Despite the unrelenting rain, it was a busy day for Clor's Meat Market today -- with several groups needing Clor's one-of-a-kind BBQ chicken. So Chuck Gugel had a couple of employees set up BBQ pits in a vacant-lot area behind Faletti Ice Arena near the skate park off Evans Street. Pictured are Troy Colton, left, and William Griffin.

A persistent drizzle didn't dampen the green spirits of some Batavia residents who turned out for the city's Earth Day park clean-up effort today at Austin Park (with clean-up crews dispersing to other parks after a meeting).

Above, Kaitlin Logsdon at Austin Park, and below, Batavia City Council President Tim Buckley with Katie Buckley, and wearing the trash bag is Dave Russell.

Flowers are blooming, birds are singing ... it was blue skies and nearly 80 degrees yesterday.

But this is Western New York, so we shouldn't be surprised that the National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for Sunday evening through Monday evening.

From four to eight inches of heavy wet snow is possible with winds of up to 40 mph.

Visibility at times will be less than half a mile.

The weather service warns of downed trees and power lines with power outages and hazardous driving conditions.

A child playing with fire is the most likely cause of a blaze that gutted the second floor of an apartment building at 26 Maple St., Batavia, on Friday.

According to Lt. Jay Steinbrenner of the Batavia City Fire Department, the physical evidence and the version of events given by the mother are consistent and the fire will officially be deemed accidental.

It's unknown if the child was playing with matches or a lighter.

The names of the occupants of the three unit complex are not yet available.

The mother burned her hand trying to grab a pillow that had been set on fire so she could throw it out of the apartment.

When she couldn't successfully deal with the fire herself, she evacuated her children from the apartment and then called 9-1-1.

Heavy smoke and some flames were already billowing out of the second-floor windows by the time the first firefighters arrived on scene at about 1:30 p.m.

Steinbrenner said that one firefighter observed upon entering the building, "It's a big fire real quick."

The upstairs rooms were filled with thick black smoke when firefighters entered through northside door.

The wind was from the south, so smoke and flames were being blown in the opposite direction. Firefighters needed to push the blaze -- they wanted to push it toward the southside windows, which would give them the best chance to save as much of the structure as possible.

In all, Steinbrenner said, he thought the city crews did a good job of accomplishing their goal.

Though the building was razed, the first floor remained structurally sound and the two downstairs occupants were able to recover almost all of their personal belongings.

"The fire was contained to the second floor," Steinbrenner said. "I thought we did a good job. The tenants downstairs were able to salvage their possessions. There was very little damage downstairs, just water damage."

Today's game between the Empire State Yankees and Norfolk Tides has been postponed due to rain.

This game will be made up as part of a double-header on Sunday, April 22. Two seven-inning games will be played, with the first game starting at 1:05 p.m. Gates open at noon.

Any person with tickets to today’s game can exchange their tickets for any other Yankees game or any Muckdogs regular season game, subject to availability.

Ramon Ortiz of the Empire Yankees delivered the first pitch -- a called ball -- to Norfolk's Xavier Avery and history was made at Dwyer Stadium: the first Triple A ball game ever played in Batavia.

There were 1,319 fans on hand to witness the history-making game.

Two pitches later, the Yankees were down 1-0 as Avery rocketed a pitch from Ortiz over the right field wall.

While Ortiz got hit pretty hard in the first inning, he settled down to last seven innings and the Yankees came back with a three-run eighth inning to salvage a 6-4 victory.

The two teams go at it again today at 1:05 p.m., tomorrow at 1:05 p.m. and Monday at 12:05 p.m.

Double play sequence:

Below, Rep. Kathy Hochul throws out the first pitch (photo provided by Kevin Manne).

More game pictures after the jump (click on the headline to view):

It was the Ugly Purse and Tie Luncheon today to raise money for the Child Advocacy Center. The second annual event is a chance for local residents to show off their most gaudy ties and purses.

The luncheon was held at Terry Hills.

Top photo, Susan Privitera, of Le Roy, with a fur-and-bug-covered handbag of her own making.

Sheriff Gary Maha.

Mike Flannery, left, Edgar Lougheed, both from Byron, and Det. Pat Corona.

On the way out of Bergen this morning I spotted this horse eating dandelions in front of one our area's more attractive barns, so stopped and made this picture.

Dealing with the DMV just got a little bit easier in the Village of Bergen. At the urging of Trustee Anne Marie Barclay, the county (through the efforts of the County Clerk's Office, and the highway department) installed a DMV drop box outside the village hall.

"One of the things we always work to improve is the quality of life in Bergen and to bring more people into the village and we think this will do that," Barclay said.

Mayor Ralph Marsocci praised the effort and thanked county staff for making it possible.

Leslie Krajewski, deputy county clerk, said the clerk's office projects that the drop box will pay for itself by September.

The drop box will make it more convenient for people in the northeast part of the county, as well as areas neighboring that part of the county, to take care of their DMV business.

By using the drop box, DMV customers will cut two or three days off the time it takes to complete a transaction.

Pictured are Barclay, Marsocci, Deputy Mayor Paul Cooper, Krajewski, senior DMV representative Nancy Elmore and Trustee Ginny Adams.

Though it ways more than 2,600 pounds, a new Celtic-style cross was placed with loving care atop the tower at St. James Episcopal Church in Batavia this morning.

The cross raising caps a $500,000 restoration project at St. James that should be completely finished some time in July.

Bill Farmer, chairman of Catenary Construction, said his crews have repaired mortar, replaced 278 pieces of stone and put a new roof on the tower. In a few weeks, the white wrapping around the scaffolding will come off, the scaffolding lowered and the giant stained glass window repaired. When that's done, the project is done.

As the cross was raised this morning, Farmer and Rev. Steve Metcalf looked on with obvious joy.

"This is without a doubt the best part (of the job)," Farmer said. "It’s a pretty noble service to set a cross and it’s a once-in-a-professional-career moment."

The cross is a highly compacted concrete, and where the previous cross lasted only about 100 years, this cross will last hundreds of years, Farmer said.

"We're very pleased with it," Metcalf said. "(As I watched the cross go up) I began to think about people being able to see a new cross as a sign of renovation, not only of the building, but of this congregation."

When Metcalf arrived at the church a couple of years ago, he said, the facade was crumbling and it was hard for anybody to even approach the building. The front doors couldn't even be opened.

"There was this sense that we weren't open to the community," Metcalf said.

Donations from the congregation and members of the community along with state charitable grants helped pay for the restoration.

If you're unable to view the slide show below, click here.

A three-unit apartment building at 26 Maple St., Batavia, was destroyed today by a raging inferno that consumed the upper floor of the building shortly after 1:30 p.m.

The tenants of all three units -- a mother with three children, a mother with two children and a single male -- were home when the fire erupted and all residents, including children, escaped the blaze.

One woman suffered burns on her hands.

The cause of the fire is still undetermined.

What remains of the structure will be demolished this evening.

The mothers with children are being assisted by Red Cross.

The property is owned by Thomas Snyder and was assessed at $80,000.

Retired firefighter Frank Capuano said he remembers that when he was a child the building was a grocery store / corner market.

All city fire platoons were called to the scene, with mutual aid from Town of Batavia and Elba fire departments, and Oakfield filling in at the city station. Mercy EMS provided medical and rehab support.

No firefighters were injured.

UPDATE 6:16 p.m.: Chief Jim Maxwell said the fire has been ruled accidental. No further information is being released at this time.

If you're unable to view the slide show below, click here.

A cap blew off a propane tank at a residence at 7375 N. Bergen Road in Bergen. There's heavy natural gas smell and the house is being evacuated. Byron Fire Department is responding with mutual aid.

UPDATE 2:22 p.m.: Le Roy was called but then told to stand down.

UPDATE 2:29 p.m.: The 500-gallon tank was overfilled. The company which is responsible for the unit is called. Meanwhile, the firefighters are told to keep water on the tank to cool it down.

UPDATE 2:44 p.m.: The gas company crew is on location.

UPDATE 3:08 p.m.: Fire units are back in service. Burnwell Gas Co. is handling the equipment problem.

A motor-vehicle accident with air-bag deployment is reported at routes 19 and 33. Medics are responding along with the Bergen Fire Department.

UPDATE 2:27 p.m.: Fire police are called to handle traffic.

UPDATE 2:34: There's only one lane of traffic open.

UPDATE 2:49 p.m.: One patient is being transported to UMMC complaining of pain in both wrists after the patient's vehicle was allegedly struck by the other vehicle involved.

UPDATE 3:06 p.m.: Fire crews are back in service.

UPDATE 3:10 p.m.: The roadway is clear and reopened.

A house fire is reported at 26 Maple St. in the City of Batavia. Evans Street is shut down at Watson Street. City firefighters are on scene.

UPDATE 1:36 p.m.: Two Mercy rigs are requested to the scene.

UPDATE 1:37 p.m.: Maple Street is shut down at Thorpe.

UPDATE 1:39 p.m.: A Fast Team from the Town of Batavia is called in as well as a town crew to fill in at the city's fire hall. A female with burned hands is waiting for treatment at the corner of Evans and Maple. The second floor of the structure is fully involved.

UPDATE 1:43 p.m.: Mutual aid from the Town of Elba is on scene. There's a vehicle at the scene that needs to be moved (the owner of vehicle's wife works at the warehouse/transfer facility on Ganson Avenue, but they don't have the owner's name. He was seen walking down Maple).

UPDATE 1:52 p.m.: The inside fire is knocked down. They are starting rehab of the fire scene. A rep. for National Grid is called and will be there shortly. Now they are calling for a fill-in at the city station from Oakfield. The city's third platoon is called to the scene. The house is the light brown (or dark tan) two-story at the corner of Evans and Maple, across the street from the church.

UPDATE 2:01: An adult female with first- and second-degree burns to her hands is being transported to UMMC. The National Grid rep. is on scene.

UPDATE 2:09 p.m.: There's fire in the ceiling above a first-floor bedroom and they are going to break into the ceiling to put it out. Oakfield is in the city's fire hall.

UPDATE 2:23 p.m.: Fire under control.

UPDATE 2:37 p.m.: A National Fuel rep. is called to the scene.

UPDATE 2:52 p.m.: The American Red Cross is called to come to the aid of a mother and her three children. There are other occupants who live in the home, but they have not yet determined other information about them.

UPDATE 2:59 p.m.: The other family who lives in the house is "all set" and will apparently not require Red Cross assistance.

UPDATE 3:21 p.m.: The building owner is on scene.

UPDATE 3:34 p.m.: Elba firefighters are back in service.

UPDATE 3:45 p.m.: Red Cross is on location. City fire crews are rolling up their hoses and preparing to leave the scene.

UPDATE 4:02 p.m.: Mutual aid responders from the Town of Batavia Fire Department are back in service.

UPDATE 4:42 p.m.: The structure will be demolished this evening.

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"Legally Blonde" is a musical with music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin, and script by Heather Hach. Local auditions are scheduled next weekend and the show will premiere in Genesee County in July.

The show is based on the novel "Legally Blonde" by Amanda Brown and the 2001 film of the same name.

It tells the story of Elle Woods, a sorority girl who enrolls at Harvard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend Warner. She discovers how her knowledge of the law can help others, and successfully defends exercise queen Brooke Wyndham in a murder trial.

"Legally Blonde" will be directed by Ann Marie Gsell, with vocal direction by Jacqueline McLean, choreography by Kris Ashley, and produced by Jason Juliano in conjunction with the WNY Arts Society.

Auditions are at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 28, and at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 29 (with call backs at 6:30 p.m. on the 29th). Auditions are at Stuart Steiner Theatre at Genesee Community College, 1 College Road, in Batavia.

Auditioners are asked to prepare a song of at least 16-bars from a modern/pop musical that showcases his/her vocal abilities. An accompanist will be provided. Auditioners are asked to bring their own sheet music. There will be a dance/movement portion of auditions; those auditioning should come prepared to dance. Those considered for a role will be asked to stay or return for call backs to sing a song selection from the show and read from the script.

(The musical was recorded in September 2007 and aired on MTV in October 2007. Following this, a reality TV show was aired showing the audition process for the next person to play Elle Woods on Broadway.)

In the Genesee County premiere, performances of "Legally Blonde" will be at 7:30 p.m. July 12-14 and there's a matinee at 2 p.m. July 15.

For more information, those interested in auditioning can call Jason Juliano at (716) 390-7615 or visit www.FaceBook.com/wnyarts.

Democrat & Chronicle: Cyberbullying law is proposed in Monroe County, and related in Erie County: Poloncarz signs ban on cyberbullying

An unknown type of fire has been reported in the area of Old Creek Road and Cookson Road in the Town of Alexander.

Alexander Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 8:32 p.m.: It appears to be a controlled burn.

UPDATE 8:37 p.m.: The fire is at 9519 Old Creek Road. Alexander will extinguish the fire.

The picture that emerged in Genesee County Court this afternoon of Stephen Irving Stone was that of a 45-year-old man with little remorse and with little understanding that sexual abuse of children is wrong.

The only positives Judge Robert C. Noonan found in Stone was that he has no other criminal history and that by pleading guilty Feb. 24 to predatory sexual abuse he saved his victims from the torture of testifying in open court.

For those "limited reasons," Noonan said, he took a little time off the possible maximum sentence and sent Stone to prison for 20 years to life.

Stone's only words in court came after Noonan asked if he wanted to make a statement.

"No, your honor. It is in your hands, sir," said Stone, who came into court with a fully grown beard and shackled and in a jail orange jumpsuit.

The sentencing range available to Noonan was from 10 years to life to 25 years to life.

Assistant District Attorney Kevin Finnell spoke at length about Stone.

"When I read the PSI (pre-sentence investigation report), I came away with three thoughts," Finnell said. "This is a defendant who rationalizes, who minimizes and who fails to accept responsibility."

"I saw nothing," he added, "that said he expresses any kind of remorse or concern for his victims."

Defense Attorney William Harper said he had a slightly different read of the PSI, that Stone had "in his limited ability to do so" expressed remorse and that just prior to his arrest, he had come to the realization that what he was doing was wrong.

"Mr. Stone was indoctrinated into this behavior from an early age by multiple abusers," Harper said. "By his teenage years, he thought it was normal. In my last conversation with him, he told me he is full of regret."

Noonan said Stone's prior abuse was no excuse for his behavior, but noted that his own victims stand a better chance of being able to move on with their lives because Stone was caught, and they were willing to tell investigators what happened and will now benefit from more modern treatment programs.

"This case is one of the most vile set of circumstances I have had the responsibility to be involved in," Noonan said.

"It's amazing to me," he added, 'that a person could have such callous disregard for other human beings."

Noonan said the details of the crimes -- more than 100 acts over a several year period -- that Stone admitted to as "so disturbing" that he couldn't refer to the descriptions in public.

Press release:

These are the highlights from the Batavia City School District (BCSD) Board of
Education meeting on Monday, April 16:

Superintendent of Schools Margaret Puzio announced that the consolidation and consequent reorganization of the district has been going smoothly due to the cooperation of the Batavia Teachers Association, staff and administrators.

Space and scheduling configurations are largely complete, and staffing will be complete within the next several days. Transportation issues are still being worked out and transition activities for staff and for students will be planned soon.

The actual numbers for state aid for the 2012-2013 school year have been finalized, and are higher than what was predicted when the district’s proposed 2012-2013 spending plan and ensuing tax levy were calculated and approved.

With the new numbers figured into the spending plan, Puzio reported a surplus of approximately $420,000. Her recommendation to the board, which it approved, was to balance immediate relief for taxpayers with caution for the still-uncertain future by applying $90,000 to bringing the tax levy down froman approximate 2.5-percent* increase to a 1.99-percent increase.

The balance of the surplus would go into an unappropriated fund so it can be applied to next year’s budget to offset anticipated increases in expenses as well as the possibility of reduced revenue/aid.

*As mentioned in previous reports and news articles, the tax cap legislation is often referred to as a 2-percent tax cap, when in reality, the “2 percent” figure is only one of the factors used in an eight-step calculation to determine each school district's and municipality's allowable tax levy increase that requires simple majority approval.

Anything over that allowable limit or threshold requires a super majority (60 percent) voter approval to pass. The Batavia City School District’s tax cap threshold for the 2012-2013 school year is 2.59 percent; any higher increase requires a super majority of voter approval.

School Safety Excellence Award

The Batavia City School District is one of 112 school districts and Board of Cooperative Educational Services in the state to receive the 2012 School Safety Excellence Award from the Utica National Insurance Group. The district received a certificate and a $500 award for use in furthering its safety efforts.

Utica National's School Safety Excellence Award Program helps participating schools enhance overall safety through measurable self-assessment in categories ranging from a bullying prevention program, to school playground safety, to indoor air quality.

Data Helps Drive Instruction

Crediting a book study on "Driven by Data: A Practical Guide to Improve Instruction" (by Paul Bambrick-Santoyo) that was introduced by the superintendent to the administrative team, John Kennedy Elementary Principal Paul Kesler explained the benefits of data-driven instruction as well as how it is being implemented more thoroughly in the district.

Using the analogy of a weight-loss plan, Kesler pointed out that oftentimes people are aware of their starting point or challenge and know their end goal, but do not necessarily have clear, systematic intermediate steps that enable them to reach their goal effectively and efficiently. In schools, with the goal being improved learning and student mastery of skills, the book outlines, like a good weight-loss plan, a research-proven framework as a model for training teachers to use student data as an impetus for instructional evaluation and change.

He outlined four keys in support of data-driven instruction: assessments, analysis, action, and creating/sustaining a data-driven culture. Assessments include regular and periodic formal testing that checks student proficiency on meeting learning standards. Analysis is teacher-owned and timely in order to identify concepts of limited understanding and/or individual students who are struggling then generate possible solutions.

Action plans are developed which are targeted, specific, ongoing and measurable in a set period of time. The data-driven culture, which is both created by and supports this process, includes an active leadership team, which provides an introduction, ongoing guidance, and the provision of a realistic yet flexible timetable for completing the steps, and the accountability and support for doing so.

School-to-Work is Working for Students

Jillian Thomas, BHS business teacher and K-12 School-to-Work coordinator, provided an update on the School-to-Work program, which included:

* The 13th annual Make a Difference Day, held on Oct. 12, 2011, included 179 BHS students volunteering to share their time and talents at 22 non-profit organizations;
* In Work-based Learning 18 job shadows have been completed and five are currently in progress for students who have researched careers in Business/Tech­nology in teacher Eileen Ognibene’s Careers and Financial Management class.

* Career-related field trips this year have included:
-      Career Opportunity Days at GCC for 20 BHS students;
-      DNA Extraction and Amplification at University of Rochester for 16 AP Biology students;
-      Bacterial Transformation at University of Rochester for 16 AP Biology students;
-      Tonawanda Valley Federal Credit Union tour and interviews for BMS and BHS students;
-      Genesee Valley Educational Partnership Cosmetology Program for fifth-graders from Jackson Elementary School.

* This year, the Junior Achievement program is host to 14 community volunteers who are in 25 classrooms in all five buildings:
-      four kindergarten classes using the JA program, Ourselve
-      five first-grade classes using the JA program, Our Families
-      eight second-grade classes using the JA program, Our Community
-      two third-grade classes using the JA program, Our City
-      one fourth-grade class using the JA program, Our Region
-      three fifth-grade classes using the JA program, Our Nation
-      one seventh-grade class using the JA program, It’s My Business
-      one high school class using the JA program, Be Entrepreneurial

* The 2011 Genesee County BEA (Business Education Alliance) Summer Camps included:
-      Eight students participating in the Veterinarian and Animal Sciences Camp;
-      Seven students participating in the Culinary Camp;
-      Two students participating in the MASH Camp (Medical Academy of Science and Health);
-     Eight students participating in the MST Camp (Math, Science and Technology);

Looking ahead to the summer of 2012, the BEA is adding an Aviation Adventure Camp.

Genesee County Business Education Alliance

Bill Hayes, Business Education Alliance (BEA) board member for nearly 20 years, provided an overview of BEA activities that exemplify and support its stated mission to “foster apartnership between business and education and to assist students to prepare for the world of work.”

Through itsinitiatives and programs, the BEA helps schools meet NYS Learning Standards, facilitates connections and coordinates services between schools and businesses, and helps provide students with opportunities to explore career and job opportunities in the region.

Some of its activities include Junior Achievement, mock interviews, job shadowing, teacher site visits, student site visits, career speakers, career fairs, summer career camps, internships, class projects that mimic real-life business interactions, and assistance to school counselors seeking specific career or employment opportunities for students.

Superintendent Puzio told the board that for the past four years the level of programming continually improves and expands.

Students Earn Trip

High School special education teacher Lorrie Gammack and a group of students enrolled in her Students Working and Transitioning (SWAT) course requested approval for a class overnight trip to a state park.

Gammack explained how students in SWAT -- a program designed to help
special needs students transition from high school into the world of work -- have been building job skills during their high school years by helping in the school’s main office, working at various job sites in the community, and operating a school-based recycling program that has earned some money for the group

Earlier this year, they reinvested their earnings from recycling by buying and raising poinsettias then selling them for a small profit, the proceeds from which will go to their overnight trip.

In addition to the trip serving as a reward for their hard work, Gammack noted that planned studies and activities at the park will support learning standards related to science, math, English language arts, and health/physical education. It will also provide an opportunity for practicing life and social skills in a less structured environment. The trip was approved.

Policy Manual

Superintendent Puzio reported that hundreds of district policies have been reviewed and revised and will now be reviewed by the district’s policy service. The goal is to have the revisions approved by the board by the end of the summer.