Bergen

A resident in the Village of Bergen caught somebody trying to steal his Trump sign from his front yard this morning.

The South Main Street resident confronted the would-be sign thief and the thief returned the sign, then got in his vehicle and drove off.

The incident was reported to the Sheriff's Office at 9:30 a.,m., according to Chief Deputy Gordon Dibble.

The license plate number provided did not match a valid plate and the suspect was not caught.

Yesterday, the Sheriff's Office received a complaint of political sign thefts in Elba.

UPDATE: A reader reports that he confronted people stealing his Trump sign at his residence on South Lake Street, Bergen. "I ran in front of the car and forced it to stop," he said. He said two women were in the car and he said they had at least one other Trump sign in the car.  "I got my sign back and called the Sheriff, who came out and took info." The women were in a black Jeep. The reader said he's heard of several Trump signs being stolen in the area.

Bryan D. Bates, 37, of West Main Street, is charged with second-degree burglary, first-degree coercion, second-degree harassment, obstruction of government administration, and resisting arrest. Bates was arrested at 6:35 a.m. on Oct 20 on Liberty Street, Batavia, following a domestic dispute. Bates allegedly unlawfully entered the victim's residence with the intent to commit a crime. He then allegedly became involved in a physical disturbance with the victim. When confronted by police, Bates fled until he was captured by poluce, at which time he allegedly resisted arrest. He was arraigned in City Court and jailed without bail. He is due in court Oct. 27. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Peter Flanagan, assisted by Officer Felicia DeGroot.

Paris J. McCrimmon, 24, of South Swan Street, Batavia, is charged with first-degree coercion, second-degree menacing, endangering the welfare of a child, and obstruction of governmental administration. McCrimmon was arrested at 9:20 p.m. on Oct. 21 on South Swan Street following a domestic dispute. The defendant was  arraigned in City Court and jailed without bail. The defendant is due in City Court this afternoon. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Peter Flanagan, assisted by Officer Eric Foels.

Samantha Tando, 36, of Penfield Road, Penfield, is charged with second-degree harassment. She was arrested and processed on location at 11:30 p.m. on Oct. 17 following a physical domestic incident at Batavia Downs where it was alleged that she struck a male across the head. She was released on an appearance ticket and is due in City Court on Oct. 25. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Felicia DeGroot.

Tyrone A. Brooks, 24, of Tibbits Road, Medina, is charged with second-degree harassment. At 8:42 p.m. on Oct. 16, Batavia Police responded to the Genesee County Nursing Home on Bank Street for the report of a male refusing to leave. While entering the elevator, Brooks allegedly pushed an employee with his shoulder. He was subsequently arrested and arraigned in City Court. He was jailed on $500 bail and was due in City Court on Oct. 17. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Arick Perkins, assisted by Officer Eric Foels.

Trey G. Henderson, 24, of Jackson Street, Batavia, was arrested at 12:55 a.m. on Oct. 22 as the result of an investigation into an incident that occurred a short time earlier at T.F. Brown's restaurant in Batavia. He is charged with second-degree harassment. He was processed, then released with an appearance ticket returnable to City Court on Oct. 25. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Eric Foels, assisted by Officer Eric Bolles.

Jamie J. Corrieri, 52, of Ellicott Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI, speeding, refusal to take a breath test and driving in the center lane. Corrieri was arrested at 1:39 a.m. on Oct. 21 as the result of a traffic stop on Ellicott Street a short time earlier. The defendant was arraigned at 6:30 a.m. in City Court, then jailed on $1,000 cash or bond. Corrieri was due in City Court to answer the charges on Oct. 21. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Eric Foels, assisted by Officer Eric Bolles.

Christopher Lambert, 36, of Jackson Street, Batavia, is charged with possession of a hypodermic instrument and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree. At 10:40 p.m. on Jackson Street, Lambert was allegedly found in possession of a hypodermic needle and heroin. He was issued an appearance ticket for Oct. 25 in City Court. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Jamie Givens.

Dakota Ryan Lee White, 18, of South Lake Avenue, Bergen, is charged with petit larceny. The defendant was arrested at noon on Sept. 29 on Buffalo Road in Bergen after an investigation revealed he allegedly took merchandise from a business in the Town of Bergen during the course of his employment. He was issued an appearance ticket for Bergen Town Court on Nov. 2. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Christopher Erion.

Adrienne F. Yocina, 35, of Alleghany Road, Corfu, is charged with petit larceny. Yocina was arrested at 4:29 p.m. on Oct. 18 after an investigation at a place of business on Ellicott Street in Batavia. Yocina allegedly stole money from the business over the period of a month by making false returns. Yocina was issued an appearance ticket for Oct. 25 in City Court. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Nicole Salamone, assisted by Officer Chad Richards.

Frank Edward Finnin, 50, of Raymond Avenue, Batavia, was arrested at noon on Oct. 12 on a warrant issued by Genesee County Court for alleged violation of felony probation. He was transported to Genesee County Jail by the Probation Department and was due in County Court this monring. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Richard Schildwaster.

Ivan Nicolivich Molodkin, 33, of Wellington Avenue, Rochester, was arrested on an outstanding bench warrant  after failing to appear at Batavia City Court. He was transported to City Court, arraigned and released on his own recognizance. He was due in court on April 27 in regard to an unspecified incident which occurred on July 2, 2015, on Main Street in Batavia. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Kevin DeFelice.

Richard E. Stafford, 76, of Orange Grove Drive, Batavia, was arrested on a bench warrant for failing to appear in City Court on a ticket for aggravated unlicensed operation. He was issued an appearance ticket for this afternoon in City Court. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Matthew Wojtaszczyk.

A 61-year-old man was injured this morning while shooting a shotgun on Buffalo Road in the Town of Bergen.

The man's finger was reportedly injured by the shot.

Emergency dispatchers received a call about the incident at 9:17 a.m.

The man, whose name was not released, was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Bergen fire and ambulance responded.

The Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident.

A driver reportedly swerved and try and avoid a deer on the Thruway near mile marker 378, according to State Police, but struck the deer, causing the car carrying five people to careen across the media into the eastbound lane of traffic where it was struck by a tractor-trailer.

Three people were taken to Strong Memorial Hospital by Mercy Flight and two were transported by ground ambulance. 

"All of the injuries were non-life-threatening, as far as we know," said a spokesman for Troop T Zone 4. 

He said the names were not being released. He doesn't know if family notifications have taken place or where the victims lived.

Two of the victims were ejected from the vehicle. 

Responding to the scene were Le Roy Fire, Le Roy Ambulance, three Mercy EMS ambulances and three Mercy Flight helicopters.

Concurrent with the Thruway accident was one on the I-490 in Bergen. We've requested information on that accident from Troop E.

Bergen Fire and Churchville Fire responded to that accident. There was a reported vehicle fire. Bergen's ambulance and Byron's ambulance responded, as well, along with Chili's ambulance.

Photo: of Thruway accident, submitted by a reader.

Blake Michael Toal, 18, of Old State Road, Covington, is charged with third degree criminal mischief. On Sept. 25, the Genesee County Sheriff's Office received a report of criminal mischief to a basketball backboard in the Village of Bergen Park. The deputy assigned to the Village of Bergen conducted a thorough investigation and numerous individuals were interviewed. The defendant was located and arrested and charged with the Class E felony. He was issued an appearance ticket and taken to jail for prints and photos. He is due in Town of Bergen Court at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 19. The case was handled by Sheriff's Deputy Ryan DeLong.

Three people were assaulted in two separate incidents overnight in the Byron and Bergen areas, and both attacks may have been perpetrated by the same suspects, and those suspects may have been identified. 

The first attack was reported at 1:42 a.m. in the parking lot of Playmates in Byron. 

The victim was reportedly Elliot P. Arnold, 29. Investigators say he was jumped by two males and was left bleeding and semiconscious. He was transported to Strong with facial cuts and other injuries.

The second incident was reported at 1:52 a.m. at the 7-Eleven in Bergen. 

That incident is believed to have involved the same two suspects.

Attacked were Natalie M. Mazurzak, 18, and Zachary M. Bower, 20, who were punched several times by the suspects.

No information provided on a possible motive or if robbery was involved.

The investigation is ongoing and being handled by Deputy Howard Carlson, Deputy Ryan Young, Sgt. John Baiocco and the State Police.

(Submitted photo and press release.)

On Sept.  20, Byron-Bergen Jr./Sr. High School seventh-grader Madelynn Pimm presented a $1,000 donation to Byron-Bergen Music Boosters, in conjunction with the Byron-Bergen Music Department.

Madelynn had approached several influential business owners and members of the community with her idea to sponsor the growth of music in Byron-Bergen Schools. This summer, during the Genesee County Fair 4-H Auction, Madelynn sold two lambs for $1,000. 

Madelynn credits her commitment to music to her music teachers Robert Lancia and Karen Tischer who have always encouraged her to reach for the high notes. This past spring, Madelynn, along with five other students, had the honor of playing "Taps" at the Challenger Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery. Lancia was present at the presentation and shared a few words of thanks with Madelynn and her parents Norm and Colleen Pimm.

He said that when you hear about a donation of this magnitude from anyone, you are taken aback. However, to receive this gift from such a young member of our community is awe-inspiring.

Tara Van Skiver, president of Byron-Bergen Music Boosters, said, “An act like this exemplifies true character. Madelynn's donation will be put to right back into the hands of our students. We will use the donation to purchase a portable recording unit. The software and sound mixing equipment will allow students to record entire concerts or individual performances.

"Even more exciting, they will be able to mix, edit, and engineer post-production recordings. This practical application of sound editing software and mixing equipment will expose the students to the world of music production and sound engineering.”

The Byron-Bergen Music Boosters’ mission is to support music and arts education in and around our community.

“Our hope is that one student's generosity will serve to preserve and inspire future musicians in our community for years to come,” Van Skiver said.

Press release:

For students, the junior and senior years of high school are filled with many critical decisions about the future. The College and Career Counseling Center at Byron-Bergen Jr./Sr. High School is working hard to make preparing for life-beyond-school easier for students and their families.

This is the second year for the school’s dedicated Center, led by counselor Rob Kaercher. The Center is busy in the fall with a full schedule of visits and special presentations from a wide range of regional and national two- and four-year colleges, trade schools, and military branches.

(A Financial Aid Night is scheduled at 6:30 on Oct. 20 to help families from Byron-Bergen, Elba, and Oakfield-Alabama with the Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application.It will be held in the Byron-Bergen High School auditorium.)

Jr./Sr. High School Principal Patrick McGee said, "Our goal is to provide a wide variety of opportunities for our students in the areas of college and/or career. I feel we are ahead of the curve in this area as our students now have a daily chance to identify a pathway and gain a much better sense of what their post-secondary plans will be."

Students at the school not only have access to extensive in-person and online resources in the Center; they also get invaluable hands-on, one-to-one guidance from college-and-career expert Kaercher.

“This is a small school, and I can really get to know our kids as individuals,” Kaercher said. “I start as early as possible with them, so they have more options. I can help them find educational and career directions that match up with their interests and values.

"I enjoy working with them and their parents on financial aid, exploring scholarships, and completing their college applications. The commitment our district has to this initiative is extraordinary—kids at B-B can have a similar support experience to what they might find at a private school or with a paid independent college counselor.”

The College and Career Center has greatly expanded its services this year:

• Instant Admissions Week is being offered Nov. 7-10. Participating colleges include Erie Community College, Finger Lakes Community College, Genesee Community College, Monroe Community College, Niagara Community College, The College at Brockport, and SUNY Alfred State. “It is an exciting opportunity for kids to present themselves, have a short interview, and potentially get an on-the-spot decision from that college,” Kaercher said.
• Students will be ready for that interview thanks to another innovation the Center offers: virtual interviews with online avatars. The district’s teachers use an interactive professional development tool called Mursion, which employs practice with avatars to improve teaching technique. The Center has adjusted and expanded the program for students to use to develop better interviewing skills.
• The Naviance Family Connection, which was introduced to seniors last year, is now available to juniors, too. The online program helps students inventory their interests, research careers, search for colleges, create resumes, and submit applications. "Our current focus has been working with upperclassmen,” Kaercher said. “But as the Center continues to become established, more opportunities, including Naviance, will be available to junior high school students."
• The Center has also increased its college and industry visits this year. “We have found these to be very important,” Kaercher said. “Students have the chance to make connections directly with the actual decision makers, the admissions counselors and company human resources directors.”

“This can be a difficult and confusing time if you are trying to navigate it all by yourself,” Kaercher said. “We want to help make the process much easier. We are reaching out to parents and families—we hope they will contact the Jr./Sr. High School office to get more information.”

This is the official Bergen Boy School Troop 31 neckerchief, which C.M. Barons shared with us in response to a post the other day about the eastern massasauga rattlesnake being listed a threatened species. 

Barons said his mother, Virginia, designed the neckerchief while C.M.'s father was troop leader in the late 1960s.

The design features the snake, the white ladyslipper orchid (also a rare species in the Byron-Bergen Swamp).

Boy Scouts often trade patches and neckerchiefs at jamborees and other events and Barons said the Troop 31 neckerchief is highly sought-after.

A Bergen resident has been arrested on suspicion of operating an unlawful marijuana growing operation out of his home, according to the Sheriff's Office.

David M. Campuzano, 24, of South Lake Road, was jailed on $15,000 bail or $30,000 bond following his arrest and arraignment.

He is charged with criminal possession in the second degree, a Class D felony, unlicensed growing of cannabis, a Class A misdemeanor, and violation of a restricted driver's license.

Campuzano was arrested by members of the Local Drug Task Force following the execution of a search warrant on his home and car.

He was allegedly found in possession of a pound of marijuana, equipment used to grow marijuana and paraphernalia. He is also suspected of driving outside of restrictions on his license. 

The District Attorney's Office and uniformed deputies assisted in the investigation and arrest.

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An accident with injuries and possible entrapment is reported on South Lake Road (Route 19) and Maple Avenue, Bergen.

Bergen fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE(S) (By Billie) 8:44 a.m.: Mercy Flight in Batavia is on ground standby. Two vehicles and three people involved. One male in a truck is unresponsive, hunched over the wheel, and having difficulty breathing. He is the most seriously injured. Another male has facial cuts and abrasions. Another subject has no apparent injuries.

UPDATE 8:51 a.m.: Le Roy fire rescue is called to provide mutual aid to Bergen. Mercy Flight is summoned along with additional fire police. The landing zone will be the church parking lot across from just south of the accident site.

UPDATE 8:58 a.m.: Route 19 is to be shut down "completely."

UPDATE 9:02 a.m.: Mercy Flight has an ETA of less than a minute.

UPDATE 9:23 a.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne and headed to Strong Memorial Hospital.

UPDATE 9:40 a.m.: A pickup truck was eastbound on Maple Avenue when the driver apparently blew through a stop sign and was T-boned by a small plumbing company van traveling on Route 19. Both vehicles left the roadway as a result of the collision and the pickup truck struck a large tree in the front yard of a residence. A car occupied by a doctor, a nurse and possibly a combat medic happened to be driving by in the immediate aftermath. The car stopped and the occupants provided emergency medical aid until first responders arrived. The pickup truck driver was deemed in serious condition at the time he was airlifted to Strong. A first responder said if he makes it, he'll have the medical assistance provided by the passersby largely to thank for it. The driver and passenger in the plumbing van were taken to Strong by ground ambulance with minor injuries; in fact, the driver was walking around at the scene.

UPDATE 9:57 a.m.: One lane is open on Route 19 and fire police are alternating the traffic flow.

Nearly a year ago, Bergen's Barry G. Miller, a volunteer medic with the Bergen Fire Department, was killed in the line of duty while responding to a medical call.

Yesterday, by act of Congress and the signature of President Barack Obama, the post office in Bergen, was renamed in his honor during a ceremony attended by members of Miller's family, local dignitaries including State Sen. Micheal Ranzenhofer and Assemblyman Steve Hawley, and members of the Bergen Volunteer Fire Department. It was organized by the office of Rep. Chris Collins, who got the legislation through Congress to make the dedication possible.

A plaque will be placed on the outside wall of the post office building.

“Barry Miller was a pillar of the Bergen community and someone who spent his entire life serving others,” Collins said. “The ‘Barry Miller Post Office’ will keep his memory forever ingrained in Bergen.”

Tracy Miller, Barry's father, delivered a moving speech at the dedication ceremony.

"In a few short days we will be reminded of the worst day in our family's life," Miller said. "We are so thankful for the outpouring of love and caring from this small community and beyond. I recall the ribbons on all of the telephone poles, the sign on the library, the ladder trucks with the huge flag and the large turnout for the calling hours. These were a testimony of how people in small communities care for one another."

He added, "Thank you to the Bergen Fire Department. You were my son's heart and every young person that gets involved keeps Barry's memory alive and cultivates a desire to serve rather than to be served."

Little do-gooders, from left: Lindsay Heimlich, Lily and Miley Stalica, and Sundae Duyssen.

The girls man the booth and help customers.

Grown-ups Laura and Paul, with Volunteers for Animals, with the team of fund-raising children and their goods for the shelter animals.

Some fresh, cold lemonade would probably taste delicious about right now, with all the humidity and a temperature hovering around 86 degrees. A couple of cookies would pair nicely with that.

This is exactly the kind of weather a foursome of little girls took advantage of recently to raise money for Volunteers for Animals and the Genesee County Animal Shelter. 

Sundae Duyssen (Le Roy School), Lindsay Heimlich (Le Roy School), and Lily and Miley Stalica (Byron-Bergen School) ponied up a whopping $1,000-plus in money and donated goods for the homeless animals by hosting a roadside bake sale and lemonade stand in Bergen recently.

"The shelter was kind enough to give the girls a tour, and tell them about the ways that their donation will be used to help save animals lives," says Lindsay's mom, Crystal Heimlich.

They really enjoyed the project, she said, and they plan to do the same thing next year for a different worthy cause.

(Photos submitted by Crystal Heimlich.)

A truck struck a natural gas pipeline and it is leaking at 6511 N. Lake Road, Bergen. Bergen firefighters are called to respond.

UPDATE 1:28 p.m.: Churchville is called to provide mutual aid. RG&E has been notified.

A deputy has been dispatched to the Mount Rest Cemetery in Bergen, Route 262 and Route 19, to investigate a complaint of damage to headstones.

We came across this time-lapse video on YouTube of the construction of the new wing at Liberty Pumps.