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Deadline is April 22 for BID's annual awards luncheon on Friday, guest speaker is Mark Masse

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The Batavia Business Improvement District will hold its annual meeting and awards luncheon from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, April 25 (registration at 11:45 a.m.) at the City Church Generation Center, 15 Center St. in Downtown Batavia.

Price is $20 per person. RSVP and payment by Tuesday, April 22. Reservations contact BID - Don Burkel or Laurie Oltramari, at 585-344-0900 or e-mail at dburkel@downtownbataviany.com

Event Date and Time
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Dumpster fire outside of Clor's, now out

By Billie Owens

A dumpster fire was reported outside of Clor's Meat Market on West Main Street at the corner of Lewiston Road. A responder says there is no exposure to the building and the dumpster was smoldering, but no flames were showing. Town of Batavia Fire Department responded and the fire is knocked down.

Grand Jury indicts two people for DWI crimes

By Billie Owens

Here are the latest indictments issued by the Genesee County Grand Jury.

Duane L. Garlow is indicted for the crime of driving while intoxicated, a Class E felony. It is alleged that on Dec. 18, in the Town of Le Roy, he drove a 2013 Chevrolet on Perry Road while intoxicated. In count two, Garlow is indicted for the crime of driving while intoxicated, per se, also a Class E felony, for allegedly having a BAC of .08 or more at the time.

Robin L. Santarini is indicted for the crime of driving while intoxicated, a Class E felony. It is alleged that on Feb. 17, Santarini drove a 2014 Chevrolet on I-90 and in the Pembroke Service Area parking lot while intoxicated. In count two, Santarini is indicted for the crime of driving while intoxicated, per se, also a Class E felony, for allegedly having a BAC or .08 or more at the time.

Have you seen 'Max'?

By Billie Owens

Have you seen "Max"? He was last seen in Batavia on Friday, April 11. But not hide nor hair since.

His elderly owners live on Chandler Avenue, right across from the United Memorial Medical Center.

Max is a friendly little charmer who sports a red harness and is microchipped. He's a pekingese/poodle mix -- a "peekapoo." He's about 15-20 inches long and 15-20 pounds. If you know of his whereabouts, please contact Jen at 585-813-7108.

Alleged assault on Jackson Street prompts request for Mercy Flight in the city

By Billie Owens

An alleged assault at an apartment on Jackson Street, Batavia, prompted responding Mercy medics to inquire about the availability of Mercy Flight. The intended destination would be Strong Memorial Hospital. City police and fire on scene.

UPDATE 5:46 p.m.: City Engine 16 back in service. Mercy medic #1 is taking the victim via ambulance to the Mercy Flight hangar for transport to Strong.

UPDATE 5:53 p.m. (by Howard): At this point, police can't even say for sure it was an assault. Officer Chad Richards said the patient showed up at the apartment and was unresponsive by the time police arrived, so he couldn't be interviewed. "We don't even know how he got here," Richards said. He suffered some sort of apparent head trauma. Police will be interviewing people to try and determine what happened. No further information available at this time.

UPDATE 10:15 p.m.: Sgt. Chris Camp says the victim was not injured as seriously as it initially appeared. He's at Strong Memorial Hospital and has been interviewed.  However, he's not yet able to provide much information. Camp said police are leaning toward a possible assault but haven't ruled out other explanations. The victim's name is being withheld pending further investigation.

Crash, unknown injuries, at Byron Holley and Cochran roads

By Billie Owens

A one-car accident is reported at Byron Holley and Cochran roads. Unknown injuries. Byron and South Byron firefighters are responding along with Mercy medics. A telephone pole snapped and wires are down.

UPDATE 11:40 a.m.: Command cancels Mercy medics. Other units to continue non-emergency. National Grid to be notified about the snapped pole.

UPDATE 11:55 a.m.: National Grid has a 20-minute ETA.

UPDATE 12:35 p.m.: All fire units are leaving the scene.

Bone marrow match sought for Oakfield volunteer firefighter Bill Kegler; a mouth swab is all it takes

By Billie Owens

Bill Kegler, left, spent 22 years in the military and has been fighting fires since he was 18. Now he is fighting a different enemy, and hoping his winning hand gets dealt next week.

Kegler is a Pavilion resident and six-year member of the Community Fire Company; he is pictured above with Vice President Nick Wright. He is battling myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a disease that causes poorly formed or dysfunctional blood cells.

He needs to find a bone marrow match to fight the disease

Event Date and Time
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Fire inside shop on Railroad Avenue, Alexander

By Billie Owens

A fire is reported 3505 Railroad Avenue. A bench inside the shop there was on fire. Alexander Fire Department is on scene and shortly after arriving declared the fire out, cancelled a mutual aid request for the Town of Batavia's ladder truck. Now the chief is calling for more manpower from his department. The location is between Sandpit and Buffalo roads.

UPDATE 1:23 p.m.: All Alexander units are returning to quarters, in service.

Opening reception for GCC students' 'Environmental Portraits of WNY' at East Bethany forest center

By Billie Owens

Genesee Community College photography students will once again exhibit their work at the Genesee County Park and Forest Interpretive Center in East Bethany. Students this year will share "Environmental Portraits of Western New York."

The show opens with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, May 9, at the Genesee County Park and Forest Interpretive Center, 11095 Bethany Center Road, East Bethany. Refreshments will be provided.

Event Date and Time
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GCC students to display 'Environmental Portraits of WNY' at East Bethany forest center

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Genesee Community College photography students will once again exhibit their work at the Genesee County Park and Forest Interpretive Center in East Bethany. Following last year's successful display, "Around the Bend: The Shared Landscape," students this year will share "Environmental Portraits of Western New York."

The show opens with a receptionfrom 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, May 9, at the Genesee County Park and Forest Interpretive Center, 11095 Bethany Center Road, East Bethany. Refreshments will be provided.

Photography instructor Joe Ziolkowski introduced his students this semester in both COM 105 (Intermediate Photography) and COM 118 (Introduction to Digital Photography) to portrait photography. The students, from both the main campus in Batavia and GCC's Albion Campus Center, were assigned to photograph a subject in an environment that helped illuminate that subject's life and surroundings.

The portraits reveal characters in a variety of settings. There's a farmer with cattle in a barn who appears to be doing early morning chores; a mother surrounded by the detritus of a busy day with small children; an artist pencil drawing a portrait of her own.

"Creating a portrait of a subject in its natural surroundings adds elements to their character, and therefore portrays the essence of their personality, rather than merely a likeness of their physical features," Ziolkowski said.

Students in COM 118, Introduction to Digital Photography, learn how to use the manual functions on a digital camera to control light and color. They also learn software workflow to enhance their digital files. With a digital camera, results can be seen instantly on the liquid crystal display (LCD).

"As they progress through various assignments during the course, they continue to improve on composing images in camera and reading the light available to make effective photographs," Ziolkowski said.

The COM 105, Intermediate Photography course helps students refine their photographic skills by exploring more advanced technical techniques while on location and adding studio lighting, advanced printing and camera techniques and portfolio development. Students in COM 105 have already taken COM 118 and COM 103, Introduction to Black and White Photography.

"This class combines elements of both of those classes to offer a unique experience in both analog and digital photography," Ziolkowski said.

In photography classes students learn about photographic elements, including composition, foreground/background relationship, color schemes, values, shades and contrast. They also refine the use of "Qualities of Light" such as silhouette, rim, accent, radiant, dramatic shadow, and Chiaroscuro. In addition, they exercise time management and workflow skills.

For more information about photography coursework at GCC, contact Joe Ziolkowski at (585) 343-0055, ext. 6558, or jlziolkowski@genesee.edu.

"Environmental Portraits of Western New York" will be on view through Saturday, Aug. 30, at the Interpretive Center at Genesee County Park and Forest. The Center is open from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and noon to 4 on Sundays. For more information about the center, contact Conservation Education Program Coordinator Judy Spring at (585) 344-1122 or jspring.geneseeconsed@yahoo.com

Crash on Clinton Street Road, Batavia

By Billie Owens

An accident involving a truck and another vehicle is reported in front of the Community Action Center, 5073 Clinton Street Road. The driver of the truck is pregnant and law enforcement on scene has requested a medic to evaluate her. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding and Mercy medics are on scene.

UPDATE 10:51 a.m.: The town assignment went back in service about five minutes ago.

All available manpower called to Corfu Fire Department for search

By Billie Owens

For reasons we did not hear, all available manpower for Corfu Fire Department is called to the station for a search detail.

UPDATE 6:31 p.m.: The Corfu assignment is back in service. The subject of the hunt was a male and the mother reports the person is back at the residence. A deputy is going there to complete a report.

UPDATE 6:39 p.m.: She will be transporting her son to a hospital for evaluation.

Car wreck with injuries on eastbound Thruway

By Billie Owens

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported on the eastbound Thruway at mile marker 387.6. Town of Batavia fire is responding along with two Mercy ambulances. A crew from Oakfield is requested to fill in at Town of Batavia's fire hall.

UPDATE 3:09 p.m.: A Mercy Flight helicopter is called and will land on a field at Genesee Community College adjacent to the Thruway.

UPDATE 3:15 p.m.: Mercy Flight has a five-minute ETA.

UPDATE 3:32 p.m.: Mercy Flight is transporting a patient to Strong Memorial Hospital.

UPDATE: Photo submitted by a reader.

Tractor-trailer rollover on eastbound Thruway, no injuries

By Billie Owens

A tractor-trailer rollover accident is reported on the eastbound Thruway at mile marker 386. No injuries, but fuel is leaking. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 3:16 p.m.: The Department of Environmental Conservation is contacted as required because of the fuel spill. Wind is reported as 7 mph from the southeast.

UPDATE: Photo submitted by a reader.

GCC's 33rd Annual Fashion Show is 'Ethereal' and it's the hot ticket this spring

By Billie Owens

Press release:

From Grecian Utopia to Americana; Eden to Ooh Laa Laa, the scenes at Genesee Community College's 33rd Annual Fashion Show, "Ethereal," are sure to leave viewers Enchanted, with a Glorious display in the show's tradition of excellence. Advance tickets are highly recommended for the event on Saturday, April 26. Two complete shows are planned, at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the William W. Stuart Forum on the Batavia campus.

Ethereal is produced by GCC Fashion Merchandising and Design students under the guidance of GCC Business professors Rick Dudkowski and Donna Ehrhart. Students began developing theme ideas for the show last semester. They have been busy rehearsing with the more than 100 models who will appear in the 11 scenes. Some of the scenes will feature original creations by Fashion Design students. Fashion Merchandising students are collaborating with nationally acclaimed vendors including Buffalo David Bitton and other original designers, some featuring fabrics all the way from Korea.

The planned scenes include:

1.    Revival -- designed and produced by Natalie Brown

2.    Catherine Ivelisse -- designed and produced by Catherine Morales

3.    Let Them Be Little -- produced by Lilia Kesterke and Taylor Bunch. Clothes provided by Gymboree, Eastview Mall

4.    Ooh Laa Laa -- produced by Tiffany Carter with apparel by Chihiro Furukawa

5.    Enchanted -- produced by Shelby Wallenhorst and Ashley Husted with apparel by Buffalo David Bitton and Maurices

6.    Eden -- designed and produced by Megumi Nozaka

7.    Glorious -- produced by Quintessa Wallace with apparel designed by Abby Lee Wilcox

8.    Grecian Utopia -- designed and produced by Catherine Kelkenberg with assistance from Asahi Nakamigawa

9.    Americana -- designed and produced by Tyler Annalora and Alaina Shannon

10.    ÉCLAT XIIIXVII -- designed and produced by Candace Cooper with assistance from Ariana Sneed

11.    Ambience -- produced by Kelly Wetherby and Lekha Anderson with apparel by M.A. Carr Bridal and Charles Men's Shop

Along with enjoying the fashions presented during the show, which is a capstone project for many GCC students, guests will have a chance to win a variety of door prizes from restaurant gift certificates to gift cards and baskets. They will also have an opportunity to meet the scene coordinators at the post-show after party in the cafeteria.

In addition to the Fashion Merchandising and Design students, Criminal Justice students will be providing security. Tourism and Hospitality Management students develop the exquisite after party and assist with the decorating, and GCC's Communications and Media arts students will be promoting the event on WGCC. Finally, Digital Art students work alongside the Fashion Merchandising and Design students to create the Ethereal logo, brand and various promotional materials.

"The way our students from various departments come together to make this annual Fashion Show a huge success always impresses me," Dudkowski said. "This year's program will have some dynamic new features and we're all excited to see it on stage."

Tickets for the shows are available for $5 in advance or $7 at the door and can be purchased by calling 585-345-6830 or e-mail cmyoung@genesee.edu. Advance tickets are strongly recommended and must be purchased by April 24.

You can read more about the creation of the scenes, the students and happenings in the fashion program at the GCC fashion blog http://gcccampusblog.wordpress.com/category/fashion/.

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