A third suspect has been accused of participating in the June 1 burglary of the Sherwin-Williams paint store on Liberty Street.

Nicholas J. Adkins, 22, of no permanent address, has been charged with burglary, 2nd.

Adkins is currently an inmate on unrelated charges in the Genesee County Jail.

Today, Adkins was arraigned on the new charge and returned to the jail.

Previously arrested were Michael J. Elmore, 22, and Rebecca G. Morse, 21, both of 130 Bank St., Batavia.

Previously:

• Photo: Money stolen from safe at Sherwin-Williams
• Sherwin-Williams employee accused of assisting in burglary of store
• Police arrest second suspect in Sherwin-Williams burglary

The Yngodess Shop welcomes their 25,000th customer, Joan Miller! We are approaching our 18-month anniversary and would like to thank everyone for their continued patronage. We thrive on providing the best products and customer service to the area. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you!

From the perspective of the folks who run Insource Urgent Care in Downtown Batavia, their first-of-its-kind clinic is apparently seen as a competitive threat by the executives at United Memorial Medical Center.

A threat that must be crushed.

If their perception is correct, it highlights the fear disruptive innovators can strike in the hearts of incumbent businesses, especially if that business has enjoyed a monopoly position in the market.

Since UMMC officials are not talking about the tensions between Insource and UMMC, we only have the perspective of Insource's owners, which they're willing to discuss, and is also part of a federal anti-trust suit filed by Insource on June 25.

The suit alleges that UMMC conspired with HealthNow, the region's BlueCross BlueShield franchise, to eradicate the hosptial's pesky new competitor.

UMMC, according to the lawsuit, has even tried to muscle other health care providers in the county in an effort to deny Insource the partners it needs to deliver its services.

HealthNow is the dominant health insurance company in Western New York and UMMC has held a monopoly position for emergency and hospital care in Genesee County since the year 2000 merger of Genesee Memorial and St. Jerome's.

Melissa Marsocci, VP of operations for Insource, who is a native of Batavia and well versed in the literature of disruptive innovation, said she wasn't surprised by the response from UMMC to the arrival of her new company. She wishes it had been different, that cooperation rather than competition would have been the watchword, but that's not the case.

"Being from here and knowing the corporate culture over there, I knew we weren't going to be welcomed with open arms," Marsocci said. "Whenever I go anywhere else (to open a clinic), I don't know that, but here, we're just little bugs to them."

Insource is a company designed around innovation. It's model uses more efficient processes for delivering patient care and employs technology to reduce costs while improving quality.

Insource is also willing and able to deliver what it believes is world-class care while accepting lower profit margins per patient.

The result, according to Marsocci, is faster and easier access to top specialists and lower costs for uninsured patients.

In its lawsuit, Insource claims a typical emergency room visit to UMMC costs at least $1,500. The same service through Insource would cost $150.

"I think people deserve a choice," Marsocci said. "Isn't free enterprise what America is all about? Competition is good. It ups the quality, or should, so why not? Why should United Memorial have a monopoly?"

The typical urgent care model is kind of like a doc-in-the-box. The clinics are usually only opened in high-volume communities -- such as well-populated suburbs or densely populated urban neighborhoods. They treat minor injuries and illnesses and do very little in the way of referrals. They're not the place to go if you're seriously ill.

Insource can provide health care as basic as a physical for a high school athlete, up to arranging a consultation with a heart surgeon.

In other words, from a patient perspective, the company can do everything UMMC does, but without the overhead.

When a business planner with an eye toward disruptive innovation looks at a potential opportunity, the planner will try to identify an unmet need and a job to be done.

The unmet need in Genesee County, according to Marsocci, is the lack of top-tier specialists. It's not that they're not here, but there are fewer of them.

And, many local residents -- like it or not, it's true, notes Marsocci -- also lack faith in specialist referrals through UMMC.

This isn't a problem unique to Genesee County or UMMC. It's common in rural counties across the United States.

For the local patient who needs or wants care with a top-tier specialist, the only option until now has been to drive 30 or 40 minutes to Rochester or Buffalo.

"The care here, unfortunately, and I can say this because I've lived in Genesee County all my life, the care here has been substandard for years," Marsocci said. "I don't mean that disparagingly, but I'm saying, call a spade a spade. When I need care beyond primary care, I travel. I have been in those situations where I used a local specialist and it didn't end positively for me, and I've had those times where I was lucky. But you learn through a couple of experiences and you're not going to do it again, so I go east or west."

The job to be done, then, for Insource, is to connect patients who need specialized service with specialists without making them drive for miles and miles.

Computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets, closed-circuit cameras, LCD screens and the Internet -- all the tools of telemedicine -- means those miles, and the wasted time that goes with them, disappear.

The example Marsocci used was of a patient who came to Insource in early Jully complaining of debilitating back pain.

Initially, the concern was that he had a kidney stone, but a CT scan found a growth on his spine. A surgeon and specialist in spinal problems who will soon be one of Insources subtenants was consulted using telemedicine tools. The doctor confirmed the diagnosis and told Insource to have the patient call him on his mobile phone the next day -- July 4 -- for a follow-up consultation.

Two weeks ago, the patient had surgery to remove the growth.

"If that man had gone to any other urgent care, they would not have wanted to spend any more time on him than they had to," Marsocci said. "If they didn't have access to a CT then they knew they were wasting time on him and not getting paid. They would just want to get him out the door.  He would have to go to the emergency room then, which means he's going to spend a lot of money for something we did perfectly well here."

"It's pretty exciting to say he had surgery probably before he even would have seen the spine surgeon had he went anywhere else," Marsocci added.

All of these improvements -- better access to specialists, lower costs -- just make good business sense.

"Why can't the people in this community have the same level of care as the people in Buffalo or the people in Rochester?" Marsocci asked.

The response from local doctors to Insource, even those associated with UMMC, has been uniformly positive, Marsocci said. Insource refers patients to local doctors and to UMMC on a daily basis. The goal is to get the patient the best treatment possible, and that often means local doctors and local specialists are the best resources for local patients.

And local health care providers have found Insource a valuable resource, even referring patients to Insource, she said.

If all this makes so much sense, why aren't established urgent care companies around the nation providing the same service? Why isn't UMMC?

As we said, we lack UMMC's perspective on this competitive climate, but we do know about the patterns of disruptive innovation.

In any classic case of disruptor vs. the disrupted, the incumbents either under-value the disruption or feel trapped by their established business model. The incumbent sees no way to extricate itself from its present business model, no matter how threatening the disruptive innovation might be.

Newspapers, for example, have found it difficult to transition to an online news model because higher profits are found in their dead tree editions. 

While it costs less to produce digital news, the revenues are also substantially lower -- The New York Times publisher once said it was like converting print dollars into digital dimes -- and profit margins are slender to nonexistent (especially if newspapers want to maintain their current newsroom cost structure). Even as readers flee from printed newspapers, incumbent publishers are loathe to go to an online-only business model.

It's very difficult for an incumbent to give up a profitable line of business in favor of a business model that means lower revenue and less profit, especially when successful models are few and far between.

Sailing ship builders couldn't do it when the steam engines came along; Detroit couldn't do it when Japanese cars hit the market; mainframe computer makers couldn't do it when personal computers were first being sold; and, Kodak couldn't do it when digital cameras became popular (and Kodak INVENTED the digital camera).

"We're trying to make sense of where everything should be -- lowering costs, improving quality, improving satisfaction, improving access," Marsocci said. "That's where we find ourselves as disruptive innovators. Nobody in the urgent care business wants to spend the amount of time that we did putting together a formal telemedicine program or the way we do things with continuity of care, having subtenant specialists in our center.

"They want the low-hanging fruit," she added. "It can be a very lucrative business, so they want to find a place in a heavy-traffic shopping plaza and just put up a center and see how many patients they can see each day and make as much money as they possibly can. Where we're really focused on what we're preaching. Continuity of care."

NOTE: Early yesterday evening, The Batavian sent an e-mail to Colleen Flynn, spokeswoman for UMMC, and outlined the nature of the article we were writing about the lawsuit and invited UMMC to comment on the topics raised in this article. The Batavian received no response to the e-mail.

The landlord of a property on East Main Street in the City of Batavia called dispatch concerned about pets there that may be neglected. His tenant hasn't been home in awhile but the person's tarantula, snake and cat are inside and may be in need. An officer will be responding.

Ryan Christopher Riggi, 18, of North Street, Le Roy, is charged with criminal mischief 4th. Riggi is accused of destroying jail property while incarcerated.

Jake F. Dumas, 23, of 260 Whalen Road, Massena, is charged with trespass. Dumas was allegedly told to leave Billy Goats bar and then refused to leave.

Tony C. Bigtree, 23, of 167 Helenea Road, Hoagansburg, is charged with trespass. Bigtree allegedly refused to leave Billy Goats bar after being told to leave.

David William Santry, 21, of Robin Court, West Seneca, is charged with unlawful dealing with a child, 1st. Santry is accused of providing alcohol to people under age 21 at a party on July 6.

Lisa M. Randall, 45, of Kelsey Road, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Randall is accused of shoplifting at Target.

Terry A. Espinosa, 42, of 26 Ganson Ave., Batavia, is charged with disobeying a court mandate.  Espinosa is accused of allowing her children to have contact with a male acquaintance in violation of a Family Court order.

Patrick Leslie Gugluzza, 34, of Broadway Road, Alexander, was arrested on a bench warrant for alleged failure to pay fines related to charges of DWI/drugs, following too closely, criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument.  Gugluzza was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Rachael J. Tabelski, communications director for Genesee County Economic Development Center, released the following details on the four projects that will be considered by the GCEDC board this afternoon. The board meets at 4 p.m. at the MedTech Centre, 99 MedTech Drive (across from the college).

1. (GCEDC) Proposed sales tax and property tax abatement -- Graham Corp.
Graham Corporation would like to renovate the "old" plant area, located at the corner of Harvester Avenue and Howard Street in the City of Batavia. A new bay will be constructed (12,439 square feet) that will enclose the area between two manufacturing bays located facing Harvester Avenue along with renovations of office and manufacturing areas. In addition, a new building (3,800 square feet) will be constructed on the 20 Florence St. property. This new building will be used for X-ray inspections of welds done during the fabrication process. Graham currently has 311 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees and expects to add 30 more over three years after the certificate of occupancy is obtained for these renovations. Board Action Request: Approval of an initial resolution to accept the application, and schedule a public hearing as benefits exceed $100,000. The application for the expansion project includes a sales tax exemption ($240,000) and property tax abatement on the incremental increase in assessed value ($243,396). Historical Look: The last expansion project that Graham undertook and the GCEDC assisted was in 2011. At the time, Graham had 278 FTE’s and pledged 30 new jobs in three years for a total of 308 FTEs. According to its 2013 application the company has exceeded its employment goals and plans to keep growing.

2. (GCEDC) Proposed sales tax and mortgage tax exemption and property tax abatement -- Guthrie Heli-Arc, Inc. 
Guthrie Heli-Arc, Inc., is a federally certified repair facility for transportation vessels. For the past 22 years its has operated out of a rented facility in Bergen. That facility has been sold, and the lease will terminate. CLR Industries, LLC, real estate holding company, has purchased a facility at 6276 Clinton Street Road in Stafford. The company plans on moving into the Stafford facility after a 7200-square-foot addition to the existing structure is completed. The addition is necessary to accommodate workflow. Board Action Request: Approval of a final resolution to approve incentives for the proposed project. The application for the expansion project includes a sales tax ($14,400) and mortgage tax exemption ($3,750) and property tax abatement on the incremental increase in assessed value ($58,902).

3. (GCEDC) Proposed RLF  for business expansion Pellegrino Auto Sales
The company is seeking a 16’x48’ expansion to the current facility and office renovation of 12’x38' at 4060 Pearl Street Road in the Town of Batavia. This will allow for three times the office space for future growth. The company is investing $150,000 and pledging 2.5 FTEs and retaining 5.5 FTEs. Board Action Request: Approval of a $75,000 from the revolving loan fund.

4. (GGLDC) Proposed RLF from the Batavia Micropolitan Area Community Redevelopment Loan Fund -- Jackson Square, LLC.
The former Carr's warehouse was built around 1880 in what is today known as Jackson Square. The company is looking to convert the former warehouse into a mixed-use, commercial and residential site. The ground floor will have flex office/light industrial and four new market rate apartments on the second and third floors. The City of Batavia is current owner of building and will transfer the title to the Batavia Development Corporation for sale to 13 Jackson Square, LLC. It is our understanding that the City of Batavia is looking to assist the project with its 485-A real property tax exemption. Board Action Request: Approval of a $100,000 from Batavia Micropolitan Area Community Redevelopment Loan Fund. Historical look: Board approved final resolution in July 2013 for sales tax ($24,816) and mortgage tax exemption ($2,994) contingent upon 13 Jackson Square, LLC, purchasing the building.

Alabama Fire Department is responding to a motor-vehicle accident on Meadville Road where the driver reportedly has a broken leg and says his vehicle has been stuck in a ditch for eight hours.

Mercy Flight 5 out of Batavia requested to the scene.

Buffalo News: With nine stops here since June, Cuomo is showing unprecedented interest in WNY

Jayme Jack Ellsworth, 36, of 14 McKinley Ave., Batavia, is charged with grand larceny, 4th, and identify theft, 3rd. Ellsworth is accused of stealing the credit card of another person and using it.

Sean Matthew Murphy, 21, of McKinley Parkway, Blasdell, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and moving from lane unsafely. Murphy was stopped at 11:03 p.m. Tuesday on Sumner Road, Darien, by Deputy Dana Richardson.

Derik Frazier Preston Sharkey, 18, of Center Street, Horseheads, is charged with disorderly conduct. Sharkey is accused of becoming disorderly after being ejected from the concert at Darien Lake and refusing to leave and pushing security.

Tiffany Elizabeth Schultz, 18, of Sanford Road, Perry, is charged with criminal trespass, 3rd. Schultz was allegedly found on Darien Lake Theme Park property at 5:45 p.m Monday after previously being banned from the property.

Shiasia Unique Hill,18, of Herald Street, Rochester, was arrested on a bench warrant for alleged failure to pay a fine related to a petit larceny arrest. Hill was jailed on $250 bail.

Eva A. Twichell, 47, of East Aurora, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Twichell was stopped at 9:41 p.m. Sunday in the Town of Batavia by State Police.

Information and photos provided by Elizabeth Bentley-Huber.

Boy Scouts Tristan Korzelius, Jake Houseknecht and Ryan Missel installed storm drain markers in the City of Batavia on Saturday as part of an ongoing effort by the Tonawanda Creek Watershed Committee to remind people that what goes down storm drains has a direct impact on the quality of water in the Tonawanda.

A dozen volunteers installed 253 medallions over storm drain inlets throughout the city.

Tonawanda Creek committee members and local volunteers have also installed these markers in the Village of Attica, hamlets of Varysburg, North Java and Johnsonburg. Last year members installed medallions in the City of Tonawanda and North Tonawanda.

If you are interested in joining this effort or have any questions, please contact Elizabeth Bentley-Huber at Genesee County Soil & Water Conservation District at 585-343-2362 or at Elizabeth.Bentley-Huber@ny.nacdnet.net.

Kirk Peryea and Lucy Pietrzykowski

Kirk Peryea, Lucy Pietrzykowski, Greg Houseknecht, Jake Houseknecht, Tristan Korzelius, Ryan Missel, Robert Cassatt, Molly Stetz. Absent: James Tuttle, Les Winters, David Winters, Addison Winters. These volunteers installed 253 medallions over storm drains in the City of Batavia on July 27, 2013.

The following people were arrested during the Lil’ Wayne Concert at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on Tuesday.

Sophia P. Frank, 19, Kraig Road, Pittsford, is charged with trespass after allegedly refusing to leave the concert venue after being told numerous times to leave. Frank was jailed on $250 bail.

Shawn M. Gombos, 24, South Park Parkway, Buffalo, is charged with trespass after attempting to reenter the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return. Gombos was jailed on $250 bail.

Jelyejuan J. C. Walker, 18, Colt Street, Geneva, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.

Tiffany A. Pope, 18, Forest Hill Drive, Williamsville, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.

Kevin J. Goldsmith, 20, Brook Court, East Amherst, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.

Paul C. Reinis, 19, Shoecraft Road, Penfield, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.

Andrew J. Lawrence, 18, Norris Street, Buffalo, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and possession of alcohol after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana and alcohol.

Jeffrey V. Janese, 18, Woodland Avenue, Niagara Falls, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.

Christian A. Fieckert, 19, Amherst Drive, Buffalo, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.

Cody H. Bauth, 19, Hirschfield Drive, Williamsville, charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.

Michael J. Diliberto, 18, Moulton Avenue, Tonanwanda, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.

Zacharie T. Capozzi, 18, Glenhurst Road, Tonawanda, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.

Bradley A. Thomas, 18, Lynbrook Avenue, Tonawanda, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.

Joshua L. Cunningham, 19, Old Country Road, Rochester, is charged with disorderly conduct after allegedly fighting with security while being ejected from the concert venue.

Aaron J. Haskell, 24, Daywood Drive, Baldwinsville, is charged with criminal trespass, 3rd, after allegedly reenter the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Jacob D. Raczka, 23, Boncroff Avenue, West Seneca, is charged with trespass and disorderly conduct after allegedly engaging in a fight in the concert line and then reentered the concert venue after having been ejected for the earlier fight.

Marissa E. Brucato, 18, Splendorwood Drive, Penfield, is charged with criminal trespass, 3rd, after allegedly reentering the concert venue after having been previously ejected.

Aaron J. Goodspeed, 17, Tift Street, Buffalo, is charged with trespass after allegedly attempting to enter the concert venue after having been previously ejected and told not to return.

Jacob R. Brock, 20, Ward Road, North Tonawanda, is charged with trespass after allegedly refusing to leave Darien Lake property after being told several times.

Ryan C. Elliott, 16, Shores Road, Ulster, Pa., is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.

Amastushia L. Spikes, 22, Columbia Avenue, Batavia, is charged with three counts of harassment, 2nd, after allegedly striking a security guard and two other people while being ejected from the concert.

Christina M. Laughlon, 25, Lasalle Avenue, Niagara Falls, is charged with trespass after allegedly attempting to reenter the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Maverick R. McMurray, 24, Columbia Avenue, Batavia, charged with harassment, 2nd, after allegedly punching another subject in the head several times.

Ryan J. Keyes, 21, Irvine, charged with disorderly conduct after allegedly engaging in a fight while refusing to leave the venue.

The following people were issued citations for allegedly consumption/possession of alcohol under age 21.

Andrew J. Mikos, 17, Washington Street, Geneva
Joshua J. Krause, 19, Seasons Trail, Webster
Taryn E. Laffin, 19, Finwood Drive, Baldwinsville
Jade M. Massimi, 19, Penora Street, Depew
Kacey D. Ezra, 18, Parkdale Ave Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada
Patrick G. Stairs, 17, Helena Street, Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada
Joshua C. Rosettani, 17, Parkdale Avenue, Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada
Tara M. Songster, 20, School Street, Farmersville
Adrian Skudrinja, 18, Oakview Drive, Williamsville
Janelle N. Migliore, 17, Culpepper Road, Williamsville
Erika L. Rouland, 18, Keli Drive, Waterloo
Cady J. Rouland, 18, Keli Drive, Waterloo
Jessica M. Conkey, 18, Waterloo-Geneva Road, Waterloo
Kyle L. Lipp, 20, Arbor Road, Walworth
Ashley M. Monti, 20, East Main Street, Mount Jewett, Pa.
Samantha M. Battaglia, 20, Greeves Street, Kane, Pa.
Daniel R. Gocher, 19, Feigle Road, Lockport
Shanna M. Krugolets, 17, Ranch Trail, West Amherst
Hannah A. Laschiavo, 19, Millersport Hwy. Amherst
Zachary P. Rodems, 19, Glenn Oak Drive, East Amherst
Julian M. Richmond, 19, South Roberts Road, Dunkirk
Andrew J. Mast, 17, Martin Road, Clarence
Christopher J. Jackson, 19, Pendale Circle, North Tonawanda
Troy W. Berger, 19, Brockmoore Drive, East Amherst
Dylan P. Murphy, 18, Dawn Avenue, Angola
Michaela A. Stepniak, 18, Erie Road, Angola
Ashley M. House, 20, County Route 87, Hammondsport
Brandon A. Bullock, 20, Hundrat Drive, Parker Heights, Texas
Paul D. Gohlman, 19, Maple Beach Road, Geneseo
Charles J. Biddle, 20, Braunview Way, Orchard Park
Jason H. Kasper, 20, East Green Street, Olean
Jared J. Mitchell, 19, Irving Street, Olean
Alberto Rodriguez, 20, Scenic Circle, Rochester
Bria P. Cole, 19, Pleasant Street, Pottsdam
Sterling T. Jones, 19, East Avenue, Lockport
Atiana L. German, 18, Youngs Road, Williamsville
Chelsea M. Sutterlin, 19, South Union Street, Olean
Brennan J. McDonnell, 20, Woodridge Avenue, Buffalo
Aaron D. Ritter, 19, Courtly Circle, Rochester
Cody C. Cook, 17, Mayberry Drive, East Buffalo
Jacob M. Swiatowy, 19, Porter Avenue, Batavia
Nicholas J. Mungillo, 18, Union Square Batavia
Jeffrey C. White, 20, Bennett Road, Bloomfield
Michael E. Sciarratta, 19, Wendover Road, Penfield
Patricia L. Snavely, 17, School Street, Victor
Emily A. Baumgartner, 17, Gannett Road, Farmington
Jeffrey T. Kosakowski, 18, Cadyville Road, Livonia
Ryan P. Brogan, 19, Hosmer Drive, Syracuse
Katelyn N. Hemmingway, 17, Lyndale Avenue, Tonawanda
Sarra T. Kashyap, 19, West 8th Street, Columbus, Ohio
Adel R. Adam-Eskander, 17, Berg Street, Ontario, Canada
Franjo B. Taber, 19, Crowley Avenue, Buffalo
Randall J. Marcaitis, 19, Winchester Drive, Fairport
Joseph A. Vecchiarelli, 20, Main Street, Woodstock
Madeline R. Meyer, 17, Macarthin Drive, Williamsville
Aaron D. Buckley, 18, Lakeville Lane, Webster
Zachary M. Lagana, 19, Church Street, Phelps

Press release:

The Board of Directors of the Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) will consider two projects at its Aug. 1 board meeting. The board anticipates reviewing two revolving loan fund applications at this meeting as well.

Graham Corporation is seeking sales and property tax abatement for an expansion of its existing facilities. A new bay will be constructed (12,439 square feet) that will enclose the area between two manufacturing bays facing Harvester Avenue along with renovations of office and manufacturing areas. In addition, a new building (3,800 square feet) will be constructed on the 20 Florence St. property. This new building will be used for X-ray inspections of welds done during the fabrication process.

The total capital investment of the project is estimated to be approximately $5,500,000, with the proposed tax incentives contributing $483,396. Graham currently has 311 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees and expects to add 30 more over three years after the certificate of occupancy is obtained for these renovations.

The estimated economic impact of the project is 17.30:1. For every dollar of tax relief granted, the company will invest $17.30 into the local economy. Because the proposed incentives exceed $100,000, the board will first consider an initial resolution to be followed by a public hearing.   

The last expansion project that Graham undertook – also with assistance from the GCEDC – was in 2011. At the time Graham had 278 FTEs and pledged 30 new jobs in three years for a total of 308 FTEs. According to its 2013 application, the company has exceeded its employment goals and plans to continue growing.

Guthrie Heli-Arc, a federally certified repair facility for transportation vehicles, is seeking sales and mortgage tax exemption and property tax abatement for an expansion and relocation project. For the past 22 years, the company has operated out of a rented facility in Bergen. That facility has been sold, and their lease will terminate. CLR Industries, LLC, a real estate holding company, has purchased a facility at 6276 Clinton Street Road in Stafford. Guthrie Heli-Arc plans on moving into the Stafford facility after a 7200-square-foot addition to the existing structure is completed. The addition is necessary to accommodate workflow.

The total capital investment of the project is estimated to be approximately $300,000, with the proposed tax incentives contributing $77,052. Guthrie Heli-Arc estimates that the project will allow the company to create two new jobs while retaining six others. The estimated economic impact of the project is 9.4:1. For every dollar of tax relief granted, the company will invest $9.40 into the local economy. 

All GCEDC Board meetings are open to the public. Meetings are held on the second floor of the Dr. Bruce A. Holm Upstate Med & Tech Park, located at 99 MedTech Drive in the Town of Batavia, across from Genesee Community College. The meeting is anticipated to convene at 4 p.m.

Press release:

The Genesee County AmeriCorps Program, in collaboration with the Genesee County and Batavia youth bureaus, is planning the annual Safe Summer Children’s Carnival from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 1 at Falleti’s Ice Arena, 22 Evans St. in Batavia. It's open to the public.

One dollar buys a ticket to play 10 games, and children can win “funny money” to redeem for prizes.

Entertainment by “Charlie and Checkers” is scheduled from 10:30-11:30 a.m. and the games will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will also be several community agency booths.  Visiting these booths enters a child to win an iPod Shuffle.

For more information on the carnival please contact Chelsea at the Genesee County Youth Bureau at 344-3960.

Press release:

The Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming County health departments are encouraging county residents to “Choose Health.” Taking small steps in our day-to-day living and making positive health choices will lead to healthier outcomes. Is this a step you can take?

When you consider the information that you receive regarding your health, where does the majority of the information come from? A doctor, the Internet, family, friends, or coworkers? Some of this information might be excellent, while other information may be incorrect or too broad to adopt as part of your healthy routine. As always, we encourage you to seek out the best information in order to make informed health choices.

Beginning in September, the Genesee County Health Department will offer new and up-to-date technology to all patients in the clinic waiting room and to those we meet during educational community events. The new technology is made available through an exciting award to the county through the National Network of Libraries of Medicine. The award provides iPad devices, kiosks, a printer, and a large screen television to make accessing health information fun and inviting.

Free of charge, patients have the opportunity to get directly connected to health information using Web sites that the National Network of Libraries of Medicine support, ensuring the information you receive is reliable. This can be health information relevant to your visit, or related to other health concerns. Patients have the ability to print the information out to take home or to use it to consult with a health professional at the clinic.

Unsure how to use an iPad tablet? The waiting room will be stocked with directions as to how to easily operate and use the technology while waiting.

The National Network of Libraries of Medicine supports various Web sites including Medline Plus, AIDSinfo, NIH Senior Health, ToxTown, and many more. Each Web site is designed to be easily understood and offers tips on how individuals can make healthy choices. Even if you do not use Genesee County clinics or miss the opportunity at community events, we highly recommend each of the Web sites for great day-to-day health information.

There are three different clinics that are offered through the Genesee County Health Department; Immunization, STD/HIV Testing and Tuberculosis Testing.  The Immunization Clinic is offered by appointment, twice a month, for both adults and children. The STD/HIV Testing Clinic is a walk-in clinic, offered every Tuesday from 9 to 11 a.m. The Tuberculosis Testing Clinic is also available twice a month and on a walk-in basis, too. To make an appointment and to check for clinic dates please visit the department’s Web site or Facebook page.

You can easily become a health-conscious consumer by accessing reliable health information and using it to make healthier choices. Utilizing this educational opportunity now makes it easier than ever! 

This project has been funded in whole or in part with federal funds from the National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, under Contract No. HHS-N-276-2011-00003-C with the University of Pittsburgh, Health Sciences Library System.

A special thank you goes to Carrie Whipple for her assistance and research for this column. Carrie is a Public Health Intern with the Orleans County Health Department and is receiving her master’s degree from the University of New England.

For information about health department services:
    •    Genesee County Health Department call: 344-2580, ext. 5000, or visit their Web site at www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/health/index.html. Visit Facebook at Genesee County Health Department and Twitter at GeneseeCoHealthDept.
    •    Orleans County Health Department call: 589-3278 or check out our Web site at:  www.orleansny.com/publichealth. Visit Facebook and Twitter: the user name for both is OrleansCoHealth.  
    •    Wyoming County Health Department call: 786-8890 or visit their Web site at www.wyomingco.net/health/main.html.

In an effort to be more accessable to contituents, Assemblyman Steve Hawley held his first "Telephone Town Hall" this evening and promised more to come.

The hour-long "free and convenient" format allowed the 133,000 residents of the 139th Assembly District the chance to sit in an easy chair, put the phone on speaker mode, or not, and hear dialogue about voters' concerns or ask a question of their representative.

Before taking calls, Hawley mentioned current issues he's most passionate about -- job creation, equitable funding for Upstate education, support for veterans' causes, and repeal of the SAFE (Secure Ammunitions and Firearms Enforcement) Act, as well as finding out how voters feel about dividing the state in two (saying the newly configured entities could be called "New York and New Yawk").

He spoke a lot about the recently enacted SAFE Act, though he acknowleged getting it completely repealed is an uphill battle. Hawley said he's appalled that no time or effort was put forth to allow legislators to read the bill or weigh in on it. It was signed by the governor less than five minutes after being passed by both chambers of the state legislature. Hawley vehemently opposed it, has introduced a bill to repeal it, and maintains that it does nothing to increase public safety.

At 6:44, the first questioner, Doug, asked why the purported "commonsense governor" -- so horrified by the use of assault weapons -- would entertain Hollywood's request for an amendment to the SAFE Act that would allow filmmakers to use replicas of assault weapons while creating movies and video games in New York. Hawley simply replied that the entire SAFE Act needs to be eliminated.

Carol asked about controversial hydro-fracking and whether there's any legislation pending regarding it. Hawley replied that he's not aware of any, but said the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Health Department are currently studying the issue.

Hawley noted that "fracking" to extract oil from rock shale has been done in New York, particularly the Southern Tier, for roughly 80 years, but not hydro-fracking. The Southern Tier "has suffered significant economic doldrums, like the rest of Upstate, and I will withhold my opinion (on hydro-fracking) until the studies are out."

Next, Hawley proudly mentioned the bipartisan effort that resulted in restoring $90 million in proposed funding cuts for programs to aid the developmentally disabled.

Then a guy named Steve, of Orleans County, who said his county is probably the poorest one in Upstate New York, wanted to know why a disabled, wheelchair-bound citizen like himself can't get into many businesses to buy their goods. His questions to the proprietors result in "blank stares" and they claim to "know nothing" about accessibility for the disabled.

Hawley suggested he contact his local elected officials for help, including two staffers -- "Jaylene or Eileen" -- from his office.

Another caller asked about the steady gravy train of benefits offered by New York to those who flock here to take advantage of the system.

The Assemblyman acknowleged that New York is the most "benefit-rich" state in the Union, surpassing not only every state individually, but even California, Texas and North Carolina combined -- shelling out $90 billion a year in benefits. It is that reason many people flock here, the Assemblyman said, not jobs or family reasons.

This is one incentive for introducing legislation strengthening proof of residence requirements and mandating drug and alcohol testing for applicants, Hawley said. The proposal will be on the November ballot.

"The problem is that Downstate has a problem with reining in public-assistance spending," Hawley said.

Dorothy asked about casino gambling and Hawley said he voted against a proposal to expand gambling but favors a bill asking voters this November whether to allow three or four casinos Upstate, east of Route 14 (no specific geography cited).

Caller John said he has dim hope that slicing the state in half will ever happen, but wanted to know how Downstate can be made to hear and help resolve problems Upstate.

As far as splitting up New York, Hawley acknowledged it's a longshot, but said "there's more and more talk about it." (C'mon -- even Staten Island doesn't want to be considered a burrough of NYC anymore.) In a nutshell, the people Downstate live vertically and rent, we live horizontally and own homes, have grass, and more land -- they don't understand us, and how their tax-and-spend "solutions" are anything but.

Still, Hawley emphasized the need to stay engaged and keep working for resolutions with a view of the world where the "glass is always half full."

Asked about the utility tax, Hawley said he was very disappointed that the tax increase, set to expire in March 2014, has been extended by the Governor for another four years, costing taxpayers billions.

Rhonda, in Albion, asked about the plethora of abandoned houses there and complained that efforts to fix them up end up being a tax burden on the citizens of Albion. Hawley offered only that she try and work with local code enforcement officers to resolve issues.

Next, Hawley decried the ever-present burden of unfunded mandates -- noting that the biggest one is Medicaid -- and the Feds pay 50 percent of bill, the State pays 25 percent, and local government is responsible for the remaining 25 percent but is not reimbursed. That escalates the cost of doing business here.

Governor Cuomo's promises to reduce unfunded mandates have been empty ones, Hawley said.

The session ended with Hawley promising more Telephone Town Halls, saying they are helpful to him and to citizens and they increase accessiblity and transparency in government.

Like most of us, Tom King works hard to make ends meet.

So an $1,800 loss following a hit-and-run accident in Oakfield is hard to take.

He's hoping readers of The Batavian will help solve the crime.

His wife's car was struck by a dark-colored pickup truck at about 11:30 p.m., July 6 on Sunrise Parkway. The truck, driven by a male driver, then fled the scene at a high rate of speed. The truck likely suffered front-end damage.

State Police are handling the investigation but have been unable to locate the truck or the driver.

King's wife and daughter were in the car and suffered minor injuries. King was standing on the front porch of his home, he said, and witnessed the accident.

The car is a total loss. The rear was smashed and the frame cracked.

"All I'm asking for is a little help," King said. "We work hard for the little that we have, but an $1,800 loss for the car is too much."

Anybody with information that may help solve the case can contact State Police at (585) 344-6200.

A second rider was reported down and injured at Area 51 in East Pembroke. Mercy medics responded. The responders are now back in service.

A possible house fire is reported off Route 33, just south of Route 19. Bergen fire is responding.

UPDATE 8:40 p.m.: A call back reports that the fire appears to be a controlled burn at 7062 Route 19. The fire department is continuing to confirm.