A tractor-trailer is leaking a significant amount of diesel fuel at the travel service center in Pembroke, located at 8319 Indian Falls Road.

Also, a portion of the disabled vehicle's drive shaft fell off in an eastbound lane of the Thruway near mile marker 398.7. State Troopers are on scene and it has been removed, but three vehicles are damaged after striking it. There's fuel covering the roadway in that area "as far as I can see" says an officer at the scene.

The East Pembroke fire chief is asking for absorbant material and foam for the fuel spill at the travel center.

"We're going to need a lot of speed dry. It's pouring out like a water hose."

There's a four-inch rip in the truck's gas tank and is gushing so much it's covering the parking lot and is now pouring into the drainage and sewer system.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation is being called out, along with the county Emergency Management Department's Haz-Mat team, and the state Department of Transportation.

Firefighters report being all out of speedy dry at the East Pembroke Fire Hall and will call on the Town of Batavia Fire Department for some. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are called to the travel center to provide mutual aid.

About 120 gallons of fuel has leaked and it's still gushing. The tank was full and now it's down to an eighth of a tank. At least a truckload of absorbant materials is needed. A boom is going to be used to try and prevent any more flow from going into the drainage system.

UPDATE 4:15 p.m.: When asked how the spill was, a firefighter said "It's come down a lot -- either that or she's almost out of fuel."

UPDATE 5:19 p.m.: The East Pembroke chief says fire crews cleaned up as much of the spill as they could and the remainder of it will be handled by the Thruway Authority and the DEC. Fire crews which responded are back in service, including Corfu, which was standing by in its quarters.

A two-car accident with injuries is reported at Route 19 and Cato Street in Pavilion. Pavilion Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 3:14 p.m.: One vehicle is blocking the roadway.

UPDATE 3:36 p.m.: One person was a sign-off; another was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital. The Pavilion assignment is back in service.

A tractor-trailer vs. minivan accident, unknown injuries, is reported at the intersection of Pearl Street Road and Wortendyke Road in the Town of Batavia. It's in East Pembroke's Fire District and they are responding along with Mercy medics. Mercy Flight is unavailable due to weather.

UPDATE 1 p.m.: A responder says one ambulance will suffice. There are three adults and three children requiring evaluation.

UPDATE 1:14 p.m.: A second ambulance is called to respond non-emergency. The address of the accident is 3276 Pearl Street Road. The tractor-trailer is off the road. The road was briefly closed and is reopened. The fire truck is returning to quarters and law enforcement is remaining on scene until the second ambulance arrives.

Be on the lookout for bears in Le Roy!

According to its police department, there have been some bears sightings in the area around Hartwood Park.

And today, a resident in a housing tract known as Presidential Acres called police saying his bird feeders were destroyed and the animal tracks in the wet grass went into a wooded area behind his house. Presidential Acres runs between Summit Street Road and Robbins Road, west of the Hartwood Park area.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation was contacted and their advice to the homeowner is something the police department would like readers to know:

• Ensure that all garbage outside is either secured or brought in.
• Bird feeders, while they can be out during the day, need to be brought in at night, every night.
• Know that bears are intelligent animals and once they determine the location of an easy meal, they will come back continually.
• It should be emphasized that bears are wild animals and should be left alone.
• If the animal appears injured, or there is some incident causing danger, call police or the DEC to address the problem. Do not approach the animal.

To contact the Le Roy Police Department call 768-2527, ext. 2225, and leave a voicemail for Sgt. Timothy R. Hayes or call the Dispatch Center at 345-6350.

To contact the DEC office for Genesee County (Region 8) in regard to wildlife issues, call the Avon office at (585) 226-5380.

Press release:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) approved four projects at its June board meeting. They total approximately $2 million in investments as well as the retention of 91 jobs and the creation of 22 new jobs.

“All of the projects being considered by the board are investments in infrastructure which means the companies seeking benefits intend to be here for the long term,” said Steve Hyde, GCEDC president and CEO. “Companies typically do not invest in facilities and infrastructure without long-term plans so it is great to see this commitment to our region.”

Mega Properties, Inc., (Koolatron) is a Canadian company that manufactures, markets and distributes various portable thermoelectric cooler parts and components. The company is proposing to invest $775,000 in its operations that would retain 11 jobs and create six new jobs. Because the company is seeking more than $100,000 in incentives – in this case $190,000 – a public hearing must be scheduled.

Imagination Industries is seeking to build a 7,015-square-foot facility at 8240 Buffalo Road in the Town of Bergen. The multiuse facility will house an indoor firing range, training center, gunsmith services and a laser engraving business. The company plans to invest nearly $400,000 that would create 10 new jobs.  The project is allowable under state retail restrictions as the purpose is to make available services which would not be, but for the project, “reasonably accessible” to residents of the municipality where the project is located.  

The company is seeking a sales tax exemption of $19,970, a mortgage tax exemption of $3,750 and a property tax abatement of $63,195. The Board found that the project meets the goods and services retail clause in order to approve the application.

Reinhart Enterprises operates a 25,720-square-foot multi-commercial tenant facility on Liberty Street in Batavia. Due to flooding this past year, 4500 square feet of space was vacated. The company is looking to improve its facility and is planning a $206,000 capital investment for drainage and parking lot improvements to enhance the property for current and prospective office and corporate tenants. The company is seeking a sales tax exemption of $9,888. The investment would create three new jobs and retain 80.

Jackson Square LLC, the former Cars Warehouse which was built around 1880 in the area of the city known as Jackson Square, is proposing to convert the former structure 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 the current owner of building and will transfer the title to the Batavia Development Corporation for sale to Jackson Square LLC. The company is seeking a sales tax exemption of $24,816 and a mortgage tax exemption of $2,994 contingent upon Jackson Square LLC purchasing the building.

CNN: Collection of phone records stirs debate: Valuable tool or 'beyond Orwellian'?

A vehicle is on fire on Main Road in Stafford and "going pretty good" according to a responder on scene.

The vehicle may have been involved in an MVA.

Stafford Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 11:31 p.m.: It is an accident. The driver just requested an ambulance. Mercy EMS being dispatched.

UPDATE 11:36 p.m.: A deputy is on scene. A mailbox was destroyed at a residence.  The accident site is west of Hanson.

UPDATE 11:43 p.m.: The fire was under power lines. The flames weren't high, but they were hot. Dispatch is notifying National Grid to check the lines in the morning.

UPDATE 11:44 p.m. A chief now believes the lines did burn a bit and National Grid is requested to the scene now.

UPDATE 11:49 p.m.: Fire is out.

A caller reports that the porch of the residence across from his house on Thomas Avenue is on fire.

It's unknown if anybody is home in the house with the porch fire.

The location is across the street from 30 Thomas.

City fire responding.

UPDATE 10:41 a.m.: It's a BBQ grill, not a fire. City fire back in service.

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A large tree and multiple wires are reportedly down on South Pearl Street Road in Oakfield. Power is out in the area as a result, including traffic lights at Main Street and Maple Avenue. Oakfield fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 7:05 p.m.: National Grid is notified and has a 25-minute ETA. A utility pole is sheared off, a tree is on a vehicle, and a pole is in the roadway in the area of 39-42 South Pearl Street Road. Traffic is being shut down at South Pearl and Main.

UPDATE 7:16 p.m.: National Grid arrived a couple of minutes ago.

UPDATE 8:28 p.m.: South Pearl has been reopened.

UPDATE 8:41 p.m.: Photo from Jeremy Yasses. Unrelated to Oakfield, but related to heavy rainfall: Peaviner Road in Alexander is closed due to high water.

UPDATE 8:50 p.m.: Oakfield assignment back in service. A street off South Pearl remains closed.

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) will be joining a number of Assembly Minority Conference colleagues to hold a legislative hearing about the implementation of the recently enacted NY SAFE Act. The event will be held at the Amherst Town Hall Council Chamber in Williamsville at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 7 and will feature testimony from mental health professionals and representatives of county sheriffs and county clerks. The hearing will garner input from officials tasked with enforcing the new law in order to ensure that the safety and rights of New York’s citizens are being properly protected.

"The fallout from the SAFE Act has affected nearly every corner of this state," Hawley said." The controversial components have pitted law enforcement against county officials against state government, with the fate of the public hanging in the balance. It is my sincere hope that by bringing law enforcement professionals, county clerks, health experts and concerned citizens affected by this law together, we can all leave with a better understanding of how the SAFE Act affects us and how we can truly protect the safety of our communities as well as our constitutional rights."

Hawley recently held a local public hearing about the NY SAFE Act. In less than three months, a petition he circulated to repeal the law garnered 1,050 signatures from law-abiding citizens.

Charles D. Johnson is indicted on two counts of predatory sexual assault, a Class A-II felony, rape in the first degree, criminal sexual act in the first degree, sexual abuse in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, burglary in the first degree, criminal mischief, 4th. Johnson is accused of raping a woman in Le Roy on May 9 and using a knife in commission of the crime and threatening the victim with the knife. He is accused of breaking into the residence with the intent to commit a crime using a knife and of breaking a window screen to gain entry. The criminal possession of a weapon count is also based on a prior conviction for Johnson in the City of Buffalo on an obstructing governmental administration charge.

Stephen E. Johncox is indicted on counts of burglary, 3rd, and petit larceny. Johncox is accused of entering a building on Hebbard Road, Le Roy, with the intent of committing the crime of stealing deep cell marine batteries.

Matthew R. Smith is indicted on a count of rape, 1st, and sexual abuse, 1st. He is accused of raping a person in Alabama on Jan. 31.

Daniel L. Dioguardi is indicted on counts of criminal possession of stolen property, 5th, two counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument, 2nd, burglary, 2nd, and petit larceny. Dioguardi is accused of illegally possessing a Sony Playstation Vita and a game, "Unit 13." He's accused of possessing two forged checks, written out for $120 and $150. He is accused of entering a residence on North Lyon Street, Batavia, with the intent to commit a crime. He is accused of stealing prescription pills and cash.

Rowlan Gureje is indicted on two counts of criminal possession of stolen property, 3rd. Gureje is accused of possessing stolen Dell projectors with a value of $23,657 and stolen 3200 WXGA network projectors with a value of $18,025.

James R. Barnett is indicted on two counts of criminal possession of stolen property third and one count of criminal possession of a forged instrument, 2nd. Barnett is accused of possessing stolen Dell projectors with a value of $23,657 and stolen 3200 WXGA network projectors with a value of $18,025. He's also accused of of possessing a forged NYS driver's license.

Christopher W. Fowler is indicted on counts of felony DWI and felony driving with a BAC of .18 or greater. Fowler is accused of driving drunk Jan. 20 on Miller and Stegman roads. Fowler allegedly has a prior DWI conviction in the City of Batavia on May 20, 2010.

A Day in the Life of a Teacher

by Gretchen DiFante, mother of five and school board member

Background

     As a parent who has 13 years separating the birth of my first child from my fifth, I have witnessed, firsthand, the dramatic changes in our our schools and in the job of our teachers. When I spent time in my eldest child’s first grade classroom 15 years ago, the biggest social problems were around kids not having coats or socks in the winter. Today, we see more and more parents who are truly expecting our schools to raise their kids. As a parent myself, I admit that my expectations of a teacher’s role in the life of my children has remained the same, while I falter more in the areas of follow up for everything from sending in snacks and permission slips to monitoring television and homework like I should. In other words, I AM doing a worse job in detail management as a parent, but I am expecting my kids’ teachers to increasingly make up any slack for me. 

     As a society, we send teachers students who have little to no respect for authority at home or anywhere, and we expect our teachers to integrate these kids successfully into the classroom with no impact on their ability to teach. It seems we expect EVERYONE to matriculate into the same classrooms together and expect the teachers to manage all of the issues presented to them on a daily basis. In addition, we expect teachers to completely change the way they teach to meet common core standards, and we are increasing teacher accountability measures based on, in my opinion, a flawed system (APPR).

      Rather than try to describe my perspective on the classroom and why I think teachers need our collective support now more than ever, I have prepared a story. I refer to the story as “fictional” as it is not based on the words of any one teacher in Batavia nor anywhere else; rather it is written by me -- one parent who also happens to be a school board member. The story reflects my observations in classrooms in recent years (my five children have attended every school in Batavia including Robert Morris, Jackson, John Kennedy, St. Joseph’s, Batavia Middle School, Batavia High School and Notre Dame High School -- so I mean every school). The story focuses on the challenges of a teacher in an elementary classroom in 2013. I write the story from the elementary level, because what happens in the lives of the youngest of our students impacts those same students as they move through school and on into society. Whether teacher, parent, grandparent or friends of schools, I welcome your feedback and observations.

A Day in the Life of a Teacher

     I am an elementary school teacher in a rural district in Western New York. I became a teacher, because I wanted to do my part to contribute to society in the most powerful way I could imagine. Our children ARE our future. It is absolutely important that they read, write and perform mathematics. However, it is equally important that they gain the abilities to listen and show respect to others, to think about actions before they act, to appropriately contribute to social groups and to develop healthy value systems to which they stay grounded and use to guide positive decision-making for the rest of their lives. These are my goals, and when I went into teaching 21 years ago, it was fun to see my vision for each student come alive in the course of a single school year.

     It is much harder to see that vision realized today, and it is certainly not as much fun. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job -- and on most days I love my students; but the job of teaching has completely changed over the past two decades -- and particularly in the last five years. I stay awake many more nights to strategize how I can have an impact on a single kid when my students are the product of a society that has seen the family unit torn apart. My kids‘ parents are overworked and over-scheduled, and in many cases they are struggling to make ends meet. My students are spending three to five hours a day in front of phone, video, television and computer screens and very little time interacting socially. I constantly wonder if I’m doing all I can to make a difference. I network with other teachers, take advantage of personal and career development opportunities and devour the latest research in my field, hoping to improve my teaching and my impact. Here is an introduction to my class:

      I have 21 active students - half of them qualify for free or reduced meals, and six of them have individualized education programs or IEPs. Two of my students with IEPs have significant behavioral issues that require a great deal of my attention. In addition, I have another student who, I believe, would greatly benefit from an IEP as I believe he has both emotional disorders and cognitive challenges; however, his parents are adamantly against testing of any kind. This breaks my heart, because I know this child would benefit from his parent’s acknowledgment of his barriers to learning and growth. Acknowledgement would allow me to work with our counselor and the parents to help this student in simple, yet powerful ways. I have two students with food allergies and one student who, due to frequent illness, has missed 15 days of school so far this year. I have two students I have placed in every accelerated pull out program available in an attempt to keep them challenged, as it is clear to me that they are broadly gifted academically. I also have three students who display moderate and specific talent for mathematics, and I want to nurture that in all three of them. In fact, by the third week of school, I had identified talents in all of my 21 students that I wanted to nurture throughout the school year.

Now that you know my class, here is a snapshot from our day together:

     It is a late Tuesday morning, and it’s time for desk work. Today our desk work relates to President’s Day. We have been learning about government and the role of the executive branch, and I am excited to see the connections many of my students are making to the history we have learned and to the way government operates today. We have a packet that I will review with the group, and then the students will complete the packets individually. Snack time occurs during desk work, and each student who has a snack is eating at their desk. Three students forgot their snack, so I dig in my desk to find my stash of saltine crackers. The students need a healthy snack at this time of day, and parents are asked to supply one daily. My students are eating their usual combination of full sugar “fruit” snacks, cookies, muffins and crackers. As I pull the slides up to review the assignment on our SmartBoard, Tommy and Seth begin an altercation around which one is using the other one’s pencil. Laura is complaining that Ethan is rocking back in his chair and making her desk shake. Casey cries out that Melanie has brought peanut butter crackers -- I must intervene right away as one of my students has a severe peanut allergy. I remove the snack and dig back into my cracker stash. I make a mental note to send that parent a note, and I redirect each student back to the packet review. Sarah raises her hand and begins asking a question. As Sarah begins to speak, Joel imitates Sarah’s broken and unclear speech. Joel has made great strides this year in being sensitive to the feelings of others (one of my personal goals for him), and I am surprised at his choice. I need to put a stop to his behavior and at the same time draw attention away from Sarah whose difficulties with speech make it challenging for her in any social situation. Sarah really should be showing much more progress, but I understand from the speech therapist that Sarah’s guardian has been unable to do the daily speech exercises necessary for Sarah’s improvement. Therefore, Sarah is limited to the therapy the school can provide, and I’m beginning to worry if she will ever make progress. I finally finish the packet review, and as students begin independent work, I run over to redirect Ellie back to her separate spot where, according to her IEP, she needs to be to complete all individual work. Ellie excels at individual work when she can be free from distraction. As I’m working with Ellie, the conflict between Seth and Tommy escalates; and on my way to handle it, I am met by two students who have individual questions -- I will have to wait to help them, because Seth is clearly on his way to having one of his explosive episodes. Through trial and error and great advice from our school counselor, I have learned how to intervene to help control Seth’s explosions. However, if I intervene even a moment too late, the explosion can not be tamed. I am too late -- Seth is out of control, and I will have to call someone to help me. I hate to have to escalate this up the chain of command again, because I don’t want to be perceived as being unable to control my classroom (a real concern for all the teachers in our district and teachers everywhere). But, I just couldn’t get to Seth in time. Thank goodness -- our classroom aide has just arrived (We get her for only 60 minutes today, because we have had to cut back so much in aide hours). Since the aide is here, I can bring Seth to the principal’s office myself. 

     When I return to the classroom, Giselle is telling our aide that she doesn’t have to sit in her seat and do her work, because she can’t tell her what to do -- she isn’t the teacher. “Oh, my little Giselle.” She has no more respect for me as an authority figure than she does the aide. At times, I have worked successfully with Giselle to help her understand the importance of respecting authority, but it is difficult. She has so much potential -- but it is obvious when I observe her with her father and grandmother, that respect for authority is not something that is encouraged at home. Whoops -- two students have made their way over to Ellie’s desk, and I need to redirect.  First I stop by the desks of the two students who had questions -- one figured the answer out on his own and the other obviously lost interest and hasn’t worked on the assignment at all. She is one of my gifted students, and if she doesn’t feel challenged, she simply gives up and usually starts “drama.” I have a folder of extra assignments to give her, and I go retrieve an assignment from that folder -- her eyes light up, and she is focused and ready to work; but alas, independent work time is over, and it’s time for the students to line up for art. I estimate that less than half the class completed the independent work assignment. Its completion will be given as homework, and based on patterns this year, I expect less than half of those students to complete the homework. 

     I will have a half hour to prepare for the math block; however I have four students who have not turned in permission slips to ride the bus to the field trip next week, and I don’t want to see them left out. Two are students who are isolated naturally, and my individual goals for them include helping them to develop healthy self esteem. It must feel terrible to be the only one who doesn’t turn in a permission slip and has to miss a field trip. It can’t be good for the self esteem of a student with healthy social interaction -- and certainly not good for one who trends toward isolation. I don’t want to see these kids become easy targets for bullies in the future -- but that is where they are headed. The deadline for permission slips is today, and I really need to track down their parents. I also need to finish up the notes for the individual student learning objectives as part of our state mandated Annual Performance Plan Review or APPR. I am in support of a program that will help demonstrate my quality as a teacher; however I am confused as to how my students’ scores on any test is a complete reflection of the quality of my teaching. How can I be held accountable for the test performance of a student who needs to be separated for work in my busy classroom, and despite my best and continuous efforts is unable to work with the freedom from distraction she needs to be successful? How can I be held accountable for the test performance of a student who, due to continuous behavioral issues, has to spend significant time removed from the teaching environment? How can I be held accountable for the test performance of a student whose own parents refuse to get him the cognitive and emotional help he needs? How can I be held accountable for the test performance of a student like Alec, who although still eligible to remain in school, hasn’t been in attendance enough for me to provide the extra help he needs? I know that’s only four students, but that’s 20 percent of my class. If 20 percent of my students don’t meet performance standards on the state tests, it will be impossible for me to achieve a rating of highly effective on my APPR score. If I don’t achieve the highest rating, will parents want me to teach their kids? I can’t imagine, after all these positive and rewarding years as a teacher, becoming the teacher no parent wants their kid to have! If parents don’t want me to teach their kids, how can I make a difference in these little lives in which I see so much potential? I have to put these thoughts out of my mind and go get in touch with those parents. Like all my colleagues, I have hours of additional paperwork for the mandated APPR and common core standards. When exactly am I supposed to get all this paperwork done? Well I will have some extra time at my son’s baseball game tonight...

A resident in the 6700 block of Crosby Road in Basom who returned home about 20 minutes ago saw two men entering his front door. He went into a bedroom and called 9-1-1. He didn't see them leave and when Sheriff's deputies arrived it was thought they could still be inside.

They weren't found inside and an officer told dispatchers he saw a silver or white Pontiac sport utility vehicle, "crossover style," driving down Crosby headed toward Route 77. Niagara and Orleans counties were notified to be on the lookout for the vehicle.

The suspects are described at dark-skinned, about 6 feet tall, wearing "old style" black hoodies. A Dell laptop computer is missing from the Crosby Road house and investigators are on scene.

A flood watch is in effect for much of WNY through today and tonight.

From one to two inches of rain could fall by this evening, with as much as three inches in localized areas.

Creeks will rise and roadway ponding in low-lying areas is possible. Motorists are advised to drive with caution.

Lamar Iteef Randall, 27, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal impersonation, aggravated unlicensed operation and speeding (71 in a 55 mph zone). Randall was stopped for allegedly speeding at 5:50 p.m., Wednesday, on Clinton Street Road, Stafford, by Deputy Joseph Corona.

Paul W. Zambito, 64, of Kendall Road, Pavilion, is charged with forged inspection. Zambito was stopped by a Wyoming County Sheriff's deputy in the Town of Covington for an alleged expired vehicle inspection and no front plate. His vehicle inspection was allegedly found to be forged.

Cassi Ann Schutt, 26, of West Crest Drive, Rochester, is charged with petit larceny and trespass. Schutt was allegedly observed by security at Walmart shoplifting $270 in merchandise. Schutt was charged with trespass because she has been allegedly banned from all Walmart stores because of a prior shoplifting accusation.

Terry Ann Fulmer, 60, of Jackson Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Fulmer is accused of stealing $32.03 in merchandise from Kmart.

Daniel P. Ingraham, 44, of 12 Fawn Ridge Road, Henrietta, is charged with obstructing governmental administration, 2nd, and open container. After Batavia PD was dispatched to Austin Park to investigate a report of an intoxicated male, Ingraham was allegedly observed driving a 1990 red Chevrolet Blazer through the back parking lot of the police station. Ingraham parked and got out of the vehicle. Officers reportedly attempted to escort Ingraham into the police building for further investigation when he allegedly fled, running through Austin Park. He was apprehended on Porter Avenue. Ingraham was ordered held without bail pending his next court appearance.

Glenn Falls Post-Star: Vermont joins Washington, Oregon in allowing physician-assisted suicide

A car as reportedly struck a deer in the westbound lane of the I-490 near mile marker .06 and injuries are reported.

Le Roy fire and Bergen fire and ambulance dispatched.

UPDATE 7:20 a.m.: Minor injuries at most.

UPDATE 7:21 a.m.: Fire apparatus response cancelled. Le Roy Ambulance can handle. Only bruising from airbags reported.

Wanna box?

Now you can.

For the first time in a decade or more, Batavia has a gym with a boxing ring.

Hands Up MMA, like the name says, isn't just about the sweet science, but owner Joseph Bailey (top photo) said with his lifelong love of boxing and Batavia's once rich tradition of boxing, it was important to him to bring boxing back to the city.

Bailey is a fan of boxing, but his passion is for mixed martial arts and he believes that is a sport that will only grow locally and throughout the state.

"Some people view that sport as gruesome and violent -- those who don't have a full understanding of the sport, but it's just as competitive as rugby would be, or hockey or lacrosse," Bailey said.

The gym, which officially opened today in the Harvester Center, provides a well-rounded workout with bags, ropes, tires, climbing walls, for anybody interested in combat sports.

Several young fighters found the gym while Bailey was still building it and started working out with him. At least four of them are planning to compete for the first time in a MMA tournament in Rochester on Sept. 29.

"We offer training in kickboxing, jiu jitsu, wrestling, boxing and we try to incorporate it all together," Bailey said. "We'll also offer self-defense training and a course on knife and gun disarming that will be taught by a Green Beret."

The gym is already drawing a diverse group of people.

William Sutton is a Purple Heart-decorated Army veteran who honed his fighting skills by training to become an Army instructor in hand-to-hand combat.

During a tour of duty in Korea, he found boxing and MMA were big with the troops there. He was 13-0 as a boxer and 2-0 in MMA.

"Growing up in Batavia, it wasn't like it is nowadays," Sutton said. "Growing up in Batavia, a lot of times we would fight before school. We would fight after school. Fighting was a big part of Batavia. It's a tough town to grow up in. I've been fighting my whole life and I just continued that in the Army."

Sutton was wounded in Afghanistan and is now retired from military service. The injury and his commitment to the Veterans Administration prevents him from ever again fighting competitively and he's limited by military obligations in what he can teach, but working out in a gym of fighters appeals to him.

"Everybody who comes to an MMA gym seems to be just more humble," Sutton said. "People that go to a regular gym, you know, walk around trying to impress each other. At an MMA gym, all that BS is just put aside because we can put on the gloves and go in the ring. Put your hands up. Talking and stuff don't go here."

All his experience and success, though, puts Sutton in a position to help young fighters and he said he's always happy to train with them and answer questions and offer pointers to those willing to listen.

Bailey really hopes Hands Up becomes a vehicle for promoting boxing in Batavia. He plans to hold regular tournaments involving gym members that will be open to the public.

"Boxing used to have a big history in the City of Batavia," Bailey said. "The community is unaware of that and what I would like to do is get members of the gym to spare and promote boxing and hopefully get some viewers in to watch tournaments."

As we spoke, an older gentleman walked past the front windows and you could see his eyes light up as he looked inside.

There was little doubt, he was a boxer.

The first thing Robert Janes (top inset photo) did when he walked in was hit the speed bag. Later, he would say it was the first time in 13 years he punched a speed bag.

A native of Palm Springs, Calif., Janes was involved in Golden Gloves in the early 1970s.

Now living in Stafford and working pouring concrete, Janes was clearly thrilled to be in a boxing gym again and he said he can't wait to start working out there.

"I just want to stay healthy," Janes said. "I want to keep my head right. Any time I was ever in the gym, any time I was ever involved in any kind of organized boxing, I was good. Once I walked way from that, I was in big trouble. Now I'm 60 years old. I want to come back to it. I want to bring my granddaughter and my grandson into it."

NOTE: I want to do a story about the boxing in Batavia in the 20th Century. I have a copy of a book by Butch Zito, but I would like to find old pictures and other memorabilia. Few, if any, of the former boxers are still alive, but perhaps sons and daughters have memories about their boxing relatives to share. Write to me at howard@thebatavian.com.

William Sutton

Tim McCullough, from Batavia, and Sutton.

Also pictured in the slide show training is Josh McCarthy of Batavia (wearing yellow).

Wind and rain over the past few weeks are making muck farmers a little edgy about their onion crop for this season.

They know now they won't have a bumper crop, especially from fields planted with seed rather than transplants, but what happens with the weather over the next four weeks will be critical.

Following two-and-a-half inches of rain last week, they need some dry whether, but another inch of rain is forecast for tomorrow (Thursday).

"It would be nice if it were 80 degrees, sunny and a little bit of breeze," said Paul Mortellaro of G. Mortellaro & Sons.

On a tour of the muck today, Mortellaro pointed out the fields planted with transplants look pretty healthy. They're less susceptible to rain and the bigger plants are better equipped to respirate (pump off the water from the ground).

Fields planted with seedlings have been thinned out by wind -- wind can shear off an onion top -- or have been too saturated by water and there's been some die-off.

The right time for some rain would be when the onions start to bulb, which is three our four weeks from now.

"What determines the size of the onion is its size when it starts to bulb," Mortellaro said. "We need some good rain during that time."

Even with the slow start, the muckers could get perfect whether the rest of the season and enjoy a good harvest.

"Three or for weeks from now, this all could be forgotten," Mortellaro said.

"He's right," said Maureen Torrey of Torrey Farms. "We have a long way to go before our crops are made."

Beyond that, Torrey was hesitant to comment because she didn't want to jinx anything.

Christian Yunker at CY Farms said early indications are yields will be down this year, but how much depends on what happens with the weather the rest of the growing season.

Right now, he said, a lot of onions have "wet feet," and that inhibits their growth. Like other farmers of the muck, he's hoping tomorrow's storm doesn't do too much damage and then we get some dry weather.

"It's pretty early to tell, but we've taken a little bit of a hit," Yunker said. "They're not off to a great start, but it's too early to say your yield will be down to X."

Photo: A seeded muck field. The dead-looking plants in between the green rows of onions is barley, planted along side the onion seeds to act as a wind break. Once the onions reach a certain stage of grow, the barley is killed off.