Press release:

Genesee County 4-H is now accepting new 4-H members (ages 5 to 19) and volunteers through Oct. 30. 4-H is a year-long educational program which runs from Oct. 1st until Sept. 31st.

Clubs typically meet once a month and each club focuses on different projects throughout the year. Clubs and projects range from hands-on hobby-crafts, raising and showing livestock, gardening, robotics and much more! Genesee County 4-H youth are offered a wide range of educational experiences through a dedicated group of volunteer leaders. Through these experiences, 4-H encourages strong character traits like a sense of community, hard work and confidence.

Recent findings from Tufts University's 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development indicate that young people in 4-H are three times more likely to contribute to their communities than youth not participating in 4-H. Notably, the Tufts research discovered that the structured learning, encouragement and adult mentoring that 4-Hers receive play a vital role in helping them actively contribute to their communities. In Genesee County, more than 200 youth and 60 volunteers are involved in 4‑H.

The enrollment fee for Genesee County residents is $25 per youth or $50 per family (2 or more youth in 4-H program). If you would like more information about how to join 4-H in Genesee County or becoming a 4-H volunteer, please call the 4-H Office at 585-343-3040, ext. 101, or stop by the Genesee County 4-H Office located in the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County building at 420 E. Main St. Batavia. The office is open 8am- 5pm, Monday through Friday.

The 4-H Youth Development team can be reached by e-mail at genesee4h@cornell.edu and more information is also available on our Web site: genesee.cce.cornell.edu/genesee4h

Press release:

Benjamin Lindke, 41, and his wife, Molly Lindke, 42, both of Lake Street Road in Le Roy were sentenced  in Genesee County Court today (Sept. 10) as a result of their guilty pleas on July 13 to a single count of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree, a Class E felony.

Benjamin Lindke was sentenced to five years of probation and 100 hours of community service; and Molly Lindke was sentenced to five years of probation. They will also be disqualified from the SNAP (Food Stamp) program and they were ordered to pay $6,048 in restitution to the Genesee County Department of Social Services.

In November, Benjamin Lindke and Molly Lindke were both charged with five first-degree counts of offering a false instrument for filing and one count of third-degree grand larceny. The charges were filed after it was discovered that the couple had submitted various recertification forms to the Department of Social Services and failed to report Benjamin Lindke’s income from his employment and his receipt of Unemployment Insurance Benefits.

Anyone wishing to report suspected cases of Welfare Fraud in Genesee County can contact the Genesee County Department of Social Services Fraud Investigation Unit at (585) 344-2580, ext. 6417 or 6416. All calls are confidential.

I'll be in Rochester this evening to participate in the 13WHAM news department's town hall discussion on Common Core, the national education initiative focusing on state-by-state standards to "prepare America's children for college & career."

The event will be broadcast live from The Strong National Museum of Play in Downtown Rochester and available streaming on the station's mobile app and at 13WHAM.com.

The Batavian is an official news partner of 13WHAM, and like the other partners, will be asking questions and posting on Twitter about the discussion. You can follow my tweets at @howardowens.

The event starts at 7 p.m.

Officials with O-AT-KA Milk Products and Upstate Niagara Cooperative broke ground on a new warehouse expansion this morning at the company's plant off Ellicott Street, Batavia.

Participating in the top photo are Steve Hyde, Ray Cudney, Steve Golding, Bill Schreiber, Dan Wolf, John Gould, Dave Nutting and Mike Patterson. Second photo: Upstate's Board of Directors.

"This is an important day for the growth of the dairy industry in Western New York," said Wolf, a member of the cooperative's Board of Directors. "The 360 farms that I represent depend on this business and we're not going anywhere. This is our roots and we'll be here. We will continue to grow and develop here in Western New York, and (to) create jobs and so forth that go with that is critical to us."

Press release from Finger Lakes Economic Development:

Empire State Development today announced that O-AT-KA Milk Products Cooperative, Inc., a dairy cooperative based in Batavia, will be expanding their warehouse and material handling functions at their Batavia site. O-AT-KA is majority owned by Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc., headquartered in Buffalo and also by Dairy Farmers of America, a cooperative with a strong presence in Central NY.

O-AT-KA helps to ensure there is a market for milk produced by more than 400 farms in the Western, Finger Lakes and Central NY regions. A new warehousing facility and equipment room will allow the cooperative to continue to grow its production and create 24 new full-time positions within three years, raising total employment to more than 350 positions.

“We consider this project to be a game changer,” said Michael Patterson, O-AT-KA’s chief financial officer. “This not only enables us to meet our immediate needs but positions O-AT-KA for growth into the future. Three factors driving this initiative are worker safety, food quality and operational efficiencies. These three legs of the stool will be the backbone supporting O-AT-KA’s continuing growth here in New York State.”

The economic support and assistance from local and state agencies were critical factors in undertaking this project. New York State, through Empire State Development, will provide a $400,000 capital grant to assist in bringing off-site warehousing back on site by building a 195,000-square-foot warehouse and a 35,000-square-foot equipment room to their existing facility.

The company will also purchase new material handling equipment and repurpose existing equipment. The new space will afford the company more efficiency, provide safety for workers, and allow for cost savings, thereby boosting their competitive edge in the market place.

The growth of on-site warehousing also enables the company to grow its production of shelf-stable, dairy-based beverages. O-AT-KA has a goal of increasing its export business by 10 percent over the next several years, which will result in approximately 25 percent of the total production being exported.

As the No. 1 manufacturing employer in Batavia, O-AT-KA strives to foster productive, long-term relationships with their employees. The cooperative, which produces dry, condensed and evaporated dairy products, was established in 1959 with five employees and has grown to 332.

“Agricultural and food processing has been identified as one of the top Finger Lakes REDC strategies,” said Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Howard Zemsky. “The O-AT-KA project aligns with the council’s goal to optimize business retention and expansion, and support the growth of food-processing companies in the region.”

“This commitment by New York State to O-AT-KA demonstrates Governor Cuomo’s support of economic development in Upstate New York and in particular to the agribusiness industry in Genesee County,” said Paul Battaglia, chairman of the Genesee County Economic Development Center. “We look forward to continuing working with New York State on other economic development opportunities."

"O-AT-KA has played a major role in our local economy for decades. Now, expansion plans, along with 24 new jobs, will help to secure the cooperative's presence in Batavia for years to come. I commend O-AT-KA CEO Bill Schreiber for selecting Genesee County to invest and grow," said State Senator Michael H. Ranzenhofer.

“I am pleased to see the growth and expansion of an important Western New York agricultural staple such as O-AT-KA. As a small business and farm owner for over four decades, I realize the integral part O-AT-KA plays in New York’s dairy industry and Western New York’s economy. Having grown up in Batavia, I have seen the company grow from just a few employees to over 300 people – truly epitomizing the American dream of entrepreneurship. As lawmakers we must continue to protect small businesses such as these and take measures to grow New York’s economy,” said Assemblyman Steve Hawley.

There are primary elections in Genesee County today. All of the primaries are among Republicans.

City of Batavia:

• City Council Ward 1: Paul Viele vs. Kris Doeringer
• City Council Ward 2: Richard Richmond vs. John Canale

Bergen:

• Town Clerk: Michele Smith, Vicky Truax and Connie VanHoute

Bethany:

• Highway Superintendent: Norm Fleming vs. Joel Merle

Byron:

• Town Supervisor: Gerald Heins vs. Peter Yasses
• Town Council: John Sacket, James Cudney and Alfred Klycek (two seats)
• Highway Superintendent: Brian Forsyth vs. Davi Leaton

Pavilion:

• Town Supervisor: Theron Howard vs. Gary Knepshield
• Town Council: Kevin Clary, Dean Davis, John Rudgers and Donald Carney (two seats)
• Highway Superintendent: Steven Thompson, Joel Offhaus and Ronald Zarbo

If you're unsure of your polling place, the county elections office can be reached at (585) 815-7804.

The woman accused of driving drunk, leading to a fatal collision in Bethany in February, has successfully completed a round of alcohol dependence treatment, her attorney told Judge Robert C. Noonan in County Court this morning.

Attorney Benjamin Bonarigo asked Noonan to release Hannah Dibble under supervision of Genesee Justice for a couple of days while she awaits placement in another treatment program.

Assistant District Attorney William Zickl said the people were willing to go along with that request.

Noonan was less sanguine.

"I apparently have more misgivings than the people," Noonan said. "Given the short time she was on RUS when she had a very serious violation, at least given the circumstances of the case, I was inclined to keep her in jail for a couple of days until a bed-to-bed transfer to Horizon was available."

Dibble will be allowed to stay at her parents' house until admitted to Horizon, but Noonan warned her that it was a 24/7 house arrest.

"If you are even on your front lawn and you are seen, you will go back to jail," Noonan said.

He told the attorneys, "I hope this doesn't result in a violation because it would be an indication she is not a candidate for anything other than long-term incarceration (if convicted)."

Bonarigo said the other members of the Dibble household have agreed to have no alcohol in the home while Hannah Dibble is staying at the residence.

In July, a Genesee County Grand Jury handed down an 11-count indictment on Dibble, including counts of manslaughter in the second degree, vehicular assault in the first degree, three counts of assault in the second degree, three counts of vehicular assault in the second degree, and two counts of DWI.

Her friend, Alyson D. Krzanak, 18, of Corfu, died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. Suffering serious physical injuries in the collision Feb. 21 were James Scherer, 21, Brandon Danser, 22, and Felecia J. Fazzio, 20.

The time in rehab has given Dibble great insights, Bonarigo said. He said she and her family wanted to see her continue in-patient treatment because she's made good progress.

"She's making significant strides in treatment and we hope to see her continue in that direction," Bonarigo said.

Press release:

On Saturday, Oct. 24th, the Batavia Cemetery Association will host a candlelight guided ghost walk through the Historic Batavia Cemetery on Harvester Avenue in Batavia. The tours will feature the famous and infamous movers and shakers who shaped and influenced the City of Batavia.

The guided tour will bring guests to meet men and women of Batavia, who, for various reasons, held great power and exerted great influence in their day, were victims of tragic events, or both: Philemon Tracy, one of the few Confederate officers buried in the North; Ruth, the unknown victim of a horrendous murder; Joseph Ellicott, a man of great power and great flaws; and William Morgan, the man who disappeared and was allegedly murdered before he could reveal the secrets of the Masons, are some of the ghosts who will tell their stories on the tour.

Tours begin at 7 p.m. and run every fifteen minutes until 8:30 p.m. Admission is $10 and includes refreshments. Tickets are available at the gate the day of the event at Historic Batavia Cemetery, Harvester Avenue, Batavia. Reservations are suggested. Proceeds benefit the upkeep and restoration of the cemetery.

For more information, or to make reservations, contact 343-0248. Join us for some spooky fun!

A two-car accident with one minor injury is blocking traffic at 3565 Batavia Oakfield Townline Road, just east of Lewiston Road. Oakfield Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. A responder on scene said "Looks like a rear-end collision."

UPDATE 9:33 a.m.: A patient is being transported to the hospital in Lockport.

Smoke is coming from an electrical outlet inside the Byron Arrowmart, 6890 Byron Holley Road. The convenience store has been evacuated. Byron Fire Department is on scene. South Byron, Bergen, Town of Batavia's Fast Team, and a fill-in crew from Elba were also initially dispatched. Once command was on scene the other responding units were put back in service.

UPDATE 5:48 a.m.: Responding units back in service.

Public Notice:

Please take notice that the Public Hearing that was scheduled to be conducted by the East Pembroke Fire District and to be held at the St. Maximillian Kolbe Hall, located at 8656 Church Street, East Pembroke, NY 14056 on Wednesday September 16, 2015, is cancelled until further notice.

An elevator alarm is sounding for a person stuck in the elevator at 400 Towers, located at 400 E. Main St. in the City of Batavia. City firefighters are responding.

A circuit breaker is reportedly smoking in the basement of a residence at 123 Myrtle St., Le Roy. Le Roy fire and ambulance are responding along with a ladder truck from Bergen.

UPDATE 7:15 p.m.: National Grid is called to the scene.

A preliminary report from the Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office indicates the driver involved in a double fatal accident on Sackett Road, Bergen, on Aug. 23, was not intoxicated, said Chief Deputy Gordon Dibble.

The driver, Dylan Starkweather, 22, of South Fancher Road, Holley, and Tracy Manchester, 31, of Lomond Shore, Kendall, both died in the accident.

The accident remains under investigation. Typically, fatal accident reports can take months to complete, and it could be some months before a full toxicology report is available from the ME's office.

There was fog in the area at the time of the accident, which occured in the area of an S-curve. A passenger who survived the crash Joshua Deyager, 23, of Jerico Road, Bergen, reportedly told investigators that he saw a deer in the roadway prior to the accident. 

Starkweather's Mini Cooper exited the roadway along the south shoulder, flipped over and struck a tree. Both Startweather and Manchester were declared dead at the scene.

The three people were reportedly returning from the Livingston County Fair.

Previously: Car accident with three possible injuries reported on Sackett Road, Bergen

New signs are going up today on the Hess station at the corner of Oak and Main streets, Batavia.

The gas station and convenience store will now be known as Speedway.

The changeover is part of a massive rebranding effort at all Hess locations. The Hess chain of 1,250 convenience stores and gas stations was purchased by Marathon Petroleum Corp. for $2.82 billion a year ago and Speedway is the current Marathon brand for its stores.

From a trade publication:

“Speedway continues to make excellent progress transitioning its new retail locations to the Speedway brand,” he said (Gary R. Heminger, CEO and president of MPC). “As of [April 30], we have converted more than 400 stores, including 260 completed during the first quarter.

“This rapid pace of store conversions contributes to our confidence that we will achieve the synergies and marketing enhancements we expect as we integrate this business. … I'm very pleased with the progress that they're making, both in getting the stores converted, and secondly, the inside sales results bump that we're starting to see.”

Describing the process, Heminger said, “The comprehensive transition for each store not only includes the changing of signs and canopies, but it's a complete system changeover, which includes the backoffice, point-of-sale and inventory control systems, as well as integration of the Speedy Rewards Loyalty Program.”

Press release:

The Genesee County Youth Bureau has begun planning for year 11 of our AmeriCorps program, which starts Oct. 1. Agencies in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties use AmeriCorps members for a variety of projects. Assignments vary by site but all fall under the general categories of healthy futures fitness and nutrition education for youth, environmental stewardship education for youth and adults and capacity building through volunteer recruitment and expanded use of technology.

Members serve at a variety of non-profit agencies. Organizations currently looking for members are the Le Roy Christian Community Project, Jackson Elementary School, Orleans County Cooperative Extension, Gillam-Grant Community Center, Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council, Orleans County Soil & Water Conservation District, Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern and the Batavia Youth Center. Sites are still being recruited so other options may be available in the near future.

AmeriCorps members must be at least 17 years old and a U.S. citizen. There is no upper age limit. Members agree to complete a specific number of service hours over a fixed time frame, which cannot exceed 12 months. Three different levels of part-time participation are offered: 900 hours, 450 hours or 300 hours. Members earn a modest living allowance while serving. Living allowance amounts for 2015/16 are: $6,000 (900 hours); $3,000 (450 hours); and $2,000 (300 hours).

At the conclusion of the service term, members also qualify for an education award grant. The education award can be used to cover future college costs such as tuition and books or to repay any federally-backed student loan. Members have seven years after their service ends to spend the education award. Education award amounts for 2015/16 are: $2,865 (900 hours); $1,515 (450 hours); and $1,212 (300 hours). Members age 55 or older when they begin service can transfer the education award to a child or grandchild.

AmeriCorps is a great way to give something back to your community, earn some money, help pay for your college education and gain practical work experience. Please contact Kathy Frank at 585-344-3960 or Kathy.Frank@co.genesee.ny.us or further information or to request an application. The application can also be downloaded from the Youth Bureau page on the Genesee County Web site: www.co.genesee.ny.us.

John W. Walsh, 32, of Oak Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief, 3rd. Walsh is accused of using a hammer to smash his apartment door, door frame, a closet door, a window frame and window blinds, causing more than $1,000 in damage. Walsh was jailed without bail. Walsh was also arrested on an open container/consuming alcohol in a public place charge for allegedly drinking alcohol on the playground at Austin Park.

Regina M. Iannello, 55, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Iannello is accused of striking her estranged husband multiple times following a verbal argument in a parked car at a location on South Main Street, Batavia.

Penny S. Hofert, 49, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Hofert is accused of shoplifting at Dollar General.

Stacy L. Massaro, 48, of Whittler Road, Rochester, is charged with petit larceny. Massaro allegedly stole at least four packages of cookies, 11 bags of chips and salt/pepper shakers from the Homestretch Grill at Batavia Downs.

Daniel Delplato Jr., 60, of Chandler Avenue, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd, disorderly conduct and violating an order of protection.  Delplato is accused of being involved in a domestic dispute over several days.

Steven Charles Coons, 44, of Slyton Road, Port Byron, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th, and attempted petit larceny. Coons was arrested on a warrant during a traffic stop in Syracuse. Coons was jailed in Genesee County on $5,000 bail.

A three-vehicle collision with injuries is reported at Lewiston and Knowlesville roads. One of the vehicles is a semi-truck. This is possibly a head-on collision. Alabama fire and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 7:52 a.m.: Oakfield Fire Police are requested to shut down westbound Lockport Road at Lewiston Road.

UPDATE 9:08 a.m.: Sheriff's Deputy Lonnie Nati on scene said a red Suburu was northbound on Knowlesville while a gray car was eastbound on Lewiston. The red car blew through the intersection and T-boned the gray car, he said. The driver is a woman from Albion who told responders she didn't know there was a stop sign there. The gray car then ricocheted into a tractor-trailer which was westbound on Lewiston. The red car then careened into the trailer portion's rear axle. The impact ruptured its fuel tank, spilling fuel about a 10th of a mile down the road and into the creek. DEC is en route to the spill. The trailer was loaded with 60,000 pounds of concrete, stone and sand. The gray car had a passenger who was transported to UMMC. The driver of the red car went by private vehicle to a hospital. The driver of the semi was not injured.

A dump truck fire is reported in the area of 3189 Route 5, between Hopkins Road and Batavia Mobile Home Park, East Pembroke.

East Pembroke fire is responding.

UPDATE 9 p.m.: Town of Batavia is requested for traffic control to shut down westbound traffic at Wortendyke Road.

UPDATE 9:03 p.m.: Fire is out.

UPDATE 9:04 p.m.: Town of Batavia can go back in service.

UPDATE 9:51 p.m.: East Pembroke back in service. Truck has been moved.

Press release:

Genesee Community College welcomes nominations for SUNY recognition -- the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching.

Faculty, staff and students and members of the community may submit nominations for the award. Nominations can be made online at http://guides.genesee.edu/AdjunctChancellorAward. All nominations must be submitted by Sept. 18.

For many years, outstanding full-time college faculty and staff have been recognized with Chancellor's Awards for Excellence. These system-level honors acknowledge superior professional achievement and encourage the ongoing pursuit of continuous academic excellence. The program underscores SUNY's commitment to sustaining intellectual vibrancy, advancing the boundaries of knowledge, providing the highest quality of instruction and serving the public good.

SUNY seeks to provide such recognition to adjunct professors and instructors who, nationwide, make up more than half of all college faculty. Though they may not hold a permanent position at a particular academic institution, SUNY seeks to recognize these educators who perform superbly in the instructional environment, demonstrating mastery of teaching techniques and employing policies that adapt readily to student needs, interests and problems.

"This award marks an important expansion of the Chancellor's Award program to recognize excellence in teaching among adjuncts at the graduate, undergraduate and professional level," said Elizabeth Bringsjord, SUNY interim provost and executive vice chancellor. "With this new award category, we now have the opportunity to appropriately recognize dedicated adjunct faculty whose accomplishments rise to the level of the stated award criteria."

Honored in 2015 with the SUNY Adjunct Chancellor's Award were Timothy M. Palmer and Joyce A. Chizick. Palmer, an adjunct instructor of History, has been with the College since 1992 and Chizick, an adjunct instructor of Art and Business, began teaching at GCC in 2000.

Nominees must be teaching at Genesee Community College in the Fall 2015 semester. Nominations must include a statement explaining why the candidate is worthy of the Chancellor's Award, how that person meets the criteria listed above and the nominator's contact information in case of questions.

Questions should be directed to Prof. Derek Maxfield, selection committee chairperson at (585) 343-0055, ext. 6288, or via e-mail: ddmaxfield@genesee.edu.