said the lawsuit is open to all corn producers who grew and sold corn for market at any time after 2012, and not just those who purchased and/or used the Syngenta seed.
He and attorneys Conrad Cropsey, of Albion, Ken Walsh, of Mount Kisco, and John Jernigan, of Brewton, Ala., are representing New York farmers. Jernigan and Barrett were in the area last week, meeting with some of their clients.
One of those is Joe Tuchrello, of Tuchrello Farms in Livingston County, a longtime farmer of various crops, including potatoes, soybeans and corn.
“I’m not crazy about losing $100,000 a year,” said Tuchrello, who at 83 years of age continues to work every day. “Whatever we can get will be a godsend.”
“I have never seen the likes of what we have gone through,” he said, noting that the price of corn dropped from around $8 per bushel to $3.50.
Syngenta was acquired by China National Chemical Corp. in June for $43 billion.
Lawyers for Syngenta contend that the company did not do anything wrong because the seed wasn’t sold until U.S. approval was obtained, and that it didn’t need China’s approval. However, a test-case trial in Kansas ended with a jury verdict of $217 million in favor of the certified class of Kansas corn farmers and a test case trial in Minneapolis was settled out of court before it began.
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In photo at top, attorneys M. Scott Barrett, left, and John Jernigan, in front of cornfield in Caledonia. For more information about the litigation, contact Conrad Cropsey at 585-589-9400.
Donald R. Carroll lived by the mottto "Pay it Forward." During his lifetime, he raised thousands of dollars for children in need.
The quiet, shy orphan who grew up in Oakfield became a true guardian angel of the less fortunate in Genesee County. Despite preferring to achieve results rather than garner recognition, Donald received numerous awards and certificates for his humanitarian efforts.
The lives of hundreds of young people have been enriched because of the efforts and generosity of Donald R Carroll.
For this reason, Don's legacy lives on through the Donald R. Carroll Memorial 5K Run/Walk, which helps to raise money for his long-standing Toys for Kids toy drive, which helps families in need in our community during the holidays.
Brian and Beth Kemp have continued the 5K and Toys for Kids Toy Drive for Don. Brian Kemp knows firsthand the impact of caring people like Don.
"Don helped me when I was young and I was able to go to summer camp and enjoy some things I would have never had an opportunity to otherwise," Kemp says.
Because of that and the need to continue to help those in need in our community, the Kemps continue where Don left off.
The Don Carroll 5K Memorial Run/Walk starts at 9 a.m. this Saturday, Aug. 19th, at Kibbe Park (105 Kibbe Ave., Batavia).
Runners and walkers are encouraged to come out and take part in this great event. All proceeds from the race go directly toward the Toys for Kids toy drive.
Last year's race was able to raise enough money to help more than 50 children in need in Genesee County.
The Kemps are hopeful this year's race will be another success.
"We have a lot of families living at the poverty level or below in our community," Beth Kemp said. "If we are able to provide a little light in someone's life, especially during the holiday season, then that's what we want to do.
"Don would've given someone his last few dollars, and he didn't have much. I hope to be half the human being he was."
Runners and walkers can pre-register online at DonCarrollRace.com or register the morning of event. Registration begins at 7:45 a.m. Race starts promptly at 9. A $100 prize is awarded to the top male and female finisher, and additional prizes for the top three in all age categories.
Submitted photo. Back row: Shaun Negvesky, Melanee London, Melissa Watterson, Laura Klotzbach-Dinsmore. Front row: Ritchie Kirkum, Jamie Lindsley. Not pictured: Bill Barbur and Samantha Pangrazio.
Press release:
On Monday, Sept. 4th the Oakfield Betterment Committee will host the 2017 “Labor Day Celebration” in the Elroy D. Parkins (Little League) Park, 37 Drake St., Oakfield.
This event is a family-oriented and alcohol-free festival featuring first-rate live entertainment, children’s activities, car cruise, parade, and food vendors.
Nonprofit groups from Oakfield and surrounding areas, including Alex’s Lemonade stand, operate food and beverage stands and various games and other fundraisers at the event, making this celebration an important part of our local nonprofit organizations’ finances.
The parade kicks things off at 10 a.m. There will be a Car Cruise from 12-3. Ghost Riders perform from 12 to 3 p.m. and Terry Buchwald impersonates Elvis from 4 to 7 p.m. Plus there will be pony rides for children all day, an appearance by Mercy Flight, basket raffles, and bounce house fun ($5).
As you are aware, many local community gatherings and carnivals are disappearing due to restrictive laws, lack of funding, and difficulty maintaining a volunteer base. The Oakfield Betterment Committee is dedicated to making sure that our local event continues to be a tradition for our town. Due to the same difficulties facing other communities, we are scaling back to a one day event for 2017, but it will still have most of the features our attendees look forward to each year.
In addition to Labor Day, Oakfield Betterment hosts fun and meaningful community events such as the annual Earth Day Clean-up, summer outdoor family movie nights in Oakfield Town Park, 5K fun runs for various causes, and a Community Thanksgiving Dinner. We are also planning to have an event featuring and supporting local small businesses at the Lions Club Christmas in Oakfield. All of these events are free to the public.
When other local organizations need a helping hand, we are at their service. So far this year, we assisted with the Haxton Memorial Library’s Summer Reading Kickoff carnival and Elba Betterment Committee’s annual pig roast.
If you have any questions, or would like to join the Oakfield Betterment Committee, please check our website: http://www.oakfieldbetterment.com/ and "like" our Facebook page.
With a grant from the state's Division of Criminal Justice Services, Batavia PD will be able to outfit all officers with body cameras, Chief Shawn Heubusch told the City Council on Monday night.
In all, the $10,000 grant combined with funds already appropriated in the city budget will mean the department has a total of 32 body cameras.
"They're absolutely valuable," Heubusch said after the meeting. "I wouldn't be asking for 32 of them if I didn't think they were valuable. As far as from a prosecutorial standpoint, it collects evidence and firsthand accounts when this story is unfolding. So from that perspective, it helps in the prosecution aspect of a crime. When you're dealing with a victim or a suspect you have that person on film saying what they said, acting the way that they were acting at that point in time, and that could be introduced into evidence or it can be used to get a plea deal."
Twice the cameras have helped clear up accusations against officers by suspects, Heubusch said, so they've proven valuable in that respect as well.
"I think we see a lot more positive reaction (from officers) because they were very suspicious at first," Heubusch said. "They wanted to know, 'what are we getting ourselves into?' But the first time that they're dealing with the drunk alongside the road and they're able to go back and review that footage and see this is exactly what this person said, this is exactly how the person acted, and then present that in court, they see it's been very beneficial, or in the instance where somebody comes forward with a false claim against them."
Officers are supposed to activate the camera anytime they are responding to a "hot" call, Heubusch said. The camera should be on anytime there is an enforcement action.
Of course, Heubusch said, officers are human and in an active situation, turning on a body camera is not always the first thing that comes to mind.
"That's the first thing you forget to do is turn that on," Heubusch said. "In most cases that is the first thing you want to see, you want to see that turned on. So we understand there's a human element as well. So you know there is enough room within the policy to give the officers some individual leeway."
Officers also have the discretion to turn the camera off in situations where privacy is paramount, such as cases involving juveniles, especially as victims, confidential informants, or sensitive domestic calls, depending on the circumstances.
Nearly two years in the making, a draft of a new comprehensive plan for Batavia has been presented to the City Council and soon it will be up to council members to decide what kind of future they want for the city.
One that maintains the status quo or one that aims to improve the quality of life for residents and attract new businesses.
"I think you’ll find that, yes, some communities are losing population," City Manager Jason Molino said after the draft plan was presented to the council. "They're not growing at great rates, but I think you’ll see that the communities that are well planned, and have good comprehensive plans that are practical, you’re going to see those communities are growing. They’re growing exponentially. They’re growing a lot faster than those who don’t (have comprehensive plans). I would argue that good planning leads to smart choices and that leads to positive outcomes.
"If we want to be mediocre forever then maybe we don’t do the comprehensive plan," Molino added. "If we want to achieve more, we take a community-based approach to it and you make smart choices in the future to trigger growth in the future."
Consultant Rob Holzman made the initial presentation of the plan. He reviewed the history of the process, which began in October 2015 and included the formation of a steering committee, interviews, focus groups, surveys and two community open houses where community members were invited in to share their vision for the future of the City of Batavia.
"This plan sets up a strong foundation for moving forward and understand what some of the basic investments are that are necessary to attract a younger population as well as a senior population," Holzman said.
Among the findings of the research that underlies the plan is that Batavia is seeing a decline in home ownership and a startling rise in rental occupancy.
"These are two characteristics that are worth noting because they’re really a driving impetus behind why you want this comprehensive planning process," Holzman said. "It's to figure out what’s going on and how some of these trends might be reversed."
The city is also overstocked in industrially zoned property. Industrial is the second highest acreage in the city of 14 types of zoning in Batavia, at 682 acres but only 169 acres are actually being used for industrial activity.
The plan suggests, Holzman said, that the city can direct more industrial uses in the area of the Harvester Center and the Pearl Street industrial park, both with significant vacancies, and rezone an area such as the east end of East Main Street.
The 70 to 90 properties in that area, with the exception of a cement company, are all commercial and residential, Holzman noted.
"It is a key gateway coming into the city," Holzman said. "It sets a tone for what to expect and having industrially zoned properties there might not be the best use of that transportation corridor."
Among the other suggestions for the Batavia of the future is the development of a complete street policy, which would include bike paths, bike racks at public facilities, signs providing distance and direction for destinations (wayfinding signage), and bus shelters that are attractive and may contain public art.
"Bus shelters might sound like a basic thing, and it is a basic thing, but it’s a necessary component to add to the vitality of a place," Holzman said.
The plan also suggests developing a tree management plan, a plan for parks and recreation, a plan to celebrate the city's history and its public spaces.
The plan also calls for changing the city's zoning code from the more highly regulated current form to what's known as "form-based" code, which more loosely defines appropriate uses for sections of the city.
When it came time for the council and the public to weigh in, there were some objections.
Councilwoman Kathy Briggs (later joined by community member John Roach) suggested that any suggestion that the east end of East Main Street be rezoned be removed from the plan. He insisted that the council already voted 6-3 against changing the zoning, therefore, it shouldn't be brought up again.
Molino explained that at this stage, the comprehensive plan is a roadmap. Implementation of actual zoning changes would come up later. Further, he noted, the council's previous vote was just on two parcels in the 70- to 90-acre area under consideration.
Roach suggested the proposal was just a backdoor way to bring in the tax-exempt, subsidized housing for disabled people proposed by DePaul earlier this year.
Councilman Bob Bialkowski objected to the idea of form-based code because, based on his research, he said, back before current zoning was created, something like form-based zoning was used and it only benefitted the well-heeled and politically connected.
Holzman tried to explain that form based means something entirely different today and that what the comprehensive plan proposes is really a mix of formed based structure and traditional zoning.
Councilman Adam Tabelski said he was concerned (a concern shared by other speakers) that the Tonawanda Creek is barely mentioned in the plan, even though it represents a potential resource for the city.
Molino said specific proposals for what might happen along the creek would fit into the city's strategic planning process, which he also spoke about and how it might change with a new comprehensive plan.
He provided the council with a document that he said would help officials and staff better prioritize projects, especially when new ideas come along.
"One thing when we began to develop this process, we realized that as new opportunities come along there has to be a very disciplined process to evaluate those," Molino said. "We have to decide whether it not happen, be put off, changed, or if more resources have to be put on the table to deal with them."
A man is unconscious after a tire exploded at Zuber Farms, 5633 Tower Hill Road. Byron Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. Mercy Flight in Batavia is put on ground standby.
UPDATE 12 p.m.: Mercy Flight is cancelled.
UPDATE 12:02 p.m.: The chief on scene says responders can continue in non-emergency mode to the structure east of the main building. A tire exploded off its rim, striking the victim.
A trooper has been dispatched to the Thruway overpass on Route 98, Batavia, for two subjects who "lost their boat" and are now trying to recover it.
It's stuck in the guardrail.
The incident is hindering traffic.
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