A four-unit residential complex at 6163 North Lake Road, Bergen, is reportedly filled with smoke.
There is smoke in the basement.
The units have been evacuated except for one unit, which may not be occupied.
Bergen Fire dispatched.
UPDATE 2:42 p.m.: Possible hot water tank fire that is now out.
Press Release:
The Fargo Road Bridge Replacement Project is set to commence on August 14, bringing essential improvements to the bridge located over Black Creek near Route 63 and Little Canada Extension.
The current 11-foot-wide jack arch bridge will be replaced with a modern 28-foot precast concrete arch bridge to meet hydraulic capacity requirements. This upgrade is crucial for maintaining smooth truck routes, as Fargo Road serves as a superload route within the County.
The project is locally funded, with Ravi Engineering in Rochester leading as the Engineer and LC Whitford as the Contractor. Construction is planned to continue diligently until the end of November.
Fargo Road will be closed during the construction period for the safety of motorists and construction workers. However, a well-marked detour will be in place to guide motorists and trucks efficiently.
On Thursday, members of the Genesee County Planning Board will discuss whether to grant a special use permit for a new travel plaza near the Pembroke exit of the Thruway.
If approved by the Town of Pembroke, construction crews will build the travel plaza along Alleghany Road.
Currently, the TA Travel Center, the Flying J Travel Center, and a new Speedway operate in the area.
Planning Board members are scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. on Aug. 10 in the large conference room at County Building No. 2 at 3837 W. Main Street Road in Batavia. The board's authority is whether to recommend approval or not and whether any modifications should be considered. The Town of Pembroke's planning board has the final say on the application for a special use permit.
According to a Planning Board referral, this travel plaza will sell food and fuel and have a convenience store, a car wash and offer charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs).
The new development will sit on a 49.60-acre parcel, which is currently undeveloped. The site contains several wetlands. The entrance roads must cross over Murder Creek to access the site.
In a separate project, the board is also being asked to consider a special use permit for multi-family development in the same area as the travel plaza.
The area is seeing rapid growth this year. A new distribution center is currently under construction next to the Thruway. A mixed-use building opened at Brickhouse Corners (Route 5 and Route 77) earlier this year.
As The Batavian reported in January, the distribution center will take up 100 acres and was pitched as a great location for a distribution center — halfway between Rochester and Buffalo.
The Coots family hosted its annual party for auto enthusiasts, the Hardcore Happening, in Pavilion on Saturday.
Photos by Philip Casper.
Supporting acts for headliner Don Felder were the High Water Band and Yachut Fathers.
Photos by Nick Serrata.
Photos by Philip Casper.
There are continuous fundraisers for MaryLand, a Haven for Horses to help offset the expense of sheltering, feeding, and caring for 10 horses, the future purchase of a tractor, and the goal to house 10 more horses with a new barn.
There will be a big craft fair on site from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 30 at 8132 West Bergen Road, Le Roy. Craft vendors, a food truck, and a track photographer will be available to take photos of your kids with the horses for a fee, with all proceeds going to the nonprofit.
This event will also serve as an open house for folks to see for themselves what MaryLand is all about, the nonprofit President and CEO Maryanne Arena said.
“Our mission is to provide a safe and dignified retirement to Standardbred race horses. We also want to educate the public on harness racing which is a wonderful sport,” she said. “We want to promote responsible horse ownership. These horses run their hearts out for you and deserve a great retirement.”
MaryLand has a board of directors and dedicated workers, plus trainers who work with and advise Arena, she said.
"Alana Caprio is my mentor, and she has taught me and continues teaching me about Standardbred race horses. She cares about her horses deeply and has a wealth of experience and knowledge," Arena said. "Denny Bucceri is also a trainer who I've worked with who would never put a horse in danger. I always respected Denny's love and respect for horses, and Jim McNeight is humane and ethical.
"I need to thank the board members because they work continuously for the horses. Board member Amber and her dad volunteer to help at the farm. It's all done out of love, and no one gets a salary or compensated," she said. "It's for the love of the horses and providing them a forever home."
Arena wants to share the message that people who dislike horseracing and think that it’s cruel "need to know there are some good and responsible trainers out there." She has learned from some great ones, she said.
Early in the morning, after enough stillness has set in, they can hear the hoofbeats. It's as if a train is ramming down the 15-acre field. Maryanne Arena and daughter Jaime take bets on who will finish first.
Neither Arena is surprised at the impromptu race that has become like daily clockwork at MaryLand, a Haven for Horses, on West Bergen Road in Le Roy. After all, these magnificent creatures were once fine-tuned for racing -- Standardbreds, whose job was to get on the track and win.
Now, they just do it innately amongst themselves, with nobody else calling the shots.
"It's a wonderful thing to watch the race horses race on their own," Maryanne said at her home of 15 years that now also serves as the retirement sanctuary for 10 horses.
"We bring retired Standardbred racehorses here for the rest of their lives. Once a horse is accepted at MaryLand, it has a lifetime home," she said. "This is the difference between a 'rescue' and a 'sanctuary.' A rescue retrains and then finds adoptive homes for the horse. We accept and give a lifetime home where they are safe and have a dignified retirement."
Admittedly a poor kid from Brooklyn, she always loved horses, but her parents couldn't afford to buy and keep a horse at a stable, Arena said. Some of her earliest memories, with photos to preserve them, are of Arena with ponies.
"My father introduced me to horse racing, and I've been a fan ever since," she said. "Always dreamed of having my own horse farm and racing horses. I have done both. Started with a horse farm in Saratoga County, worked as a horse ranger for Saratoga National Battlefield.
"When I got my first racehorse, I asked the trainer what happens when a horse is finished racing. She gave me several options, and I thought then that I had to get a farm to retire that horse to," Arena said. "I did, and later that farm would evolve into MaryLand, not only for my horse but for others who needed a home to retire to."
There are 10 horses that fill 10 stalls in the barn on site, with future plans and fundraising for a second barn to take on more horses. But Arena knows enough to know that "I will not take on more than we can afford at one time." And she won't allow any horses to live out in the elements 24 hours a day, she said.
So besides the crucial need for shelter, there are the other challenges of being a caretaker: "Horses are expensive, and you cannot cut corners," she said.
"They need food, clean stalls, hay, vet care, a farrier, blankets, halters, and many other things," Arena said. "Right now, I pay for most of the care myself, along with the fundraising the organization does. The goal is to become sustainable so we can continue saving horses without worrying month to month about expenses."
So let's back up; when did Arena get her very first horse?
As a police officer in Brooklyn. His name was Romeo, and he led her on a love affair that's ever strong today. She's out at the barn by 7 a.m. each morning and there to say good night, feeding the house guests "plenty of cookies" before bedtime. In between that, there are chores that Jaime helps out with, such as cleaning stalls, scrubbing buckets and giving them fresh water. She's allergic to the dust in the barn and so wears her U.S. Navy mask to better tolerate the air.
Both Jaime and Maryanne would like to have some type of program for children and veterans to be able to visit with the horses for some type of trauma therapy. There have been such programs developed using horses and other animals to assist people in therapeutic healing, and Jaime has struggled with PTSD, she said, and believes in the power of equine therapy.
"It's the dream to start a program for vets someday," she said.
Obviously, as someone who still has a horse in the race, literally -- Maryanne's Sissy just won at Batavia Downs -- she knows horses, and she knows these horses -- beginning with Slim, the first one that she took in and then never looked back.
And there's Grandmother, the 31-year-old who went running on the ice and fell, ripping her knee apart to the bone. "We almost lost her," Arena said of that winter incident, but the tough granny pulled through and is now fine.
Slim is "the man," first in charge of the group, with Rocky second in command. Each horse has its own distinctive personality, she said.
"They are flight animals and have emotions. They, if treated gently, they will be gentle. They are very smart and respond to the human they are with. I have a great respect for horses," she said. "Most of all, I agree with the great trainer Monty Roberts, who says that if a horse does something wrong, it is the human that did something wrong."
Despite the work involved, there are also rewards for the effort.
"Every day when I get up and go to the barn to feed them and turn them out I see happy and healthy horses," she said. "Horses I love to show people. Horses I want to spend time with. They are great therapy. Good for the soul and mental health. That is the reward."
For more information, go to MaryLand.
Photos by Howard Owens.
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For the third straight year, Kim Mills of Oakfield and representing Batavia City Schools, was the top women's runner in the GLOW Corporate Cup, finishing with a time of 20:25.
Zac Jantzi, running on the Bontrager Auction and Real Estate Team, finished first overall with a time of 17:16, beating his second-place time of 2022 of 17:24.
Bontrager's won the Corporate Cup, represented by Jantzi, John Bruggman (2nd overall at 17:59), and Abby Jantzi (2nd among women with a time of 21:20).
Genesee Valley BOCES was the second-place team. Their top three finishers were John Scnitter, Samantha Walker, and Lisa Nixon.
Third place went to Liberty Pumps (Jacob Cone, Nathan Balduf, and Bryson Tobolski).
There was a total of 605 people who completed the course either as runners or walkers.
For complete results, click here.
Photos by Philip Casper.
The Edge Softball Travel Team is holding tryouts starting Aug. 7 at Batavia High School.
Tryout times are 6 to 6:30 p.m. for pitchers and catchers, 6:30 to 8 p.m. for all other positions.
Registration begins 15 minutes prior to tryout.
Teams:
For pre-registration text or email Coach Brian Mruczek, brianmruczek@yahoo.com or 585-993*1170. Please include the player's name, date of birth, contact information, and position.
Seven-on-seven flag football returns to Batavia on Aug. 27 for a cash-prize tournament for teams of seven to 13 players.
The tournament is being organized by Ray Williams, Thomas Ognibene, and Noah Talone.
Team sign-ups are being accepted up until the week of the tournament, and the cost is $650 per team.
The total cash prize for the winning team will be announced once organizers know how many teams are participating. In the past, the first-place prize has been $2,500.
Participants receive a team shirt.
For more information, call Ray at 585-356-5956, Thomas at 585-297-9409, or Noah at 585-813-8733.
The Batavia Society of Artists is hosting artist Karen Crittenden at 7 p.m. this Tuesday at GO ART!/Seymour Place, 201 E. Main St., Batavia.
Karen will be doing a hands-On Gelli Plates and Alcohol Inks demonstration. All materials will be provided at no cost. Refreshments are provided. Non-members are welcome for a $5 fee. The 2.o.1. Tavern will be open for cash purchases.
Please join us for a fun and interesting evening of making art! Any questions, please call Teresa Tamfer at 585-506-2465.
Press Release:
Senator George Borrello has introduced legislation mandating that New York City, the largest consumer of energy in the state and the most fossil fuel dependent, accept turbine installations at a rate equal to that of upstate New York.
“New York State’s leadership has expressed a commitment to making the state the most progressive in the country in its energy policy and conversion to renewables. To clear the path for their agenda, they have trampled on the state’s constitutional home rule doctrine, forcing upstate localities to accept industrial wind turbine installations even when local officials and residents are fiercely opposed,” said Sen. Borrello.
“The special interests and legislators pushing this conversion to all-renewables are largely from New York City. As upstate New York’s beautiful landscapes and Long Island’s shoreline are destroyed to make way for industrial turbine installations, the city has not had to make any comparable sacrifices, despite the fact that most of the energy produced will be diverted to the five boroughs,” said Sen. Borrello.
Specifically, the legislation would prohibit the New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment from granting a certificate for the construction of an industrial wind turbine within New York State unless a certificate for a wind turbine within New York City was also issued.
“As it stands now, the loss of green space as well as the wildlife and ecosystem damage that turbines cause will be solely borne by upstate and Long Island communities, which is not only unfair, but contradicts the ‘urgency of the climate crisis’ narrative that we hear often from New York leaders,” Sen. Borrello said. “If climate change is truly an ‘existential threat to humanity’ then the cost and logistical challenges of placing wind turbines in New York City should be tackled with the same urgency of those efforts that are ongoing in other parts of the state.”
Senator Borrello also noted that upstate New York’s energy generation is already more than 90 percent emission-free, thanks to hydropower and nuclear resources. In contrast, New York City’s energy production is largely dependent on fossil fuels.
“New York’s transition to renewable energy is going to require great sacrifices and higher costs. Those burdens shouldn’t fall disproportionately on the shoulders of upstate and Long Island residents. This measure is aimed at ensuring all regions of the state bear their fair share of the difficulties that will accompany this transition.”
Press Release:
Notre Dame High School is proud to announce its 2023 Sports Hall of Fame Class. The Induction program will be held on Saturday, November 18 on the Notre Dame campus.
The program will begin with a social hour and dinner with the Induction recognition portion to follow.
Inductees to be honored on November 18, 2023 are:
- Jimmy Fanara '67 Coach & Contributor
- John Borrelli '86 Athlete
- Jeff “Bingo” Messina '87 Athlete
- Margaret Dwyer Niedzwiecki '88 Athlete
- Carolyn Dwyer Babcock '91 Athlete
- Maura Flynn Sprague '00 Athlete
- 1999 NYSPHSAA NYS and NYS Federation Girls Basketball State Championship Team
Ticket information for the November 18th Induction Program will be announced shortly.
Press Release:
The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) are offering free drive-thru rabies vaccination clinic in August.
The Genesee County Rabies Vaccination Clinic will be held on August 10 from 4-6:30 p.m. at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia)
Vaccinations are free for dogs, cats, and ferrets. Animals must be at least 3 months old. Each animal must be leashed or crated and accompanied by an adult who can control the animal. Limit 4 pets per car maximum.
“Rabies continues to be a public health issue in Genesee and Orleans Counties,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for GO Health. “We urge pet owners to take this opportunity to ensure their pets are protected against rabies.”
For more information on GO Health’s programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org. You can also contact the Genesee County health department at 585-344-2580 x5555 or Health@co.genesee.ny.us.
Press Release:
The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) board of directors accepted an initial resolution for Oak Orchard Solar 3 LLC’s community solar farm project in the town of Batavia at the board’s Thursday, August 3 meeting.
The $9 million investment will include the installation of ground-mounted solar panels in order to generate up to 5 megawatts of power.
Since 2019, the GCEDC has reviewed over $1 billion of solar energy projects. These projects have proposed 860 megawatts of renewable energy and property tax-type revenues of $127.4 million to municipalities.
Under the proposed project agreement, Oak Orchard Solar 3 LLC’s project would generate $4,000/megawatts (AC) annually + a 2% annual escalator of revenues to Genesee County and the Elba Central School District. Including a host agreement with the Town of Batavia, this project is estimated to generate a $319,088 increase in property-tax type revenues to host municipalities over the life of the agreements.
A public hearing on the proposed project agreement will be scheduled in the town of Batavia.
Press Release:
Congratulations to the Genesee County 4-H members who participated in the 4-H Livestock Shows at the 2023 Genesee County Fair. At the completion of the individual 4-H Livestock Shows, an Overall 4-H Livestock Master Showmanship Contest was held on Friday, July 28.
The winners of master showmanship in each individual livestock show competed in the contest and Kasey Pagels was named the 2023 Overall 4-H Livestock Master Showman.
4-H Beef Show:
- Senior Showmanship – Kameron Cusmano
- Junior Showmanship – Jenna Whiting
- Novice Showmanship – Dakota Ford
- Master Showman – Jenna Whiting
- Supreme Champion Heifer – Makayla Sugg
- Champion Market Steer – Kameron Cusmano
4-H Goat Show:
- Senior Dairy Goat Showmanship – Riley Henning
- Junior Dairy Goat Showmanship – Levi Miller
- Novice Dairy Goat Showmanship – Juliet Miller
Master Dairy Goat Showman – Riley Henning- Best in Show Dairy Doe – Ellie Hudson
- Senior Meat Goat Showmanship – Riley Henning
- Junior Meat Goat Showmanship – Jenna Whiting
- Novice Meat Goat Showmanship – Brooke Wiater
- Master Meat Goat Showman – Riley Henning
- Best in Show Meat Doe – Juliet Miller
4-H Hog Show:
- Senior Showmanship – Brendan Pimm
- Junior Showmanship – Jenna Whiting
- Novice Showmanship – Harper Vokes
- Master Showman – Jenna Whiting
- Champion Breeding Gilt – Thomas Keele
- Champion Market Hog – Jenna Whiting
4-H Dairy Cattle Show:
- Senior Showmanship – Maggie Winspear
- Junior Showmanship – Claire Lamb
- Novice Showmanship – Joel Deleo
- Master Showman – Maggie Winspear
- Best Bred and Owned – Jillian Brewer
- Supreme Champion – Lilia Buckenmeyer
4-H Rabbit Show:
- Beginner Showmanship – Maura Grimes
- Junior Showmanship – Ainsley Kent
- Senior Showmanship – Amelia Brewer
- Master Showman – Amelia Brewer
- Best Pet – Amanda Shisler
- Best in Show – Eva Smith
4-H Cavy Show:
- Junior Showmanship – Layla Baker
- Senior Showmanship – Evan Winspear
- Master Showman – Layla Baker
- Best Pet – Layla Baker
- Best in Show – Evan Winspear
4-H Poultry Show:
- Beginner Showmanship – Mackenzie Boland
- Junior Showmanship – Brook Pagels
- Senior Showmanship – Clare Mathes
- Master Showman – Clare Mathes
- Best Pet – Gabe Rice
- Best in Show – Mildred Kendall
4-H Market Animal Auction Beef Steer Show:
- Senior Showmanship – Kameron Cusmano
- Intermediate Showmanship – Audrey Dorman
- Junior Showmanship – Jenna Whiting
- Beginner Showmanship – Georgia Dorman
- Master Showman – Jenna Whiting
- Champion Beef Steer – Jenna Whiting
4-H Market Animal Auction Dairy Steer Show:
- Senior Showmanship – Ian Keberle
- Junior Showmanship – Tate Zuber
- Master Showman – Ian Keberle
- Champion Dairy Steer – Chase Zuber
4-H Market Animal Auction Goat Show:
- Senior Showmanship – Tyler Jirovec
- Intermediate Showmanship – Taylor Fancher
- Junior Showmanship – Riley Smith
- Beginner Showmanship – Juliet Miller
- Master Showman – Clare Mathes
- Champion Market Goat – Brady Fox
4-H Market Animal Auction Hog Show:
- Senior Showmanship – Rachel Best
- Intermediate Showmanship – Cody Carlson
- Junior Showmanship – Jenna Whiting
- Beginner Showmanship – Helena Kotarski
- Master Showman – Jenna Whiting
- Champion Market Hog – Jenna Whiting
4-H Market Animal Auction Lamb Show:
- Senior Showmanship – Brendan Pimm
- Junior Showmanship – Colten Sugg
- Beginner Showmanship – Riley Boland
- Master Showman – Brendan Pimm
- Champion Market Lamb – Colten Sugg
4-H Market Animal Auction Poultry Show:
- Senior Showmanship – Clare Mathes
- Junior Showmanship – Eva Smith
- Beginner Showmanship – Peter Smith
- Master Showman – Clare Mathes
- Champion Market Poultry – Alyssa Pimm
4-H Market Animal Auction Rabbit Show:
- Senior Showmanship – Ella Christ
- Junior Showmanship – Layla Baker
- Beginner Showmanship – Mildred Kendall
- Master Showman – Ella Christ
- Champion Market Rabbits – Ella Christ
OPEN HOUSE - Saturday, Aug. 5th from 11am - 12:30pm! 22 Bennett Street, Oakfield. Solid, 3 bedroom, 2and 1/2 bath home located on prime village street. This yard is the fun yard! Fully enclosed and private backyard with large sunny open deck, awesome xlarge playset and plenty more yard space for entertaining and games!! Stepping inside you will be greeted by large and bright kitchen with so much space and cupboards plus an oversized pantry closet for all the supplies! There is also conveniently a large 1/2 bath and laundry room for your guests and you right as you walk in to catch all the mess! There is a great spacious layout between the formal dining room and oversized living room and front foyer and all three rooms boast hardwood floors and beautiful unpainted woodwork and even a set of beautiful wooden and glass pocket doors! Upstairs there are 3 large bedrooms -the master is roomy and bright with a sunny connected bath that everyone will want to use! There is also a large attic for all your storage needs and a full basement that once upon a time was partially finished off and could be again! There's a lot here for the next owner to enjoy so make it yours today! Call Reliant 585-344-4663.
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