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Staff changes announced for the District Attorney's Office

By Howard B. Owens

District Attorney Lawrence Friedman officially announced two personnel changes in his office that will take effect Jan. 1.

William G. Zickl has tendered his resignation to take a position as court attorney in the Genesee County Court under Charles Zambito, the new judge. Zickl has been an assistant district attorney for 29 years.

Shirley A. Gorman will join Friedman's staff as an ADA. Gorman has more than 30 years experience in criminal law.

Batavia Downs to host Turkey Drive next Thursday

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

Officials from Western Region Off-Track Betting Corporation (WROTB) have announced that the organization will hold its annual Turkey Drive to benefit local families on Thursday, Dec. 22nd. The drive will take place in the Batavia Downs parking lot, located at 8315 Park Road in Batavia, from noon to 3 p.m.

“Batavia Downs is thrilled to lend a helping hand during a holiday time that is filled with need from the hungry in our community,” said Henry F. Wojtaszek, president and CEO of WROTB. “The Batavia Downs Turkey Drive is our way of showing our appreciation for what we have by giving back to others.”

While donations of any size turkey are welcome, those who donate a turkey of 10 pounds or heavier will receive a $20 gift certificate to Batavia Downs’ restaurants and a Batavia Downs Made in America T-shirt.

Turkeys collected will be distributed to families in need in Genesee County and surrounding areas.

“Everyone should have the chance to gather around a warm meal for the holidays,” Wojtaszek said. “As part of this community, we have a responsibility to help those in need. We’re proud to be able to bring this food drive to the community and help those who are less fortunate.”

Holiday donations pouring in at Byron-Bergen

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

The Byron-Bergen Central School District community has been doing an amazing job of providing assistance to our families during the holidays for years.  The B-B community members, administrators, faculty, staff and students donated toys and games, clothing items, rolls of wrapping paper, boxes for wrapping gifts, and more than 1,000 non-perishable food items.

In addition to the items above, close to $3,500 was donated by the community, administrators, faculty, and staff so we could purchase gifts for families in need from our school district. Other area businesses helped out by “adopting” families/individuals to get gifts for.

All the food items will be picked up by the local Hesperus Lodge No. 837 Free & Accepted Masons for sorting and packing into close to 100 food baskets for local families (as they have done for many, many years), with several community, Board of Education, and school district employees pitching in to help.  Sponsors of this holiday good will were organized by Hesperus Lodge No. 837 Free & Accepted Masons and coordinated by Dick Sands; and include the faculty, staff, and students of Byron-Bergen CSD; the Byron-Bergen community members, and area businesses.

Food baskets and gifts will be delivered on Saturday, Dec. 17, by the Masons and school volunteers. All involved truly believe in the magic of the holiday season!

County passes contentious budget, but future budget challenges lay ahead

By Howard B. Owens

Along the way to settling on a 2017 county budget, the process wasn't without a bit of acrimony, but looking forward to future budgets, there may only be more pain ahead.

The County Legislature passed its budget last night, 7-2. It raises county property taxes to $10.07 per thousand of assessed value, creating a property tax levy of $28,699,115. The increase required the Legislature to vote to override the state's 2-percent cap on an increase of the levy.

Legislative Chairman Ray Cianfrini said he thought his colleagues could have done better and voted against the budget, which takes effect Jan. 1. 

"The county manager presented us with a proposed budget that used reserves to decrease the tax rate and keep us under the tax cap," Cianfrini said. "Now, we are rejecting it for a budget with an increase in the tax rate and that goes over the cap. I think we could have done better."

John Deleo also voted no. (Corrected)

The budget County Manager Jay Gsell presented in October took $1 million from the reserve fund and redirected $1 million in anticipated sales tax revenue that would typically go into the long-term capital project fund and cut the tax rate to $9.79.  

A report earlier from County Treasurer Scott German stated that if the county continued on the same path it had for the past eight years, of spending about $2 million in reserve funds per year, the county would be broke within five years.

That particularly concerned legislators Andrew Young and Bob Bausch and they initially pushed for a budget that took nothing from reserve funds. The problem they ran into: the Legislature couldn't find $2 million in spending to cut without cutting essential services, such as law enforcement; and they were no more happy with the idea of a tax rate approaching $10.50.

The compromise a draw on reserves of only $500,000, but that lowered the rate to only $10.25, so the legislators met again to try and find more spending cuts. They invited in Undersheriff William Sheron (the next sheriff), Public Defender Jerry Ader and District Attorney Lawrence Friedman to discuss cuts.

Out of that, the Sheriff's Office still gets its two new corrections officers, which will help save the overtime costs associated with deputies transporting female prisoners between courts and jail facilities in other counties, and Ader keeps his caseworker, which helps ensure criminal defendants meet their obligations, but Friedman won't get to promote ADA Melissa Cianfrini to his first assistant.

He's been without a first assistant for six years and the discussion over the promotion became contentious, with both Ray Cianfrini, Melissa's father-in-law, and Friedman suggesting that the reason some on the legislature didn't want to give her a raise is because she's a woman.

That suggestion didn't go over well with members of the Legislature, particularly Bausch, who pointed out he has three daughters, including one who is an attorney.

Future budget years don't promise to get any easier for a county that has already been through years and years of spending cuts, eliminating more than 100 jobs, keeping management pay about 95 percent of market value, delaying maintenance on infrastructure, reducing spending on support agencies, selling the nursing home and holding off on building a new jail.

All this in an environment where the state continues to mandate increases in spending -- this year, for example, forcing the county to increase the salary of the district attorney -- and a new White House administration that promises to eliminate the Affordable Health Care Act.

That, Gsell said, "will render asunder state and county budgets."

The AHC required the county to take on more Medicaid expenses, mainly by ensuring more people who are qualified for Medicaid are receiving Medicaid. The number of people locally who are enrolled in Medicaid has gone from 8,800 to 12,200.

The county's share of the expense is now $178,000 per week.

That expense won't be reduced if the AHC is repealed because the people currently receiving Medicaid will still be eligible for Medicaid, but the federal government's share of the expense, which flows through the state to the county, will be reduced.

That's a mandated expense the county can't legally avoid.

And the increase in enrollment is not without its benefits, Gsell said. It helps control expenses because people are in managed plans and are not relying on emergency rooms for their medical care.

And the fight continues with the state over other mandated costs. The state recently increased the standards for indigent legal defense and with the changes, there was supposed to be relief from the $1.2 million in county expense, but the bill that would make that change has lingered on the governor's desk.

That will be a topic of discussion next week, Gsell said, when representatives from all 52 counties in the state meet for their annual convention.

Meanwhile, work has already begun on the request of legislators to come up with a five-year plan for the county. There is a template recommended by the Comptroller's Office and the county's auditors for five-year planning, Gsell said, and staff has already started working through it.

That plan will set priorities, provide a framework and anticipate contingencies that may help with future budget discussions.

Also, last night, Cianfrini announced that discussions have begun at the most preliminary stages with Orleans County about building a regional jail.

Employees at Liberty Pumps really get into Christmas decorating contest

By Howard B. Owens

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It was supposed to be a just a little Christmas decoration contest with the loser buying the winner pizza, but both the order processing department and the technical customer service department at Liberty Pumps in Bergen have gone full Clark Griswold this year.

"I'm sure the money spent individually by these Liberty members is way more than free pizza," said Laurie Pfaff, who sent in the pictures.

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Reader weather photos

By Howard B. Owens

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If you have a weather photo you want to share with the community, email it to howard@thebatavian.com.

The first two are from Brandi Kaplun.

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From Michael Dirham at Z&M Ag & Turf in Oakfield.

Closings and cancellations for today

By Howard B. Owens

Closings and cancellations for Thursday, Dec. 15:

  • Message from Mark Alexander, superintendent of Oakfield-Alabama Central School District: "Due to our current and anticipated weather conditions school will be closing today. Elementary students will not be picked up and middle/high students will be bused home as soon as possible. I apologize for the late notice, but the conditions are not expected to improve."

Email closings and cancellations to howard@thebatavian.com

T-Bone accident reported on Route 262 in Bergen

By Howard B. Owens

A T-bone accident with airbag deployment is reported on Route 262 at Jerico Road in Bergen.

Unknown injuries.

Bergen fire along with Bergen's ambulance and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 8:03 a.m.: An Oakfield chief is on scene indicating extrication will be needed, but minor injury.

Travel advisory issued for Genesee County

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

The Genesee County Sheriff's Office has issued a travel advisory for all of Genesee County. Current and forecasted weather conditions consisting of steady snow, along with strong winds, have caused whiteout conditions that have contributed to numerous motor vehicle accidents and stranded vehicles on roadways. Motorists are strongly encouraged to avoid any unnecessary travel until weather conditions subside.

Undersheriff William A. Sheron, Jr.

UPDATE: The travel advisory was lifted at 2 a.m.

Photos: Winter blast hits Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

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A full-on winter storm has hit Genesee County with bitter cold and heavy snow.

Top photo, Jackson Street.

Send your snow storm photos to howard@thebatavian.com.

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Cornell Cooperative Extension on East Main.

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Jackson Street.

Cancellations and schedule changes

By Howard B. Owens

Email cancellations and schedule changes to howard@thebatavian.com.

  • Oakfield-Alabama Central School District has canceled school and evening activities.
  • The Genesee County Animal Shelter is closed this evening due to weather.
  • All afternoon and evening activity is canceled with Batavia City Schools.
  • St. Joe's Evening Christmas for tonight is canceled. It is rescheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 20th at 6:30 p.m.
  • Pavilion Central School District has canceled school and evening activities due to weather.

In cold weather, Salvation Army ready to provide shelter if needed

By Howard B. Owens

Temperatures tonight are expected to dip as low as 10 degrees, and in each of the past two winters, a group of volunteers has created a warming shelter for anyone who might need a warm bed for a night like this, but this year, shelter will be provided on a case-by-case basis.

Last year, a local church provided the shelter, but a church secretary referred us to the Salvation Army and the Salvation Army referred us to Tim Yaeger, emergency management coordinator for Genesee County.

Yaeger said he and officials at the Salvation Army discussed options and the best course -- given the low demand for beds in cold weather locally, and with limited staff available -- is to respond to requests for shelter rather than keep a shelter open all night.

If anybody finds themselves without shelter at night, they should either call emergency dispatch or go to the nearest fire hall. That will trigger officials to contact the Salvation Army to assist that person or group of people with finding a safe place for the night. 

The local Salvation Army doesn't have the staff available to specifically keep a shelter open all night, but staff is always on call and available to assist anybody with an urgent need for shelter, Yaeger said. 

During the weekdays, the Salvation Army at 529 E. Main St., Batavia, is open for anybody who needs assistance.

In the past, the shelters have been barely used, if used at all. People living in the area who may lack permanent housing seem to be able to find a friend or family member to stay with in cold weather.

There is a lake effect snow watch in effect now until 1 a.m., Thursday. Storm totals of 5 to 10 inches of snow are expected in the region. Winds will reportedly be 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph, creating blowing and drifting snow and low visibility.

Law and Order: Central Avenue resident allegedly caught going through cars on Pearl Street

By Howard B. Owens

Melissa R. Piazza, 27, of Central Avenue, Batavia, is charged with trespass. Piazza was allegedly found going through vehicles on Pearl Street at 1:23 a.m., Dec. 2.

Victor D. Albert, 55, of Clinton Street, Buffalo, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Albert was charged after police were called to Batavia Downs at 1:34 p.m., Sunday, to investigate an incident and Albert was allegedly found in possession of marijuana.

Joshua Micheal Bratcher, 26, of Fargo Road, Bethany, is charged with obstructing governmental administration and unlawful possession of marijuana. Bratcher was arrested after Batavia PD was dispatched to the area of 17 Central Ave. for a report of several people fighting.

Woodrow C. Horseman, 40, of South Main Street, Batavia, was arrested on two warrants. The warrants stem from charges of petit larceny and criminal trespass in two separate incidents. Horseman was jailed on $5,000 bail.

Darrell Smith, 49, of Pearl Street, Batavia, is charged with failure to pay fine. Smith turned himself in on a warrant.

Jacklyn M. Ganzhorn, 29, of Central Avenue, was arrested on a warrant. Ganzhorn was arrested when located on Alva Place for alleged failure to appear in court. Ganzhorn was held on a bail.

Nikki L. Stonebraker, 28, of Liberty Street, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant. 

Joshua A. Porter, 19, of Bank Street, Batavia, is charged with unnecessary noise. Porter is accused of hosting a loud party in his residence, which was reported at 12:06 a.m., Dec. 8.

Cheryl M. Lyons, 51, of Tracy Avenue, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant. Lyons is accused of violating terms of probation. She was arraigned and jailed.

Joey A. Evans, 26, of Hutchins Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property, 5th. Evans allegedly possessed property stolen from another individual.

Jaylyn S. Strong, 21, of Holland Avenue, Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, driving a vehicle without stop lamps, aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd, and unlicensed operator. Strong was stopped at 10:40 p.m., Dec. 1, on East Main Street, Batavia, by Officer Chad Richards.

Robert S. Sodja, 52, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Sodja was arrested on a warrant.

Harry T. Gibson, 52, of West Main Street, was arrested on a warrant. Gibson is charged with petit larceny. Gibson was sentenced in City Court to six months in jail, to run concurrent with a sentence out of Town of Batavia Court.

Bradley R. Jordan, 23, of Colby Road, Darien, is charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, 3rd. Jordan allegedly entered and started a vehicle that didn't belong to him at 6:55 p.m., Nov. 16, at 4 Treadeasy Ave., Batavia.

Martin F. Jones, 45, of State Street, is charged with petit larceny. Jones allegedly stole a phone from a residence on State Street at 9:30 p.m., Nov. 27.

Andrei Peter Sliker, 25, of Hutchins Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. Sliker was allegedly found in possession of cocaine and buprenorphine during at traffic stop initiated by Deputy Eric Meyer at 7:45 a.m. Dec. 23, 2015 on Route 5 in Stafford.

Amandarae L. Moore, 29, of Route 31, Albion, was arrested on a warrant. Moore is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation in the Town of Elba.

Pembroke travels cross-county to get win over Byron-Bergen

By Howard B. Owens

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Pembroke beat Byron-Bergen in a home game for the Bees last night, 55-46.

Olivia Kohurst scored 14 points for the Lady Dragons, with six coming off a pair of three-pointers. Mackenzie Jurek had 11 and Mackenzie Johnson, who also had a pair of three-point buckets, had 10.

For Byron-Bergen, Karson Richenberg had 11 points, Dana VanValkenberg, nine, Jenna Amesburg, nine, Hailey Hubbard, eight, and Kelsey Fuller, seven. VanValkenberg and Amesburg each hit three-point shots.

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Ranzenhofer seeks support for ridesharing in Upstate New York

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

State Senator Michael H. Ranzenhofer has started a new petition for residents to urge Governor Cuomo and members of the State Legislature to expand ridesharing services, such as Uber and Lyft, to Upstate New York.  The petition is available online at ranzenhofer.nysenate.gov.

“While New York City residents are able to enjoy ridesharing services, Upstate New Yorkers have been left behind. Expanding access to these transportation companies is long overdue,” Ranzenhofer said. “Working together, we can send a strong message: give the green light to ridesharing in Western New York. I encourage residents to express their support for this legislation by signing my petition.”

Currently, transportation network companies operate only in New York City.  Senator Ranzenhofer has co-sponsored (S.4580A) and voted for legislation (S.4108D) to make these transportation services available across the entire state.

“New York has repeatedly stood in the way, whether by over-regulation or outright banning, of professional services that are legal and available in most states and cities across the nation. There is no reason why residents, from Rochester to Buffalo, should be prevented from requesting an Uber when they could easily do so in Boston, Cleveland and Milwaukee,” Ranzenhofer said.
 

Duo accused of stealing pit bull from animal shelter after lengthy search in the woods off Quinlan Road

By Howard B. Owens
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   Giancarlo Miranda      Haleigh Ogden

After a search of the woods last night in the area of Keeney Road and Quinlan Road, Le Roy, two suspects in a series of incidents were located and arrested.

The call to police started with a report to Le Roy PD of suspicious activity at the Kwik Fill in Le Roy, followed by the report of an accident on Keeney Road at about 10:13 p.m.

Two people were seen fleeing into a wooded area.

Deputy Ryan Young along with the K-9 patrol led by Livingston County Deputy Michael Wade responded and started a search. 

Also assisting were other Le Roy PD officers, local deputies, troopers and State Police aviation.

After a lengthy search, the suspects were located and identified as Haleigh I. Ogden, 18, of East Avenue, Batavia, and Giancarlo A. Miranda, 18, of Clipnock Road, Stafford.

During the course of the investigation, Ogden and Miranda were identified as suspects in a burglary that occurred sometime between Dec. 8 and 9 at the Genesee County Animal Shelter. A pit bull was stolen from the shelter. 

Last night, they were found in possession of the pit bull.

Both were charged with burglary, 3rd, and jailed on $15,000 bail each.

The pit bull was returned to the animal shelter.

(initial report)

Stolen truck recovered, but four wheelers still missing

By Howard B. Owens

A truck that was stolen from a location on Route 77 in Darien yesterday was recovered overnight on Route 219 in Erie County, along with the trailer that was hitched to it carrying two brand new Polaris 450 four-wheelers.

But the two four-wheelers are still missing, according to Chief Deputy Jerome Brewster.

If anybody has information that may assist in the investigation, call (585) 343-5000.

Here's how you can maybe win a $100 gift card to Valle Jewelers

By Howard B. Owens

Yesterday, we launched our new local business promotion site, ShopLocal.TheBatavian.com.

One of the first features we added to the site (there are more to come) is a way for you to post recommendations for your favorite local businesses. Recommendations are a great way for you to help spread the word about your favorite local businesses and encourage your friends, family members and neighbors to give these businesses a try.

If you post a recommendation on ShopLocal.TheBatavian.com in the next week, you will be entered into a drawing for a free $100 gift certificate to Valle Jewelers. In fact, it gets better: the more recommendations you post, the greater your chance of winning because you get one ticket in the drawing for every recommendation you post.

This contest will end the morning of Dec. 21. That gives you a week to post as many recommendations as you can and get as many chances as you can to win a $100 gift certificate to Valle Jewelers.

No purchase necessary. Employees of The Batavian are excluded from the drawing.

To post a recommendation, you need to register on the site. Here's the easy part: if you've already registered for Deal of the Day, just use your same email and password to sign in.

Lake effect snow watch issued for Wednesday afternoon

By Howard B. Owens

From 5 to 9 inches of snow is expected to hit the area on Wednesday, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a lake effect snow watch starting Wednesday afternoon and lasting into the night.

Winds will blow at 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph, producing significant blowing and drifting snow.

Hazardous travel conditions are predicted.

The forecast confidence is rated as medium. 

"There remains some uncertainty with respect to the intensity of the lake effect snow band," the weather service said.

Possible burglary thwarted in Quinlan Road area of Le Roy, suspects flee on foot

By Howard B. Owens

Deputies are looking for possible burglary suspects in an area north of Quinlan Road in Le Roy.

The suspects may have tried to flee in a vehicle and it either crashed or they abandoned it and ran into the woods.

There are reportedly two males and a female.

A neighbor has also pursued them into the woods, according to dispatchers.

A K-9 unit from Livingston County is requested to the area to assist in the search.

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