batavia

It's a bird. It's a plane. No, .... it's a piece of a farmer's crop cover.

Remember the story Saturday about a balloon "or something like" falling from the sky near Pratt Road.

One resident described it as "a giant roll of toilet paper" flying through the air.

East Pembroke's fire chief, Don Newton, called today and clued us in on what really happened.

On Friday, a local farmer put down a 250x50-foot cloth crop cover over freshly planted seeds. It was weighted down with soil.

But a strong enough gust of wind hit East Pembroke on Saturday to rip up a portion of the cover and send it flying through the air. It traveled a good long distance before getting snagged in the trees.

Everybody who responded thought it was a weather balloon and spent a good deal of time looking for the weather device that would have been attached to it. The Buffalo weather station wanted it back.

But, we now know, there was no such device attached.

Newton said the farmer was afraid he'd be in a bit of trouble for the mishap, but Newton reassured him -- you're a farmer, this is an agricultural community, things happen.

Wouldn't it be great to eat a juicy, sweet, fresh locally grown strawberry right about now?

You may think that's impossible, but thanks to Pudgie Riner, owner of Triple P Farms in Oakfield, starting Wednesday, you will be able to buy locally grown fresh strawberries at Harrington's Produce Stand at 5282 Clinton Street Road, Batavia.

Always an innovator looking for new ideas, Riner found a picture online of a farmer in Denmark growing strawberries from hanging baskets in a hothouse and he realized he could do locally and get strawberries out to market weeks ahead of other local farmers.

"The concern is, if we say we've got fresh strawberries from New York, nobody going to believe us," Riner said. "These really are grown right here. They're not from Florida.They're not from California. They're grown right here in New York and the same varieties that are grown locally and people are used to eating from the ground, but these are grown in a basket."

The 5,000 plants are two years old and should produce 5,000 quarts of strawberries, Riner said.

Peak harvest will be within 10 days, which is a little earlier than Riner wanted, but he'll learn from this year's growing cycle and push it back a bit next year.

He partnered with Andy Harrington (left, above) to bring the strawberries to market because the Harrington family has such a good reputation for locally grown produce.

"I decided that knowing his business, he is the right guy to sell them," Riner said. "I could sell them in my own place, Pudgie's, but I don't have the reputation of being in the produce business, so that would be one more hurdle."

Harrington's on Clinton Street opens Wednesday. The family's Oakfield location, 7550 Lewiston Road, opens in June.

It was an easy decision to take on Pudgie's berries, Harrington said. It gives him more stock early in the spring and, "they're fresh and they taste great."

Previously: Pudgie puts the local into 'locally grown' produce and garden plants

Amy Burdick and her son, Mikah, were living in a subsidized, substandard apartment in the City of Batavia until Habitat entered their lives and worked with them so they could experience what it feels like to own a home of their own for the very first time. 

Burdick is Habitat for Humanity of Genesee County’s 10th homeowner. Burdick showed volunteers a cell phone photo she had taken of her current front door (having an inch gap where light and heat were escaping) as she stood next to her brand new energy-efficient home with a big smile. 

Habitat of Genesee did a complete rehab at 104 North St. in a total of 10 months. 

“Being a part of Habitat for Humanity as a homeowner is a life-changing experience,” Burdick said.

She highly recommends it to other families who are trying to make ends meet. 

Before Burdick received a flier about homeownership with Habitat, she hadn’t considered buying a house in the near future. But she decided to call about the opportunity, and before she knew it, she was selected as a partner family.

“I remember how excited my mom, sister and I were.” Burdick said. “We were peeking through the windows before construction had even started.” 

Burdick’s family was thrilled to know they could provide lunches to the volunteers. Along with other volunteers, Burdick’s family was very dedicated in making sure the volunteer work crew was properly feed.

One RIT student said one of the best parts of volunteering with Habitat are the delicious home-cooked meals.

The demo for this house was started during the National Women’s Build Day sponsored by Lowe’s on May 12, 2012. Women’s Build Day brings together women from all walks of life to address the housing crisis facing millions of families worldwide. Women and children are often hardest hit by this epidemic.

Because Habitat is a program that is structured to be a “hand up” and not a “hand out,” Habitat homeowners are required to put in sweat equity hours. Burdick put in a total of 350 hours on top of working two full-time jobs. 

Her favorite part of partnering with Habitat?

“The wonderful people,” she said with a warm smile. “I didn’t know there were people out there still like that, who are so caring, kind and promising."

The house was built by volunteers who met two days a week, six hours a day. There were more than 150 volunteers who gave their time to help make this house a home.

Burdick is still in amazement she said because; “People who do not know me are doing all of this for a total stranger.” She commented about volunteer PJ Riner who spent countless hours in between the work days volunteering his time and how grateful she is for him and those who spent so many hours on this house.

Burdick said she will always be connected to Habitat because "they are a group of people with big hearts who want to improve the community and we always had a good time.”

Genesee Habitat will begin rehabbing their next home on 11 Harvester Ave. in Batavia. The demo on this house will kick off with the 2013 Women’s Build Day. Work will take place on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Volunteers are needed and all skill levels are welcome. Visit www.geneseehabitat.com to sign up and learn more.  

Tasia Boland is operations manager for Habitat for Humanity in Batavia.

If Maurice G. Leach wants to get out of the Genesee County Jail anytime soon, he'll need to come up with $15,000 cash bail or $150,000 bond, Judge Robert C. Noonan ruled today.

Leach is facing a felony DWI charge, but his criminal background along with prior probation and parole violations had Noonan siding with District Attorney's Office rather than Leach's defense attorney, who asked for $5,000 bail.

Noonan said he would have set the bail higher if the DA's office had requested it.

"The prosecutor is nicer to you than I would be," Noonan said.

Leach was arrested last week for allegedly driving drunk on Route 33 in Stafford.

In January, the 36-year-old Leach, a resident of State Street, was allegedly involved in an altercation with police after officers arrived to investigate a report of a woman being hit.

He's also facing petit larceny charges in Rochester.

Leach's attorney requested the bail hearing before Noonan today because with Leach's prior felony, Town of Batavia Court was unable to set any amount of bail.

Press release:

City of Batavia Water crews will be making a repair to a water main, Tuesday, on Washington Avenue near Porter Avenue. This will result in Washington Avenue being closed between Porter and Jefferson beginning at approximately 8:30 a.m. until the work is completed.

This work may result in water service being interrupted along Washington Avenue between State Street and Dellinger Avenue. It may also result in temporarily discolored water in the immediate area; residents should avoid doing laundry or other activities which may be impacted by discolored water. Crews will make every attempt to keep disruptions to a minimum.

UPDATE Tuesday, 11 a.m.: Repair work has been completed. Washington Avenue will reopen by Noon.

A male was in the roadway at Jackson and Main streets after being struck by a vehicle. He's now up and walking. Mercy medics and city fire are on scene. The driver fled eastbound in a dark blue or tan Ford Explorer, and he is said to be white with dark hair and wearing sweatshirt. Police are looking for the vehicle now.

UPDATE 2:07 p.m.: Police are out with a vehicle matching that description at T.F. Brown's.

UPDATE 2:08 p.m.: Police are clear of that vehicle, and still looking for the Explorer. Now the driver is said to have "darker skin" and curly hair.

UPDATE 2:11 p.m.: Fire and medics are back in service.

Residents of 400 Towers celebrated the opening of a new library today. The old library was in a smaller room. Now in a bigger room, there's more space for residents with walkers and wheelchairs to move around, plus more titles can be added. The library carries fiction and nonfiction, DVDs and VHS tapes.

Pictured are Thomas Baines, executive director of 400 Towers, Cathy Plaisted, SAGE coordinator for the Richmond Memorial Library, and Pat King, 400 Towers librarian.

The titles in the library's permanent collection are all donated. Plaisted brings a cart of new titles over from Richmond every couple of weeks to supplement the permanent collection. She praised King for keeping the 400 Towers library well organized, better than libraries available to seniors in many other locations.

Mark Smith sees a business opportunity in Batavia: To provide local residents with a garbage service that includes totes.

Smith is owner of Nu Way, an Arcade-based company that already has residential and commercial clients in Genesee County.

When Smith learned none of the companies that will start offering trash service in the City of Batavia will offer totes, Smith thought, "I can do that."

Starting June 1, when the Genesee ARC contract expires, the local trash market becomes open to competition.

The tote is optional. Nu Way will also offer bag pick-up.

The price for bag service is $22 month for five 30-gallon bags a week. The tote price is the $22 basic fee plus $4.50 a month. The service includes one bulk item per week.

Totes are 90 gallons, but a smaller tote can be requested.

Totes are also available for recyclables.

To contact Nu Way, call (585) 492-5880.

Jamie R. Bachorski, 18, of Webber Avenue, Oakfield, and Matthew J. Vandorn, 23, of Trumbull Parkway, Batavia, are charged with grand larceny, 4th. Bachorski and Vandorn are accused of stealing two small dirt bikes from a residence on Clipknock Road, Stafford, in early July. So far, only one of the missing bikes has been recovered.

Kenneth S. Lathrop Jr., 26, of 511 Ellicott St., Apt. A, is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation, 2nd, and unlicensed operation. A person notified police that Lathrop was allegedly driving without a license. Officer Chad Richardson observed Lathrop allegedly driving a vehicle on Clinton Street and performed a traffic stop. Lathrop was jailed on $500 bail.

Conan T. A. Kennedy, 30, of 1 Spencer Court, Batavia, is charged with parking on city streets between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Kennedy turned himself in at Batavia HD on a warrant issued for improper parking after he allegedly failed to appear. Kennedy posted $50 bail and was released.

Nicholas K. Gray, 19, of 2 Olyn Ave., Batavia, is charged with criminal nuisance. Gray was arrested during an investigation into an alleged underage drinking party after it was discovered there was a warrant for his arrest. He posted $100 bail and was released.

Robert J. Wheeler, 18, of 40 E. Buffalo St, Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of alcohol under age 21. Wheeler was charged following a report of an alleged underage drinking party at 2 Olyn Ave., Batavia.

Michael Robert Sigi, 20, of Pratt Road, Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Sigi is accused of driving with a 14-month-old infant in his lap.

Daniel Thomas Henning, 32, of Maple Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Henning is accused of violating an order of protection by having a third party contact the protected person.

Al Davids, 44, of Bird Road, Byron, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater and failure to keep right. Davids was stopped at 10 p.m., Saturday, on Byron Holley Road, Byron, by Deputy Joseph Corona.

Michael John Korczak, 24, of Pearl Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, speeding and failure to keep right. Korczak was stopped at 3:02 a.m., Sunday, on Sumner Road, Darien, by Deputy Joseph Corona. Korczak was allegedly driving 70 in a 55 mph zone.

Sondra Lynn Olcott, 38, of Webber Avenue, Oakfield, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, following too close and unlawful possession of marijuana. Olcott was charged following a two-car motor vehicle accident at 1:37 a.m., Sunday, at Park Road and Lewiston Road, Town of Batavia.

Julie Anne Wallace, 39, of Ellicott Place, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Wallace, a former employee of Kmart, is accused of stealing $39.96 in merchandise while working at the store. She is accused of stealing makeup and costume jewelry between March 27 and April 22.

Ramel Joshua Askew, 19, of Batavia Stafford Townline Road, Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Askew was allegedly found in possession of marijuana while in his room by College Village security.

Michele L. Difalco, 22, of West Main Street, Batavia, and Melissa M. Morton, 27, of West Middlebury Road, Bethany, are charged with petit larceny. Morton is also charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. Both women are accused of shoplifting from Target. Morton was also allegedly in possession of pills containing a controlled substance.

Peter C. Ayala III, 29, and Jamie L. Ayala, 33, both of Wood Street, Batavia, are charged with petit larceny. They are accused of stealing $72 in merchandise from Kmart.

Clinton John Sundown, 18, of Skye Road, Basom, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Sundown was charged following an investigation into a property damage accident at 4:07 a.m., Saturday, on Bloomingdale Road, Tonawanda Indian Reservation. Sundown allegedly possessed individually packaged bags of marijuana. Additional charges are possible.

Ted Eugene Kingsley, 40, of Warsaw Road, Le Roy, is charged with petit larceny. Kingsley is accused of entering an unlocked vehicle on Pratt Road, Batavia, on March 28 and stealing $600 cash from a purse.

More than 580 young soccer players -- and their families -- have been in Batavia the past two days for New York State West Olympic Development Program showing coaches what they can do on the field.

All of young players -- from age 12 up -- are Olympic hopefuls. The national program helps identify promising young players and develop the best players into potential U.S. Olympic Team members.

The program in Batavia draws players from all points in New York west of the I-81, including Watertown, Binghamton and Dunkirk.

Ted Hawley, who acts as host for the event, noted the economic impact of the program is significant because the families are staying in Batavia hotels and eating in Batavia restaurants.

The event is held at both the Batavia Sports Park off Bank Street Road and at Genesee Community College.

Photo and info submitted by Rob Stefani.

Rob Stefani caught this bass late this afternoon at the sandwash (Dewitt Recreation Area). He said he guessed it weighed 5 lbs. "It's definitely one of the better bass I've ever caught there," he said.  He used a night crawler and it's the first bass he's seen caught there this year. He's seen lots of trout and pike so far, he said. He did release the fish.

Today was the annual student fashion show at Genesee Community College. The show is presented by the Fashion Business students and gives aspiring designers a chance to showcase their work. A dozen different designers participated in the show.

A motor-vehicle accident is reported in front of Batavia Downs on Park Road. A woman is said to have a neck injury. Two Mercy medics are dispatched along with Town of Batavia Fire Department.

UPDATE 5:15 p.m.: Town of Batavia back in service.

A tractor-trailer has jackknifed on Lewiston Road, near the Thruway. Traffic is completely blocked in both directions. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding non-emergency. The roadway will be shut down at Route 63 and Galloway Road.

Local members of the Christian Motorcycle Association served up a pulled pork feast at Stan's Harley-Davidson today as a fundraiser for the group's various ministries.

Among the CMA's efforts is supporting overseas ministers, including buying them motorcycles for transportation (or horses or boats if that works better where they live). The group also supports a film project to spread the gospel through movies in remote parts of the world. The CMA also travels to the major motorcycle rallies and hands out water and other necessities as a way to open the door to sharing about Jesus.

Rep. Chris Collins was at Seymour Place today to announce the winners of the annual congressional art contest. Students from throughout the NY-27 submitted artworks, which were displayed at Go ART! and judged by local artists.

The winner, above with Collins, was Mitchell R. Krumm, of Clarence High School. Second place, bottom photo, was Judith Brennan, also of Clarence.

The awards were presented by Collins and Diana Kasten (second photo with Collins), a member of the GO ART! Board of Directors.

Photos and information submitted by Theresa Asmus.

Pastor Jim Renfrew speaks at the Peace Garden during the annual Crime Victims Rights Week walk in Batavia. The event also included a keynote address from Jean Cianfrini and an awards ceremony recognizing Ann Finch with the Crime Victims Service Award and Genesee County Sheriff's Department Youth Officer John Dehm with the Community Advocacy Award.

Below, Jean Cianfrini and Sue Gagne carry a Crime Victims Right's Week banner during the walk.

With a new name and a new logo, Paul Berardini is just about back in the pizza business.

Berardini unveiled the new look on Facebook last night.

It's been three months since Pauly's Pizza closed, but after lining up his brother as his new business partner, securing the lease for the Ellicott Street restaurant, as well as getting new equipment, Berardini anticipates opening the doors on Big Pauly's May 13.

"I'm happy to get back to making pizza in my hometown," Berardini said. "This is where I'm from and this is where I want to do business."

Pauly's ran into a little trouble with its expansion into Clarence and Berardini's partner needed to pull out. 

At the same time, Berardini had some health issues to deal with. He said he's healthy now and ready to start tossing pizza dough again.

The menu will change only slightly, with some items that didn't sell that well getting trimmed, but all of the recipes, the sauce, the dough, the wings and the chicken fingers will all be the same.

And many of Berardini's employees will return, he said.

The new shop's phone number will be (585) 343-BIGP.

There's also a new Facebook page for Big Pauly's. Click Here.

The Business Improvement Distirct held its annual luncheon this afternoon and honored three local businesses with "Spirit of Downtown" awards and two volunteers who have contributed greatly to the betterment of the BID and downtown.

Receiving Spirit of Downtown Awards were DelPlato & Casey Law Offices, Michael DelPlato and Peter Casey; Howard Owens, The Batavian; and, Harry Wortzman, Wortzman Furniture. The volunteer awards were given to Michael Marsh, of Edward Jones Investment, and James Isacc (pictured above), of Crossroads Abstract.

DelPlato and Casey were honored for their active participation in the BID.The Batavian was honored for the support the online-news publication gives to local businesses and downtown. Wortzman was honored for a long history of community contributions and support of downtown.

The event was emceed by WBTA's Dan Fischer. The guest speaker was Patrick Finan, founder of the Block Club in Buffalo, who spoke about the importance of shopping locally to the health and vibrancy of a local community.

Peter Casey

Harry Wortzman

A landlord-tenant dispute is reported on East Main Street and city police are now on scene. The argument between the two parties got quite loud. The tenant called dispatchers and accused the landlord of entering the residence without permission and removing drug paraphernalia.