A woman driving a sedan, trying to park in a handicapped space at the mall downtown, accidently hit the gas pedal and plowed into a transformer unit that is screened off by bricks. The impact damaged the unit. As a result, there's a power outage on the block, including JCPenney. The driver appears to be uninjured but authorities on scene are having her remain inside her car until National Grid arrives to be sure there are no live power lines that could harm her.

UPDATE 12:09 p.m.: National Grid is on scene. The woman was allowed to get out of her car and she walked to the ambulance so medics could evaluate her.

Batavia Girls Varsity Swim Team had its second meet on the road versus Letchworth Wednesday night and captured first place in eight of 11 events. Batavia came up 11 points short at the end the night 92-81.

Eighth-graders Maiya Reinhart and her teammate Norah Janes are pictured above. Maiya came in first place in the 100-meter fly at 1:05:75; Janes came in second with a time of 1:14:17. Norah also came in second in the 200 IM, time 2:45:70

Photo below is of Batavia sophmore Elle Fulton in the 500 freestyle. She came in first, time 6:26:09. Elle also came in second in the 50 freestyle, time 27:88.

Junior Natalie Amico took first place in the 100-meter freestyle 1:01:19 and also the 100-meter backstroke, pictured below, with a time of 1:12:03.

In other events, eighth-grader Anna Amico took first place in the 200 IM and third place in the 100-meter breaststroke. Batavia captured first place the 200 meter free relay with teammates Maiya Reinhart, Norah Janes, Alea Delong and Natalie Amico.  

The team won the 400-meter freestyle relay led by Elle Fulton, Alea Delong, and sisters Natalie and Anna Amico. In the same event, Batavia took fourth place led by Laura Guiste, Lexi Hoerner, Julie Caceres and exchange student Lucila Zane.

Batavia's next match is home today at Genesee Community College versus Wilson Magnet at 4:30 p.m.

For more stats and team schedule go to: www.section5swim.com

Some 100 veterans and family members departed from the Batavia Downs parking lot this morning with Assemblyman Steve Hawley and his staff for Hawley's annual Patriot's Trip to Washington, D.C.

A possible house fire is reported at 1 Jerome Place in the city. A caller at Tully's restaurant reports seeing smoke coming from the structure. City fire is responding. The location is between Prune and East Main streets.

UPDATE 6:23 p.m.: Somebody was grilling food in the yard. The assignment is back in service.

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported at 380 Council House Road, Basom. A male is inside the vehicle, possibly unconscious. Alabama Fire Department is responding along with Mercy medics. The location is just southeast of Lone Road.

UPDATE 5:01 p.m.: Mercy Flight responded to the scene.

UPDATE 5:04 p.m.: The helicopter has arrived and is preparing to land. The victim is a 59-year-old male who was unrestrained in the vehicle at the time of the crash and is now semiconscious.

UPDATE 5:07 p.m.: Mercy Flight has landed.

UPDATE 5:54 p.m.: The driver hit a tree stump and the vehicle overturned. He was taken by helicopter to ECMC primarily as a precaution. Charges are pending. The assignment is back in service.

A two-car accident with injuries is reported at 2023 Indian Falls Road, Corfu. At least one of the vehicles hit a tree. The location is between Airville and North Pembroke roads. East Pembroke Fire Department is responding along with Mercy medics. Three ambulances are called in.

UPDATE 4:30 p.m.: A landing zone is being established for Mercy Flight.

UPDATE 5:01 p.m.: One person was transported to ECMC by Mercy Flight for precautionary reasons. Two others were transported to ECMC by ground ambulances. A fourth person is being evaluated at the scene.

UPDATE 5:11 p.m.: A spokesman at the scene said both vehicles involved are 2007 Honda Accords. One is gray and the other is black. Both drivers were male and each had one female passenger. The gray car was eastbound on Indian Falls Road and attempted to turn left into a driveway. It was struck by the westbound black Honda. The officer said the driver of the gray car will probably be cited for failure to yield the right of way.

Press release:

Beginning Thursday, Oct. 1, ALDI, the nation’s low-price grocery leader*, will offer grocery shoppers a smarter alternative as the select assortment discount grocer reopens two Buffalo-area stores, located at 587 E. Main St. in Batavia and 1900 Ridge Road in West Seneca. Known for its premium ALDI exclusive brands, ALDI offers high-quality grocery items at incredibly low prices.

To celebrate the reopening of the newly renovated Batavia and West Seneca stores, ALDI will host ribbon-cutting ceremonies at each store at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1. The public is invited to attend. Customers can also tour the store, receive free eco-bags and enter an on-site sweepstakes for a chance to win a year’s supply of ALDI produce. ALDI currently carries more than 90 varieties of fruits and vegetables, including several organic produce items.

“We are pleased to showcase the new look of ALDI with these updated stores in Batavia and West Seneca and continue to help customers stretch their dollars,” said Aaron Sumida, Tully division vice president for ALDI. “As important as price is, there’s only one way to attract and keep shoppers: You have to have quality products. When people try our ALDI exclusive brands, they are excited by the savings and impressed by the quality.”

With higher ceilings, improved natural lighting and environmentally friendly building materials – such as recycled materials and energy-saving refrigeration and light bulbs – the stores will offer customers a simple and easy-to-navigate shopping experience.

In addition to the stores’ new looks, ALDI will bring shoppers a wide range of new, healthier options like organic produce, USDA Choice beef and the SimplyNature line of products, free of artificial colors, flavors or unnecessary enhancers. ALDI also recently introduced its liveGfreeTM gluten-free product line.

ALDI challenges customers to switch from national brands to its exclusive brands and save up to 50 percent** on more than 1,300 items the store carries. To ensure its exclusive brands meet or exceed the national brands on taste and quality, ALDI conducts rigorous testing on all products. ALDI stands behind this quality with a Double Guarantee: If for any reason a customer is not 100-percent satisfied with a food product, ALDI will gladly replace the product and refund the customer’s money.

ALDI exemplifies efficiency by eliminating overhead costs through smart practices, such as a cart rental system through, which shoppers insert a quarter to release a cart and receive the quarter back upon the cart’s return. Other cost-saving practices include a smaller store footprint, open carton displays and encouragement of customers to bring their own shopping bags.

ALDI also saves shoppers money by keeping stores open during prime shopping times. The remodeled locations will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. ALDI accepts cash, debit and EBT/Quest cards.

Over the next several years, ALDI plans to add an average of 130 new stores each year, expanding the ability to bring grocery savings to more people every day.

Press release:

The City of Batavia Fire Department joins the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Council (GTSC) to commemorate National Child Passenger Safety Week (Sept. 13-19).

Safety seats, if used correctly, can dramatically reduce the risk of fatality or injury to children involved in car crashes. Therefore, even if you think you have your child in the right car seat, you should check again to be sure, as the latest data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that approximately 59 percent of car seats are misused. Furthermore, in 2013 more than one-third of children killed in car crashes were completely unrestrained – meaning that they were not in car seats, booster seats or wearing seat belts.

Child Passenger Safety Week is a nationwide community effort sponsored by NHTSA to provide education on how to use car seats, booster seats and seat belts for children. The week concludes with National Seat Check Saturday on Sept. 19th, when certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians across the country will be available at local car seat inspection stations to offer advice and instruction to parents and caregivers about choosing the right car seat for their child, the importance of registering car seats with the manufacturer, and what to expect if the seat is subject to a safety recall.

The City of Batavia Fire Department will be hosting the National Seat Check Saturday event on Saturday, Sept. 19th from 10 a.m. to noon at the City of Batavia Fire Department (18 Evans St.). The event will be held rain or shine. Nationally Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will be on hand to ensure the proper installation and use of child safety seats.

The difference between the six-foot limit on a fence in the Town of Stafford and the actual height -- whatever it is -- of the fence James Pontillo built on his property is enough to reduce the sunlight falling on the neighboring building, according to Stafford's Zoning Board of Appeals.

That's based on science, said Chairwoman Crista Boldt.

Sort of.

"If we had a scientist come in and measure the amount of daylight that's given to that property next door it would make a difference, just like people in Wyoming when they measured when they put wind towers in Warsaw and they studied how the flicker effect would affect the house, because of the rotation of the Earth and the sun orbiting the Earth it would affect it," Boldt said, "the amount of light."

The reduction of light -- however much that might scientifically be -- would create an "undesirable change," according to ZBA board members.

For that, and other reasons we'll get to, the ZBA voted unanimously to deny Pontillo an area variance for his fence.

An area variance is a tool in New York code enforcement guidelines that gives local officials the ability to allow property owners to make physical changes to structures and property that might otherwise be prohibited by law.

There are five criteria zoning boards use when deciding whether to grant an area variance.

They are:

Whether an undesirable change will be produced in the character of the neighborhood or a detriment to nearby properties will be created by the granting of the area variance. 

In this case, the ZBA found the extra foot, two feet or three feet -- depending on who is doing the measuring and where -- would mean less light would reach the neighboring property.

Whether the benefit sought by the applicant can be achieved by some method, feasible for the applicant to pursue, other than an area variance. 

Yes, the board found Pontillo could build a six-foot-high fence. That would block people in cars and most people standing from seeing over the fence. As for Pontillo's stated goal of building a deck on the back of his building, which is part of the historic Four Corners District, well, Pontillo hasn't even applied for a permit for it, so Boldt indicated she wasn't interested in considering it as a criterion on this point.

Whether the requested area variance is substantial.

As a matter of measurement then -- depending, again, on who is doing the measuring and where --  the extra height, as a matter of percentages, is from 15 to 30 feet higher than the six-foot fence Pontillo could build without a variance.

Whether the proposed variance will have an adverse effect or impact on the physical or environmental conditions in the neighborhood or district.

James Balonek piped up on this one and said yes, because of the sunlight and the airflow.

The reason for denial Boldt wrote down on the ZBA's form was because granting a variance could impact future decisions of the board and reduce the ability of the code enforcement officer to enforce the law.

Whether the alleged difficulty was self-created, which consideration shall be relevant to the decision of the board of appeals, but shall not necessarily preclude the granting of the area variance.

Boldt read the objection and immediately said it was because Pontillo built the fence. Then she wanted to know from the code enforcement officers when they issued a stop-work order to Pontillo. That led to a discussion with Pontillo and his attorney about the timeline of events.

According to attorney Peter J. Sorgi, Pontillo sought a variance for a fence, was denied, decided to build a different fence and was told by town officials that a fence of six feet or less didn't require approval or permits, so that's what Pontillo set out to build. When the fence, which is in plain view of Town Hall, was nearly complete, Pontillo received a stop-work order and immediately complied.

That's a set of facts nobody in the room explicitly disputed.

Boldt wrote on the ZBA form that the difficulty was self-created.

When Boldt first started going through the criteria, Balonek raised the first objection and said the requested variance would create an undesirable change because it goes against code.

Sorgi pointed out, "that's why you have variances." By that definition, he said, no variance would ever be granted.

Boldt told Sorgi, "We've been trained that it's extremely hard to get a variance."

Press release: 

The New York State Department of Transportation today announced the bridge that carries Route 20 over Oatka Creek in the Town of Pavilion, Genesee County, is being closed for repairs today, Sept. 16, while bridge workers make repairs. The bridge is expected to reopen by Friday, Oct. 2.

The structure is located about a half mile west of Route 19.

A detour will be posted using State Route 19 and State Route 63.

This bridge is being closed following a recent inspection that identified significant steel deterioration.

A caller reports a group of men going door-to-door on Lewiston Road claiming to be a construction crew with leftover asphalt they're looking to unload.

We first reported similar activity involving a group of Gypsies hitting the area in 2010.

The men are reportedly in a white pickup truck and moving in the direction of the city.

A trooper has been dispatched to check the "suspicious condition."

A caller on Washington Avenue in the city just reported that a black male attempted to enter the house via a kitchen screen door. He fled, leaving the door open, and got on a dark-colored bike and was heading toward Dellinger Avenue. He is described as black male, mid-30s, wearing dark clothes and a baseball cap. Police are responding.

Taken this morning from Assemblyman R. Stephen Hawley Drive, just off the Genesee Community College campus.

A construction crew working at 20 Maple Ave. in the Village of Le Roy accidently struck a gas line, causing it to leak and it is hissing. Rochester Gas & Electric Co. is on scene for repairs. Le Roy Fire Department is there, too, and now an engine from Pavilion is also requested to the scene. The gas line affects natural gas service to several homes.

Press release:

YWCA of Genesee County is calling upon former Buffalo Bills Special Teams player Steve Tasker to help kick off this year’s annual Stiletto & Sneaker Walk. He will give opening remarks, go on the walk and be available for a meet-and-greet session afterward.

The walk is set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1 at YWCA, 301 North St. The walk is $10 and free for children up to 12.

YW Executive Director Jeanne Walton wanted to incorporate schools, especially athletics, into this year’s events as a fresh way to approach an old and ugly topic. Her main impetus was a well-publicized domestic violence incident by a National Football League player last year, and the lack of response by League officials.

It was an opportunity to turn a negative event around by fully addressing the topic of domestic violence, Walton said.

“Unfortunately, I really didn’t see that happen. So I thought on a local level we could do something in a very special way, and primarily through athletics," she said. "Steve Tasker has been a strong voice of the NFL for many years, both as a player and now as a sportscaster, and he seemed to be a great fit as spokesperson for this important topic.”

Tasker’s appearance is part of a collaboration between Genesee Community College and YWCA. GCC plans to bring more than 200 athletes to participate in this Domestic Violence Awareness Month event as part of the state’s requirements to provide related education.

“We’re excited. Last year the student athletes had a good time,” GCC Dean of Students Jennifer Newell said. “The importance of this topic goes beyond the college campus. I think we’ve got a nice partnership going.”

The college campus, and all nine school districts from Genesee County, are helping to push a YW initiative of #Thurple, a reminder to wear purple, the signature color of domestic violence awareness, on Thursdays throughout October.

The college and many area high school football and other sports teams will also be wearing purple socks during the month as a visual display in support of healthy relationships.

“Because domestic violence is not just a women’s issue, we want the support of men and women alike," Walton said.

Sometimes people living in the middle of a domestic situation don't even recognize that it's atypical from healthier surroundings, said Notre Dame High School Principal Wade Bianco.

That's one reason why he feels strongly that his school should be part of October's events.

"If you tell all the kids that this behavior is not normal, it shouldn’t be happening, then they know what to look out for. It’s good to teach them what’s right and what’s wrong,” Bianco said.

He and leaders of Alexander, Batavia, Byron-Bergen, Elba, Le Roy, Pavilion, Oakfield-Alabama and Pembroke have agreed to support the cause by wearing purple socks and clothing, hosting YW staff for a related assembly, painting pinkies purple, going on the annual Stiletto & Sneaker Walk and/or other activities as ways to raise awareness that domestic violence exists.

Purple socks will be available for purchase at the walk. Other awareness events include YW’s yearly Community Harvest Supper, a showcase of local agriculture’s finest, from 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 1 at YWCA and Kickstands Up for Domestic Violence Prevention at 1 p.m. Oct. 3 at Stan's Harley-Davidson on West Saile Drive.

The supper is $8 and the motorcycle ride is $15 for the driver and $10 for passenger, and includes a meal afterward. All proceeds will go to YWCA's Domestic Violence Crisis & Prevention Services programs.

For information or tickets, call (585) 343-5808.

The Town of Stafford Zoning Board of Appeals meets tonight to discuss the fence James Pontillo erected on his property.

The board's regularly scheduled meetings are for the third Monday of the month. This month, that should have been Sept. 21, but we've been informed the meeting has been moved to 7 o'clock tonight.

Related: after last night's Stafford Town Board meeting, the board passed a resolution authorizing town attorney Kevin Earl to take all steps necessary to enforce code compliance issues against James Pontillo. The resolution retroactively approves any actions taken by Earl.

Here's a PDF of the full resolution.

Mark your calendar: the 12th annual Fur Ball to benefit the Volunteers for Animals -- Spay/Neuter Program will be held starting at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Days Inn in Batavia, located at 200 Oak St.

Expect great food, lots of fun, quality auction items and some surprises, too!

Tickets are $25 each, but $50 if purchased the day of the event. Children 12 and under pay $15. A table of 10 seats is $250. Only 200 tickets are available.

Make checks payable to the Volunteers for Animals -- Spay/Neuter Program.

The volunteers and event coordinators are accepting NEW items for the auction. You can drop them off at the animal shelter on West Main Street Road during adoption hours, or drop them an e-mail if you need them picked up. (www.vol4animals.com)

Adoption hours are:

• Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Friday -- 1 to 3 p.m.
• Wednesday -- 1 to 3 p.m. and again from 7 to 9 p.m.
• Saturday -- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Closed Thursday

All of those trees that were trimmed by contractors for National Grid that have been called mangled and butchered will be removed, says City Manager Jason Molino.

They will be cut down, the stumps ground down to sawdust and new trees -- trees that won't grow as tall and cause problems with power lines -- will be planted in their place.

"I think we have a wonderful partnership with National Grid and how that's demonstrated is the fact that we've been able to work out an arrangement that we can partner with them to remove some of these trees," Molino said after Monday's City Council meeting.

Smoking is reportedly coming from the roof of a residence at 27 W. Main St., Le Roy, between Craigie and Clay streets. Le Roy Fire Department is responding along with a ladder truck from Bergen.

UPDATE 4:53 p.m.: A crew from Pavilion is requested to stage in its hall.

UPDATE 5:24 p.m.: Fire Police are requested to shut down traffic at westbound Route 5 at Route 19.

A little more than a year ago, Batavia PD installed a surveillance camera on State Street near Hutchins Place, but Chief Shawn Heubusch said that a year's worth of use hasn't produced enough data to say if it's worthwhile for the city to invest in more such cameras for other locations.

There have been no criminal convictions resulting in use of the camera.

"A lot of times we look back and review footage and see if somebody is involved or not involved (in an incident)," Heubusch said. "It's always good to take a look back when you have video evidence of something."

Heubusch wouldn't reveal whether the camera's feed is regularly monitored, if whole periods of time are regularly reviewed, or if it's only reviewed in the case of specific incidents reported.

Making light of his reluctance to discuss that point, he said, "I don't know if I want to give any secrets away."

The camera was installed in August 2014 because that particular area had been a source of numerous calls for police service in the proceeding months.

Asked if he'd like more cameras, Heubusch said, "we're still evaluating this one."

"It's been up about a year," Heubusch said. "I don't know if that's the perfect time frame for an evaluation period. If it proves its worth, then yes."

The department also has available for patrols a number of body cameras, but not enough for every officer to wear them on every shift.

While body cameras have been touted in the national debate over police conduct, Heubusch said that's not why he wants his officers to wear them.

"The whole premise for my bringing body cameras to the City of Batavia was to collect evidence," Heubusch said. "It wasn't to monitor my officers. I don't think they need that. What it (the camera) does is collect evidence that can subsequently be used at trial or a proceeding so the officer's recollection is always there. You have it in black and white."