Kelly Chamberlain and Luanne Burns, 1979 graduates of Batavia High School, have patented a new product called the Speakbubble.

Chamberlain, a 21-year Navy veteran said, “I thought of the idea two years while driving on the highway, I saw magnets and bumper stickers on cars. I do not like bumper stickers because they are difficult to remove and thought about something that could be used to write a message, that could be changed daily or whenever the user wished.”

He further developed the idea and went to the patent office in 2013, completed the lengthy patent application process and was granted the patent for the Magnetic Speakbubble.

Chamberlain describes the Speakbubble as “a dry erase magnet that could be used in your home, office or as a Twitter for your car." It comes with a dry erase marker and allows you to create customized messages for not only the car, but for the refrigerator, lockers, office equipment, and anything magnetic.

After completion of the patent process, colleague LuAnne Burns designed the Web site for the product, which is www.myspeakbubble.com. The product is made in the United States, retails for $15.99 and is not currently available in stores.

Chamberlain and Burns are offering a 20-percent discount on their product for Genesee County residents by using the Promo code “WNY” when ordering on the Web site. In addition, the Speakbubble can be used as a fundraiser or a promotional product for organizations, sports teams, or businesses.

Photo: Kelly Chamberlain and LuAnne Burns.

A man was reportedly struck by a garbage truck and briefly pinned between it and a dumpster at 396 Wright Road, Alabama, near Tesnow Road. He is no longer trapped but his condition is unknown. Alabama fire and Mercy medics are responding.

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) today condemned the decision by the Fast-Food Wage Board to raise the minimum wage for all fast-food workers statewide to $15 per hour. Hawley said that non-elected bureaucrats making statewide labor policy is an irresponsible way to govern and sets a dangerous precedent that is wrong for New York State.

“As a small-business owner for over four decades, I am appalled at the governor’s handling of this situation,” Hawley said. “Allowing a group of non-elected officials to determine a major change in labor policy for New York’s fast-food industry sets a dangerous precedent of allowing bureaucrats, hand-picked by the governor, to make legislative decisions without debate or input from the Legislature.

"A sharp wage increase will undoubtedly lead to higher prices for consumers and the termination of many employees statewide as franchise owners adjust to deal with higher labor costs. The minimum wage was never meant to be a living wage and a more viable solution would be to create more sustainable, career-oriented jobs instead of providing an incentive against working hard to advance.”

Press release:
The Ellicottville Brewing Company will be visiting Downtown Batavia on Thursday, July 30th, to receive its Beertavia plaque for the “2015 Western New York’s Brew of the Year” for its Blueberry Wheat Beer, which won the best brew at the Beertavia event held on May 16th by the Batavia Business Improvement District (BID).

Ellicottville Brewing Company wanted to receive their award in person and will be at Angotti’s Beers of the World on Jackson Street at 11 a.m. this Thursday.

The inaugural Beertavia was a tremendous success with more than 14 craft brewers in attendance. The goal was to not only bring another event to the Downtown, but also to highlight the advantage of having a brewery in Downtown Batavia.

“Two breweries have been looking at spaces Downtown,” said Laurie Oltramari, the incoming executive director of the BID. “The Batavia Business Improvement District has always strived to provide businesses, new and existing, with opportunities to grow and succeed.”

“Shop Local, Shop Downtown.” Sponsored by: Batavia Business Improvement District. For more info contact the B.I.D. Office at 585-344-0900 / visit us at www.DowntownBataviaNY.com. or like us on Facebook at DowntownBataviaBusinessImprovementDistrict.

Thomas M. Russell, 44, of Seven Springs Road, Batavia, is charged with strangulation, 2nd, following an alleged domestic incident on Harvester Avenue. Russell was put in the Genesee County Jail on $5,000 bail.

Beth G. DeLaVergne, 22, of Kendall Road, Pavilion, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child following an investigation when the parents of a 1-year-old child allegedly found reddish handprints on both shoulder blades after the child returned home from a daycare center in the village. After an investigation, Le Roy Police found DeLaVergne allegedly acted in a manner likely to be injurious to the child and while caring for the child grabbed the child under both arms excessively hard creating the red marks. 

Dortha L. Penders, 37, of Bank Street, Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Penders allegedly left her 10-year-old child and 3-year-old child at home without supervision and didn't have an adequate emergency plan in place while she went to work in an adjoining county. 

Rodney A. Gregory, 50, from Kent, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property, 5th, possession of burglar's tools and trespassing. Gregory allegedly entered onto the property of Hanson Aggregates in Le Roy without authorization on July 9. He is also accused of having tools used to commit forcible entry and property belonging to Hanson Aggregates in his vehicle. A staff member was routinely checking the property and noticed various thefts of scrap-type materials in Gregory's vehicle.

Edward C. Suhr Jr., 57, of Murray Street, Rochester, and Bruce J. Washington, 56, of Grand Avenue, Rochester, are charged with petit larceny. Suhr and Washington are accused of stealing approximately $421 worth of merchandise from Tops Market in Batavia. They were put in the Genesee County Jail on $5,000 bail.

Matthew J. Pasternak, 25, from Amherst is charged with DWI, DWI with a BAC of .08 percent or greater, moving from a lane unsafely and resisting arrest following a property damage accident on Main Street in Le Roy. Pasternak is accused of hitting a fire hydrant after getting in an argument with the passengers in his vehicle over his ability to drive in a safe manner. When officers attempted to take him into custody, he allegedly became abusive. He was put in the Genesee County Jail on $1,500 bail.

Tyanna D. Green, 20, of Pearl Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, and criminally using drug paraphernalia, 2nd. Green is accused of possessing cocaine and drug paraphernalia during an investigation into an unrelated incident.

William J. Reschke, 20, and David J. Reschke, 24, both of Transit Road, Stafford, are charged with giving or selling alcohol to minors following a report of an alleged underage drinking party at their residence. Both subjects are accused of providing alcohol to minors and a place to consume it. Nickolas B. Taylor, 20, from Orange, Va., is charged with unlawful possession of alcohol by a person under 21. Taylor allegedly possessed and consumed alcohol.

Dustin J. Wilmet, 26, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with burglary, 2nd, and petit larceny. Wilmet allegedly burglarized a residence on Bank Street and stole items in December 2014.

Robert W.  Devos, 27, of Lake Street, Le Roy, is charged with DWI and operating a motor vehicle with a BAC of .08 percent or greater. The incident happened at Batavia City Centre. Devos was put in the Genesee County Jail on $1,000 bail.

Leslie-Anne Irwin, 46, of Florence Avenue, Batavia, is charged with DWI, aggravated DWI with a BAC of .18 percent or greater, and aggravated unlicensed operation. Deputy Christopher Lindsay responded to Florence Avenue after receiving a complaint from a citizen about an erratic driver.

Christine M. Hendershott, 34, of Judge Road, Alabama, is charged with operation of a motor vehicle with a BAC of .08 percent or greater, DWI, following too closely, moving from a lane unsafely and driver's view obstructed. Hendershott was pulled over on East Main Street in Batavia by Deputy Joseph Corona for alleged traffic violations when he found her to be in an intoxicated condition.

Michael L. Jackson, 60, of Willow Street, Batavia, is charged with failure to use a sidewalk following a disturbance at Austin Park. Jackson allegedly failed to use the sidewalk and went out into the roadway.

Dana M. McGill, 55, of Maple Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. McGill allegedly stole groceries from a local business. The incident happened on Ellicott Street in Batavia.

Joseph W. Freeman, 31, of East Main Street, Batavia, was arrested on two bench warrants issued out of Batavia City Court. Freeman allegedly failed to appear for a harassment charge and failed to comply with an agreement from Genesee Justice. He was put in Genesee County Jail.

Noel M. Wentworth, 46, of Myrtle Street, Le Roy, was arrested on a warrant out of Batavia City Court for allegedly failing to appear for an aggravated unlicensed operation, 2nd, charge. Wentworth was put in Genesee County Jail on $250 bail. 

Lonnie Ford Jr., 69, of West Main Street, Batavia, was arrested on a bench warrant issued out of Batavia City Court. Ford allegedly failed to pay a fine. He was processed and released after posting bail.

Anthony M. Paladino, 20, Aaron C. Lyons, 19, and Nathan E. Orlando, 19, are charged with unlawful possession of marijuana following a traffic stop on Summit Street in Le Roy. All three subjects were issued appearance tickets.

A dog is reportedly locked inside a white Chevy Impala in front of the Tonawanda Valley Federal Credit Union in Jefferson Square. An animal control officer is responding. It's hot and muggy today -- 83 degrees, with 49 percent humidity, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.

This morning we make a big change in how we handle classified ads and our local business directory. We've moved away from the sites handled by third party vendors and have gone 100-percent homegrown with a new site, Batavia's List.

Batavia's List replaces Shop Batavia, our real estate site and our jobs site.

Our goal was to create a very basic site that acts as a one-stop hub for all kinds of online commerce, from looking up a local business to putting items up for sale, and real estate listings, and job postings, and cars for sale and businesses with promotions and coupons -- all in one place, in one main feed that is easy to scroll through.

We'll also distribute the posts on Facebook (click here to LIKE Batavia's List on Facebook).

The new site also has an easy to use and free way for you to post your garage sales on a map and we've added a calendar of events (more on that to come in a future post). We'll add features as the site grows.

If you're ready to post something, e-mail me at howard@thebatavian.com and I'll send you a coupon code for a free, introductory ad placement.

Local business owners should make sure their business is listed and the listing is up to date.

Members of The Batavian Club can post for free, and as an introductory offer, we've reduced the price of a Club membership by more than half, to $24.95. The membership includes unlimited free classifieds postings as well as $300 in gift certificates to local businesses, plus we're still offering free T-shirts to new members.

Deputies have responded to Walmart to look for a shoplifting suspect who drives a black hatchback but may be hiding in the woods nearby the store.

The subject was reportedly trying to steal an air conditioner, and has been attempting the same heist several times this week, according to a dispatcher.

Pictures submitted by Dylan Brew of of a hummingbird clearwing moth spotted in Alexander. 

Elba volunteer firefighters hosted a boot drive Saturday to benefit the local Boy Scouts to help them purchase a new gear trailer. The old trailer has a broken axle. Karl White, who supplied the photos, said the drive raised nearly half the cost of the trailer.

There's a nice patch of yellow daisies that have popped up in a field near the intersection of Judge Road and Alleghany Road, Alabama.

Doug Smith, of Batavia, won the Harley Raffle hosted by the Town of Batavia Volunteer Fire Department. The photo above is of one of the $500 drawings.

The $500 winners: Eric Bruggman, Attica; Bill Lickfield, Hamburg; Chris Rockerfeller, Batavia; Kristina Lobello, Batavia.

To purchase prints, click here.

A few highlights from yesterday's tractor pulls at the Genesee County Fair, along with a couple of closing livestock shots.

A one-vehicle roll over accident is reported in the area of 175 Genesee St., Darien. 

A person is believed to be trapped. 

Dispatchers are checking on the availability of Mercy Flight. One helicopter is already tied up on a medical call in Stafford. 

Darien fire and ambulance dispatched. 

UPDATE: No serious injuries reported.

Construction on the westbound Thruway between the Pembroke and Batavia exits has slowed traffic for much of the day. Genesee County emergency dispatchers say they expect that to ease up in the next 30 minutes as work crews knock off for now.

Ronald T. Jackson is indicted for the crime of assault in the second degree, a Class D violent felony. It is alleged that on Jan. 3, having been charged with or conivcted of a crime, and while confined in a correctional facility -- the Genesee County Jail -- the defendant intended to cause physical injury to another person and did cause such injury to the person.

Victor J. Grimes is indicted for the crime of burglary in the second degree, a Class C violent felony. It is alleged that on May 28, 2013, Grimes knowingly entered or remained unlawfully inside a dwelling on Cockram Road in the Town of Byron with the intent to commit a crime.

Dmarcus A. Tallchief is indicted for the crime of driving while intoxicated, as a Class E Felony. It is alleged that on Jan. 23 in the Town of Pembroke Tallchief drove a 2013 Toyota on the Thruway while in an intoxicated condition. In count two, Tallchief is indicted for the crime of aggravated driving while intoxicated, per se, as a Class E felony, for allegedly having a BAC of .18 or more at the time of the incident.

From the City's Maintenance Bureau:

The intersection at South Main Street and River Street will be closed between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Monday, July 27, for paving operations.

River Street will be closed from Pearl Street (Route 33) to West Main Street (Route 5).

South Main Street will be closed at Dewey Avenue and Meadowcrest Drive.

Residents and businesses are asked not to park on the roadway during paving operations.

Roadways will be closed during paving operations. If work is postponed by weather, work will be rescheduled for the next business day.

All traffic must seek alternate routes. Thank you for your cooperation.

SATURDAY, JULY 25TH - GENESEE COUNTY FARM BUREAU DAY & BRING YOUR TRACTOR TO THE FAIR DAY
All Day - Wade Henry - Entertainment Tent
8:30am - NIOGA Colored Breed Show - Show Ring
9am - NIOGA Holstein/Open Class Dairy Show - Show Ring
9am - Open Class Goat Show - 4-H Goat Barn
10am - 4-H Horse Gymkhana & Games Classes - Horse Ring
10am - FARM STOCK TRACTOR - Bring your tractor!! - Grandstand
  Enhanced Tractor & Garden Pullers
11am    EXHIBIT HALLS & BUILDINGS OPEN
1-11pm - MIDWAY OPENS - Amusement Area
1pm - NCCC Tanzen Dance Team - Entertainment Tent
2pm - 4-H Sheep Bowl - Entertainment Tent
2-4pm - 4-H Vegetable Art Fun Fair Activity - Kennedy Building
3:30pm - Small Fry Tractor Pull
4pm - 4-H Master Showman Contest - Kennedy Building
6pm - Empire State Pullers Tractor Pulls.
   Immediately following ESP are Outlaw Pulling Series Semi Trucks & Stock Pick Up Trucks       “Run what you Brung” - GRANDSTAND
6:30pm - 4-H Scavenger Hunt - Kennedy Building
8pm - Beer Tent Opens - Beer Tent
8pm - 12am - Dave Lockwood, Worthy Duncan & Paul Cummings - Band - Beer Tent
8pm - 4-H Dairy Animals released
8:30pm - 4-H Horse released
9pm - 4-H Fur & Feather Club Animals released
9pm - 4-H Non-market auction animals - Beef, Goat, Sheep & Swine released
10pm - Kennedy, Merton & Exhibition Buildings open for pick up of entries

Janice Spagnola works on a balloon sculpture in the exhibit hall at the Genesee County Fair during Saturday's events. Among the events was the annual Demolition Derby, which drew a capacity crowd.

Today at the fair -- tractor pulls.

To purchase prints, click here.