A stove fire is reported at 136 Pearl St., upper apartment, in the city. The unit is being evacuated. City fire is responding.
UPDATE 1:42 p.m.: Now the city's second platoon is requested to the scene "for the apartment fire."
UPDATE 1:50 p.m.: Fourth platoon is called to the station on Evans Street. Second platoon is paged a second time to respond to the blaze.
Prepare Your Vehicle for Winter: The best time to get ready for winter is before the first storm of the season. Some items to check and talk to your mechanic about include:
Some Simple Winter Driving Tips: Winter driving has its own set of challenges from the moment you start your vehicle. Here are some useful winter driving suggestions:
Commercial vehicle drivers should exhibit caution when driving in winter conditions. If your vehicle is large, like a truck, it needs more time to stop in ideal conditions, so snow and icy conditions magnify the challenge. Take care to continue safe practices when sharing the road in winter conditions.
Carry a Winter Driving Kit: Winter weather could leave you stuck in the snow, but the following items in your winter driving kit might help you get back on the road and on your way:
Pack a Winter Survival Kit: In case you're marooned in your car, truck or SUV, you might want to keep a small winter survival kit on hand. Some useful items include:
Snow Safety Tips if You Become Stranded in the Winter: Few people like driving through a snow storm, and most heed warnings to stay off the roads when a storm is bearing down. But even the best-prepared and expert drivers can get stuck. If it happens to you, here are some important reminders:
Be prepared. While the best first step is prevention, some storms come on quickly. If you do get stranded, keeping a few essentials, noted above, in your car can help keep you comfortable while you wait.
Stay inside. If possible, pull off the highway and turn your hazard lights on or tie something bright to your car’s antenna to signal that you need help. Then wait inside your car until help arrives to avoid exposure to frostbite and prevent hypothermia.
Call 9-1-1. If you have a charged phone and reception, call for help and describe your location as best you can.
Clear the tailpipe. Make sure there’s no snow covering your tailpipe in order to prevent carbon monoxide buildup inside the car. Check the tailpipe periodically to ensure that fresh snow isn’t blocking it, always watching for oncoming traffic before exiting your vehicle.
Keep moving. Staying active inside your car will help you keep warm. Clap your hands and tap your toes to keep your circulation moving and prevent frostbite but avoid overexertion and sweating.
Drink fluids. Dehydration can make you more susceptible to the effects of cold. If there’s no drinking water inside your car, melt some snow inside a bag or other makeshift cup to stay hydrated.
Conserve your vehicle's battery. Use lights, heat, and radio sparingly.
Run your engine. Provided you have enough gas in your tank, run the engine for about 10 minutes every hour to keep the car warm. Turn on interior lights when your engine is on so you can be seen inside your car. Open a downwind window slightly for ventilation and clear snow from the exhaust pipe to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Don’t overexert yourself. Cold weather puts your heart under added stress. If you’re not used to exercise, shoveling snow or pushing a car could put you at risk of a heart attack.
Stay safe and warm this winter by learning more about preparation for and recovery from winter storms with State Farm®
The National Weather Service has upgraded the outlook for the expected winter storm this weekend to a warning with the possibility, starting at 1 p.m., Saturday, that the storm will bring up to 14 inches of snow to the region.
Winds could gust to 35 mph and temperatures are expected to be low and cold.
The warning is in effect until 6 p.m., Sunday.
Travel is expected to be very difficult, potentially impossible, according to the weather service. Areas of blowing snow could reduce visibility.
Wind chills could make it feel like 15 below zero and frostbite on exposed skin could occur in as little as 30 minutes.
Dom Grazioplene became the latest Batavia High School Art student with a solo exhibit at GO ART! this week with a well-attended opening reception last night at Seymore Place. In the video, Grazioplene talks about his approach to art.
Also hosting an opening reception Thursday was Don Fryling, a Redfield Parkway resident, and fine art photographer.
Dom Grazioplene
Don Fryling
Press release from Assemblyman Steve Hawley:
New York State’s minimum wage increased again this year to $11.10 per hour and Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) vocalized concern that sharp increases year-to-year are unsustainable for upstate’s struggling small businesses.
Employers already face the nation’s worst tax business climate and a state regulatory code that forces more outsourcing of jobs, transition to automated labor and loss of benefits for employees.
“Certainly we want to help the working poor and employees making minimum wage across the state but these sharp increases are like putting a Band-Aid on a broken leg,” Hawley said.
“Misguided policies like these overlook the fact that small businesses will be forced to recoup these increasing labor costs and that could lead to massive layoffs and a cut to benefits for many employees – a regrettable consequence of the law’s intention.”
The Assembly Minority Conference has proposed wiser economic solutions such as allowing employers to pay a training wage to new employees that is more congruent with their skill sets.
Many lawmakers have also come out in support of raising the tipped wage for workers such as servers, a proposal met with animosity by the tipped workers it is meant to help.
“The minimum wage was never meant to be a living wage and many employers are now mandated to pay higher costs for employees with less experience,” Hawley continued.
“Employees like restaurant servers rely on the quality of their service and dedicated work ethic to bring home larger tips and an elimination of this would remove the incentive to provide quality service for these workers.
“If we are to change New York’s awful business climate and stop our state’s embarrassing exodus rate it starts with tax and regulatory relief that mitigates the root cause of business struggles, not quick fixes and economic gimmicks,” Hawley concluded.
Press release from Congressman Chris Collins:
U.S. Representative Chris Collins (NY-27) reintroduced the Denying Chinese Investors Access to U.S. Small Business Aid bill.
The bill would prevent citizens of the People’s Republic of China, who own a business, from accessing assistance offered by the Small Business Administration (SBA). U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) reintroduced the Senate companion bill late last week.
“SBA programs should be focusing on helping small business owners in communities like Western New York, and not aid companies whose profits go to China,” Collins said. “I am proud to join Senator Rubio to advance this important legislation once again to encourage job growth and support small businesses here in the United States.”
“Amidst rapid technological advances, shifting global economic trends, and rising foreign adversaries, we must fight to protect America’s small businesses,” Rubio said. “Our bill will protect small businesses from Chinese interference and encourage American entrepreneurs to innovate, thrive, and grow so that we can keep our economy competitive on the global stage.”
Current law permits SBA to provide assistance toward Chinese-owned business who legally operate in the United States and qualify as a small business. These businesses are allowed to obtain a federally guaranteed loan, surety bonds, research and development grants, or disaster loans.
The Denying Chinese Investors Access to U.S. Small Business Aid would prohibit SBA benefits from being given to businesses headquartered in China. Under this bill, a China-based business that operates in the United States or businesses with at least 25 percent of their voting stock owned by Chinese investors will no longer be able to benefit.
From the Genesee County Women's Republican Club Board:
There will be an emergency meeting of the Genesee County Women's Republican Club Board on Tuesday, Jan. 22, at 6:30 p.m. at the Community & Government Center, 3219 Drake Street Road, Oakfield.
Members of the club are strongly encouraged to attend this emergency meeting of the GCWRC.
Last year’s Spring Breakfast had low attendance and we had to cancel our Lucky Numbers Fundraiser. It is becoming more and more difficult to continue this Club with little to no participation or support. We need our members, each of you to help guide and direct us into 2019.
The healthcare industry is ever-changing and many healthcare professions are in high demand. With that in mind, Genesee Community College recognizes a substantial opportunity for students enrolled in the College's Health Studies Certificate program to continue their education to earn a Health Studies Associate in Science degree, and potentially transfer on for a bachelor's or higher degree.
Upon hearing a full report by Kathleen (Kate) M. Schiefen, Ph.D., GCC's provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs, the College's Board of Trustees on Monday approved the next step in the development of a new associate degree in Health Studies. It would readily transfer to other colleges and universities for a degree in Healthcare Administration.
Schiefen explained the multiphase process of introducing a new degree, which generally starts in GCC's Academic Senate for a complete career and industry discovery effort and also the related curriculum development. The proposal is then carefully reviewed by the College's provost and president before being reviewed by the College's Trustees.
With Trustee approval, the proposal is then sent to both the State University of New York for a SUNY-wide peer and public review period, and once successfully vetted by SUNY, it is then sent to New York State Education Department for the final review and approval.
If each step of the process meets with successive approvals, it is possible the new program might be available by the fall semester or early in 2020.
"This new program aligns with SUNY Brockport's Health Care Administration bachelor's program, and also Buffalo State College's Health and Wellness bachelor's program among others," Schiefen noted. "It is an excellent health care transfer pathway."
In other business Monday evening, the Board of Trustees:
Approved the College's 2017-2018 audit report. Finance Committee Chair Diane Torcello said that the Committee had reviewed the report from Lumsden McCormick, the College's independent auditor, and that they had issued a "clean" audit report, meaning that no errors, adjustments, changes or findings were necessary.
Approved the renewal of four-year continuing appointments for 15 members of the College's faculty and staff: Charmayne Bloom, Campus Center associate; Carolyn Caccamise, director / associate professor of Veterinary Technology; Rebecca Dziekan, director / professor of HED & PED Studies; Karlyn Backus, ACE Programs specialist; Tracy Ford, associate professor of English; Karen Huffman, Ph.D., associate professor of Biology; Thomas Kinsey, reporting analyst; Kenneth Mead, professor of Math & Computer Information Systems; Tracy Merritt, assessment associate; Ebony Ross, admissions advisor; Skip Sherman, student athletic assistant; Daniel Snyder, ACE Programs specialist; Garth Swanson, professor of History; Candice Vacin, professor of Psychology; Michael Von Schiller, assistant professor of Health & Physical Education.
Approved initial four-year continuing appointments for six members of the faculty and staff: James Donsbach, director of Grant Services; John Maloney, marketing communications specialist; Brendan McCabe, instructor of Biology; Melissa Miller, Nursing Lab coordinator; Gregory Sharpe, instructor of Food Processing Technology; JoNelle Toriseva, director / associate professor of English
Approved the list of degrees and certificate recipients for 230 students who successfully completed their academic requirements this month. GCC is awarding 99 Associate in Applied Science degrees (AAS), 111 Associate in Science degrees (AS), five Associate in Arts degrees (AA) and 15 certificates.
Approved the acceptance of an in-kind donation of three pieces of equipment to the College's Veterinary Technology program. An ultrasound unit, and blood and CBC analyzer units were donated by Coldwater Animal Hospital of Rochester with a combined value of $12,000. President James Sunser stated that the College recently developed a donation procedure that formally outlines the steps the College takes when presented with donations.
Approved the professional services titles for the Assistant Dean of Student Services and the Director of Interdisciplinary Academic Support, to remain consistent with the SUNY master list of professional titles.
Approved Board of Trustee Policy #1021 about Sexual Harassment following the SUNY Sexual Harassment Response and Prevention Statement.
Heard Director of Campus Safety Stephen P. Wise report that the College's annual safety and security report has been posted on the College's website and is available to students and the public here. The report includes statistics about criminal incidents occurring on or near all campus property as required under the Jeanne Clery Policy and Crime Statistics Act, as well as information about College safety policies and procedures.
Heard Board of Trustee Chair Donna M. Ferry remind the Trustees that if they wish to nominate a name for an Honorary Degrees they need to notify Bethany by Feb. 1.
Heard William Emm, executive vice president of Finance and Operations, report on the upcoming lease renewal agreements for Albion and Medina Campus centers, which are due to expire in August, and the Warsaw Campus Center, which is due to expire in May.
Heard President Sunser report on the following new appointments, which are replacing existing positions and are not adding new or additional staff or faculty numbers to the College's employee base.
Bandit is on the run. He took off from his home on East Avenue around 4:45 p.m., Tuesday. He was last seen on Stringham Drive.
Tyler Fales would like him to come home. If you can help, call (585) 329-0035.
Esayas Reinhardt -- Outstanding Student Award
Esayas earned this award because of his perseverance in meeting high academic and behavioral expectations. Esayas has overcome many challenges throughout his intermediate years at John Kennedy. He has worked hard to improve academic focus, attention to details and motivation to learn. Esayas has made marked gains in mathematics, reading and writing.
His greatest achievement has been in leadership. Esayas has grown into a successful communicator and leader. He has chosen to consistently do his best in support services, classroom lessons and in social settings. He recently completed his post office position with recognition by Mrs. Whitehead.
He is currently acting as a student council member at John Kennedy Intermediate. Esayas participates in Miss Cole's guided reading groups and includes with Mrs. A's fourth-grade art and Friday Free Choice.
Esayas is both a student and role model for his classmates and the school community. Congratulations on a job well done!
Nominated by Mrs. Neumann.
Eryn Dunn -- Certificate of Appreciation
The NYSSMA conference brings together the best high school singers and musicians from across the state to take part in four days of rehearsals and concerts each year in Rochester.
Eryn went to the Rochester Riverside Convention Center on Thursday, Nov. 29, to register for the event and took part in hours of rehearsals over the next few days, culminating in a concert on Saturday evening at the Kodak Hall at Eastman Theater. The concert was absolutely breathtaking, and Eryn's participation and performance were truly inspiring.
Nominated by Mr. Grillo.
Katrina Cox -- Outstanding Staff Award
Miss Cox is an English-as-a-New-Language teacher at John Kennedy has extended her role as not only a teacher for her students but also as an ambassador for our new families that have moved into the district and need support in both language and understanding cultural traditions.
Miss Cox can be seen attending family movie nights, book fairs, the Color Run, even trick-or-treating with the families to help them take part in the many traditions that the students can take part in by being students at JK and living in Batavia.
Miss Cox has truly been a steward in welcoming our families and has helped support the families' transition to living here in Batavia and attending our school. Thank you, Trina, for truly taking care of BCSD and always modeling the JK way in building relationships with your both students and their families!
Nominated by Mrs. Cook.
Laura Whipple and Lindsey Heassler -- Outstanding Staff Award
Laura and Lindsey have worked tirelessly over the last year and a half to restructure reading and book choices for their high-level reading classes. The two have collaboratively adjusted the way developmental reading is taught so that our highest readers are pushed to new levels!
Through their attention to detail, particular literature selection and reflection on connections to ELA and Social Studies curriculum, this pair has created a learning environment for their students that is challenging, connecting and rewarding. It is safe to say that their sixth-grade students are not only becoming better readers, but also more knowledgeable students.
Nominated by Mr. Sutton.
Press release:
At approximately 3 a.m. there was a large water main break on North Street between Trumbull and North Spruce in Batavia. The main has been shut down, and crews are beginning repairs. Residents in the area may experience low water pressure or discoloration.
Residents in the area are advised to check for discolored water and wait until water clarity has been restored before using for laundry. Vehicular traffic should avoid the area as the street may be closed while repairs are completed.
UPDATE 2:15 p.m.: The water main has been repaired and water service restored as of approximately 1:30 p.m.
Sources of Strength is a suicide prevention program at Batavia High School that trains volunteer students to provide peer-to-peer assistance or help guide students who might otherwise be unwilling to talk with an adult to guide them to the right adult.
Currently, at Batavia HS, there are 10 adult advisers and 43 peer leaders.
Five of those peer leaders made a presentation about the program to the Board of Trustees Tuesday night.
The program also brings in campus speakers from Mental Health, GCASA, the Youth Bureau, and the YMCA.
Last month, peer leaders volunteered at the NYS Veterans Home, making Christmas cards with residents for armed service members overseas.
Training was provided by founders of the organization from Denver.
Students participating in the presentation Tuesday were Lily Whiting, AT Thatcher, Gavin Tucker, Stephanie Dibble, and Ben Best, with adult advisers Kelly Deneka and Heidi Meides.
Above photo is the former water distribution building adjacent to Hartland Park in Bergen, after it was repurposed into the Sage Pavilion.
BERGEN -- Preserving Bergen’s history, promoting the village and conserving energy to save taxpayers money have long been a focus of the Village of Bergen.
That dedication recently won the Village of Bergen an award from the American Public Works Association as their WNY Public Works Project of the Year for repurposing of its former water distribution/Department of Public Works building into the Sage Pavilion.
The cement block building adjacent to Hartland Park had been empty for decades and the village had considered demolishing it.
Examples of the village’s sustainability practices in previous years include purchase and repurposing of the Tulley Building for village offices, boardroom, document storage facility in the basement, rental space for business; and four apartments.
Other examples are the composting facility at the Water Treatment Plant, community garden, Tree City recognition, Bergen Electric Efficiency Program, Clean Community designation and recycling efforts.
Transforming a DPW building into Sage Pavilion
The Sage Pavilion is the result of their latest efforts, said mayor Anna Marie Barclay.
The village first learned about the American Public Works Association’s award from engineers Clark Patterson & Lee, who told the village of the opportunity to apply.
“We applied and talked about how our staff came together and how the communities around us supported us,” Barclay said.
Village Administrator Cortney Gale said after the water treatment plant closed, the DPW kept their trucks there, followed by 10 years of use as a cold storage.
“But it got pretty gross,” Gale said.
The cost for the village to build a much needed public pavilion was prohibitive, the mayor wrote in the application.
“The village is small and budgets are tight,” the mayor wrote. In order to provide the village residents and outside community with the all-season pavilion needed, the village staff had to be creative.”
The need for a village pavilion became evident after the Bergen Fire Company converted its community hall into space for town offices and town courtroom.
“The village lost a facility that had been used for community and family celebrations and meetings,” Barclay wrote in the award application.
Since an all-season pavilion had been strongly requested at public hearings during development of the 2016 comprehensive plan, staff worked to develop a plan to make the pavilion a reality.”
A new building similar to the now completed Sage Pavilion would cost $750,000 based on normal construction costs and using public bidding and state wage rates.
Demolition of 'eyesore' was considered
The village board was considering demolition of the eyesore, but after cleaning out the materials from the building, the space led to discussions of possible refurbishing. The building was found to be structurally sound, on the main road and centrally located across from Hickory Park and adjacent to Hartland Park and the disc golf course.
The village engineer and staff met to set a plan in place, and chose to convert the former water building.
A SAM grant was applied for and awarded through sponsorship of Senator Michael Ranzenhofer, providing seed money for the project.
Interior walls were made of Bergen Brick manufactured in the village of Bergen. A transom window originally over the entry door to the former office area of the water plant was repurposed as a decorative addition to the Sage Pavilion entry hall.
The biggest challenge to the project was removing giant pumps three levels into the ground and then filling in the space. The village did not have equipment to remove the pumps and having a contractor fill in the basement was cost prohibitive.
Planning to meet the challenges
A plan was devised to use the electric department pole, setting trucks to hoist cast iron pumps and pipes out of the basement through an open window and the former basement stairway. The cast iron pumps and piping were hauled to a nearby scrap yard and the funds reinvested into the building.
Discussions with DPW staff, the engineer and village code enforcement officer led to a strategy for filling in the basements. It was determined road millings could be used as fill, topped with flowable fill. Not only would this save the village a tremendous amount of money, but it would help surrounding communities which were doing road work to dispose of their road millings.
The village contacted local communities during road work and arranged for the town of Bergen to pick up the millings and bring them to the construction site.
Village linemen chipped in to do landscaping and every single village employee helped with siding, windows, roofing and piping in the floor for radiant heating, Gale said. The process took a year and a half.
The village employees spent a lot of time huddled over their computers, watching YouTube for information on how to perform certain aspects of the project.
During demolition, it was discovered a fire many years ago had damaged the building. That area was sealed per current codes and left exposed to show the history of the building.
As work progressed, people using the nearby walking trail and employees who used to work in the old water plant often stopped to view the work.
Wowed by the work
“They would look around and ask how it was possible this was the same building,” Barclay said.
When it came to choosing a name for the new pavilion, the village settled on that of W. Monroe Sage, elected the first mayor of the village of Bergen in 1877, and then reelected in 1902. Born in 1834 in the town of Wheatland, Sage was well-known in music circles.
He was the prime mover in bringing about the incorporation of the Village of Bergen and instrumental in having sidewalks placed. He also inaugurated the first streetlighting by placing lamps on the corners of North Lake Avenue, Rochester and Buffalo streets.
The entire Village of Bergen staff are planning to attend the award presentation Jan. 31 at RIT’s Banquet Center in Rochester.
Photos by Virginia Kropf.
Photo below is what the former Bergen water/DPW building looked like in 2016, before work began to transform it into a public pavilion.
The next two photos below show what Bergen’s former water treatment plant looked like inside as work began to transform it into a public pavilion.
The bottom two pictures show the meeting room and entranceway to the Sage Pavilion after renovations were completed.
People really should attend the City School District's annual art show in March at the Richmond Memorial Library, Superintendent Chris Dailey said after art teacher Amanda Antonucci provided a department review Tuesday night at the Board of Trustees meeting.
"It's amazing what our kids produce," Dailey said.
This year the art show will feature a districtwide project: art students are drawing portraits of just their eyes. The pair of eyes will be displayed side-by-side on one long wall.
The opening night reception will be held March 15.
Antonucci went through several projects students are working on at schools in the district, including the fourth-annual monster swap project, where elementary students draw a monster and high school students make a sculpture of those monsters.
"It's my favorite project," Antonucci said.
Teachers at Jackson, John Kennedy, and the Middle School are all integrating STEM into their art instruction.
This includes learning about nature through art, using perspective to learn math and geometry, and science with Lego-related projects.
Dom Grazioplene is the most recent student selected for a solo art show at GO ART!, with an opening reception Thursday night.
There are art appreciation nights planned in May for Jackson and the high school and in May the middle school will host its annual human rights activists project.
Expect snow to start falling Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service, snowfall becoming heavier that night and becoming lake-effect snow by Sunday night.
At this time, accumulations of only seven inches are expected but it will be accompanied by gusting winds and cold, arctic air.
Blowing and driving snow could make travel difficult and wind chills could drop to well below zero.
This storm is expected to hit all of Western New York.
Drivers should plan on slippery roads and low visibility.
The Oakfield Republican Committee is seeking candidates for the following:
Interested residents of the Town or Village of Oakfield can send a Letter of Intent no later than Feb. 4 to:
Alan R. Dennis, Chairman of the Republican Committee
6916 Fox Road, Oakfield, NY 14125
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