There were about 20 Memorial Day events in Genesee County today. Here are photos from four of them: Services at the NYS Vets Home, the Upton Monument and parades in Batavia and Corfu.
And Ken Mistler's giant flag on the Carr's building.
To purchase prints of photos, click here.
Photo: Submitted by Jason Smith; Matthew Smith places a flag at the grave of his great-grandfather, Harold Smith, who served in World War II in the Navy.
There are eight Memorial Day parades in Genesee County today:
Elba is holding a ceremony at Maple Lawn Cemetery at 10 a.m.
The county's veterans groups started a series of services that will be ongoing throughout the morning beginning at 7 a.m. at the Genesee County Park. At 8 a.m., there will be a service at Williams Park at the World War I Memorial; at 8:30 a.m. at the Batavia VA Center; at 8:45 a.m. at the NYS Veterans Home; at 9:30 a.m., at the Upton Monument; at 10 a.m. at the Harvester Avenue Plot; at 10:30 a.m. at the UMMC Jerome Center; at 11:30 a.m., the Glenn S. Loomis Grave at Elmwood Cemetery; and at noon at the Hansen Brothers Grave, Grandview Cemetary.
Bryan McWayne Hargrave, 26, of Morrow Road, Pavilion, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property, 3rd. Hargrave was reportedly found in possession of a vehicle and tools that had been reported stolen in Le Roy on Saturday. Hargrave was jailed on $20,000 bail.
Woodrow Clarence Horseman, 37, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Horseman was allegedly caught shoplifting at Kmart.
Beth M. Overacker, 34, of North Chili, is charged with operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs, aggravated DWI (child in car), endangering the welfare of a child, controlled substance not in original container and criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. Overacker was stopped at 11:53 a.m., Saturday, on R. Stephen Hawley Drive, Batavia, by State Police. Overacker was held on bail. No further details released.
Jason W. Lebar, 27, of Stafford, is charged with illegal discharge of a firearm and criminal possession of a weapon, 4th (prior criminal conviction). Lebar was arrested by State Police in connection with an alleged incident reported at 7:08 p.m., Saturday. No further details released.
The following people were arrested by members of the Genesee County Sheriff's Office during the Tim McGraw concert at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on Sunday.
Michaelk P. Sobolewski, 19, of Edward Street, Lancaster, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and alcohol after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana and alcohol being under age 21.
(name redacted upon request), 23, of Covell Road, Brockport, is charged with trespass after allegedly refusing to leave the concert venue.
Mitchell G. Wilkinson, 20, of Willow Woods, Alden, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.
Devin M. Karnath, 17, of Seneca Street, West Seneca, is charged with harassment, 2nd, after allegedly punching another concert patron.
William R. Briggs, 20, of South Main Street, Wayland, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.
Kyle G. McCarthy, 21 of Gordon Avenue, Lancaster, is charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and trespass after allegedly reentering the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return several times and then resisting arrest.
Lacey M. Soro, 16, of Tuscarora Road, Niagara Falls, is charged with harassment, 2nd, after allegedly striking a security guard several times.
The following people were issued citations for allegedly possessing alcohol under age 21.
Leanne M. Webb, 16, of Bartlett Road, East Aurora
Kennedy M. Weltjen, 16, of Waverly Street, Springville
Jordan M. Napierala, 20, of Nob Hill, Rochester
Danielle P. Dolegowski, 19, of Stolle Road, East Aurora
Daniel J. Harrington, 19, of South Transit Road, Lockport
Alexa M. Mina, 19, of Park View Drive, Pittsford
Taylor L. Clark, 17, of Langer Place, Webster
Kala M. Wilkins, 19, of Simsbury Lane, Pittsford
Tyler D. Piscitello, 19, of Liebler Road, Boston
James S. Tam, 20, of Wood Run Rochester
Kyle J. Callea, 18 of Quail-Run Lane, Lancaster
Karlie J. Johnson, 19 of South Portage, West Field
Kelly N. Crouch, 17, of Lancer Court Depew
Matthew J. Dunne, 20, of Carmen Street, Amherst
Alexander G. Moore, 19, of Comstock Road, Lockport
Ridge A. Hawk, 20, of Whitetail Drive, Marilla
Adam D. Ostrowski, 18, of Canwell Street, Lancaster
Jacob D. Radka, 16, of Kibbe Avenue, Batavia
Allison L. Stock, 17, of Bennett Road, Angola
Megan M. Crowley, 19, of Abbey Road, Whitesboro
Marisa C. Coleman, 20, of Obrien Road, Rome
Marisa N. Scozzaro, 18, of Willow Ridge Lane, Lancaster
Jacqueline L. Porreca, 18, of Southpoint Drive, Lancaster
Eric R. Schlegel, 20, of Southpoint Drive, Lancaster
Jennifer M. Jankowski, 20, of Fruitwood Terrace, Williamsville
Laura A. Dilts, 19, of Route 96A, Romulus
Jeremiah W. Tomion, 19, of Ferguson Corners Road, Penn Yan
Samantha E. Demmerley, 19, of Lakeshore Road, Derby
Nicole L. Littlejohn, 18, of Texas Street, Angola
Notre Dame's track team picked up eight titles in yesterday's Section V meet at Wheatland-Chili.
Front Row -- The girls 4x800 championship team: Abby Bleier, Shelby McGinnis, Anna Warner and Emily McCracken and discus champ Meghan Duell.
Back Row -- The boys 4x800 team Brad Misiak, Arron Carlson (also won the 400m hurdles), Jeffrey Antolos (also a 3x individual winner -- 3000m steeplechase, 1600m and 3200m) and shotput champ Rui Han.
For full meet results, click here.
Photo and info submitted by Bare Antolos.
A reader sent in this picture of country music superstar Tim McGraw from earlier today when he stopped in at Next Level Fitness to work out. McGraw is playing at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center tonight.
Batavia's Memorial Day Parade begins in the Eastown Plaza at 10 a.m.
Here's the order of parade participants and what you can expect to see:
First Division:
Second Division:
Third Division:
Fourth Division:
Fifth Division:
Sixth Division:
Seventh Division:
There's a frost advisory in effect from 1 a.m. to 8 a.m. with temperatures expected to fall to the mid to upper 30s.
The National Weather Service advises covering sensitive vegetation or bringing it inside, if possible.
A piece of farm equipment has become entangled in utility lines on Dodgeson Road, Alexander.
Three poles are down, but the lines appear to be telephone lines not power lines.
Alexander fire is on scene.
Dodgeson is being closed on Beaver Road.
UPDATE 10:24 a.m.: One pole is in the road. One secondary line going to a house is down. The rest is phone line.
UPDATE 11:39 p.m.: The Alexander assignment is in service and the road is reopened.
A horse is reportedly loose on Pratt Road.
The owner was reportedly riding the horse and the horse stopped cooperating. She's concerned it may run toward the Thruway.
A deputy is responding.
UPDATE 9:07 a.m.: Deputy on scene. Horse nowhere in sight. Caller being re-contacted.
UPDATE 9:08 a.m.: The owner and the horse are reportedly in a field behind Ridge Road Village Park.
UPDATE 9:29 a.m.: A deputy to another, "She's got that rope over it, but he's not a real willing participant."
UPDATE 9:32 a.m.: Horse re-harnessed. No further law enforcement assistance needed.
This weekend, once again, baseball teams from throughout the region are in Batavia for the 2013 Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation Tournament.
To purchase prints of photos, click here.
A proposal to create tax-free zones around SUNY campuses is intriguing to officials at Genesee Community College, according Rick Ensman, director of development and external affairs, even though it's unclear how it will all work.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the proposal a few days ago. The plan would allow any business on a SUNY campus, or in some cases, in a zone around the campus, to operate completely tax free -- including no state income tax for employees -- for 10 years.
The justification, according to Cuomo, is to spur business growth and innovation in New York.
"This is an exciting and innovative proposal," Ensman said. "It has great potential for job creation and new academic-business partnerships. We’re eager to learn about the details, and about how we can participate."
The proposal has not yet been through the legislative process. It seems to have Republican and Democratic support so far, but in the process some details could change or refined.
"As I understand the proposal, businesses would be eligible for the tax-free zone if their products or operations are related to programs of study on the campus," Ensman said. "So it’s possible that businesses related to any of our programs (e.g. technology, health care, office tech, etc.) could locate in the area."
Issues such as where businesses would be located and how they would fit into the campus, or just off campus, won't be explored until and if the proposal becomes law.
"We’re anxious to learn more about the program," Ensman said.
Press release:
Congressman Chris Collins (NY-27) honored the late John Chase, a World War II veteran from Batavia today by presenting his family members with the medals he earned in service.
“Today I am proud to pay tribute to John Chase, a man who fought for and defended the freedom of our county so bravely during World War II,” Congressman Collins said. “I am humbled to present his family with the medals he earned during his time in the Army and want to thank him posthumously for his distinguished service.”
Alongside members of the late John Chase’s family and Chairwoman of the Genesee County Legislature Mary Pat Hancock, Congressman Collins shared how John Chase was drafted into the Army, fought in the battle of Rhineland in 1945, and received a Silver Star for his actions.
As John Chase grew increasingly ill, his family reached out to Congressman Collins’ office and asked for help in securing a new medal. In the process, Congressman Collins’ office discovered John Chase also qualified for a Bronze Star, which he had never received.
“I am very proud of the sacrifice my father made to fight for his country. Replacing my father’s Silver Star and finding out that he qualified for a Bronze Star has meant a great deal to our family,” said John Chase’s son, David. “I thank Congressman Collins for helping secure the medals my father earned and for giving us the opportunity to honor his service.”
Congressman Collins honored John Chase on Wednesday by sharing his story on the floor of the House of Representatives, and thanked all of our nation’s veterans for their service.
Photos and information submitted by Steve Ognibene.
Catherine Roth gathered some local Boy Scouts from Troop #6069 this evening at the Batavia Historic Cemetery on Harvester Avenue to place new flags on veterans' gravesites.
Members in attendance were assistant scoutmasters Paul Crowley and John Petry.
Boys who assisted were: Senior Patrol Leader Alex Hansen, his Assistant Senior Patrol Leader Dominic Brown, Tyler Mann, Zachary Lovell and LJ Petry. Not pictured but in attendance was Savannah Karn from Venture Crew #164.
A car has hit a bicycle at West Main Street and River Street, Batavia.
It's believed there are injuries.
City fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.
UPATE 9:08 p.m.: City fire back in service.
UPDATE 9:22 p.m.: Mercy ambulance back in service with a sign-off.
Two home-field pitchers, two dominant performances, a pair of very similar results for Batavia and Notre Dame in Section V playoff games at Dwyer Stadium on Friday.
Behind the 15-K, two-hit performance of Zach Hale, the Blue Devils shutdown Newark 1-0.
In the night cap, Alec Covel was just as masterful for the Fighting Irish. In the process of striking out 10, Covel gave up only one hit, and that wasn't until the top of the 6th inning, leading Notre Dame to a 2-0 victory over Alfred-Almond.
Batavia Head Coach Rick Saunders said Hale pitched the game of the year.
"What a performance," Saunders said. "The whole game is Hale. He got the base hit, and then I pinch run for him, and he's the winning run."
Mike Rapone, head coach of Notre Dame, was just as impressed with the performance of Covel, who started only three games this season prior to Friday because of an injury. Both Rapone and Covel said he came into the game, fresh, strong and eager to pitch.
"He threw only 78 pitches," Rapone said. "He was pounding the strike zone. His curve ball was sharp. He's a great player. He really is."
Both Newark and Alfred are lower seed games, but in sectionals top-ranked teams are going find themselves going against the best pitcher of their opponents.
"Their kid pitch great, too," Rapone said. "That's the thing with sectionals. They've got a .500 record, but they probably won every game that he pitched and maybe they lost all the ones he didn't, so you never know what you're going to run into when you get into sectional tournament. I mean, for a nine seed, heck, that kid threw the ball well."
Saunders was equally impressed with Newark's starter.
"i don't know anything about their pitcher, but I'll tell you, he is quality," Saunders said. "He threw a real nice fastball and a sweet curve ball."
Batavia was limited to four hits, but still managed to get a couple of runners to third. It made Saunders a little nervous when his offense couldn't close the deal.
"We had our chances," Saunders said. "Those games bother me more than anything, when we see guys on third base many times, one out, and you don't score, you go 'oh-oh, something bad can happen.' Nothing bad happened because Hale was in control of the game."
Being out on the mound in a big 1-0 game is exactly where he wanted to be, Hale said.
"I usually throw better later, but especially after we got that run," Hale said. "It really gave me a boost. I'm like, hey, better close it out.
"The rush is crazy," he added. "When you're out there every batter means something. It's not like it's a 10-0 game."
Covel said he just likes to be in that commanding situation, taking control of the game.
"All of my pitches working and with the strong defense behind me, it just gives me all the confidence in the world," Covel said.
Slide show from Batavia game. To order prints, click here.
Slide show for Notre Dame game below. Click here to purchase prints.
A motor-vehicle accident is reported at Ellicott and Jackson streets, Batavia.
City fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.
There are three vehicles involved and the intersection is blocked.
UPDATE 10:28 a.m.: No injuries.
UPDATE 10:57 a.m.: City assignment back in service.
After covering Section V playoff baseball at Dwyer Stadium, I stopped in Center Street Smokehouse to warm up and found myself enjoying the acoustic duo the Steve Balisteri Band. Since I had my camera with me, I thought I'd make a couple of photos.
I'll have coverage of the baseball games in the morning. Batavia won 1-0 and Notre Dame won 2-0.
Earlier this week, we e-mailed 10 questions to Steve Hyde about the approval of the COR Development Project. Below are the questions and his responses verbatum.
Q. According to the best available information, at the time the GCEDC board passed the resolution finding that COR's project would provide goods and services not readily available, only one of the proposed tenants was known and two others were in negotiations. How can such a finding be made without a certainty as to the exact tenants? What if COR were to change the tenants to include, say, a liquor store and/or a jewelry store (two business categories well represented in Batavia)?
A. We cannot comment on private negotiations between a developer and prospective tenants. Like every project that is presented to our board, we have to rely on the information provided to us by the applicant which included a confidential disclosure of not only the known Dick’s project but two additional tenants as well. If the tenants that ultimately reach an agreement with the developer fail to fulfill the new criteria as defined by state law, we would ask our legal counsel for an opinion as to whether the applicant is living up to their end of the agreement and initiate appropriate claw backs. We are confident that COR will fulfill their obligations as they are a reputable developer.
Q. GCEDC has asserted that the COR project is bringing in retail with goods and services not readily available in Genesee County, but there's never been any specific information from GCEDC to substantiate this claim. What exactly is it about the known COR tenants that provides goods and services not readily available in Genesee County? Beyond the assertion, what are the facts to back up the assertion?
A. Again, we are relying on information provided by the applicant that the tenants both know and where private negotiations are occurring will provide goods and services that are not readily available in our community. We confident that COR will fulfill their commitments as it pertains to the GCEDC board’s finding which allows for GCEDC participation in the project under the retail exception as a part of the new state law.
Q. Does GCEDC have any obligation to provide mitigation for the tax breaks given to COR to the existing retailers, be they an independent business such as Batavia Marine or long-standing national chains such as Kmart (which also sells sporting goods)?
A. Any business in the community can submit an application for assistance to our agency and if they fulfill criteria such as the creation of new jobs and investment then they may be eligible for assistance. Our goal is to help businesses create jobs and bring new investment to our community and we stand ready to do everything we can to do that. We encourage businesses to learn more about the incentives provided by our agency. Information about these incentives as well as an application for assistance are available on our Web site at www.gcedc.com.
Q. Calculating from COR's own sales tax estimates, their tenants will generate somewhere in the neighborhood of $26 million in annual sales. On what basis are we to believe that Batavia is a marginal market in need of tax incentives in order to attract these retail businesses? The figures appear to be right in line with Dick's per store gross sales average, which means they should be able to project $500,000 in net annual profit. At that kind of return, do these retail stores really need tax breaks in order to come to Batavia? Aren't the things that make Batavia an attractive place to do business -- centrally located in a large rural area, Thruway proximity, promising economic growth -- sufficient for retail without tax breaks, and if it not, what will keep these business in town when the subsidies run out?
A. The fact that we do not have large retailers like Dick’s indicates that Batavia is a marginal market, however as we grow our economy through projects like Alpina and Muller Quaker and longer term STAMP, we will become a destination market. The fact remains, the developer applied for tax relief to conduct an adaptive reuse and expansion of the property at Batavia Towne Center that will create jobs and new investment in our community and just as important the application submitted fulfills the criteria for retail under the new state law.
Q. According to COR, the stores will invest a collective $11 million in opening their stores. If a retail business is willing to make that kind of financial comment to a community, how can we believe that tax incentives are critical to attracting national retail to Batavia?
A. Think about that for a moment. If you had an opportunity to make a $1.8 million investment over 10 years, which is essentially what our incentive package totals, and the return on that investment was $11 million worth of capital investment, who would not make that deal. On top of that, our investment of $1.8 million is going to be returned in the first year alone based on sales tax revenue generation which will benefit our community and help keep property tax rates down. Without our assistance, there is no $11 million capital investment and no new sales tax revenue for our community thereby creating additional pressure to raise property taxes which hurt residents and businesses.
Q. GCEDC has asserted that it's bad for the community and bad for attracting business to have Lowe's vacant. In the time since it's been vacant, GCEDC has landed two major tenants and is about to land a third for the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park. What evidence is there that a vacant Lowe's hurts business development?
A. When both Alpina and Muller Quaker were touring the area, the Lowe’s store was in fact still open which showed the companies that we did in fact have a vibrant retail center immediately located off of the I-90. Moreover, we are trying to take a holistic approach to economic development here in our community. You seemingly are taking the view that the Lowe’s vacancy does not “hurt” business development; we take the view, based on our years of experience in the company attraction business, that a vibrant retail center located at the gateway of our community enhances our ability to attract companies to our community in this very competitive world of economic development.
Q. GCEDC has asserted that it's bad to have a vacant Lowe's, but COR has said that it's bad for the rest of Batavia Towne Center to have a vacant Lowe's. Doesn't COR have a strong motivation to lease that space even without tax abatements?
A. I don’t want to single COR out; they are a prominent developer and like many developers they have options and choices as to where to lure their retail clients. Our decision was based on an application that our board believes fulfills the criteria under the new state law specific to retail projects. We believe the return on investment that will be generated through the tax assistance provided will create a vibrant towne center.
Q. What do you say to a comment such as Mike Barrett's, that tax incentives are like "using your own tax money to put yourself out of business"?
A. Alpina and Muller Quaker and the related economic benefits would not have occurred without the incentives being provided through the GCEDC. To the contrary, we are using incentives to create new jobs and new wealth and subsequently new tax revenues to make our community more prosperous and an even better place to work, live and play. I can assure you that Alpina and Muller Quaker are not putting local dairy farmers out of business.
Q. Based on our polls and nearly daily discussions with people in our community, it's difficult to find local residents who support tax breaks going to COR. Is it appropriate for GCEDC to go against the wishes of the vast majority of Genesee County residents on such an important issue?
A. Genesee County has a population of approximately 60,000 residents. A public hearing was held in the evening which was open to the public; about 30 residents attended and six spoke against the project during the hearing. One letter was received at the offices of the GCEDC opposing the project and was officially included in the transcripts of the hearing. The board was provided a written copy of the transcripts from the public hearing prior to voting to approve the adaptive reuse and expansion project at Batavia Towne Center. I think if we were to start relying on polling that admittedly in not statistically accurate and to use that data to make decisions about economic development, you would not see many businesses even contemplating coming to our community.
Q. Will GCEDC continue to have a policy of providing tax breaks to retail projects even though there is a significant body of research that shows tax incentives to retail have no tangible return to local communities and even though the vast majority of Genesee County residents oppose such tax breaks?
A. The GCEDC as a matter of practice does not pursue retail projects. This is evidenced to our not participating in the Tim Horton’s project locating at the west end of Batavia and the McDonald’s project planned for Aldi plaza in the City on the east end. We will continue to comply with state law while advancing our vision and mission to provide a positive place to do business for all companies. There is a significant body of evidence that shows there is a tangible return to local communities. To claim that the “vast majority” of residents oppose such tax breaks is subjective at best without any real statistically accurate information to substantiate such a claim.
Over the past 90 years, the Kiwanis Club has become part of the fabric of the community, Secretary Peter Guppenberger told his fellow Kiwanians during the club's anniversary celebration at Bohn's Restaurant last night.
So many of the club's activities have come cherished community events, from the Easter Egg Hunt in Centennial Park, to Pancake Days, to the Thanksgiving Day Skate and the Golf Ball Race at Picnic in the Park.
Many of these events serve the children of the community, which is the primary mission of Kiwanis.
"When you see the smiles on the kids' faces, you realize that's what it's all about," Guppenberger said.
Past President Lawrence Friedman spoke about how the club's current long-term project has re-energized the organization.
The Kiwanis Club is working to raise $150,000 to provide the Child Advocacy Center with a permanent home that the agency owns. So far $80,000 has been raised, with $60,000 of it coming from a pair annual auction galas.
The project was meant to position the club to do something meaningful for the community, but it has also served to bring in new members, with about 15 people joining last year and another half dozen so far this year.
This year's gala will be Sept. 21 at Genesee Community College.
Current Club President Ed Minardo
Frank Romeo, Lt. Governor of the Genesee Division of Kiwanis
Barb Lewis, from Ladies of Kiwanis
Past President Patrick Forsyth
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