Stories from

John Kennedy School kicked off a reading program today with a "Dancing with the Stars" contest in the school's auditorium.

The stars were faculty and staff dressed up as characters from popular children's stories, from Shrek to Snow White and Puss 'n' Boots.

It was a full, multi-media event with rehearsal videos and zingers from the judges.

Children earn tickets to vote for their favorites by completing nightly reading assignments with their parents.

Edwin L. Stancliff, 32, of Alleghany Road, Pembroke, and Adrienne F. Yocina, 31, of Alleghany Road, Pembroke, are charged with unlawful growing of cannabis and criminal possession of marijuana, 5th. Both charges are misdemeanors. Stancliff and Yocina were allegedly found growing cannabis on their property and possessing marijuana in excess of 25 grams during an investigation of an incident at 8:20 p.m., Aug. 13, 2010.

Tammy Marie Chojnacki, 40, of Pike Road, Batavia, is charged with felony DWI and felony driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Chojnacki was arrested by Deputy Matt Fleming at her residence following an investigation at 9:24 p.m., Saturday, into a reported domestic incident in her car.

Jesse Stephen Stocking, 24, of Genesee Street, Corfu, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and speeding. Stocking was stopped on Route 33 in Pembroke at 4:46 p.m., Saturday, by Deputy Matt Fleming.

Robert Jeffery Curry, 22, of Dillon Road, Pavilion, is charged with unlawful dealing with a child. Following a complaint to the Tip Line at 1:02 a.m., Saturday, Curry was arrested for allegedly hosting an underage drinking party at his residence.

Christopher Willard Logsdon, 24, of Big Tree Road, Pavilion, is charged with unlawful dealing with a child. Following a complaint to the Tip Line at 12:23 a.m., Saturday, Curry was arrested for allegedly hosting an underage drinking party at his residence.

Cody Allen Eaton, 22, of Main Street, Attica, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater and speeding. Eaton was stopped at 1:54 a.m., Saturday, on Pearl Street Road, Batavia, by Deputy Howard Carlson.

John Charles McGrath, 43, of South Main Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th, resisting arrest and harassment, 2nd.

Lori Ann Brightenfield, 52, of Main Road, Stafford, is charged with aggravated harassment, 2nd. Brightenfield is accused of using a telephone for no legitimate purpose to contact another person she was allegedly told previously not to contact.

Joseph Carl Jeffords, 21, of Swan Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief. Jeffords is accused of driving across the lawn at College Village and while driving across the lawn, intentionally speeding up, leaving ruts. The alleged incident was caught on tape.

Wilson Figueroa, 28, of Conkey Avenue, Rochester, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Figueroa's car was stopped for alleged traffic violations on Route 33, Stafford, and was found to allegedly have as a passenger protected by an active stay away order.

Stephen D. Reamer, 53, of 76 Gilbert St., Le Roy, is charged with felony aggravated DWI. Reamer was stopped Friday morning in Le Roy by Le Roy Police.

A Batavia resident has admitted in Batavia Town Court that he was working as a self-employed scrap recycler while obtaining social services benefits.

Lee Heckman, 35, of 5 Fairmont Ave., Batavia, entered a guilty plea to one count of attempted grand larceny, 4th.

Heckman admitted to obtaining $2,176 in temporary assistance and food stamps from DSS under false pretenses from March 2011 to July 2011.

As part of his plea, Heckman agreed to pay back DSS the $2,176 by the time he is sentenced on June 25. He is disqualified from further public assistance through DSS.

Heckman is out of jail and under the supervision of Genesee Justice.

There was a big turn out today at St. Joe's for Batavia's Irish Afternoon, featuring music by Penny Whisky and entertainment by the McMahon Irish Dancers (unfortunately, I missed the dancers).

If your thing is trains, Batavia Downs was the place to be Sunday.

Photo: Randy Tonner Jr., Maddos, 6, and Maddox's mother, Michele.

Randy Tonner Jr., hasn't worked since July 2.

That was the night he was brutally attacked on a street in Rochester that put him the acute brain injury unit at Strong Memorial Hospital for more than a month.

At the time, Tonner was a single parent raising his 6-year-old son, Maddox, living and working in Rochester. He was an independent contractor, installing flooring for Sherwin Williams.

With no employer-provided insurance, he's had no means to care for himself or his son and had to give up custody of Maddos and move back to Oakfield.

Today, the community rallied around Tonner with a fundraiser at the American Legion Hall in Alabama, which featured a chance auction and a beef on weck lunch.

"People have been great," Tonner said. "The show of support, not just for me, but for my family, has just been fantastic."

Tonner was living on Park Avenue the night he walked by 25 Park Ave. with friends at about 2 a.m.

There was a group of people having a party on the porch and some sort of scuffle ensured.

Tonner's father, Randy Tonner, said the detective described it as something relatively minor, like you might find on any college campus on a Friday or Saturday night.

Seconds after it broke up, a man sucker punched Randy Jr. from behind.

"The dectective said it was the sucker punch of all sucker punches," Randy Sr. said. "From the tape (there was a surveillance system installed at the house), you could see he was out before he hit the ground. His head hit the cement and then another man came up and kicked him in the head."

A woman rushed to Randy Jr.'s aid. When police arrived, they found him lying beside the road in a pool of his own blood.

Two men were arrested, Justin Cropo and Nicholas Vitale, and a grand jury indicted them on a count each of assault in the second degree. The men are awaiting trial on the charges. (In an interesting footnote on the case, another man at the scene who looks like Vitale, and actually came to Randy's aid, was arrested initially, but the charges were dropped).

Randy Jr. said as far as he can remember, he's never met either of the men before.

After being released from the hospital, Randy Jr., has been on anti-seizure medication and his father said his main issue is the lack of mental endurance to work a full day.

He should be able to work again some day, but doctors are unsure when. After his next doctor's visit, they hope he will be cleared for part-time work.

"If you ask me, from the second I got out of the coma I wanted to go back to work, but I don’t know, whatever the doctor says," Randy Jr. said.

The damage to Randy's brain has forced him to learn to read again and he also lost sight in one eye.

His father said today's fundraiser was really an emotional event for him and he was especially grateful to Ron Sessaman, who has a history of organizing fundraisers in the community and arranged this one.

"For him to take the time for these people to come out here, I get choked up," Randy Sr., said. "It just touches the heart more than you can know. It’s just so, so special.  I think this also great for Randy. This keeps his strength, because this is hard. This keeps his attitude up."

Individuals who wish to make a donation to Randy Tonner, which are aimed at just helping him meet basic living expenses until he can return to work, can call Sessaman at (585) 734-7998.

What started as an effort to organize and examine all of the old articles of clothing in the Holland Land Office Museum has turned into a new exhibit displaying the history of WNY wedding dresses.

More than 30 dresses -- most of them owned by HLOM, but some from local residents -- are on display and the show officially opens with a reception at 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., March 31.

The collection includes Civil War era dresses up through more modern gowns, including a 1940 plain satin gown and train, a 1920s-era lace gown with bolero jacket, a flapper gown of the same era and a 1870s two-piece wedding suit.

Charles Men's Shop is supplying a modern tux for display and Stella's Wedding Boutique is displaying a new wedding dress.

Treats from Sweet Ecstasy Bakery in Stafford will be served at the opening reception Saturday, and there will also be door prizes.

More than 30 people got their heads shaved at Pembroke High School on Friday to help raise money to support the Roswell Cancer Institute in Buffalo.

The event raised more than $10,000, according to faculty member Melisa Dettbarn.

"Cancer affects our community profoundly," Dettbarn said. "A lot of kids have been affected. A lot of faculty has been affected."

Tyler Lang, a student involved with the Kiwanis Key Club, worked as one of the student organizers and he said he found the event very emotional and very rewarding.

"It's just a blessing to be doing this for Roswell," he said.

One of his classmates was recently diagnosed with cancer.

"We're supporting him and we're supporting everyone else at Roswell," Tyler said.

Two years ago, another "Bald for Bucks" event raised more than $7,000 for Roswell.

Pembroke HS has been involved in a few fundraisers for Roswell and other charities in recent years, including "Shoot for a Cure" in January and "Shades for AIDS" last year.

Dettbarn said these events just reflect the nature of Pembroke.

"We’re really a close community," Dettbarn said. "It’s unreal. We’re really tight knit.  Everybody pitches in. Even if we don’t all always get along, everybody is right there the minute you need them."

While walking by the Roz Steiner Art Gallery at GCC this afternoon, I noticed a new art show in place, so I stopped in to take a look.

It's a Fine Arts students' show that opened yesterday, and there are some very fine pieces among the sculptures, paintings and photographs.

There are two receptions for the show. The first is at 1 p.m., Thursday. The second is at 5 p.m., Friday.

The picture came a bit clearer today at the annual Genesee County Economic Development Center luncheon on how the agency landed a $206 million joint-venture Greek yogurt plant for Batavia.

Mark Koenig, director of engineering and technology at the PepsiCo Global Nutrition Group, said while there were a few reasons Pepsi and the Theo Muller Group picked the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park for Project Wave, a key was getting site-grading permits within 15 days.

Koenig, who heads up similar projects for Pepsi all over the world, lost a bet with Chris Suozzi, VP of Business Development for GCEDC.

"I bet him my house, my wife and my salary that he couldn't get us permitted in 15 days," Koenig said. "I've never seen a greenfield site get permitted in 15 days. I said, 'there's no way.'"

He added, "This team delivered."

The 15-day permitting process allowed Wave Holding LLC to fast-track its development plans, which Suozzi agreed after the meeting was absolutely critical in bringing the project to Batavia.

Without the 15-day permitting, Pepsi and Muller would have been looking at a 30-month process to get its new Greek yogurt products to market. The current timeline is 18 months, all because Town of Batavia officials were able to move the permitting process along quickly.

Earlier this week, GCEDC CEO Steve Hyde told county legislators that Souzzi was instrumental in getting Batavia from the B-list for the project to the final four possible sites.

Koenig also said of critical importance to Pepsi and Muller was the world-class dairy industry in Western New York.

"This is an ag area that is the best in class and that's why we're here," Koenig said. "You have a good milk supply and your milk is the best in its class."

It also helps that from Batavia, Wave Holding can easily reach a third of the potential market in the U.S. for its new Greek yogurt.

Pepsi partnered with Germany-based Muller, Koenig said, because Muller has proprietary recipes and world-class technology for producing yogurt.

The incentive package put together by NYS and GCEDC was also important, Koenig said, but Pepsi was also impressed by the warm welcome the company has received from the community.

"The community support has been fantastic," Koenig said. "All signs say this is going to be a success with the community for years to come and in future growth."

Top: Koenig; bottom, Hanno Lehmann, a senior project manager from the Muller Group.

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,I,C-Batavia) recently met with daredevil Nik Wallenda at the state Capitol. Wallenda is set to walk on a high wire across the Niagara Falls Gorge, beginning on the American side of the border and ending in Canada. Hawley, who voted in favor of legislation allowing Wallenda’s plan, spoke with the stuntman about preparing for the feat and the impact it will have on Western New York.

“The bright lights of international media will be shining on Western New York when Nik Wallenda walks on a high wire across Niagara Falls,” Hawley said. “The event will give the area an economic boost, and will put all our region has to offer in the spotlight. Nik has shown hard work and perseverance in both his training and his efforts to gain legislative approval for his stunt, and I, for one, can’t wait to see him dance across the falls.”

An early morning medical emergency brought Mercy Flight to Chandler Avenue in Batavia, but it wasn't just another life-saving mission for the crew of Mercy Flight 5.

It was the 20,000th mission flown by the Buffalo-based non-profit air ambulance corps.

“When I started Mercy Flight back in 1981, I never dreamed that we could help so many people,” said Douglas H. Baker, Mercy Flight’s founding president. “I’m extremely proud of what we have been able to accomplish over the last 30 years as a not-for-profit organization.

"We never could have reached this milestone without the assistance and support of our local volunteer firefighters, hospital and law enforcement partners and the communities we serve.”

The dispatch came at 2 a.m., Friday, and the patient was transported from Batavia to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

Mercy Flight operates from bases in Buffalo, Batavia and Olean.

Last year, Mercy Flight forgave more than $700,000 in care provided to uninsured or under-insured patients, according to a press release.

The average cost is $842 per flight.

Individuals and groups can "Sponsor A Mission" with a donation of $842. For more information, visit mercyflight.org or call (716) 626-4100.

Wilson Figueroa, 38, of Conkey Avenue, Rochester, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Figueroa reportedly was under court order out of Rochester City Court from being with a certain person. During a traffic stop on Route 33, Stafford, at 4:01 p.m., Wednesday, the protected person was allegedly in Figueroa's vehicle.

Aicha Keita, 20, of Batavia Stafford Townline Road, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Keita is accused of stealing $206.65 in merchandise from Walmart.

Lt. Gov. Bob Duffy stopped in Batavia today to draw attention to cost savings for Genesee County, and other local governments, from recently enacted pension reform.

The plan could save the county $186 million over 30 years, though most of that savings is deferred as employees hired before the new Tier 6 plan was passed either quit or retire.

Chamber President Lynn Freeman said pension reform is critical for a region long seen as burdened by taxes and regulation.

"I live in Le Roy and it's discouraging sometimes to watch the two-, three- and four-employee company leave our community," Freeman said. "One of the reasons they are leaving is driven by our taxation.

"What's happened to us with our mandates has caused those taxes to go up and up and up every year. What the governor and lieutenant governor were able to accomplish last week is truly remarkable."

Mary Pat Hancock, chairwoman of the Genesee County Legislature, said the reform is one big part of needed mandate relief for local government.

In Genesee County, in the past 10 years, the cost of government mandated pensions has gone from $400,000 a year to $4.4 million.

"I’m proud to have supported the governor and his effort to bring fiscal responsibility back to Albany and relieve localities of this out-of-control mandate," Hancock said.

The reform won't effect government employees with even one day on the job before the reform was passed, Duffy said.

"If this was done 10 years ago we wouldn’t be having this conversation," Duffy said. "If we did it back then, we wouldn’t be in the situation we’re in today."

Hancock, who is also president this year of NYS Association of Counties, said the biggest unfunded mandate weighing down on counties is skyrocketing Medicaid costs.

Duffy said a recently initiated plan by Cuomo will help control costs, but not totally eliminate the Medicaid burden for counties.

At the end of three years, all cost increases will become the responsibility of the state, Duffy said.

"I think you’re seeing big steps right now in trying to lower the costs for local governments," Duffy said.

Duffy, who said he has relatives who live in Batavia, said that Genesee County is on a roll in attracting new business, pointing to the recent successes, particularly, with the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park.

"This is place is starting to move," Duffy said. "I think it points to the great potential this area has."

Currently, the Genesee County Economic Development Center is seeking legislative support to fund shovel ready development of the STAMP Project in Alabama.

Duffy said he isn't familiar with the project but said the governor's office will follow the recommendation of the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council.

"The governor looks for any way to support anything that grows jobs and grows the economy," Duffy said. "As a lifelong Upstate New Yorker, I'm amazed at the level of attention that is now paid to Upstate.

"I haven't seen the project on paper yet. But I think, as with any project, it might not get a line item in the budget yet, but if it's plausible, you will see people line up to try and make it happen."

Top photo, Duffy; inset, Freeman.

Nearly two dozen students and faculty members are walking around Batavia High School today with quite a bit less hair.

They all participated in a fundraiser and show of support Wednesday evening for Brandon Johns, a Batavia Middle School student afflicted with cancer.

The event was organized by BHS National Honor Society and conducted in conjunction with BHS Spirit Week.

Head shaves were provided by stylists from Total Image Hair Salon and following the shaves, students and faculty participated in a volleyball game.

Photos and information submitted by Steve Ognibene.

Executives from PepsiCo and the Muller Group will be keynote speakers March 23 at the Genesee County Economic Development Center's annual meeting at the college.

The two companies are behind Project Wave, the $206 million yogurt plant being built at Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park.

Mark Koenig, director of engineering and technology at the PepsiCo Global Nutrition Group -- who was in town when grading started in November although Pepsi's involvement was still officially a secret -- will be joined for a keynote presentation by Hanno Lehmann, a senior project manager from the Mueller Group.

Wave Holding, LLC -- the official name of the joint venture -- is expected to employ nearly 200 people in the near term and perhaps as many as 600 people if the new line of Greek yogurt is as successful as Pepsi and Muller project.

The new joint venture is receiving more than $11 million in tax abatements to build the plant in Batavia, which was initially not even a top-tier choice in the site selection process.

Also speaking at the event will be Rep. Kathy Hochul, State Sen. Michael Ranzenhofer, Assemblyman Steve Hawley and County Legislature Chairwoman Mary Pat Hancock.

GCEDC CEO Steve Hyde will make a presentation on some of the agency's 2011 highlights.

The luncheon is from noon until 1:30 p.m., March 23, at Genesee Community College. Tickets are $15 or $20 at the door. For reservation and tickets in advance, call 343-4866.

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Pembroke eked out a narrow victory over Notre Dame in the semifinals of the Mock Trial Tournament Wednesday.

The four remaining teams faced off in Warsaw.

While Pembroke won on points against Notre Dame (101 to 99), splitting the match 1-1, Attica beat Warsaw handily, 124 to 88, taking both sides (prosecution and defense) of the match.

Pembroke and Attica will square off at 5:30 p.m., Monday, in the Genesee County Courthouse with Judge Robert C. Noonan on the bench.

Which ever team wins Monday, it will be the first time in the history of the local tournament that a team other than Batavia won. Batavia went 1-3 in early competition and was knocked out before the quarterfinals.

The photos in this post are of the Notre Dame and Pembroke teams.

Notre Dame team members: Meghan Zickl, Anneliese Aliasso, Andrew Fischer, Matthew Sausher, Kendra Wall, John Lapple, Ariana Aliasso, Rosalie Mortellaro, Jake Krajewski, Brittany Perzia, Caleb Nellis, James Spear, Anna Arner, Natalie Mouton, Katie Fischer, Andrew Cheverie and Rosemary Fulmerfeld.

Pembroke team members: Dean Cullinan, Patrick Burns, Joelle Fugle, Cale Fryer, Rachel Seweryniak, Andrew Renolds, Brett Jones, Brandon Kohorst, Bea Reiner, Christian Burns, Eva Reda-Kenrick, Karen Globm, Justin Sformo and Sabrina Sanner.

Previously: Batavia knocked out of Mock Trial Tournament early; four teams left to vie for title

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