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Chamber announces continued alliance with energy supplier

By Billie Owens

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce a three-year extension of our alliance with electric energy supplier, Integrys of New York” said Lynn Freeman, chamber president.

“This is a win-win situation!” Freeman said. “The businesses in Genesee County win by reducing their electricity costs and the chamber benefits by helping the businesses in our backyard to see continued success.”

Integrys Energy Services of New York, Inc., (Integrys of NY), was one of the first Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) to market electricity to customers in Western New York and has been serving Genesee County since 1997.

Customers that will benefit from Integrys are in the industrial, commercial, educational, municipal and agricultural sectors.

“It cost nothing to sign on to the program and we will even complete the application for the business,” Freeman said.

Call the chamber at 343-7440 for more information and an application.

Pep Rally - meet the 2011 Muckdogs, enjoy games, raffles, prizes

By Billie Owens

Come and meet your 2011 Muckdogs on June 15. Admission is free. Be the first to meet this year's players, who will be available to sign autographs, take pictures and chat.

Gates at Dwyer Stadium open at 6 p.m. (rain date is June 16).

Come show your support for our Muckdogs and get "Pepped up" for the home opener on Friday, June 17!

FREE games for the kids and concession stands will be open.

Whiffle Ball Tournament -- Anyone in attendance can participate!

Event Date and Time
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Car snaps power pole in half on Pratt Road

By Billie Owens

A car has struck a pole at 2811 Pratt Road, just east of Powers Road. There are no injuries reported. The pole snapped in half. There are electrical and cable wires down.

East Pembroke Fire Department is responding. Law enforcement is on location.

UPDATE 11:54 a.m.: Westbound traffic on Pratt Road is being shut down.

UPDATE 11:58 p.m.: National Grid was contacted. No ETA given.

UPDATE 12:04 p.m.: National Grid expects to be on scene in about 15 minutes.

UPDATE 12:43 p.m.: The roadway is reopened. Responders are back in service.

Person stuck in hotel elevator due to power outage

By Billie Owens

A person is stuck in the elevator at the Hampton Inn because of a power outage at the hotel. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding.

The hotel is located at 4360 Commerce Drive.

UPDATE 12:47 p.m.: (Due to computer problems, I wasn't able to post this update sooner.) The back-up generators kicked in about 20 minutes ago and the person is out of the elevator. National Grid is on scene and the Town of Batavia fire crews have been put back in service. There is a brown out in the area which is expected to take just over an hour to repair. A transformer on the property has some hot spots in it. There is a "two to three layer" power problem. A power line that runs under the Thruway and connects power to the hotel and vicinity is the trouble point.

Possible house fire at 3643 Dodgeson Road, Alexander

By Billie Owens

A possible structure fire is reported at 3643 Dodgeson Road in Alexander. The caller reported turning on the furnace and the basement started filling with smoke.

Alexander and Town of Batavia fire departments are responding. The location is between Alexander and Wortendyke roads.

UPDATE 9:43 a.m.: A firefighter on scene reports nothing is showing.

UPDATE 9:45 a.m.: Residents say the house is now full of smoke.

UPDATE 9:49 a.m.: A firefighter says the furnace temperature gauge "reads nothing, so I don't know what we've got."

UPDATE 9:51 a.m.: A firefighter says "we're gonna hit 'em with an exhaust fan, that way we can suck some of this (smoke) out." It is advised that another responding unit come to the scene in non-emergency mode.

UPDATE 10:01 a.m.: A fire chief says "if you've got interior (firefighters) send them." A crew is going to check out upstairs.

UPDATE 10:25 a.m.: The situation was deemed a possible furnace malfunction and all units are back in service.

Transformer arcing on Pearl Street Road

By Billie Owens

A transformer is said to be arcing repeatedly at 3305 Pearl St. Road. No fire is reported. East Pembroke Fire Department is dispatched.

UPDATE 1:50 p.m.: A firefighter on scene reports nothing is showing. National Grid is notified. The caller told dispatch the transformer had arced three or four times today and it was "pretty loud and bright."

Smell of smoke coming from house on Judge Road, Alabama

By Billie Owens

The smell of smoke is reported coming from a house at 1239 Judge Road in Alabama. There is there a power outage there and the residents have been using a generator, so the smell could be electrical in nature.

Alabama Fire Department is on scene.

The location is between Alleghany Road and Kenyon Avenue. Firefighters are going to use a thermal imaging camera to check for any hot spots, but there is no apparent fire.

UPDATE 2:30 p.m.: There was nothing abnormal found. All fire units back in service.

Informational meeting about fall literary tour in New England

By Billie Owens

There's going to be an informational meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 10, at Richmond Memorial Library regarding the upcoming New England Authors Literary Tour.

This tour is being presented by six area public libraries and will take place Oct. 21-23 in Massachusetts. That's during the peak of beautiful, colorful autumn leaves and will include stops at major literary and historic sites in Massachusetts.

Event Date and Time
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Roanoke Road in Stafford closed next week for repairs

By Billie Owens

Here's a notice from the Town of Stafford.

Please take notice that from Monday, May 2 through Friday May 6, Roanoke Road will be closed in the Town of Stafford due to general maintenance to a pipeline that is located alongside of and under this road.

Local traffic only will be allowed. Please use alternate routes during this time period. By order of Stafford Town Highway Superintendent Steven Boldt. He can be reached at 343-2907.

Tree, wires down on Pratt Road

By Billie Owens

A tree has fallen in the roadway along with some wires on Pratt Road, Town of Batavia. Town of Batavia East Pemproke Fire responding.

UPDATE 3:47 p.m.: The tree is hanging over the roadway about 10 feet off the ground. National Grid is on scene. The location is at the far west end of Pratt Road, between Slusser and Killian roads.

SUPER MAMMOTH garage sale at St. Joe's School

By Billie Owens

The seventh annual SUPER MAMMOTH Indoor Garage Sale to benefit St. Joe's School is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday, April 30. The school is located at 2 Summit St. in the City of Batavia.

There will be tens of thousands of items, 19 cashiers, Clor's chicken BBQ, a homemade bake sale and lots of bargains, including antiques, 25-cent books, outdoor furniture, etc.

Event Date and Time
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Tree down on Porter Avenue in the city

By Billie Owens

A tree has fallen onto the road at 22 Porter Ave. in the City of Batavia.

UPDATE (by Howard): A tree branch struck two houses and a minivan.  The lines down appeared to be phone and cable.

Tree knocks down power line, which then caught fire on Park Avenue

By Billie Owens

A tree has fallen onto a power line, which is now on fire, at 7058 Park Ave. The pole that is attached to the power line may be broken. Oakfield Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 11:34 a.m.: The pole is sheared off in the middle. A transformer is on the ground and it's live.

UPDATE 11:35 a.m.: National Grid is notified but says it will be awhile in responding. The chief says "This should be at the top of their list."

Car strikes tree that fell onto Lewiston Road

By Billie Owens

A tree was blown onto the roadway at 6804 Lewiston Road and it was struck by a car. The driver is said to be "shaken up." The tree is completely blocking the road.

The location is between Bliss and Macomber roads. Mercy medics and Oakfield fire are en route. Fire police for traffic control are called.

UPDATE 11:23 a.m.: The tree is about five to six feet in diameter -- it's a big oak -- and the chief has called for chainsaws and loaders to cut up and haul away the wood.

UPDATE 11:38 a.m.: The driver is out of the car now.

UPDATE 12:20 p.m.: The roadway is clear and is open to traffic. Crews are back in service.

Tractor-trailer rollover accident on Route 77, Alabama

By Billie Owens

A tractor-trailer rollover accident is reported at the junction of Alleghany and Ham roads. Alabama Fire Department is en route. Sheriff's deputies are heading there for traffic control.

UPDATE 11:25 a.m.: The tractor-trailer is a "box unit" that is empty but contained about 150 gallons of fuel, which is leaking. Mercy medics were called but cancelled.

UPDATE 11:48 a.m.: Route 77 is being shut down from Ham to Ledge roads.

Tree strikes house, power pole down on Vine Street

By Billie Owens

A tree and a utility pole have blown over and onto a house at 3 Vine St. in the City of Batavia. The pole has a transformer on it and it's leaning across the roadway. National Grid is on scene. City fire dispatched.

UPDATE 11:05: City fire back in service. National Grid is handling the situation.

UPDATE 11:08 a.m.: A city code enforcement officer is called to the scene regarding the tree fallen onto the house, presumably to address safety concerns.

UPDATE (by Howard): Duane Pruston, a local landlord, said he bought 3 Vine St. just a few weeks ago. He was inside finishing up work for new tenants (he just rented it) when he walked outside, heard a crack and looked over and saw the tree falling into the house. He said wires were flying everywhere and paint crews working in a bucket next door were lucky, Pruston said, that they weren't struck by wires.

UPDATE: Frank Capuano submitted the two photos below:

Five young women to graduate from SUNY Oswego

By Billie Owens

Several local residents are scheduled to complete their baccalaureate studies in May at SUNY Oswego.

The following local residents (with their academic major in parentheses) are eligible to participate in the graduation ceremonies:

Rebecca M. Lang, of Bartz Drive in Alexander, (public relations)

Lindsay A. Norton, of Gilhooly Road in Alexander, (zoology)

Amber M. Allenbrandt, of Wescott Road in Stafford, (elementary education -- cum laude)

Sarah E. Olear, of North Street in Le Roy, (zoology -- cum laude)

Kate E. Wilcox, of Craig Road in Pavilion, (marketing --- cum laude)

Students who graduate with honors are indicated by the traditional Latin phrases summa cum laude, with highest honor (grade averages of 3.8 to 4.0); magna cum laude, with great honor (grade averages of 3.6 to 3.79); and cum laude, with honor (grade averages of 3.30 to 3.59).

SUNY Oswego is a 150-year-old comprehensive college in the State University of New York system. It enrolls over 8,000 students in its College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; School of Business; School of Communication, Media and the Arts; and School of Education.

TopLine Shirt Co. to close briefly for renovations

By Billie Owens

TopLine Shirt Company will be shutting its doors temporarily. It will be restructuring, expanding to offer more single quantity items and renovating the store.

TopLine will close as of Friday, April 30, but will finish the production on any pending orders. The renovations and restructuring are expected to take about two weeks. For questions you may contact TopLine at 219-4311.

Women volunteers wanted for a day of hammering and helping

By Billie Owens

Thousands of women across the country join together for National Women Build Week April 30 – May 8.

In the days leading up to Mother’s Day, construction crews of female volunteers will raise their hammers at Habitat for Humanity construction sites across the country. Lowe’s and Habitat for Humanity of Genesee County, Inc., are looking for local women to volunteer for a day at one of
our Batavia Habitat construction sites during this nine-day event.

Construction or home improvement experience is not necessary.

The event will take place from 8 a.m. to p.m. on Saturday May 9 at 11 Raymond Ave. in the City of Batavia. If you are interested in volunteering in the Women’s Build event please e-mail us at info@geneseehabitat.com before May 5th.

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