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A two-car accident with unknown injuries is reported at the intersection of Route 77 and Ledge Road. Alabama Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. There was air-bag deployment.

The Genesee County Business/Education Alliance continues to grow and gain momentum.

In an agency review before the Human Service Committee on Monday, BEA Coordinator and local businesswoman Beth Kemp highlighted the many avenues the partnership uses to prepare students for the world of work.

• MST -- Math, Science and Technology
• All About Dogs
• Culinary I
• Culinary II
• Animal Science/Vet 
• Medical ($75)
• Hard Hat
• WNY Aviation Adventure (This camp costs more. It's $350 and includes week-long room and board.)

(File photo of the Upton house on Upton Road from Landmark Society of Genesee County.) 

There ought to be a historical marker on the site of the boyhood home of swashbuckling Civil War-era Major General Emory Upton.

That's what Genesee County Historian Michael Eula thinks, and it's why he asked members of the Human Service Committee on Monday for permission to apply for grant funds to pay for a marker at 9244 Upton Road in the Town of Batavia. Members unanimously agreed to grant permission.

Eula plans to apply for the Historic Roadside Marker Grant Program offered by The William G. Pomeroy Foundation, which since 2006 has funded more than 282 markers in 46 New York counties. If awarded, the grant will provide $1,000 for a standard historical marker, mounting pole and shipping costs.

The Upton Road house which features stunning, leaded windows of stained glass and beleved crystal, was built in 1823 by Emory's parents, Daniel and Electa Upton. His sister, Sarah Upton Edwards, updated the house in 1890 to the shingle style it is now. (In 2011, the Landmark Society of Genesee County presented current owners Joan Bird and William Steininger with awards for Interior Renovation and Stained Glass Window Restoration.)

Emory was Daniel and Electa's 10th child, their sixth son. After growing up on the farm, he studied at Oberlin College under famed evangelist Charles Finney and was then admitted to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1856. (He had his face slashed there in a sword fight in cadet barracks, said to have begun over offensive remarks made about his relationship with African-American girls at Oberlin College.)

His patinated likeness in full regalia looms large at the monument on the city's westside where Main Street and Ellicott Street join. But there's actually little heft to his biographical record, according to Eula, who told the committee that outside of a thin and rather superficial biography written by Stephen E. Ambrose, "Upton and the Army," little has been written about the man himself.

His brilliant and impactful career as an influential Army reformer, war tactician, military strategist and policy maker is well documented in compendiums, magazine articles, and through his own authorship.

This includes a book called "The Life and Letters of Emory Upton," which includes the meticulously deciphered and transcribed letters that Emory wrote during his worldwide travels to Persia, Turkey, India, China and Russia where he feasted opulently with royalty, how else, and met with great leaders at the behest in 1875 of General William Tecumseh Sherman.

Both the book of letters and the Ambrose book are out of stock currently at the Holland Land Office Museum, but they were reordered a week or so ago and should be back on the shelves soon.

If the Pomeroy Foundation approves the grant, there would be a ceremony featuring veterans groups at the dedication ceremony, Eula said.

With all the documentation about Upton available in Genesee County, and given the lack of a meaty tome about his life, will a book be forthcoming? That's the question Committee Chair Rochelle Stein asked Eula.

"I don't want to promise something I can't deliver," Eula replied, not altogether convincingly. He did acknowledge talking about the prospect with other local historians, and it's clear he deems the subject worthy of the effort.

See more about Emory Upton here.

Submitted photo. Front row: Teacher Peter Spence, Maya Benda, teacher Tiffany Lucksh, Melanie MacCowan, Mackenzie Fox, Kitana Maher, Clare Fraser, Kerri Bates. Middle row: Morgan Fuller, Will Kennett, Dominick Andres, Zach Swapceinski, Olivia Audsley, Dana VanValkenburg, Isabell Bliss. Back row: Russell Flaherty, parent Michelle Geiger.

Press release:

After a year of planning, 14 students from Byron-Bergen Sr. High School traveled to Costa Rica to explore the country’s incredibly diverse habitats of rainforests, volcanoes, waterfalls and pristine ocean coastline.

Accompanied by Byron-Bergen teachers Peter Spence, who teaches Earth Science, Biology, and Chemistry, and Tiffany Luksch, who teaches Math, the young explorers arrived at the capital of San José on March 18 for an exciting seven-day expedition.

The group spent two days in Sarapiquí, a small village in the Caribbean lowlands located in the heart of the rainforest, surrounded by surreal sounds of howler monkeys, tree frogs, birds, and insects. They visited the largest active crater in the world at the Poás volcano, and experienced the cloud forest environment. A cloud forest receives little rain during the year; plants receive their moisture from the clouds that constantly shroud the volcano.

The stay in Sarapiquí also included white-water rafting (where students found tiny poison dart frogs with bright orange bodies and deep blue hind legs), and zip lining in the rainforest.

The trip continued to La Fortuna, where they visited the Mount Arenal Volcano, studied the ecological succession of plants and orchids on the once-barren lava slope, and kayaked on the man-made Lake Arenal. Students hiked to the La Fortuna waterfall and explored the Baldi hot springs.

Moving on to Guanacaste, the group saw the second-largest dry forest in the world and visited Rincòn de la Vieja Volcano. They learned how Costa Rica uses the steam generated by the thermal vents to create electricity. A riverboat ride at Palo Verde National Park offered views of crocodiles, iguanas, red macaws, and white-faced capuchin monkeys. Snorkeling in the Pacific Ocean ended the extraordinary trip.

For many of the students, this amazing educational experience was the first time they had flown or been outside the United States. It was a great opportunity to not only learn about geology, ecosystems, and biology, but also gain practical fluency in Spanish.

“All of our kids have taken Spanish and a couple of them used Spanish a lot,” Spence said. “I did rely on them to communicate when I could not.”

Upon their return, student Clare Fraser summed up the feelings of her traveling companions.

“This has been an amazing experience that I will always remember. The trip was better than I had ever expected, and it has encouraged me to travel more in the future.”

Tickets are on sale now for the fourth annual Casablanca Casino Night Fundraiser on Friday, April 29, to benefit abused and neglected children served by Genesee County CASA for Children.

The fun starts are 6:30 p.m. at the Terry Hills Banquet Facility, located at 5122 Clinton Street Road, Batavia.

Tickets are $75 per person or $125 per couple and can be purchased at the door or at the CASA for Children office. It is located in the Genesee County Courts Facility Bldg., 1 W. Main St., Batavia. Hours there are Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Price includes $500 in casino chips, foodm beer, wine and $10 free play at Batavia Downs Casino. Cash in your "winnings" for tickets in the Chinese auction and a chance to win valuable prizes.

The event is sponsored by Main St. Pizza Company, Batavia Downs Gaming, Terry Hills and CASA for Children.

The City of Batavia is holding an online NetAuction for heavy equipment starting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6. It ends on April 13. 

All equipment sells AS IS and buyers must rely upon their own inspection prior to bidding. The auction is being run by RTI Auctions, Roy Teitsworth, Inc., phone is (585) 243-1563.

Here's the link with photos and information about the items to be auctioned:

They are:

• 2005 Chevrolet 4WD Tahoe, odometer reads 123,691 miles, gas engine, automatic transmission, power windows, locks and mirrors, air conditioning, center console missing, vinyl seats and floors, some scratches, paint chips, dents and rust.
• 1998 Chevrolet 2500 4WD regular cab pickup, odometer reads 87,824 miles, gas engine, automatic transmission, sells with Meyer plow, currently not working, vehicle runs and drives but has significant rust.
• 2001 Jeep Cherokee 4WD Sport, odometer reads 63,498 miles, 6-cylinder gas engine, automatic transmission, power windows and locks, power mirrors, air conditioning, truck runs and drives, some rust and scratches.
• 1992 IH 2674 Tandem Axle dump, odometer not working, true mileage unknown, estimated 100,000 miles, hour meter reads 8,599, Cummins N14, 330 HP, Fuller 8LL transmission, cracks in cross members, one flat inner dual tire, sells with plow and wing.
• 1990 IH Paystar 5000 equipped with Galbreath 50,000-lb. roll-off body, odometer reads 76,527 miles, Cummins NTC 350 diesel engine, Fuller 8LL transmission, needs batteries, brakes, air compressor problem -- won't build air, truck does run.
• 1999 Homemade tandem-axle trailer. Homemade trailer.
• 100 hydraulic reel and electric hydraulic pump for Hurst hydraulics. No tools, working condition.

Press release from Le Roy Police Department:

An investigation of a daytime residential burglary which occurred on March 17 on Lake Street in the Village of Le Roy resulted in the arrest of 23-year-old James R. Kosiorek, who has no reported permanent address.

The investigation started when the homeowner returned home interrupting the burglary and finding a male subject inside of the residence. The burglar had damaged a gun case and was attempting to steal guns and cash from the residence. The burglar fled and the homeowner called 9-1-1.

The burglar was not initially located but a subsequent investigation led to the arrest of Kosiorek on April 4. It is alleged that Kosiorek unlawfully entered the residence with the intent to commit a crime therein, and in doing so damaged the gun safe and removed three guns, attempting to steal them and also stole about $30 in coins and a pellet rifle.

Kosiorek was arrested by the Le Roy Police Department and charged with one count of the Class C felony of burglary in the 2nd degree, three counts of the A-misdemeanor of attempted grand larceny in the 4^th degree, one count of the A-misdemeanor of criminal mischief in the 4^th degree, one count of the A-misdemeanor of petit larceny and one count of the A-misdemeanor of criminal possession of stolen property in the 5^th degree.

Kosiorek was arraigned before the Hon. Michael Welsh of the Le Roy Town Court and committed to the Genesee County Jail in lieu of $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond.

(Submitted photo) 2016 General District 4-H Public Presentations – From left, back row: Becky Kron, Melissa Keller, Teagan Mathes; front row: Colton Tarbell, Clare Mathes, Torrance Tillery.

Press release:

Congratulations to the Genesee County 4-H youth who competed in the 2016 District 4-H Public Presentations and the Region 2 Horse Communications Event at Mid Lakes High School in Phelps on Saturday, April 2.

4-H youth from across the region came together to compete at the district level and gave presentations in front of a panel of volunteer judges. 

Representing Genesee County at the 4-H District Presentations event were:

Melissa Keller – score 97, Blue Ribbon

Becky Kron – score 97, Blue Ribbon

Clare Mathes – score 94, Blue Ribbon

Teagan Mathes – score 94, Blue Ribbon

Colton Tarbell – score 93, Blue Ribbon

Torrance Tillery – score 82, Red Ribbon

All public presentation competitors worked very hard and did a great job! Eligible Blue Ribbon participants are still under consideration and have yet to be announced for the state event to be held May 14^th at Cornell University.

(Submitted photo) 2016 General Region 2 Horse Communications: Alexandria Tarbell, left, and Alianna Baris.

Representing  Genesee County at the Region 2 Horse Communications Event were:

Alexandria Tarbell – 1^st Place in the Junior Division

Alianna Baris – 4^th Place in the Junior Division  

Both girls worked very hard and were well prepared for the event, they are both eligible to attend the State Communication Contest on May 14th at Cornell University.

For more information regarding local opportunities in 4-H Youth Development call Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County at 585-343-3040, ext. 101 or e-mailgenesee4h@cornell.edu. Our staff will be happy to answer any questions you may have about our program or about joining 4-H!

"Immigration and the Southside of Batavia" is an event being sponsored by the Holland Land Office Museum featuring a genuine ethnic food buffet and traditional music from Poland and Italy.

It will be held starting at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 10, at Ascension Parish Hall, 15 Sumner St., Batavia. Cost is $20 per person. Tickets on sale now at HLOM. Reservation deadline is NOON Wednesday April 6. Call 343-4727.

Come celebrate immigration from Europe to Western New York. Guest speaker is local historian and teacher Gregory Kinal.

The buffet will include: golumpki, polish sausage, spaghetti, Italian sausage and more!

Live music will include traditional polkas, tarantellas, and other ethnic music!

Girls on the Run is an after-school group at Batavia Middle School that inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum, which creatively integrates running.

Every session, Coach Sarah Gahagan incorporates a guest speaker from the community to inspire girls. Kristen Dispenza and Carrie Richards both directors for the Mary Kay Independant Beauty Business, had quite an inspirational message to share last week: "Change your mind, change your actions, change your world."

Dispenza spoke about the power of positive thinking -- really honing in on the fact that anything is possible. She gave real world examples from her own life and created examples that middle-school girls would experience as part of their life as well.

Another part of her presentation focused on "inner beauty" and how you do NOT need a lot of makeup to look and feel good. She talked briefly about skin care and each young lady was offered the opportunity to wash her face and apply a moisturizer afterward. There were lots of laughs and questions about the importance of good hygiene, (especially your face) especially after running!

Dispenza has quite an inspiring story on how she became a senior sales director with Mary Kay. She graduated from Batavia High School in 2005 and later started her career as a Special Education teacher but quickly felt a need to do more for women, specifically women in need.

She was raised in a single-parent home where confidence and money were not abundant. One of her biggest goals is to not only show women -- ALL women -- how special they are, but to teach them the skills necessary to build a successful business. After only two years with Mary Kay, through perseverance, determination, and heart, Dispenza earned the area's FIRST EVER pink Cadillac...pretty impressive!

Senior Sales Director Carrie Richards worked full time as a caseworker for the Department of Social Services and pursued her master's degree in Social Work part time. She spoke to the girls about how she got into the business and really owed a huge "pay it forward" to her "partner in crime," Dispenza, who inspired her to begin with Mary Kay, which changed her life.

Richards became a part of Mary Kay to surround herself with positive, empowering women and provide herself the opportunity to become a business owner. Her favorite part of her job is giving other women the opportunity to take charge and create a lifestyle that many only dream of. She is extremely thankful to have the opportunity to enrich and empower other women and thinks giving young girls the "Girls on the Run" experience is an AMAZING thing.

Girls on the Run (grades 5-8) meets at Batavia Middle School on Tuedays and Thursdays from 3:30-5 p.m.; this is their third session. The first ever third- and fourth-grade group also just started this spring at John Kennedy School.

More than seven years in the making, and nearly a year under construction, the new Oakfield Town Hall at 3219 Drake St. will be open for touring from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 10.

A dedication ceremony is planned at 2:30 with Oakfield Town Supervisor Carol Glor, and guests Genesee County Legislature Chairman Ray Cianfrini and Assemblyman Steve Hawley.

Light refreshments will be served.

The facility has been completely refurbished and 5,000 square feet was added on the back side. It includes a new bay for the Highway Department, new offices, including one for law enforcement (Sheriff's deputies/Troopers), a courtroom shared by Oakfield and Elba, the Town Hall and meeting rooms. The space can accommodate 300 people and be partitioned with an optional center divide.

"It can be used in the event of a disaster," said Town Assessor Barry Flansburg. "It's all up to code, with a handicap accessible entrance and new bathrooms."

He said $2.6 million of the total $3 million cost came from borrowing the money from a bank, which voters permitted passively. Once announced, no referendum for a vote materialized, thus the expenditure was approved de facto.

"This was done as part of our normal operations," Flansburg said. "There was no tax impact."

The remainder was funded with reserves and grant money, which typically trickles in well after the fact.

In addition to residents and the general public, businesses, highway departments, contractors, and "everyone we worked with over the years" are invited to attend this Sunday, says Flansburg.

Press release:

Volunteers For Animals wants to remind you that grant money is still available from the ASPCA to provide low-cost spay and neuter of canines and felines belonging to NYS residents who receive public assistance.

The ASPCA administers the New York State Animal Population Control Program on behalf of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. The grant, via a voucher system, will cover the spaying or neutering of the pet, a rabies vaccine, a distemper vaccine and deworming.

Since 1984, Volunteers For Animals has assisted with the care, treatment, and adoption of animals residing at our area's municipal shelter, the Genesee County Animal Shelter in Batavia. We provide care and services that would not be available if not for our involvement. Prior to our participation, sick animals were euthanized and none were spayed or neutered.

Our group is staffed completely by volunteers, some of whom have been involved for over a decade. We are a dedicated group of volunteers who coordinate all the the necessary care and treatment for the animals at the shelter.

For many years, Volunteers For Animals has been committed to spaying and neutering all animals prior to adoption at the Genesee County Animal Shelter. We are now expanding that commitment to help pet owners in the community. We understand the pressing need to spay and neuter dogs and cats to alleviate the pet over-population epidemic.

Volunteers For Animals has partnered with local veterinarians and their staff to provide quality, low-cost services to low-income residents in Genesee and surrounding counties. We believe that not only will this program help to reduce the pet overpopulation problem but will benefit the quality of life for both pet owners and pets.

We believe that sterilized pets present a win-win situation. The pet is generally healthier and the pet-owner relationship is generally less stressful and, therefore, more enjoyable.

To receive a voucher, the pet owner must speak with a member of Volunteers For Animals. The pet owner can call the Shelter at 585-343-6410 to leave a message for a volunteer -- please leave name and phone number where a volunteer can call the pet owner. An e-mail can also be sent to info@vol4animals.org.

Press release:

Elderwood Health Plan, a locally based managed long-term care (MLTC) plan, was granted approval by the New York State Department of Health to begin enrolling members April 1.

Elderwood Health Plan provides services to people 21 years and older who are Medicaid-eligible, chronically ill or have disabilities and have been assessed as needing community based long-term care services for more than 120 days. Services are provided in Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming and Monroe counties. Dr. Anthony Billitier is the medical director for the program.

Elderwood Health Plan coordinates primary, specialty and community-based services for its members, and is the payor for a wide range of services, such as long-term home health care, dental, vision, transportation and audiology. Members continue to use their own primary care and specialty physicians through their Medicaid, with the advantage of having an Elderwood Health Plan care manager help coordinate their community based and home care services.

“Our goal at Elderwood Health Plan is to provide the care and access to services necessary for individuals to remain independent and in the community,” said Alicia Kenyon, director of business development. “Our care managers provide support to both members and their families to help coordinate services such as podiatry, physical therapy, in-home care, durable medical equipment, and transportation to medical appointments and day centers.

“We will also help families with the paperwork required to apply for Medicaid.”

 Elderwood Health Plan is backed by the experience of Elderwood, a respected area health care provider for more than 30 years, and by parent company Post Acute Partners, operating more than 20 health care communities in New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.

For more information, call Elderwood Health Plan toll-free at 1-866-843-7526 or visit the Web site at www.elderwoodhealthplan.com.

Larry Brandon Ferrell, 31, of 10 Lathrop Ave., Le Roy was arrested by the Le Roy Police Department after a complaint of an alleged domestic incident which occurred on March 29. It is alleged that Ferrell restrained and choked a female in the presence of two small children and then allegedly took the phone away when the female attempted to call the police. Ferrell was charged with the misdemeanors of second-degree unlawful imprisonment, criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, criminal mischief in the fourth degree, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Ferrell was arraigned before the Hon. Michael Welsh of the Le Roy Town Court and released under the Supervision of Genesee Justice.

Joshua B. Maternowski, 22, of Tonawanda, is charged with possessing one small plastic baggie containing approximately three grams of marijuana, and Joshua T. Reinhart, 21, of North Tonawanda, is charged with possessing one small plastic baggie containing approximately five grams of marijuana and a multicolored glass smoking pipe containing marijuana residue. At 11:38 a.m. on March 3, Corfu Police Officer Michael Petritz stopped a driver for speeding (going 57 in a 35-mph zone) and having no brake lamp on Route 77. Upon interview of the operator and passengers, Officer Petritz detected a strong odor of burnt marihuana emanating from the vehicle. Officer Petritz requested assistance from Sheriff's Deputy Lonnie Nati and a search of the vehicle allegedly yielded marijuana.

Cody Alan Glogowski, 28, of Grandview Drive, North Java, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. At 7:48 p.m. on March 31, Glogowski was arrested for allegedly endangering the welfare of a child less that 17 while at Dick's Sporting Goods in the Town of Batavia. No details provided. He was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Batavia Town Court on May 12. The case was handled by Sheriff's Deputy Michael Lute.

The third annual Super Sale starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 2, at St. Joseph's School on Main Street in Downtown Batavia.

Organizers say it will feature "housewares & toys, basket raffles, refreshments and SO MUCH MORE! This is the not-to-be-missed sale of the year!"

Press release from Assemblyman Steve Hawley's office: 

“Barring the extreme disregard for transparency, integrity and inclusiveness in this year’s budget process, the legislation we passed over the last two days in Albany will wreak havoc on our small businesses and agriculture industry," Hawley said.

The budget includes virtually no tax and regulatory reform for small businesses, and a minimum wage increase to $12.50 per hour Upstate with an escalation to $15 in the future, which will destroy New York’s already-ailing business community. Upstate cannot afford such a drastic increase, and the burden will fall on the middle-class in the form of higher prices and vanishing job opportunities.

Further damaging to our small business community will be the 12 week paid-family leave program, entirely funded by already over-burdened taxpayers. This is another example of New York City liberals expanding government and reaching into the pockets of our business owners and residents. While paid-family leave has good intentions, it will be ripe with abuse and cause labor costs to skyrocket. We cannot afford another expensive Albany mandate.

As the former owner and operator of our family-owned farm, I know what it takes to grow New York’s agriculture industry. Unfortunately, this budget cuts agriculture local assistance by over $160,000 and offers little relief for farms transitioning to a higher minimum wage. Agriculture is one of New York’s premiere industries, and I will do what I can to rectify these abhorrent policies.”

From the National Weather Service in Buffalo:

A winter weather advisory is in effect here from 5 p.m. Saturday, April 2, through 5 a.m., Sunday, April 3.

The advisory is for snow and blowing snow, with accumulations three to six inches. The greatest snow totals will be across the hills south of Buffalo.

Winds -- northwest at 15 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. Visibility under a half mile at times.

Snow will accumulate on roads and create slippery driving conditions.

A winter weather advisory is normally issued for a variety of winter weather conditions such as light snow, blowing snow, sleet, freezing rain and wind chills.

While the weather will be significant, the word advisory implies that severe weather is not anticipated.

Kendra Marie McGuire, 25, of Bryant Street, North Tonawanda, is charged with fourth-degree grand larceny. She was arrested and issued an appearance ticket for April 26 in Darien Town Court. It is alleged that she stole cash and coins valued at more than $1,000 from a residence on Richley Road in Darien in November of 2012. The case was investigated by Sheriff's Deputy Chad Minuto.

Daniel Joseph Kish, 44, of Payne Avenue, of North Tonawanda, was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd, and unsafe turn/failure to signal at noon on March 17. He was arrested on the charges March 31 after turning himself in on an arrest warrant out of the City of Batavia. Kish allegedly missed city court for prior alleged traffic violations. Bail was set at $250 and he did bail himself out at city court. He was released and is to reappear in city court on May 18. The case was handled by Sheriff's Deputy Michael Lute.