The Batavia Blue Devils varsity football team hosted the Batavia Bulldawgs youth football program at Van Detta Stadium on Wednesday night.
(Photos submitted by John Reigle.)
The second annual Taste of Independence to benefit Independent Living of the Genesee Region will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at St. Joseph's School. The address is 2 Summit St. Cost is $25 per ticket or $40 per couple.
There will be a 50/50 auction and raffle items. Only a limited number of tickets are available so get yours now.
To RSVP and/or sponsor, call Donna Becker at 815-8501, ext. 411, or e-mail her at dbecker@wnyil.org
Funds raised will be used to help people with disabilities in emergency situations with employment or moving forward with life goals when there is no other financial resource available.
This kitten was found by staff on school grounds at Alexander Elementary School. It appears to have had recent surgery because of the purple dye on its fur. If it's your cat, contact the school.
UPDATE 2:42 p.m.: The owner has been located.
Members of Genesee County's rope rescue team trained at Indian Falls -- the site of many such real-life rescues over the years -- with a new rope system, called a Vortex.
The $25,000 system (including LED lighting) features a more sophisticated, and more effective and efficient, pulley system, making it easier to keep the ropes clear of obstructions and requiring less exertion of force to raise a patient lifter, making it easier for a medic to accompany the patient up the side of the cliff.
Top photo: Christina Marinaccio and Jamie Call, the first team to descend and ascend with the new system. Marinaccio and Call are both city firefighters and volunteers (with Le Roy and Stafford, respectively).
To find out how you can do interesting things like this, help save lives and serve your community, visit ReadyGenesee.com.
Amanda Rose Hagedorn, 25, of West Hazeltine Avenue, Kenmore, is charged with criminal contempt, obstructing governmental administration and attempted assault, 3rd. Hagedorn allegedly bit a deputy during her arraignment on a previous arrest and then again while being removed from the courtroom and placed in a patrol car.
Roseann Cooper, 46, of Pearl Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny, harassment, 2nd, aggravated unlicensed operation, 2n,d and failure to stop at stop sign. Cooper is accused of shoplifting from Dollar General. She allegedly shoved a store employee when confronted about the suspected shoplifting. Cooper left the location and a customer called 9-1-1. Cooper was located allegedly driving on Walnut Street.
Melinda T. Andrews, 42, of Walnut Street, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Andrews was allegedly involved in a domestic incident on Holland Avenue at 1:05 a.m., Sunday.
Scott Edward Yocina, 58, of Phelps Road, Corfu, is charged with criminal possession of marijuana, 4th, and unlawful growing of marijuana. Yocina was charged related to the alleged discovery of a marijuana growing operation at 4:15 p.m., May 4.
Joseph Carl Jeffords, 24, of Ross Street, Batavia, is accused of a violation of probation. Jeffords was turned over to Batavia PD by authorities in Wayne County, where he was in custody on charges in their jurisdiction. He was jailed locally on $5,000 bail.
Lonnie J. Ford III, 44, of Ellicott Street, Batavia, is charged with open container. Ford is accused of possessing an open container of alcohol while in the pavilion at Austin Park.
Jeffery James Cervone, 47, no known address, Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. Cervone allegedly damaged and threw items around in a room at UMMC.
Stephen J. Konieczny, 37, of Ross Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief. Konieczny allegedly threw a bottle of water at a vehicle causing damage.
Thomas Swineford, 61, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with disorderly conduct. Swinford is accused of urinating on a tree in Austin Park. He was reported by a passerby.
Alex J. Ianita, 21, of Bank Street, Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child, unlawful imprisonment, third-degree assault, petit larceny and second-degree robbery. Ianita was allegedly involved in a domestic incident at 11:25 a.m., Aug. 16.
Timothy A. Banks, 24, of Columbia Avenue, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant. Banks allegedly failed to appear on an open container charge. He was jailed on $100 bail or $200 bond.
Ellicott M. Hickman Jr., 24, of Hutchins Street, Batavia, is charged with trespass in a city park (between dusk and sunrise). Hickman was allegedly in Williams Park at 5:08 a.m., Aug. 20.
A house fire is reported at 31 East Ave. in the Village of Attica. Alexander Fire Department is called to provide mutual aid to Attica in fighting the blaze, along with Bethany for rehab. The location is between Prospect Street and Putnam Place.
UPDATE 5:08 a.m.: Fire out. Checking for extensions. Bethany can go back in service.
A car vs. pole accident with injuries is reported at 2172 Ledge Road, Basom, just west of Maple Road. Alabama Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.
It's easy to be optimistic in the preseason, Alexander's Head Coach Tim Sawyer notes during a recent practice at The Field of Dreams while the Trojans sprint and leap and twist and turn and bang into each other during a series of warm-up drills.
Sawyer likes what he sees of his squad, which is inheriting back-to-back successful seasons that gave Alexander shots at sectional titles.
His boys are tough, working hard, have some talent and, most importantly, coalescing as a team.
"We had a tremendous summer," Sawyer said. "We have a really tight team. They like football. They like each other. They care about each other and they want to be the best they can be, so it's exciting."
The squad of 27 includes 11 seniors and 15 juniors. Jared Browne returns as the starting QB, Derrick Busch is at tight end, Connor Roberts at wide receiver, Zach Jasen at fullback and Jake Wozniak at halfback. Sawyer also can stack his lines with Josh Hylkema, Riley Kusmierski, Rick Amico, Sean Bennett, Matt Grover and Brett Nichols, none of whom start the season under 190 pounds.
Hylkema, a junior at 235 pounds, is an interesting case. He only started playing football last season, and has, Sawyer said, fallen in love with the game.
"He's really changed," Sawyer said. "He's gotten bigger. He understands the game better."
But as Sawyer surveys the Genesee Region, he sees potential trouble every week. It will be a tough season.
"That's the neat thing," Sawyer said. "I think overall, the strength of the league this year means on any given week, you're going to get a challenge."
That said, Sawyer added, "We've got high expectations."
"We were in sectional finals two years ago and semi-finals last year and we want to get back and win a sectional title," Sawyer said. "You can do that without winning the GR, but we'd like to do both. That's our ultimate goal, be GR champs again and win a sectional title.
"The kids have been working hard for it," Sawyer added. "It's in our sights. I've had groups in the past that will, you know, that will rattle off these goals, but they haven't acted up to it by their work ethic, but this group has been working hard. If that's what they want to do, I think we've got a shot at it, but you better be prepared to play every week in the GR."
A former local small business owner appeared in county court to answer for a series of thefts in Genesee County that he said was spurred by his addiction to heroin.
Jason D. Lang, 33, of Liberty Street, entered guilty pleas in June to two counts of grand larceny, 4th, related to thefts from Walmart and Target. The guilty plea satisfied a whole raft of similar charges.
Already in state custody on convictions in neighboring counties, Lang was told today his sentence on the local charges would be one-and-a-half to four years.
The sentences are concurrent to his previous sentence. Lang's attorney told Noonan that a parole board had already told Lang he would be released Sept. 5.
The new sentence throws that release date into doubt. The board will need to take into consideration Noonan's new sentence. At this point, it's unclear when Lang might be released.
"Mr. Lang is eager to return to his community and be productive again," said attorney Jon Wilson.
Lang has been in drug and alcohol treatment and Wilson said he's doing very well.
"He's committed himself to turning around his world," Wilson said.
Once the successful owner of Batavia Cab, Lang opened a smoke shop and tattoo parlor known as The Laughing Buddha. It may have been the first local shop, just prior to the 420 Emporium opening, to sell bath salts and synthetic marijuana.
In the Summer of 2012, when local law enforcement and emergency personnel were dealing with a series of peculiar incidents that seemed to stem from bath salt use, Lang was often in the news. He was arrested after imagining and reporting gunfire at a local hotel. He was also accused of impersonating a police officer.
In the midst of his legal troubles, and after his store was shut down and the cab company sold, his family organized a protest outside the 420 Emporium over that store's continued sale of bath salts. (Owner Charles Fitzgerald who owned other locations as well, is currently serving a federal prison term related to his trade in synthetic drugs.)
Lang reportedly kicked the bath salt habit, but then turned to heroin. He was accused of shoplifting from Hamburg to Victor, including in Batavia, during this period.
Wilson said his client has been in treatment at Lakeview since March and has completed both the drug and alcohol portions of the program.
When asked to speak, Lang was contrite.
"I'm sorry for the crimes I committed," Lang said. "I never would have did them if not for my heroin addiction. The past three years have been hard. I put the community through hell, my parents through hell, my children through hell. I'm really regretful for what I did."
Noonan reminded Lang that he wasn't the victim in this case and was in no mood to fashion a sentence that would guarantee Lang could keep his Sept. 5 parole date.
"Let that be the last time you blame heroin for your crimes," Noonan said. "Heroin didn't commit your crimes. You committed your crimes."
A structure fire is reported in the basement of the Cargill facility in Alexander, located at 3540 Railroad Ave. There is heavy black smoke spewing from the building and it is being evacuated.
Alexander fire is responding along with Town of Batavia, Bethany, Darien, the city's Fast Team and East Pembroke.
UPDATE 12:17 p.m.: City fire's first platoon is requested to the headquarters on Evans Street. A crew from Darien is also asked to stand by in quarters.
UPDATE 12:35 p.m.: Fire is out. Ventilating.
Press release:
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) today announced that applications are now available for municipalities and not-for-profits seeking grant money for historical and art preservation projects through the Technical Assistance Grant Program.
Grants will not exceed $3,000 per project and are only available for short-term, stand-alone ventures that seek to preserve cultural and historical heritage.
“I am excited to announce that applications have been released for this grant program,” Hawley said. “New York is one of the most historically rich states in the nation with structures and stories dating back to our existence as one of the original thirteen colonies.
"As a supporter of history and arts in our schools, I am proud to promote this endeavor and thank the New York State Council on the Arts and Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor for their support. I encourage local historical groups and municipalities to take advantage of this opportunity and continue their tradition of preserving New York’s amazing history.”
The deadline for fall 2015 grant applications is Sept. 8th and interested applicants are required to call the Preservation League of New York State at 518-462-5658, ext. 10, to discuss potential projects. More information on the grant application process can be found at http://www.preservenys.org/tag-2015.html
The following people were arrested by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office during the Van Halen Concert at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on Tuesday.
Michael L. Mawk Jr., 22, of Stellane Drive, Angola, is charged with criminal trespass, 3rd, after allegedly climbing over a fence and entering the concert venue.
James H. Munt, 37, of Robinson Street, North Tonawanda, is charged with criminal trespass, 3rd, after allegedly reentering the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.
Codie J. Taylor, 21, of Greenwood Place, Angola, is charged with criminal trespass, 3rd, after allegedly climbing over a fence and entering the concert venue.
Donald H. Gardener, 29, of Briggs Avenue, Bronx, is charged with criminal trespass, 3rd, after allegedly reentering Darien Lake property after being ejected and told not to return.
Thomas J. Scheurlein, 25, of Chili Avenue, Rochester, is charged with trespass after allegedly reentering the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.
Van Halen performed last night at Darien Lakes PAC and lead singer David Lee Roth was back in action on stage with some entertaining moves. Roth missed the first show from the band's second leg of their U.S. tour in Hershey, Pa., this past Sunday night due to illness.
The crowd of approximately 9,000 people were entertained by classics like "Dance the Night Away," "Ain't talkin bout Love," "Panama," and "Running with the Devil."
This is the band's first time back to WNY since the group played a North American tour in 2012 at the First Niagara Center, Buffalo. Van Halen did not disappoint the crowd and still packed a punch to their lineup with additional tunes like "Hot for Teacher," "Jump," "Unchained," and "You Really Got Me."
Two solos were performed through the show: Alex Van Halen on drums; and Eddie Van Halen with guitar near the end.
The opening act was the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band pictured in the last two photos below. Next stop for Van Halen is tomorrow night at Susquehanna Bank Center, Camden, N.J.
Some photos below Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band.
Press release:
The Genesee County 4-H Office would like to thank all of the Genesee County 4-H members who participated in the 2015 Genesee County Fair. We would also like to thank all of our volunteers, judges, family and friends who came to support our youth; we could not do it without you!
Congratulations to the following Genesee County 4-H members who were selected to show at the New York State Fair, which will take place in Syracuse from Aug. 27 to Sept. 7. Genesee County 4-H non-animal exhibits selected for state fair will be on display in the Youth Building Aug. 31st through Sept. 7th. Animal exhibitors will show at their species scheduled show times, for more information visit: http://nysfair.org/
Non-Animal Exhibits
Animal Exhibitors
Press release:
Genesee County Master Gardeners will be hosting their annual Fall Garden Gala on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County, 420 E. Main St. in Batavia.
There will be a plant sale featuring hardy perennials, houseplants and locally grown mums. Fall is a good time to plant many perennials as the plant will have the fall months to grow a strong root system. There will also be a chance basket auction, free soil pH testing and plenty of gardening advice from local master gardeners.
Stop by for “Flower Arrangements from the Garden” demonstration at 11 a.m. Learn how to artfully arrange fresh flowers from your garden. A variety of fresh flower arrangements created by master gardeners will also be available for sale.
Don’t miss your chance to pick up some great plants for your garden! Plant sale starts promptly at 10 a.m. No early birds please. The chance auction drawing will begin at 12:30 p.m.
For more information contact Brandie Schultz at CCE of Genesee County, (585) 343-3040, ext. 101, stop by the Extension office at 420 E. Main St. in Batavia, or visit our Web site http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu/gardening or Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CCEofGenesee.
Genesee County's unemployment rate was reported at below 5 percent for the third straight month, with a July number of 4.7 percent.
The July rate is the lowest its been for the midsummer month since 2007, when the rate was 4.1 percent.
The 2015 figure is lower than a year ago when the rate was 5.0.
In all, the labor department currently lists 1,500 local residents without jobs and 17,800 with jobs.
The department also reports a total of 24,000 non-farm jobs in the county, up slightly from the previous July when there were 23,800 jobs reported. There were 24,400 jobs reported in the county in June.
The lowest recorded unemployment rate for July since 1990 is 3.4 percent. The highest jobs number for July since is 24,600 in 2008.
Press release:
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that special permits will be issued for the opening weekend of duck season to hunt waterfowl at two popular state-managed locations. The permit requirement applies to waterfowl hunting at the Oak Orchard and Tonawanda Wildlife Management areas located primarily in Genesee and Niagara counties (with small portions in Orleans and Erie counties). The intent of the special permits is to promote hunter safety and increase the quality of hunting on days when the areas receive the greatest use.
A special permit is required to hunt waterfowl at Oak Orchard and Tonawanda Wildlife Management areas on the duck season’s first Saturday and first Sunday. These days are the only times the special permits are needed. Waterfowl may be hunted without a special permit during the rest of the season. The permit system has been used successfully at both wildlife management areas in recent years. No special permits are required to hunt other game species at Oak Orchard or Tonawanda Wildlife Management areas.
DEC has announced tentative 2015-2016 duck hunting season dates. Western New York’s tentative opening day/weekend dates for duck hunting are Oct. 24 and 25. This year goose season will be open during the opening weekend of duck season, and goose hunters are also required to obtain the special permit. These dates will not be finalized until the federal regulations are adopted in late summer. Hunters are advised to confirm the final dates before hunting any waterfowl.
Opening weekend waterfowl hunting permits for the two wildlife management areas will be distributed by a random lottery. For each of the two days, DEC will issue 100 permits for Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area and 50 permits for Oak Orchard Wildlife Management Area. Hunters must choose from four options: Oak Orchard first Saturday; Oak Orchard first Sunday; Tonawanda first Saturday; and Tonawanda first Sunday.
To apply for the lottery, hunters must send in a postcard with their name, address and their first three choices, in order of preference, clearly indicated. Applicants must also have completed a Waterfowl Identification Course, and their course certificate number must be indicated on the postcard.
Applications will be accepted through Sept. 15 and must be mailed to the New York State Bureau of Wildlife, 1101 Casey Road, Box B, Basom, NY 14013. Each permittee will be allowed to bring one companion over the age of 18 and an additional companion 18 years old or younger.
Duplicate permits will not be issued to hunters who have already been issued a permit to hunt on the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. Any cards submitted by hunters who have been selected to hunt on Iroquois on the first Saturday will be excluded from the lottery for that day at both Oak Orchard and Tonawanda.
Issued permits are nontransferable and are not valid for companion(s) unless the permittee is present and hunting within 50 yards. The permittee is responsible for completing and returning the questionnaire portion of the permit to the New York State Bureau of Wildlife by Nov. 15. If the completed questionnaire is not received by Nov. 15, the permittee will be ineligible for next year's (2016) lottery.
NYSDEC is also currently planning the annual Waterfowl Information meeting, which is held at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters on Casey Road in Alabama, Genesee County. This year the meeting will take place on the evening of Sept. 2 from 7 – 9 p.m. Wildlife biologists from Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge and NYSDEC will discuss items of interest to waterfowl hunters in an informational and interactive forum.
Topics to be covered include:
-- Highlights of waterfowl management and research programs at Iroquois NWR, Tonawanda, Oak Orchard and Braddock Bay Wildlife Management areas, including drawdown schedules and hunt program news;
- Regional and statewide waterfowl news and updates, including waterfowl banding results;
- Atlantic Flyway news, including Avian Influenza update, and waterfowl population status surveys; and,
- Tentative NY 2015-16 duck and goose hunting seasons.
Directions:
From the NYS Thruway, take Exit 48A (Pembroke) and travel north on Route 77 to Alabama Center. Continue north on Route 63 for approximately 1 mile, turn left on Casey Road. The office is about a mile down the road on the right.
Richard D. Cohen, 46, of Ellicott Avenue, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Cohen is accused of stealing 13 framed pictures from the walls of Terry Hills Restaurant and Banquet Facility. Cohen allegedly entered a conference room at Terry Hills on Aug. 7 and removed the pictures from the walls and placed them in his vehicle. The next day, after management noticed the pictures were missing, they reviewed video footage of the conference room area and members of the staff recognized Cohen and identified him as the suspect. The pictures were subsequently located in his vehicle. The case was investigated by Kris Kautz.
Sherry Maryanna Steffans, 34, of Stony Point Road, Grand Island, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, failure to keep right and failure to yield to an emergency vehicle. Deputy Patrick Reeves attempted to make a traffic stop on Steffans' vehicle at 12:12 a.m. Saturday on Main Road, Pembroke, and Steffans allegedly failed to yield for more than a mile.
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