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Man robs Dollar General store in Batavia, now at large

By Billie Owens

A robbery just occurred at the Dollar General store on East Main Street in the City of Batavia. A heavy-set black male demanded everything inside the cash register from a clerk and left the store. He is said to be wearing jeans and a dark jacket. City police are responding.

Bloomz Florist cultivates a new owner

By Julia Ferrini

“The biggest thing; I’ve always liked the direct result of what we do,” Luke Harding said. “It’s always gratifying to know that if I'm working hard, I'm earning an income, and if I'm slacking I have no one to blame but myself.”

With that philosophy in mind, it was just a matter of time before Harding became the sole proprietor of his own business. Therefore, since his grandmother had been entertaining the idea of selling Bloomz Florist, Harding jumped at the chance, made her an offer and became the new owner of the flower shop April 10.

“I thought about buying it for years,” Harding said, “but I wasn’t sure who wanted it and buying it off my grandma...”

“My age made me decide to sell,” said former Bloomz owner Sarah Harding. “I’m 83 years old. I’ve owned the shop for 10 years and right now, I want to concentrate on my book. I loved the flower shop.”

The elder Harding is the author of “Rise Catholic Women: You Hold The Key” and was featured in the Wyoming County Free Press, December 2014.

The younger Harding’s dilemma was due to his grandma having seven children and for Harding it was a question of him “stepping on someone's toes” who was also interested in buying the flower shop. According to Harding, it all worked out in the end. 

The Attican didn’t just buy Bloomz, he bought the entire piece of property and the buildings on it. While he said the property and buildings are in good shape, he wants to do a bit of work on his new purchase to give it more curb appeal.

Harding is no stranger to entrepreneurship. As a matter of fact, he seems to be predisposed to being his own boss. According to the 25-year-old, the whole Harding family are entrepreneurs. His uncle owned Super Duper grocery stores and currently, the young Harding, his dad, his uncle, and his aunt, all own Harding’s Attica Furniture. While his grandmother may have sold Bloomz, she is still the owner of Parsons Place – a Christian bookstore next to Bloomz. 

“I like this kind of work (florist) because it’s a predicable business,” Harding said. 

Although there are peak seasons in the flower business, Harding said they are opened year-round and have extended their hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. 

“The most unique part of this business is Tammy James is our flower designer and we use premium product so they last longer,” Harding said.

In addition to cut-flower arrangements, Bloomz also does silk arrangements, cemetery urns, and dish and bulb gardens. They also have potted flowers and green plants available for purchase.

“Dish gardens are green plants that would stay in your house,” said Bloomz Flower designer Laurie Bellucci. “Then there is a bulb barden. The bulbs can be planted in the fall, which makes it an everlasting gift. It's a great idea for someone who does gardening. They can remember the person that gave it to them.

“Some people come in and know exactly what they want,” Bellucci said. “Some have no idea and we help them out with creating something unique for them. That's what we do. We serve our customers.”

Bloomz Florist is located at 11155 Alexander Road (Route 98), on the Attica/Alexander town line. They can also be found on Facebook or visit their Web site at http://www.bloomzflorists.net/.

Conservatives looking for local candidates to back

By Howard B. Owens

The Conservative Party is looking for candidates to run in the upcoming elections throughout Genesee County.

Local Chairman John Roach said there's no "check-off list" of correct issues for potential Conservative candidates, just a general philosophy for candidates to uphold.

"We are just looking for civic-minded people who have the time and desire to serve," Roach said. "Men or women who remember that the money being spent is not theirs; it is the people's and should be spent wisely. People who will do their best to keep the public informed about what is going on."

Those who are interested should send a letter and resume to: 

The Genesee County Conservative Party
P.O. Box 1686
Batavia, NY 14021-1686

Batavia's Jeff Redband makes first team in regional hoops honors

By Howard B. Owens

Batavia's Jeff Redband (file photo from the 2014-15 basketball season) tops the field of Genesee County student-athletes to receive All Genesee Region honors for winter sports, as published today by the Democrat and Chronicle.

Redband was Monroe County Division IV Player of the Year, a Section V Class A2 All-Tournament Team player. He averaged 27 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots per game this season and led Batavia (18-3) to division title. He surpassed 1,000 varsity points, including a  51-point game (a school record) vs. Irondequoit. He made 40 percent of 3-pointers and 88 percent of free throws. Academically, he carries 94 average.

Later today, Redband will sign a letter of intent to attend Daemen College on a basketball scholarship.

Also honored:

  • Nick Egeling, Le Roy, Livingston County Division II, basketball
  • Ryan Cansdale, Pembroke, Genesee Region, basketball
  • Ryan Emery, Oakfield-Alabama, Genesee Region, basketball
  • John Hochmuth, Elba, basketball
  • Josh Johnson, Notre Dame, Genesee Region, basketball
  • Caleb Nellis, Notre Dame, Genesee Region, basketball
  • Hayden Ewell, Pavilion, Livingston County Division III, basketball
  • Tiara Filbert, Batavia, second team, basketball
  • Abbie Kelly, Byron-Bergen, second team, basketball
  • Lindsay Lovett, Byron-Bergen, Genesee Region, basketball
  • Shea Norton, Notre Dame, Genesee Region, basketball
  • Emma Francis, Notre Dame, Genesee Region, basketball
  • Rebecca Krenzer, Notre Dame, Genesee Region, basketball
  • Haley Brown, Elba, Genesee Region, basketball
  • Alex Reigle, Elba, Genesee Region, basketball
  • Kylie Schlagenhau, Oakfield-Alabama, Genesee Region, basketball
  • Sydney Breton, Alexander, Genesee Region, basketball
  • Aralyse Johnson, Pembroke, Genesee Region, basketball
  • Kayla Heimlich, Le Roy, Livingstone County Division II, basketball
  • Madison McCulley, Batavia, Monroe County, basketball
  • Kelsey Milligan, Pavilion, Livingston County Division III, basketball
  • Devon Koepp, Batavia, first team, indoor track
  • Ryan McQuillen, Le Roy, first team, indoor track
  • Nate Richardson, Alexander, Genesee Region, swimming
  • Tom Slenker, Alexander, Genesee Region, swimming
  • Kyle Zimmerman, Alexander, Genesee Region, swimming
  • Ben Vacanti, Alexander, Genesee Region, swimming
  • Brandon Brown, Alexander, Genesee Region, swimming
  • Jake Rada, Byron-Bergen/LeRoy, Genesee Region, swimming
  • John Lee, Notre Dame, Genesee Region, swimming 
  • Chris Lemley, Notre Dame, Genesee Region, swimming
  • Dennis Bleier, Notre Dame, Genesee Region, swimming
  • Nate DiSalvo, Oakfield-Alabama/Elba, Genesee Region, swimming
  • Ryan Dunlap, Oakfield-Alabama/Elba, Genesee Region, swimming
  • Trent Stack, Oakfield-Alabama/Elba, Genesee Region, swimming
  • Corde Smart, Oakfield-Alabama/Elba, Genesee Region, swimming
  • Michaela Austin, Byron-Bergen, Rochester Winter Track League, indoor track
  • Marissa Dispenza, Batavia, Rochester Winter Track League, indoor track
  • Kaylee Cassidy, Batavia, Rochester Winter Track League, indoor track
  • Joe Allegue, Batavia, Monroe County Division III, wrestling
  • Noah Dobbertin, Batavia, Monroe County Division III, wrestling
  • Reese Morrow, Batavia, Monroe County Division III, wrestling
  • Trevor Rittersback, Batavia, Monroe County Division III, wrestling
  • Tristan Aldinger, Alexander, Genesee Region, wrestling
  • Matthew Gaiser, Alexander, Genesee Region, wrestling
  • Dan Khomitch, Byron-Bergen, Genesee Region, wrestling
  • Hunter Taylor, Byron-Bergen, Genesee Region, wrestling
  • Chad Toal, Byron-Bergen, Genesee Region, wrestling
  • Adam Walter, Byron-Bergen, Genesee Region, wrestling
  • Alan White, Byron-Bergen, Genesee Region, wrestling
  • Nick Young, Alexander, Genesee Region, wrestling
  • John Lauricella, Le Roy, Livingston County, wrestling
  • Thatcher Mowry, Le Roy, Livingston County, wrestling
  • Ben Piazza, Le Roy, Livingston County, wrestling
  • Dane Heberlein, Alexander, Division II, Wrestler of the Year*
  • Nick Gaiser, Alexander, first team, wrestling

Notre Dame beats Lyndonville 4-3

By Howard B. Owens

Notre Dame came from behind to beat Lyndonville 4-3 at Dwyer Stadium on Thursday.

Top photo: CJ Souzzi is out at home trying to score the team's fifth run after Larry Infantino had crossed the plate a moment before on Peter Madafferi's double.

Here's Coach Mike Rapone's game summary:

Tyler Prospero pitched six strong, scoreless innings to pick up the win in relief of starter Casey Midwick who left with tightness in his pitching arm as ND rallied to win 4-3. Prospero's line was 6 innings, 2 hits, 0 runs, 6K and no walks. Lyndonville's had a 3-run first on a Brandon Schoolcraft RBI double and Eric Nease's 2-run triple. The Irish responded with two first inning runs on Mike Falitico's RBI groundout and Michael Muehlig's 2-out RBI single. They tied it in the fifth when Cal Tygart tripled to deep center and scored on another Mike Falitico RBI groundout. The winning run was scored by Larry Infantino, who walked, moved to second on CJ Suozzi's single and scored on Peter Madafferi's RBI double.

Dispatchers recognized for dedication to service

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

April 13 – 19 is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office recognizes and commends the County’s 9-1-1 dispatchers for their dedication, professionalism and commitment to public service.

9-1-1 dispatchers are there 24/7,365 days a year for first responders and the public in time of need. Many people don’t think about these seemingly nameless, faceless individuals until they experience actual emergencies themselves. In many instances, 9-1-1 dispatchers make the difference between life and death.

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office recognizes these public safety professionals who have worked so hard during this past year. Every day, citizens depend on the skill, expertise and commitment of the 9-1-1 dispatchers. They are the first to take that phone call, the first to provide basic life support in a medical emergency, and also dispatch needed fire, police or EMS responders for the call. They are to be recognized and commended.

Springtime in and around the wetlands

By JIM NIGRO

Pussy willow, one of the earliest harbingers of springtime and perhaps the most short-lived. Within a couple days the catkins will turn yellow and flowery in appearance.  

Oxbow marsh on Oak Orchard Wildlife Management Area. A stopover for both migrating and nesting waterfowl.

Phragmite reflections on the surface of a vernal pool. How long the water lasts here depends on the seasonal rainfall. But the creatures whose procreation depends on such a pool are great barometers and get things under way accordingly. Wood frogs, spring peepers and salamanders are among the visitors who come here to breed.

A late afternoon sun illuminates the trees along Oak Orchard creek on a calm spring evening. Though placid-looking, the water level is presently well above normal as is the current.

Pussy willow stands out in contrast against background evergreens.

GO ART! searching for new executive director, deadline to apply is Friday, April 24

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council -- GOART! -- seeks an energetic, organized, communicative manager for a two-county regional arts council. The deadline for applicant submissions is Friday, April 24.

The person selected will be responsible for:

  • Staff of two full-time and three part-time employees;
  • Annual budget of $338,000;
  • Working collaboratively with county and municipal government agencies;
  • Writing and supervising grant applications and projects, including approximately $138,000/year of New York State Council on the Arts regrant funds;
  • Working with a diverse clientele including other arts organizations (historic preservation, music, visual and performing arts), individual artists and groups;
  • Administering an Historic Landmark facility in Downtown Batavia, New York and seven local and regional galleries;
  • Supervising GOART! sponsored and/or based events including annual July 4th “Picnic in the Park";
  • Working with a volunteer Board of Directors, currently 11 members representing both counties;
  • Leads development and fundraising efforts including locating possible sources of funds.

Candidate submissions must include:

  1. Letter addressing why the candidate would be a good choice for GOART! (Please see the GOART! Executive Director Job Description on the GOART! Web site at http://www.goart.org/news/)
  1. Résumé.
  1. Two (2) Reference Letters (may not be from a relative of the candidate) – at least one (1) Reference Letter must be from a community leader, an educator, or a person working in the artistic community.

If submitting electronically, submit all documents in .pdf or .docx format to:

GOARTDirectorSearch@gmail.com

If submitting via U.S. Mail, mark envelope as Confidential and mail to:

Executive Director Search Committee

GOART!

201 E. Main St.

Batavia, NY 14020-2205

Attn.:  Diana Kastenbaum – Search Committee Chair

ALL SUBMISSIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED OR ELECTRONICALLY SUBMITTED BY FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015

Kiwanis members ready to cook up a heaping helping of spaghetti and meatballs

By Howard B. Owens

Members of the Kiwanis Club of Batavia are inviting you to the club's annual spaghetti and meatball dinner from noon to 3 p.m., April 26 at the YWCA, 301 North St., Batavia. Tickets are $7 per person and available at the door.

Pictured are club members, from left, Shannon Ford, Jeanne Walton, Anne Bezon, Patti Pacino and Theresa Asmus.

Feds raid vapor shop on Ellicott Street for allegedly selling fake products

By Billie Owens

An E-cigarette/vapor retail shop at 327 Ellicott St. was raided this afternoon by agents of Homeland Security who had a search warrant for counterfeit E-cigarettes. The shop is across from Hutchins Street in the City of Batavia and has no business name on the outside of the building. The feds are investigating the alleged sale of E-cigarettes made in China but marketed under a competitive brand name.

UPDATE: The business name is A Plus Vapors.

UPDATE: Here's a New York Times piece on China's booming electronic cigarette manufacturing business, including counterfeits.

UPDATE 4:34 p.m.: After initially being told by a federal authority that details would be available later, we're now told the search warrant is still under a court-ordered seal and no more information will be released. We'll continue to try and find out what we can.

Grant moves forward to assist p.w. minor's plans to move jobs from China to Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

The first of the necessary paper is being pushed to move jobs from China to the p.w. minor shoe factory in Batavia with the Ways and Means Committee approval yesterday of a resolution to accept a $750,000 grant from the state to assist the company's local expansion.

The county must accept the grant, which passes through the Genesee Gateway Local Development Corp. (a branch of Genesee County Economic Development Center), which will become part of a grant and deferred loan program for p.w. minor.

The grant was approved by Empire Development Corps after the agency encouraged p.w. minor to apply for the grant.

The application pledges 80 new local jobs added over a two-year period, but p.w. minor is planning to transfer a total of 100 jobs over time from China to Batavia.

The LDC will package the $750,000 with $125,000 loan from LDC funds to assist p.w. minor in buying shoe-making machinery.

Mark Masse, VP of business development for GCEDC, laid out the terms of the resolution for members of the Ways and Means Committee, who recommended approval of the resolution to the full County Legislature.

Andrew Young, one of the co-owners the New p.w. minor, is also a member of the Legislature, and while he attended Wednesday's meeting, he was not present during the discussion of the resolution.

Young and local entrepreneur Peter Zeliff, purchased p.w. minor after the previous owners announced plans to close the plant, thereby saving dozens of local jobs at Batavia's oldest, continuously running business.

County legislator expresses opposition to proposal for hunting in county park

By Howard B. Owens

A proposal to allow limited deer hunting this fall in the Genesee County Park won't get the unanimous support of county legislators.

Legislator Mike Davis said during the Ways and Means Committee meeting that he can't support the proposed local law change that will make the hunt possible.

He said he was concerned about the safety of other park users during hunting season.

"If the park were completely closed to all but hunting, then I'm in, but without that I just can't support it," Davis said.

The committee the voted with the one dissenting vote to recommend passage of the local law to the full Legislature.

Davis was recently appointed to the Legislature and represents the Darien and Pembroke areas of the county.

Under terms of the proposal, bow hunting will be confined to 12 zones along the southern border of the park. While the hiking trails will be open, hunters are being told to stay clear of trails and be courteous of others using the park.

Hunters will be selected through a lottery Sept. 15, following a Sept. 11 deadline for applications, which open Aug. 17.

Two zones will be set aside for youth and disabled veterans, and young hunters and disabled veterans will be given priority over hunters from outside Genesee County.

In all, 48 hunters will be selected to receive permits for the four-week season, which runs from Oct. 19 through Nov. 15.

School board looking at offering bus rides to city students who live further from schools

By Jess Wheeler

The 157 city school students who live more than a mile and a half from their schools could soon have the option of riding a bus.

Currently, bus transportation isn't offered to students who live within the city boundaries, but the proposal should change the policy.

The district contracts with Student Transportation of America for bus transportation. Under the proposal, BTA will conduct two pick-ups and two drop-offs at designated locations in the city.

Currently, the buses only do one run and pick-up all of the kids on the first pass. 

“We’re paying for time that we aren’t using,” Business Administrator Scott Rozanski said.

The Board was hopeful that the change for transportation would solve concerns that have been raised.

“This would limit the number of students who have to walk well over two miles,” Rozanski said. “They could just walk to their pick-up and then come directly to the high school."

“Ideally, no student will have to walk more than half of a mile to their pick-up destination,” Superintendent Christopher J. Dailey added.

Safety would increase due to less traffic on State Street. Attendance at the high school is expected to improve during the winter when parents might keep their kids at home in bad weather.

The transportation change will be conducted within the parameters of the current contract with Student Transportation of America. There will be no additional cost to the budget or the taxpayers.

The Board of Education thanked Rozanski for his effort to solve the transportation issue Batavia High School has had for several years.

The proposed increased transportation will be added to the ballot which goes to voters on May 19.

Law and Order: Two teens arrested after officers respond to report of marijuana ordor in apartment

By Howard B. Owens

An 18-year-old Le Roy resident and a 17-year-old Le Roy resident are charged with endangering the welfare of a child and unlawful possession of marijuana. Le Roy PD responded to a report of the smell of marijuana in an apartment. After a brief investigation, officers concluded the youths possessed and smoked marijuana in the apartment while two youths under age 17 were present. The 18-year-old was jailed on $500 bail. Le Roy PD did not release the names of either individual.

Christopher E. Merrell, 53, of Bergen, is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation, 2nd, no seat belt, inadequate exhaust, illegal window tint and unlicensed operation. Merrell was stopped by State Police on Route 98, Alexander.

Drug Task Force announces three arrests

By Howard B. Owens

Three people have been arrested as the result of two separate investigations into the illegal sale of narcotics in Genesee County.

In the first investigation, arrested were Sege D. Kalmbacher, 39, of Overlook Drive, Batavia, and Paula R. Kalmbacher, 43, of Overlook Drive, Batavia.

Sege is charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 5th, and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 5th. Paula faces one count of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd, and one count of criminal possesison of a controlled substance, 3rd.

Both are accused of selling a controlled substance to agents of the Local Drug Task Force.

Sege was arrested Friday and jailed on $10,000 bail. Paula turned herself in Monday and was released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

In the second investigation, arrested was Cynthia C. Richardson, 35, of Maple Street, Batavia. 

Richardson is charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 5th, and criminal possession of a controlled substance, 5th. 

She is accused of selling a controlled substance to an agent of the Local Drug Task Force.

She was arrested at the courts facility and jailed on $10,000 bail.

Interagency Council sponsors basket raffle

By Steve Ognibene

Wednesday at T.F. Brown's, Batavia, was the Genesee County Interagency Council sponsored a "Cabin Fever Reliever" Basket Raffle.  

"Our goal is to raise funds to support local college scholarships for students entering the fields of: sociology, psychology, social work or human services," said Heather Bell, a social worker with Catholic Charities.  

Applications have gone out to local high schools and are due back by June 1. Contact Lisa Whittmeyer, Scholarship Chair at Community Action 343-7798.  

More than 50 baskets were offered and there was a 50/50 drawing and grand prize -- overnight package with dinner for 2 at Russell's and Salvatore's in Buffalo.

The mission of the Genessee County Interagency Council is to create fellowship and understanding among community human services agencies. The council helps to identify community issues and encourages development of resolutions.

Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/geneseeorleansinteragency

Pictured above from left is: Heather Bell, social worker with Catholic Charities; Karen Hall, coordinator of Financial Management of Lifespan of Greather Rochester; Stephanie Urena, outreach specialist of United Health Care. Pam Case, PathStone family self-sufficiency manager, and Michele Lawson, support coordinator of Care-A-Van Ministries.

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