St Joseph's School Handbell Choir performs "Angels We Have Heard on High" for the Christmas Concert Dec. 17, 2013. The group is directed by Kae Woodruff Wilbert.

From left: Matthew Zehler, Jaylee Maniscalco, Matthew Stevens, Benjamin Paserk, Samuel Bowman, Faith Falkowski, Mark Hoerbelt, Mary Warner, and Mary Kochmanski.

Other members of the Choir are: Amanda Bergman, Ariana de Sa e Frias, Doria Gallison, Jennifer Miller, Rachel Nickerson, Katherine Warner, Katelyn Zehler, Kaylyn Carlson, Christopher Gualtieri and Hannah Gualtieri.

Long lines formed at the Batavia Post Office today.

According to Darlene Sharping, who has been at the customer service desk for 14 years, the Batavia Post Office has been one busy place for the last three weeks.

Today the wait in line was about 20 minutes. Some people walked in and walked out, while others braved the line and waited. 

Marybeth Bowen needed to mail a large envelope for $1.90, but did not have enough stamps. She had six but needed eight. In the Christmas spirit, another woman who was waiting in line to mail a lot of packages, volunteered to mail her envelope so she would not have to wait in line for stamps.

Sal Oddo, who has worked behind the customer service desk for 35 years here in Batavia says tomorrow is the last day to mail out packages to places like Florida or California. Anything after tomorrow might not make it in time for Christmas.

If you are mailing in the Northeast the last day is Thursday.

The Batavia Post Office will be open from 9-5 during the week.

Boxes were the theme in line today.

Even though the lines were long most people seemed to be in the Christmas spirit.

Le Roy residents, business owners, community leaders and public safety officials packed into the Le Roy Town Hall Monday night to express their opposition to potentially reducing the number of lanes through the village. A proposed plan would make Main Street two lanes instead of four.

The public meeting was hosted by Le Roy Business Council and was attended by NYS Department of Transportation officials.

DOT Regional Traffic Engineer David Goehring said that Le Roy was targeted as an area that needs minor, preventative resurfacing. As part of the project, they looked at the roads and discussed with village leaders ways to make the village more pedestrian and parking friendly, concerns about speeding, as well as traffic issues at the corner of routes 5 and 19, Lake Street.

Using DOT jargon such as “calming traffic” (slowing down traffic) and “road dieting” (reducing the size of current roads) he cited research that shows how four-lane roads encourage speeding and quick lane changes, as well as being a tight squeeze for trucks and people parked on the street. 

“We looked at traffic volume and saw an opportunity for 'road dieting' when preventive maintenance to pavement on Route 5 is performed in July -- dieting the current four lanes in order to trim them down to two lanes,” Goehring said. “The volume of traffic that comes through Le Roy would allow a single lane of traffic in each direction to accommodate it.”

The plan reduces the four-lane traffic that runs from the railroad overpass eastward to Le Roy Country Club into wider, single lanes of traffic in both directions and a middle turning lane, along with modifications to increase the turning radius at the intersection of routes 5 and 19.

The proposed route would have a 14- to 16-foot-wide center lane throughout the village, with 10-foot-wide parking spaces on both sides of the street in the business district. Parked traffic would have an additional eight feet of space between them and vehicle traffic due to the installation of “bike lanes” in both directions.

“This tends to reduce speed and reduce rear-end accidents because left-hand turn traffic is not in a live lane. People exiting driveways only have to gauge one lane both ways and can turn into the center lane, which gives you a refuge spot to get in and out of your driveway,” DOT Civil Engineer Brad Walike said.

Le Roy Mayor Greg Rogers and Town Supervisor Stephen Barbeau both said their constituents would prefer downtown parking be the focus of the changes, not the roadways.

“In an ideal situation, we’d like to see reverse diagonal parking and keep the existing highways the same,” Rogers said. “I don’t know if we have the right to request this, but that’s our feeling.”

Reverse diagonal parking allows traffic to back into slots instead of pulling in.

Emergency responders warned that they need the extra space to maneuver through downtown.

“When we respond on Route 5 going east, traffic has a place to get out of the way. There would hardly be enough room for our trucks to get down Main Street under the proposed new plan,”  Le Roy Fire District Chief Tom Wood said. “We think you need to take a closer look at the west side, near the underpass.”

Le Roy resident John Duysson, a deputy whose job with the Sheriff's Office includes accident reconstruction, said he understood the plan, but disagreed with some of it. Besides improving traffic at the intersection of routes 5 and 19, he said he believes it will only increase traffic congestion.

“You’re dead on about routes 5 and 19, but on the rest, you’re nuts,” Duysson said. “I disagree with the proposal all the way through.”

Le Roy Historical Society Director Lynne Belluscio said the traffic pattern along Route 5 in Batavia keeps her from going downtown and she’s afraid people will feel the same way about coming into the village.

“I’m concerned people will feel it’s easier just to go around Le Roy,” Belluscio said.

Goehring said the projects in Batavia and East Bethany weren’t the best comparisons to the proposed Le Roy plan, which he equated more to the traffic plan implemented in Avon along Route 5.

NYSDOT officials will consider the community input and meet with local officials with a revised plan early next year.

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The City of Batavia Fire Department has been called to Pearl Street and Brooklyn Avenue for a transformer down in the road and on fire.

There are reportedly many lines down on the road.

UPDATE 10:50 p.m.: City fire is on location and investigating.

UPDATE 10:53 p.m.: There is a primary line down in front of Tonawanda Terrace. National Grid has been called to the scene. No ETA given. There are some power outages in the area.

UPDATE 10:57p.m.: Pearl Street is blocked to traffic at Brooklyn Avenue.

UPDATE 11:20 p.m.: Some signal lights are out on West Main Street and traffic is reportedly not stopping at the Lyon Street intersection with West Main.

UPDATE 11:27 p.m.: A Sheriff's deputy is directing traffic at Lewiston and Park roads.

UPDATE 11:33 p.m.: National Grid is on location.

UPDATE 12:15 a.m.: National Grid has started to work on the problem. The outage is affecting about 746 customers. The scene has been turned over to National Grid and City fire is going back into service. Estimated restoration time is 2:30 a.m.

According to Darien Fire Chief Dale Breitwieser, an earlier post about a reported snowmobile accident in Darien was part of a drill involving the Darien and Corfu fire departments. 

The drill started a little before 7 p.m. and just finished up about 8:30 p.m.

Pictured from left: Officers Matt Lutey, Chad Richards and Felicia DeGroot

Press release

Dec. 16, 2013

This holiday season, the Batavia Police Benevolent Association has sponsored two families in need. These families have been affected this year not only financially, but by abuses involving children. The Child Advocacy Center assisted the PBA in connecting with these families in need.

This year, the Batavia PBA purchased items ranging from toys to food to basic necessities, for seven children and their families. We know this will bring many smiles to these children during this holiday season.

The Batavia PBA uses monies which it receives through donations from the community to fund such programs, and wishes to thank all of those who have contributed this year. With the continued support from our community, the Batavia PBA can assist more families throughout the years to come.

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Tom Turnbull is no stranger to Batavia, its Chamber of Commerce, or the business community. He is a lifelong resident of the city; he’s been active in the Chamber for many years and was the publisher of the Daily News for the past 11 years. He is a familiar face and a respected leader.

The skills and experience Turnbull brings from his career at the The Daily News, journalism, business, marketing, public relations and community involvement, align well with his new position as the president of the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce.

“From my time as an advertising representative and also as publisher, I am used to working with area businesses on marketing and promoting their businesses. A lot of what we do here at the Chamber is just an extension of promoting and marketing area businesses and Genesee County as a whole,” Turnbull said.

The son of a local business owner, Turnbull, 60, holds a degree in journalism from Syracuse University and an MBA from the State University at Buffalo. Following the retirement of former Chamber president Lynn Freeman, Turnbull took over the job in October. He’s settling into his new role and is enthusiastic about his new career.

Turnbull jokingly says that his biggest challenge so far has been trying to figure out predecessor Lynn Freeman’s filing system.

“Seriously though, the biggest challenge has been getting my arms around all of the different aspects that the Chamber is involved in,” Turnbull said. “I have been amazed at the breadth and scope of our Chamber’s activities. From tourism to insurance to small business consulting and loans to public policy advocacy to regional collaborations to networking… it just goes on and on. Our Chamber is a very dynamic organization and I’m still learning about all that we do here.”

After 38 years at The Daily News, where he worked his way up from an advertising representative to the publisher, Turnbull was used to knowing his field inside and out. There weren’t many situations that he hadn’t run into in the newspaper business. As the new kid on the block at the Chamber, he’s getting used to not having all the answers and he’s embracing the challenge of researching the ins and outs of his new profession.

“It is different but that’s also part of what makes this switch to the Chamber so exciting. I’m learning something new every day and enjoying every minute of it,” Turnbull said. “Our chamber is one of the best run in the state and that was one of the things that excited me about taking this position. Lynn and the staff have done a great job. The way I look at it is I’m just going to take the baton and keep on running.”

Being born and raised in Genesee County and having lived here his whole life, Turnbull values and believes in the Chamber’s mission of creating an environment for business success that will enhance the quality of life for all the citizens of Genesee County.

“I love this county and I believe that this position will allow me to give back to the area which has been so good to me and my family.”

The Chamber has around 600 members and plays an important role in supporting the business community because a strong business community ensures a better quality of life for everyone.

The Chamber's function includes training for businesses, representing business to elected leaders and providing networking opportunities for business owners and employees. The Chamber helps businesses connect to the community and grow.

For 2014, the Chamber is sponsoring the return of the Home Show, which will take place March 28, 29 and 30 at the Ice Arena. Planned events are the awards dinner Feb. 22 at the Clarion, Celebrate Agriculture dinner March 22, golf tournament Aug. 6, and the Decision Makers Agricultural Forum in September.

Currently being discussed by the Town of Batavia, is the possibility of a new Welcome Center to be built on Veterans Memorial Drive and Park Road. The Welcome Center would house the offices for the Chamber, which serves as Genesee County’s tourism agency.

Turnbull has been married to his wife, Michelle, for 20 years and they have a 14-year-old son, JT.

Stephanie Ann Bonin, 19, of Ross Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, 4th. Bonin was arrested following an incident reported at 1:24 p.m., Dec. 6, at 4330 Commerce Drive, Batavia. She was allegedly found in possession of an expandable metal baton in her purse.

Joshua John Lein, 34, of Kibbe Avenue, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater and criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. Lein was stopped at 1:12 a.m., Saturday, on West Main Street, Batavia, by Deputy Joseph Corona.

Raymond W. Schramm, 27, of East Pembroke, and Marla A. Mugler, 24, of Batavia, are each charged with harassment, 2nd. Schramm and Mugler were arrested by State Police in connection with an alleged incident reported at 3:45 p.m., Dec. 9. No further details released.

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The City of Batavia Fire Department is on scene at Bank of America, 100 Main St., for the odor of  natural gas.

Fire crews have been on scene for about 20 minutes and have detected some levels of CO on the first floor and in the basement. A crew on the roof has detected the same smell there and they are shutting down the heating/cooling system.

UPDATE 8:52 a.m.: City fire has cleared the building of CO and levels are down to zero.They have isolated the problem to the heating units on the roof and all of the heating and cooling units have been shut down until maintenance arrives. Engine 12 will remain on scene until they arrive.

UPDATE: 9:06 a.m.: Engine 12 has now cleared the scene and is back in service.

A community forum to discuss a Route 5 resurfacing project will be held at 5:30 p.m., Monday, at the Town Hall in Le Roy.

The informal discussion is hosted by the Le Roy Business Council and will include officials from the NYS Department of Transportation.

The project involves potentially reducing the number of lanes on Main Street in Le Roy from four to two.

Topics will include the project itself, how the project came to be, input from public safety officials and local businesses as well as community leaders.

The Le Roy Town Hall is located at 48 Main St.

Ellicott Avenue snow

Many residents could be found digging out their driveways and clearing their cars of snow this morning.

After five straight days of snowfall, Genesee County will be getting a break today. There are no warnings, watches or advisories and temperatures will rise to the mid-20s. There is a chance of snow, but less than a half inch.

The seven-day forecast calls for rising temperatures and possibly 45 degrees by Friday.

Greg Lee uses his snowblower to clear his rental property on Richmond Avenue.

Pat Cavanaugh shovels out her driveway on Redfield Parkway.

Pat's neighbor gives her a hand.

After many days with temperatures below freezing, icicles have formed on Arby's front windows.

The McFollins brothers tried to go sledding at Centennial Park, but the snow was not good for sledding. So a snowball fight broke out on the way home. Pictured are Javin, 8, Ayden, 10, Mason, 12, and Carter, 8, of Batavia.

Plows were out clearing and salting the roads and streets seemed to be in better shape than yesterday.

Four-year-old Violet Sobresky of Batavia tells Santa and Mrs. Claus all about her Christmas list.

The blustery, winter weather could not keep the kids away from Santa Claus at the 12th Annual Children's Gala at the Holland Land Office this afternoon.

Santa and Mrs. Claus, Civil War reenactors, games, music and crafts kept kids of all ages busy on a Saturday afternoon.

Jayden Corcoran, 9, of Batavia, shows off the gingerbread Christmas ornaments he created.

Seven-year-old Nina Bartz, of Batavia, tells Santa her mother really needs a new blender.

Aliyah Curry, 9, of Batavia, creating a gingerbread ornament.

Assistant Director Jeffrey Fischer, Chairperson Linda Johnston, Co-chair Brenda Alvut, Santa and Mrs. Claus take time out to pose for a group picture.

A two-car accident with injuries is reported on South Street Road between Dillon Road and York Road. The road is blocked.

One victim is complaining of a neck and collarbone injury. Pavilion fire is on scene and stablizing the patient. South Street Road is being closed down.

UPDATE 6:07 p.m.: Pavilion is back in service and the road is now open.

Pembroke and Indian Falls have been called to the TA Travel Center in Pembroke on Rt. 77 for the odor of natural gas.

An employee there says they called National Fuel last evening, but they did not show up.

At about 1:30 p.m. an employee called again to report an odor of gas at the TA Travel Center. National Fuel told the employee there to evacuate the building.

When the Pembroke Fire Department arrived about 2 p.m. people were still inside and no one had been evacuated.

East Pembroke was also requested to the scene and is checking out the building with a gas meter. National Fuel is now in route with a four-minute ETA.

UPDATE 2:39 p.m.: All rooftop heating/cooling units have been shut off.

UPDATE 3:20 p.m.: Pembroke Town Zoning Officer is being called. The rooftop units were turned back on.

UPDATE 3:44 p.m.:  The Town of Batavia zoning officer and the Darien zoning officer are responding to the TA to assist the Pembroke Fire Department.

UPDATE 4:18 p.m.: The incident at the TA Travel Center has been turned over the Town of Batavia Code Enforcement and National Grid will remain for one more hour for a line test.

The TA Travel Center is now closed.

Pembroke and Indian Falls are back in service as is East Pembroke.

Jamie Waff wanted us to see, for a change, some snowflakes instead of just big piles of snow. He took a picture of these flakes on the scope of his muzzleloader. Waff is chief of the Pembroke Volunteer Fire Department.

We can expect a lot more of these beautiful flakes to fall on Genesee County. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for heavy snow. It's in effect through 9 a.m., Sunday.

Up to 10 inches of snow could fall on Batavia by tomorrow morning.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning that will be in effect until tomorrow morning at 9 a.m.

Heavy snow with accumulations of one to two inches this afternoon and five to seven inches tonight.

Storm totals could reach up to six to 10 inches by tomorrow.

Winds are expected to be 15-20 mph with low visibility on the roadways.

The Corfu Fire Department has been requested to 864 Genesee St. to assist National Fuel with a gas meter that was struck. 

The homeowner apparently hit the gas meter with his vehicle about 6:30 a.m. this morning.

Corfu fire is standing by at Etzold Road.