Stories from

Pretty much everything that was left of the apartment building at 26 Maple St., Batavia, which burned down Friday, was hauled away by work crews today.

Polls opened at noon, and as of 3 p.m., the polling place at the Holland Land Office Museum had a grand total of zero voters.

Jackson Street a short time later had two voters, but city fire was doing a bit better with nine voters and by 4 p.m., the poll at Robert Morris had 20 voters.

On the ballot, the three men still running for the GOP presidential nomination -- Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul -- plus Rick Santorum, who is officially out of the race.

Polls close at 9 p.m

If you're a registered Republican, you can vote.

The Downtown Spring Carnival for 2012 has been cancelled.

Originally scheduled to be held this year in the parking lot adjacent Alva and Bank, the carnival has fallen victim to weather.

The Fun for Everyone Shows troupe has been unable to leave Florida and won't be able to make it to WNY in time for the carnival, which was set for April 25 through 30.

A 31-year-old Hutchins Place resident is accused of defrauding the Department of Social Services out of more than $17,000.

Deborah Schramm, of Batavia, is accused of submitting various forms from February 2011 through August 2011 for medical assistance and food stamps she allegedly wasn't qualified to receive.

Schramm is charged with six felonies -- grand larceny, 3rd, and five counts of offering a false instrument for filing, 1st.

Some of the current residents of downtown apartments were surprised a couple of weeks ago to get a warning about parking on city streets or parking lots overnight.

City Manager Jason Molino said the warning is part of an effort to ensure only vehicles with permits are parking overnight, and that they're parking in recommended areas.

"We initially issued warnings to remind people there is no (overnight) parking and give them a chance to get permits," Molino said. "There have been no tickets issued at this point."

If a resident wants to park a vehicle downtown overnight (from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m.), he or she needs to get a permit from the city.

That permit costs $100 annually (raised recently from $50 per year).

The permit covers up to two vehicles.

When a resident receives the permit, the resident is asked to park his or her vehicles in specific areas, with other overnight parking, so that vehicles are grouped together.

Molino said this is particularly important during snow removal season.

With the city making a push for more apartments downtown, Molino was asked if there is adequate parking for more residents in the heart of the city.

There is, Molino said.

"If you don't have an overnight parking ability -- if you don't enforce it, or you don't have it -- then people can park overnight with any type of vehicle, whether it's a construction vehicle, farm equipment, those sorts of things," Molino said. "We've had requests from truckers or trucking agencies to park their big rigs overnight, which is just something we don't allow."

On the web: Batavia City Code

A proposal to merge the city and town of Batavia is moving forward and at the start of Monday's city council meeting, the Charter Task Force Committee presented its proposed city charter and timeline for public hearings and public vote.

Chairman Chad Zambito (above) made the presentation, telling council members that the committee settled on a council/manager form of government with ward representation combined with at-large council seats (much like the current City of Batavia).

There would be four wards and five at-large seats.

As initially proposed, the new city would have a tiered tax structure with the current city having a tax rate to help pay for current city services -- primarily fire and police protection -- and the current town having a separate tax structure to maintain its current level of service.

The timeline toward possible adoption:

• The town board and the city council must each pass a resolution asking Assemblyman Steve Hawley and Sen. Mike Ranzenhofer to introduce legislation to make consolidation possible;
• May 17, info session at the town hall;
• May 24, info session at city hall;
• May 31, public hearing;
• June 4, public hearing;
• June 11, public hearing;
• June 21, public hearing;
• In July, public input reviewed, documents edited and corrections made to proposed charter;
• August, revised charter introduced to city and town officials, city and town hold public hearings, city and town vote on charter and ballot initiative;
• September, ballot initiative must be submitted by city and town by Sept. 9;
• Nov. 6, Election Day and voters in both city and town can vote on ballot initiative.

If approved:

• Town and city boards, appointees and employees remain in place until Jan. 1, 2014;
• The task force recommends a consolidation committee be formed comprised of elected officials and residents from both the city and town;
• Election of new city council in November 2013, with at-large seats elected to four-year terms, and wards started with two-year terms (a four-year term election for wards starting in 2015).

Currently available documents related to the proposed consolidation can be found on the consultant's website.

A 70-year-old man from Gates was involved in a single-car accident Monday night that caused 231 National Grid customers to lose power for about four hours.

Morley J. Pray, of Ashton Drive, Gates, was driving southbound on Clipnock Road at 7:13 p.m. when his vehicle went off the west shoulder of the road for an unknown reason.

Pray was reportedly unable to get the 2004 Chevy pickup back on the road before striking a petroleum pipeline cap and then a National Grid utility pole in the area of 9455 Clipnock Road.

No citations were issued.

Pray suffered minor injuries, but did not require transport to a hospital.

The accident was investigated by Sgt. Greg Walker.

For 30 years Randy Baker has served the people of Batavia as a police officer, K-9 officer, youth officer, detective youth officer, sergeant, and for the past four years as chief of police.

Friday, Baker will serve his last day with the Batavia PD.

With his wife present -- the first council meeting he's convinced her to attend -- Baker was honored Monday night by the Batavia City Council with a proclamation recognizing his 30 years of service.

Councilwoman Kathy Briggs presented the proclamation on behalf of the council.

City Manager Jason Molino said interviews are taking place now to hire a replacement for Baker and a new chief should be appointed within two weeks. He said the candidates come from within and without the department.

Times-Union: Education Department proposes regional high schools

Some 231 National Grid customers in Bethany and Stafford are without power.

The cause is not known at this time.

National Grid estimates power will be restored at 11:15 p.m.

Power went out at 7:59 p.m.

The location is from Ellicott Street Road, including Little Canada, spreading northeast toward Route 5, across Transit Road.

A car has reportedly hit a pole in the area of 7404 W. Bergen Road, Bergen.

Injuries are reported.

Bergen Fire Department and ambulance along with Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 3:55 p.m.: One patient complains of a hand injury.

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Here's another weather picture from today.

Press release:

BATAVIA, NY – Today’s game between the Empire State Yankees and Norfolk Tides has been postponed due to snow. This game will not be made up in Batavia. The Yankees and Tides will make up the game as part of a doubleheader in Norfolk later in the season. Any person with tickets to today’s game can exchange their tickets for any other Yankees game or any Muckdogs regular season game, subject to availability.

Snow continues to fall on Batavia. We've had two or three inches so far. It's slushy and wet and is barely sticking to paved surfaces at this point.

Stanley Styliades says he's very particular about the food he makes, and he's promising the best breakfasts around in his new eatery, the Le Roy Town Diner on Main Street, Le Roy.

The location was Tyler's and then Katie's.

"My breakfasts are the best, no two ways," Styliades said. "My plates are picture perfect. The home fries are the best. Homemade pancakes, blueberry, blueberry walnut, raspberry walnut, chocolate chip."

Styliades has 30 years experience owning and operating diners in Rochester, always breakfast and lunch establishments. The Le Roy Town Diner will be open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Friday evenings for fish fry (and perhaps Thursday and Saturday evenings as well).

The diner will have a little Mediterranean flare, Styliades said. He will serve humus, falafel, and pita with chicken and eggplant.

He's working hard to get the diner open as soon as possible, hopefully within the week.

He said he has steam cleaned the entire kitchen and repainted the ceiling and is working to get everything in place before opening.

Motor-vehicle accident with possible injuries is reported at Byron-Holley and Town Line roads, Byron.

Byron Fire Department along with Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 8:40 a.m.: Sounds like minor injuries.

Brianna Rae Burlingame, 20, of Palmer Road, Churchville, is charged with driving under the influence of drugs, criminal possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana. Burlingame was arrested after deputies Chad Minuto and Jason Saile responded to the parking lot of Petco at 2:14 p.m., Saturday for the report of a woman asleep behind the wheel of her vehicle while it was running. Burlingame was issued an appearance ticket.

Sean Allen Kota, 18, of Byron-Holley Road, Byron, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and driver view obstructed. Kota's vehicle was stopped following complaints of the occupants throwing beer bottles out of the window of the car. His vehicle was stopped at 2:47 p.m., Thursday, on Oatka Trail in Le Roy by Deputy Matthew Butler.

Joshua Webster, 25, of York Road, Pavilion, is charged with grand larceny, 4th, and criminal possession of stolen property. Webster is accused of stealing a purse and credit cards from a location on Commerce Drive, Batavia, and of possessing stolen property from another incident at the time of his arrest on an unrelated incident. (Previously)

Gregory J. Battaglia, 30, of Pavilion Center Road, Pavilion, is charged with petit larceny. Battaglia is accused of stealing gasoline from a station in Le Roy.

A 17-year-old resident of Bacon Street, Le Roy, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. The youth is accused of failing to provide appropriate supervision to a child left in his care.

A Batavia resident suffered a minor injury in an accident Friday on Route 33 in Bergen after another car reportedly pulled in front of her car.

Hurt was Kelly J. Poole-Davis, 39, of North Lyon Street, Batavia. She was taken by ground ambulance to UMMC.

The other driver, Loretta E. Miller, 71, of Buffalo Street, Bergen, was uninjured, but was issued a traffic citation.

According to Deputy John L. Baiocco, Miller said she was exiting the Sugar Creek parking lot and never saw Poole-Davis's car. Miller was attempting to make a left-hand turn onto Route 33.

There's been one cable line down this morning and reports so far of two cars sliding off of roadways.

In Pembroke / Indian Falls, just west of Route 77 and north of Akron Road, 33 National Grid customers are without power.

UPDATE 7:14 a.m.; A winter storm warning issued by the National Weather Service remains in effect until 7 a.m., Tuesday. From 6 to 9 inches of snow possible. Heaviest snowfall expected this morning and early afternoon with up to an inch an hour possible. Winds from the northwest at 10 to 20 mph. Visibility will drop at times to a quarter mile.