While there are few people walking into the Genesee County Clerk's Office to handle their DMV business, County Clerk Don Read told legislators yesterday, booming auto sales at area dealerships are more than making up for the lost revenue.

Still, Read would like to see more residents -- especially county employees -- realize that when they register their vehicles by mail directly with Albany, the county gets far less of that revenue than if the registration is handled locally.

"There's a major state initiative to move toward the Internet and kiosks," Read said. "That takes revenue away from the county office. They're doing it primarily because they want more of the revenue, and secondarily because they have an interest in reducing the cost at the motor vehicle offices in New York City, the surrounding counties and Long Island and Albany and Onondaga counties."

While local dealers have been selling more cars, so have dealers throughout the region. One large dealer with multiple locations does all of his business with the Genesee County DMV office because he gets better service.

Last Monday, that dealer brought in 295 new vehicle registrations. The following Wednesday, 40, and then on Friday, 130.

That dealer alone will probably account for $100,000 in revenue for the county, Read said.

Even so, Read would like a memo to go out -- perhaps even the proper forms included with paychecks -- to county employees reminding them to register their vehicles locally.

According to read, the county is currently only getting about 10 percent of its own employees' vehicle registration business. If there was a way to capture 100 percent of the business from the county's 230 employees (at an average, Read speculates, of three cars per household), Read said, it would mean another $100,000 in revenue annually.

"The best we can do is try to encourage them and hope they realize they're taking money out of their own pockets when they don't do it," Read said.

While the vehicle registration drop boxes on Court Street in Batavia and in Le Roy continue to help generate vehicle registration business for the county, the drop box installed last year in Bergen isn't doing much. It hardly pays to send an employee out three times a week to check on it, Read said.

Read would like to do more marketing to encourage people to register their vehicles locally, but in these days of tight budgets there aren't funds available to buy advertising.

In other Clerk's Office news: Michael Cianfrini, Oakfield town supervisor and son of Legislator Ray Cianfrini, will become the new deputy clerk. Cianfrini brings the added bonus, Read said, of being a licensed attorney. While Read had some hesitation about whether to appoint the son of a sitting legislator, he decided "the office shouldn't suffer because his dad is on the Legislature."  Read described him as clearly the most qualified candidate among a very competitive group of candidates.

Michael Cianfrini has been working in Ray Cianfrini's law office in Oakfield.

"The county's gain is my loss," Ray said.

"I'm really looking forward to him joining the office," Read said.

A start date for Cianfrini in his new post has not be set yet.

We requested a statement from Sen. Michael Ranzenhofer about the unelected NYS Corrections Commission requiring Genesee County to add $1 million annually to the county budget to fund 10 more jail guards.

Here's Sen. Ranzenhofer's statement:

I have recently had an opportunity to speak with Genesee County Officials about the Commission’s report concerning the county jail. Our office will be happy to work with the Sheriff’s Office and members of the Genesee County Legislature in the event they believe we can be of assistance to them.

Tom Hunt sent in this picture of the Batavia HS Class of 1963, which held a 50th Anniversary Reunion dinner at Bohn's this past weekend.

New York Times: Mental Health Again an Issue in Gun Debate

Here are the photos from tonight's fire at Terry Smart's place on Roanoke Road, Stafford. We don't much new information at this hour.

The cause of the fire remains undetermined and the investigation is continuing.

As we reported earlier, four pigs, 16 chickens and two dogs died in the fire.

Smart said it was impossible to save the dogs from the fire and they were humanely dispatched.

Smart also said neither the barn nor the livestock were insured.

Here's our coverage from the 2010 fire that destroyed his 187-year-old farmhouse. 

The barn was probably built about the same as the previously destroyed house.

To purchase prints, click here.

A working barn fire is reported 9418 Roanoke Road, Stafford. There is heavy black smoke visible. Stafford Fire Department is responding, along with mutual aid from Bethany, Le Roy, Pavilion and Town of Batavia. The latter is to stand by in Stafford's hall.

UPDATE 7:28 p.m.: A secondary explosion is reported and there is livestock involved.

UPDATE 7:31 p.m.: A firefighter in the area says the barn "looks like it's fully involved."

UPDATE 7:33 p.m.: Command asks that National Grid be contacted.

UPDATE 7:42 p.m.: Stafford commands says all responding tankers can go back in service. The equipment on scene with suffice.

UPDATE 7:44 p.m.: South Byron is asked to stand by in Stafford's fire hall instead of Town of Batavia.

UPDATE 7:46 p.m.: An engine out of Caledonia is asked to stand by in Le Roy's fire hall.

UPDATE 8:03 p.m.: Bethany is back in service.

UPDATE 8:23 p.m.: Howard interviewed property owner Terry Smart at the scene and the man said he lost four pigs, 16 chickens and two dogs in the blaze. He said he had just completed work on his new pig pen today and doesn't know how the fire started. Three years ago, in the same location, his house burned down.

UPDATE 9:13 p.m. (by Howard): Photo at the top by Doug Yeomans. Doug also sent over video that I'll post as soon as it's uploaded to YouTube. We also have our own photos coming.

UPDATE: Video by Doug Yeomans. Copyright by Doug Yoemans. Used with permission.

UPDATE 9:24 p.m.: Le Roy fire back in service.

UPDATE 10:34 p.m.: Stafford units back in service.

A car reportedly crashed into a house at 10182 Brookville Road, at the corner of Hunn Road, in Alexander. There are injuries. Alexander fire and ambulance are responding, and as a precaution, a Mercy unit. A responder at the scene tells the others to come in non-emergency.

UPDATE 6:35 p.m.: The first responder says "The car is right here by the pole -- just go in and check the house to make sure it's alright."

UPDATE 8:04 p.m.: Alexander is back in service. At least one patient was taken to an area hospital.

A black male reportedly was outside the Holland Land Office Museum on Main Street "striking everything" and he is now in the adjacent Batavia Peace Garden where a female is on her knees; unknown if she was struck. City police are responding.

UPDATE 5:37 p.m.: An officer at the scene told Howard that the situation is "purely medical" and that the passerby was mistaken in what she thinks she saw.

UPDATE 5:39 p.m.: Mercy medics are transporting a patient to UMMC. Police are back in service.

The sun had barely cleared the horizon when I pulled out of the driveway Tuesday morning. And with the camera case on the seat beside me, I really wasn't sure where I was going. The last thing I expected on a rather chilly morning was a bald eagle perched in a dead tree overlooking Tonawanda Creek.

Nearly an hour earlier, while watching the news and having coffee, I mulled over where I would go. At first I contemplated going either to the swamps, Genesee County Park or dragging the canoe out back and paddling upstream on the Tonawanda. These have all been productive in the past but this morning, for some reason, I opted for something different. But still, I couldn't make up my mind on where to go....so I just got in the truck and drove. There was also a catch....I didn't have great deal of time to kill as I had an appointment at 11 a.m.

The sun was making its way up the eastern horizon when I eased down a grassy bank of the Tonawanda where it flows along Stegman Road north of the Bushville bridge. Despite the bright sun on this morning, far less light penetrates shoreline canopy in this stretch. That would change farther downstream. The rock-studded shoreline is a good indication this is smallmouth territory.

Steam rising off the surface -- a good indication the water was considerably warmer than the chilly 45 degree air.   

Farther downstream is where I came across the bald eagle -- in surroundings more suitable for surveying its domain, scanning the creek and the surrounding area for a meal. Fish, muskrats, rabbits -- when you have a bill and talons that big and sharp, the menu is limitless.

Turning its head nearly 180 degrees enables him to watch his backside and prevent potential prey from slinking past.

Further upstream, blended in among fallen limbs, a trio of wood ducks are oblivious to the threat from above. 

Taking leave of their temporary haven, the woodies wisely head upstream -- toward the cover of the canopy.

Highlights from the Batavia City School District (BCSD) Board of Education meeting on Sept. 17 include the following:

• Tax rate adjusted ~ Decreases to lowest level in 10-plus years           
• Reminder: Re-register for Basic STAR exemption by Dec. 31
• District goals outlined
• BOE president’s report
• Superintendent elected to Board
• Auditors review financial statements
• BHS Homecoming in full swing

Tax rate adjusted ~ decreases to lowest level in 10-plus years

As a result of savings realized from the consolidation of schools, as well as some reevaluation and reassessment of properties, homeowners will see a 3.95--percent reduction in the school tax rate, or a $0.91 decrease per $1000 of assessed property value (to $22.14 per $1,000 of assessed property value). This is the lowest tax rate for the District in more than 10 years.

Reminder: Re-register for Basic STAR exemption by Dec. 31

Bill Smist of the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF) explained the new legislation that requires all homeowners who receive the Basic STAR exemption to register with the Tax Department by Dec. 31 in order to receive the exemption in 2014 and beyond. The legislation is an attempt to eliminate any inappropriate exemptions.

The requirement to re-register does not affect those seniors who receive the Enhanced STAR exemption. The process for Enhanced STAR has not changed.

Homeowners currently enrolled in Basic STAR have likely received notification of the requirement. That letter of notification included instructions and information to complete the process, but residents are able to register even without the letter. Smist emphasized that registration is both easy and quick. It can be done online at www.tax.ny.gov by clicking on the tab, “Register for STAR.” It can also be done via phone: 518-457-2036, Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

To register, residents will need their STAR code (included in the notification letter or available through the “STAR code lookup” link on the DTF Web site or through their phone assistance) and the names and Social Security numbers of all owners of the property and their spouses. Registrants will also be asked to confirm that the property is the primary residence of one of its owners (married couples with multiple residences may only claim one STAR exemption), that the combined income of the owners and spouses who reside at the property does not exceed $500,000 annually, and that no resident owner received a residency-based tax benefit from another state.

More information is available on the Web site or by calling the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance: www.tax.ny.gov or 518-457-2036.

District goals

For the complete presentation by Superintendent of Schools Christopher Dailey, please click on this link (or copy into your browser): http://www.bataviacsd.org/news.cfm?story=1120&school=0 .

Included here is a brief overview:

In introducing the District Goals for 2013-2014, Superintendent of Schools Christopher Dailey noted the District’s commitment, as articulated in the Mission and Vision statements, to empowering students to achieve their maximum potential and developing students who are able to successfully meet life’s challenges. He also emphasized the priority for continually improving the number of graduates who are college and career ready.

The four goals include: (1) close learning gaps UPK-12; (2) implement the second year of District Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) plans; (3) be fiscally sound; and (4) improve communication.

Steps to close learning gaps include such measures as implementing improvement plans aligned with the new Common Core Learning Standards; monitoring, reviewing, and adjusting strategies and programs; and providing and developing the resources and professional development needed for academic growth. The continuation of implementing APPR plans calls for utilizing the process as fully as possible for improving instruction, with the goal of having all teachers and principals rated as Effective/Highly Effective by Sept. 1, 2014.

In its aim to continue fiscal responsibility, the District will work toward creating a budget for 2014-2015 that is at or below the allowable tax cap while maintaining programs, managing the Capital Improvement Project, seeking revenue sources as well as more shared services, and advocating for our district at the local, regional and state level.

Communication goals include improving and increasing use of the Web site, Facebook, automated calling system, building and District newsletters, and local media; increasing meetings with community groups; adding Twitter accounts for each school building and video streaming the Board of Education meetings.

In addition, Superintendent Dailey touched on the Three-Year Vision which expands on the listed goals for improved academics and finances.

In closing, he noted that he believes the Batavia City School District will continue to lead, not follow, our region in success and achievements.

BOE president’s report

BOE President Patrick Burk outlined a number of goals to be considered for adoption by the Board. He and the superintendent will work together to bring a set of proposals to the Board for review, and he requested that all Board members forward any ideas they have to him.

Burk also noted that there has been high turnover of Board of Education members throughout the Genesee Valley region. The number of new board members in Western New York may be a challenge as Board members, administrators, and other concerned community residents continue to advocate, as a region, for such things as adequate funding for our students’ education.

In its continued efforts for championing local concerns, the Genesee Valley School Board Association is hosting a dinner meeting on Sept. 26 to bring together advocates of rural school districts. For more information about the dinner, contact Jim Thompson at 344-7947 or jthompson4@gvboces.org.

Superintendent elected to Board

Superintendent Dailey has been elected to the New York State Association of Small City School Districts, which will provide another platform which can be utilized to advocate for our district.

Auditors review financial statements

Audit Committee Chair Phil Ricci reported that the committee met with the auditors to review financial statements from the last fiscal year. Noting that the auditors had few and minor comments, he commended Business Administrator Scott Rozanski and District Treasurer Sally Sanford, particularly in the progress regarding Medicaid and Student Activities reports, where neither had any problematic findings.

BHS Homecoming in full swing

Student Ex-officio Board Member Samir Jain updated the Board members on high school events, including activities for Homecoming Week, Sept. 16-21. (See listing on the District Web site: www.bataviacsd.org/news.cfm?story=1113&school=1).

Superintendent Dailey noted that tickets are still available through the Athletics Office for the annual Athletic Hall of Fame dinner to be held at Terry Hills on Saturday, Sept. 21.

There's more demand than space for student housing, so officials are planning two more housing units at College Village.

The expansion will provide housing for 42 more Genesee Community College students than the 389 accommodated now in the nine existing buildings.

College Village is owned and run by Genesee Community College Foundation Housing Services Inc.,

Director John Sisson shared the development plans with the Town of Batavia Planning Board last night. He said if site plan approval is granted Oct. 1, construction will begin almost immediately with plans to have the new units ready for students at the start of the 2014 school year.

Of course, any discussion of College Village quickly turns to the issue of fire department calls to student housing.

Sisson said the college is working very hard with students to reduce the number of fire calls.  Last fall, there were 24 fire alarms at College Village. So far this year their have been 10.

Town of Batavia fire, an all-volunteer department, responds to each and every call of burnt popcorn, burnt grilled cheese and smoking pots of overcooked soup.

"When they get a call they want to come out," Sisson said. "They support coming to calls 100 percent because it's a high volume of people that needs extra attention paid to them."

College Village now offers cooking classes for students at the start of the year along with fire safety training.

First Assistant Chief Nate Fix conducts a fire safety class that is mandatory for all village residents.

"Nate Fix does a great job," Sisson said. "The students are there. They're attentive and they listen. I think you'll see a reduction in fire calls."

If there is a fire call, once construction is completed, firefighters will find it easier to get their new 80,000-pound ladder truck into the quad, giving the ladder truck access to all the buildings. The sidewalk into the quad is being widened to 24 feet, with concrete poured deeper to support the weight of the truck.

GCC is unique among the state's two-year schools because it attracts about a quarter of its students from outside its market area, said Rick Ensman, director of development and external affairs for GCC.

Even with the expansion, there will remain more demand for student housing than available units, he said.

"Housing adjacent the campus makes or breaks a decision to attend specialized programs," Ensman said.

UPDATE: The total cost of the project is $2.81 million, according to Ensman. That includes all planning, building, furniture, equipment, etc., as well as debt financing. The project will be funded through a private loan to the foundation and repaid through fees paid by students.

It looks like a go for a new Tim Horton's on the west side of Batavia. The Town Planning Board was given a chance to see the final plans for the coffee shop and adjacent retail building last night and it doesn't appear there will be any opposition.

The final site plan is expected to be approved at the board's next meeting Oct. 1.

The location is between West Main Street Road and Lewiston Road behind Rite Aid. There will be driveways on Lewiston Road and Colonial Boulevard.

One Colonial Boulevard resident was at Tuesday's meeting, Amy DiSalvo. Tim Horton's architect Matt Oats showed how the plans included a privacy fence along DiSalvo's property and she said she was satisfied with the plan.

The Tim Horton's will seat 48 people, including 16 in an outdoors patio area. it will also have a drive-thru.

On the West Main Street side of the road will be a retail building that can accommodate from one to three tenants. There are no signed leases yet for the space. 

The entire parcel with both buildings erected will have 45 parking spaces.

Construction on the retail building can begin as soon as the site plan is removed. 

Workers can't build the Tim Horton's building until the current brick building on Lewiston is removed, with demolition requiring environmental approvals.

Bob Bender, project manager for Benderson Development, said he hopes construction can begin in November and weather permitting, construction will take 90 days.

The franchise owner for the location has not yet been announced.

On an overcast day, I drove past this farmfield on Route 262 in Bergen and thought on a bright, blue-sky afternoon it might make a good picture. Yesterday, with a little available time and the sun heading west with a clear sky, I drove out the same location to make this picture.

Kevin Scroger was mowing the grass on the shoulder with his granddaughter Leyna Perkins, age 3 1/2. He told me the field was soybeans, near time for harvest. He's also pictured with his grandson, Carter Perkins, age 1. You may remember Kevin from the piece we did on the Hawleys' barley harvest.

The bottom picture is of Marty McDonald's barn and silos in Stafford.

About two dozen community leaders and interested residents hopped on a bright yellow school bus on a perfect blue-sky day to visit a couple of local farms and learn about soil and water conservation.

The event was the annual ag tour sponsored by the chamber's agriculture committee.

"Trenching is the word of the day," said Susie Boyce, representing an area insurance company. "You really don't think about how the farmers are all trenching to get the water out of the fields. It's not something that I drive by a field and say, 'oh, that field is trenched.' It's not something the everyday person thinks about."

Every year the ag tour focuses on a different topic related to farming. This year, the primary topic is about how technology is helping farmers protect soil better and increase yields through better field drainage.

The first stop was out in the muck where Chad Klotzbach and his father Drew, owner of Alleghany Farm Services, talked about how they can lay a drainage system in a farmfield with  half-inch precision to ensure the most efficient water drainage.

Keeping sections of fields from flooding increases crop yields.

The second stop was CY Farms, where Christian Yunker explained their drainage strategies and showed off a large tractor and implement that can level a farmfield with a precise 1-percent grade.

From CY Farms, the group went to a nearby field owned by Torrey Farms where Travis Torrey and George Squires, from the Soil and Water Conservation District, talked about how the Torrey's reclaimed a good portion of the field from overgrowth and are using different crops grown in concert to help protect and preserve the soil.

"This is stuff you're not going to get sitting in my office every day," County Manger Jay Gsell said about the ag tour. "This (the tour) is a valuable investment every year to go out and see how the different farms are doing things. Here we are, the number-one vegetable grower in the state and we're seeing how these guys aren't just growing vegetables but they're responsible stewards of the land."

Sam Leadley, husband of Legislator Esther Leadley, expressed a bit of awe at seeing how far agriculture technology has advanced. He worked on prototypes of precision plows at Cornell in the 1950s, and now the basis of that technology is commonplace on farms.

"It (the tour) gives you an overall perspective on the county as a whole," Leadley said. "We see our potential for increasing the productivity of our farmland. There's not a lot more to put into production so we've got to get more out of every acre."

Nobody's making more land, was an oft-repeated phrase yesterday, and Squires noted that with land assessments going up (meaning higher taxes for farmers), increasing crop yields is critical for farmers to remain profitable.

"I think every operation we've stopped at has been impressive," said Danielle Dills, a staffer for Rep. Chris Collins and a resident of the area who grew up on a family farm. "I take note of the hard work that goes into producing what we eat. It's not just planting something and picking some produce. It's investing in the land and making sure the practices you do to get that produce are conservationally sound and improve the area we live in."

Shelia Hess, representing New York Green and owner of her own consulting business, Conservation Connects, spoke to the group in the morning before the tour about the "green Genesee road map," an effort to develop a comprehensive plan for environmental conservation in Genesee County.

She said there's always a tension over competing needs for land and a plan would help balance those demands with the needs of conservation.

"We can't make more land so the competition goes up about what we do with the land we have," Hess said. "There is a three-way tug of war between natural resource conservation, whether it's wetlands or forest, development, whether residential or commercial, and farming. You can take any piece of property from Genesee County and there's always that conversation -- what's the best use of this property. I think we're going to see that tension increase, so it's a good time to look at a plan so communities can start to think about a bigger picture and not go site by site."

Chad Klotzbach

Sam Leadley asks a question.

Drew and Chad Klotzbach

Christian Yunker

Yunker and George Squires

Yunker and Jay Gsell

Travis Torrey

Gsell listens to Torrey and Squires with others in the group.

George Squires

The Batavian: State mandating another $1 million in county expense to run jail

The Wyoming County father who slammed his 7-year-old son to the floor while shopping at Walmart in May will spend nearly six months in jail.

Christopher P. Cummings. 28, could have avoided straight jail time if he hadn't violated the terms of his plea bargain, which included no additional arrests.

Cummings entered a guilty plea in June to one count of endangering the welfare of child and would have received a sentence known as "shock probation" (intermittent jail followed by five years probation). But he was subsequently arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol in Genesee County and on a DWI charge in Wyoming County.

"Whenever you've appeared in court you've been polite and cooperative," said Town of Batavia Judge Thomas Williams. "Outside of court is where the problem is, and it seems you have not really accepted accountability for your conduct. You haven't dealt with the issues that brought you here in the first place."

Cummings said nothing during sentencing nor did Williams ask him for a statement.

He was immediately taken into custody by a deputy in the courtroom along with two other current jail inmates.

Williams also barred Cummings from any contact with his son for three years, though that order could be modified to allow visitation by Family Court.

Cummings was located by State Police within two hours of the incident after a photo of Cummings was posted on The Batavian and dozens of readers contacted local law enforcement agencies with tips.

Police, and readers, were concerned that the boy may have been injured. The boy was not injured in the incident.

Also in Batavia Town Court today:

• Two of the four men suspected of participating in a $10,000 heist of smartphones from the AT&T store on Veterans Memorial Drive appeared in court. The cases of James P. Garcia and Anthony F. Bovenzi-Ortiz were continued until Oct. 15 pending possible grand jury indictment or a plea offer.
• John J. Saddler, 26, charged with attempted rape, appeared in court and his attorney Mehmet Okay said he was seeking a pre-trial hearing for his client. ADA Will Zickl said he would oppose such a hearing at this time because there is a parole detainer on Saddler. Justice Williams acknowledged that under state bail guidelines he should not have set bail for Saddler (at $10,000) at his initial court appearance, though bail was continued at that amount pending any possible petition by Saddler to Judge Robert C. Noonan in County Court for a bail review.

From Matt Landers:

The Genesee County Republican Committee had its reorganizational meeting last night to select a slate of officers for the upcoming year. Reelected for another term was Chairman Richard Siebert, who resides in Stafford, Vice-chairman Don Read from Pembroke, 2nd Vice-chair Roxanna Given from Elba, Secretary Kathy Jasinski from the Town of Batavia and Treasurer Matt Landers from the City of Batavia. Dave Saleh stepped down as the Committee's parliamentarian, after serving the Committee for more than a decade. Replacing Dave as parliamentarian will be Mark Boylan from Le Roy.

In addition, John Rizzo from Le Roy and Barbara Eddy from Alexander were elected to serve as Genesee County's representatives on the State Republican Committee.

Press release:

The American Legion Botts Fiorito Post 576 announces Selby Davis as the recipient of the Americanism Award. This award is to recognize people who demonstrate the true spirit of Americanism, its ideals, love of flag and country, regardless of race, color or creed. Good citizenship by carrying out these principles, often beyond that expected of him or her, also service to the community, signified by excellence in life of purpose and accomplishment.

Selby is the director and chef of Grace’s Kitchen. The purpose of the Kitchen is to provide a free dinner for the community one night a week, currently on Tuesday. It is a volunteer effort on her part, and is a great commitment to Shelby’s time, keeping her close to home all year long.

Many volunteers continually come forward to help in the kitchen and dining room, on a week-to-week basis. It was not difficult gathering volunteers: they come in great numbers -- a testament to the need that the Kitchen addresses. 

She has one donated freezer and uses her personal freezer for storage of frozen items purchased from Foodlink and those donated by local farmers and others. LCCP's office, located at the parsonage for the First Baptist Church, houses a pantry and one other room for the storage of dry goods for Grace's Kitchen. 

Selby has been the president, vice president and board secretary for LCCP. She also works at the Oatka Festival, the annual auction, and most other fundraising events LCCP holds. She is now a staff member.

Selby has served on the boards of the Ronald McDonald House, Jones Chemicals, and the Children’s Home Association (as president, VP, and secretary). She has served on the Women’s Initiatives Network of the YWCA, on The Fabulous Females Brunch committee for 11 years (one as chairperson), and also on the selection committee for the Fabulous Females Award. This award honors women who have served the community in a way that is true to the ideals of the YWCA.

Selby has also volunteered on the board of deacons and session of the First Presbyterian Church, for Our Lady of Mercy Parish, and currently serves on the vestry of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Le Roy.

Selby has two sons Nicholas, 27, currently attending the Kenan-Flagler School of Business at UNC Chapel Hill, N.C., and Jeffrey, 24, working in Arlington, Va. She was very involved in their upbringing -- attending all school and church events, hockey and basketball practices and games, and golf matches, and taking them on trips to see our wonderful United States of America.

She is the daughter of Frank Davis and the late Nancy Jones Davis. She also has a sister, Hannah Davis ,and three brothers, Ben, Hugh and Andrew.

Selby has a deep connection to Le Roy and a commitment to the needs of people in the community. She has the ability to address these needs with a combination of grace and humor she seeks to serve at every turn of her life and uses her many skills to initiate, organize and implement activities that will best serve her community.

She will be honored Oct. 12, at the American Legion Botts Fiorito Post 576, 53 W. Main St. Le Roy. For information contact The American Legion at 768-2090.

Funeral services have been set for Kevin Doktor, a local businessman killed in a heavy machinery accident Sunday at his home in Corfu.

Doktor owned Doktor's Welding on Route 5 in Corfu and enjoyed auto racing and making his own inventions.

Friends are invited to a time of sharing and memories from 4 to 7 p.m., Friday, at J. Leonard McAndrew Funeral Home, 2 Bogue Ave., Batavia.

The funeral service is at 10 a.m., Saturday, at Pembroke Community Church, 692 Main Road, Corfu.

(Full Obitutary)

Visit Genesee County’s Alpaca Farms year-round but also especially on National Alpaca Farm Days! By Lindsay Hawkins

Recently, the tourism staff of the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce spent some time with Jake, Florence, Oliver, Stella, Alita and Al. If you’ve never visited one of the County’s six alpaca farms, those names might not mean much to you, but friends were made (human and fleece-y) at Alpaca Odyssey, Northwoods Alpacas, Triple B’s Alpaca Farm, and Enchanted Forest Alpacas.

At every farm, we learned something different about alpacas. We learned that alpaca fleece wicks away moisture, females carry their babies (crias) for 11 to 13 months, they spit when they’re mad (at you or one another), and that alpaca farms draw international visitors! 

These farms are open to visitors year-round, but the industry celebrates its craft with National Alpaca Farm Days each September. This year the event will be Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 28-29. Several of our farms are participating and welcome your visit!

More details after the jump (click the headline to view more):

Alpaca Delights

10311 Bethany Center Road, East Bethany, NY 14054 

(585) 344-2983

Made in America hand-spun yarn donated by their alpacas! Visit the alpacas and purchase yarn at their small store. 

How to visit this farm:

• Open by appointments on weekends.
• Participating in this year’s National Alpaca Farm Days (September 28 and 29) 

Alpaca Odyssey

8100 Marble Road, Akron, NY 14001

(585) 542-3939

www.AlpacaOdyssey.com

Alpaca Odyssey & Mercantile of Akron has only been open for four years, but they have quite the collection of alpacas from this hobby-turned-business – twenty-five (and one llama) to be exact. Owners Cathy Marble & Michael Margarucci say they have mostly Huacaya alpacas (the fluffy ones) but they do have several Suris (longer, curly hair, more rare and expensive), as well. Their large, flat property is great for groups and is handicapped accessible. Wide-open land lends itself to petting, feeding, and walking the alpacas.  Be sure to browse the store shared with Triple B’s and pick up some homemade alpaca crafts!

How to visit this farm:

• Groups and families can bring a picnic lunch and watch the alpacas roam the grounds. Visiting the farm is free, however there is a suggested donation of $2 per person for a tour, feeding, and /or walking experience with the alpacas.  
• For groups of 10 or more, the farm will offer a tour, 30-minute fiber-spinning demonstration, and the opportunity to create a simple alpaca fiber craft.  Advance registration is required for this group experience and there is a suggested donation of $4 per person.  
• Participating in this year’s National Alpaca Farm Days (September 28 and 29) 

Alpaca Play Pen, LLC

10869 Bowen Road, Attica, NY 14011

(585) 591-2520

www.AlpacaPlayPen.com

Handmade alpaca items and custom orders are their specialty! From the pasture to you -- purchase goods such as socks, hats, sweaters and scarves made from the soft and warm fiber of an alpaca! The folks at the Alpaca Playpen farm enjoy raising these charming animals and creating useful garments. 

How to visit this farm:

• Farm visit by appointment.

• Products and alpacas are available for requested local events. 

Here’s where you’ll find Alpaca Playpen next:

9/21 -- Alpacas and products onsite at Sweet Jenny's on Main Street in Williamsville  

9/22 -- Alpacas and products onsite at Johnny Bears Restaurant in Darien  

9/28-29 -- Products for sale at the AppleUmpkin Festival in Wyoming, NY 

10/5-6 -- Attending the Agricultural Fair at the Genesee Country Village & Museum  

Enchanted Forest Alpacas

7477 Selden Road, Le Roy, NY 14482

(585) 768-7219

Enchanted Forest Alpacas in LeRoy was the smallest of the four farms visited (in size – not spirit!), with 11 alpacas. Owner Martha McCutchen grew up on the farm in the house out front, where she used to care for her family’s horses and livestock. Martha is a strong advocate that alpacas are fiber animals – NOT meat animals. She is a member of a fiber guild and Alpaca Breeders of WNY and has alpaca products for sale at the Hobby Horse in Le Roy. 

How to visit this farm:

• Perfect for small groups who want a hands-on experience. Visitors will need to call ahead for the whole package -- a tour, feeding, watching an alpaca video, and creating a felt ball craft. 
• Participating in this year’s National Alpaca Farm Days (September 28 and 29) 

Northwoods Alpacas

6499 North Lake Road, Bergen, NY 14416

(585) 494-1371

www.NorthwoodsAlpacas.com

Northwoods Alpacas in Bergen has 24 alpacas – none of whom like the rain. Apparently, they’ll stand outside in the middle of winter, but even though the moisture can’t reach their skin, they ran for cover when it started sprinkling! Several pregnant alpacas are due in the fall, bringing their total occupancy close to 30. Owners Bob and Belinda Grant aren’t worried. They have plenty of land on their farm for everyone to roam. 

How to visit this farm:

• Northwoods’ can accommodate parking for a bus, as well as larger group tours -- which include petting, feeding, and walking the alpacas. There is a suggested donation of $2 per person and groups get a discount at the onsite store! 
• The upscale store is a cool breath of fresh air from the summer humidity (or a warm spot in the winter!) Sweaters, scarves, hats, blankets, a wall full of socks and yarn, and golf attire fill the stocked space. 
• Participating in this year’s National Alpaca Farm Days (September 28 and 29) 

Triple B’s Alpaca Farm

1892 Sharrick Road, Darien Center, NY 14040

(585) 547-9271

It’s not every day that one gets to see an hour-old newborn alpaca! It was like a scene from “Bambi” – the shaky legs trying to walk, nuzzling close to his mother, and falling into to the grass. That brings the count to 23 alpacas for Triple B’s, with five more due to deliver soon. Since opening in Darien Center in 2006, the Burgess family has been breeding alpacas and caring for them like they do their cats and dogs. 

How to visit this farm:

• The alpacas are visible from the road, roaming the fields that are dedicated just to them. Visits to the Burgess’ are encouraged in all seasons, though spring and summer lend the most accessible conditions. 
• Feeding, walking, and (if you come at the right time of year) watching the alpacas being sheared. A suggested donation of $2 a person helps support a local family farm!

Visit Genesee County Tourism for a complete list of agritourism businesses, or to request the Genesee County Agritourism brochure.