It looks as though the Village of Corfu will be the home of two more eating places before the end of the year.

The agenda of Thursday night’s Genesee County Planning Board meeting includes site plan reviews for a pizzeria at 12 East Main St. and a restaurant/bistro/ice cream shop at 47-49 West Main St.

The meeting is scheduled for 7 o’clock at County Building 2, 3837 West Main St. Rd.

According to documents submitted to Planning Director Felipe Oltramari:

• Corfu Mayor Tom Sargent and Darien Town Council Member David Krzemien are teaming up to operate Home Slice 33 Pizzeria in an existing building in the village’s Commercial district.

It will be housed on the first floor, providing enough space for 18 to 20 customers and also will offer takeout and delivery. Menu offerings include pizza, wings, subs and fryer foods.

After about $15,000 in remodeling, the business will employ seven to 10 people.

Planning department recommendation, approval with the modification that any signage complies with the Village's zoning regulations. With this required modification, the proposed restaurant should pose no significant county-wide or inter-community impact.

• Akron resident Randy Hesior is looking to open Randy Joe’s Bistro by converting an empty building on a 7.2-acre parcel in the Neighborhood Business district into a “warm, welcoming bistro that will serve a variety of foods” – including ice cream.

He, too, after putting in about $15,000 in improvements, will employ eight to 16 people while operating the restaurant, which also will be able to cater small events and host company parties.

Planning department recommendation, approval with the modifications that the applicant obtains a driveway permit from NYS DOT for the change of use prior to approval by the Village Planning Board; installs on-site lighting so as to not shine directly onto neighboring properties or cause a hazard for motorists, and erects signage that complies with the village's zoning regulations.

Darien Mandates SUP for Airbnb Homes

Also, on the agenda are special use permit requests from three existing Airbnb bed and breakfast/tourist residences that have been in operation for quite some time in the Town of Darien.

The homes are Eliza Brooke Farmstead at 2407 Broadway Rd., Happy Harry’s Country Home at 11095 Warner Rd. and Fix Family Country Oasis at 938 Sumner Rd.

Town of Darien Zoning Law requires a special use permit for all short term rentals defined as bed and breakfast/tourist homes (also known as Airbnb or VRBO rentals or listed privately): a one-family dwelling (not necessarily owner-occupied) in which overnight accommodation is provided for not more than eight transient people for profit and may include serving breakfast.

Upon issuance of the SUP, the town’s code enforcement officer will conduct a fire inspection initially and at three year intervals, with an operating permit to be issued upon each fire inspection.

Press release:

On August 28, 2021, at approximately 1:45 a.m. officers from the City of Batavia Police Department were dispatched to a residential location on South Main Street for the report of potential gunfire.   Officers arrived on scene and found that shots were fired at a residence and that no one was hurt.  Officers believe that the victim was the target of the crime, and this was not a random act. The attached photos are persons of interest. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Matt Lutey at 585-345-6311.

The Batavia Police Department is looking for assistance from the public with identifying the male in the photo. If anyone has information, or is able to identify the male, please contact Officer Lindsay at (585) 345-6350. A tip can also be submitted online via this site.

Press release:

The Elba Onion Queen program is getting back on track after COVID-19.  The Crowning ceremony for the 2021 Onion Queen will begin at 6:00 p.m. Saturday, September 11^th at the Elba park.  There six contestants this year are as follows:

Dakota Brinkman 
Dakota is the daughter of Brian and Danielle Brinkman.  She and her family are lifetime Elba residents.  She enjoys going for walks with her mom and dog, shopping with friends, and being a part of this special community.  She loves helping with youth basketball with her dad, who runs the program.  Dakota also participates in soccer, basketball and softball.  Along with the National Honor Society, Student Athletic Association and Girl Scouts.  She is the Vice President of her class. Dakota’s goal after high school is to major in physical therapy. 

Selena Franco
Selena is the daughter of Fernando Franco and Teresa De J. Roque Roman.  She has spent her whole life in Elba, NY and would never want to change that.  The Elba community has had such a strong, positive and supportive impact on Selena and has helped make her the person she is today.  Selena is currently a Senior at Elba Central School. She participates in National Honor Society, Student Athletic Association, softball, and hopes to participate in basketball cheer in the winter.  Selena is very family oriented and appreciates everything her family does for her.  Her family has always pushed her to be the best version of herself.  Selena also enjoys drawing, playing softball, going on walks, and spending time with friends.  After graduation, Selena plans to attend college and eventually pursue a career in dentistry.

Adrianna Long
Adrianna has lived in Elba her entire life alongside my parents, Jeff and Kara Long, and siblings Jacob, Michael and Maci.  She is extremely family oriented and involved in basketball, soccer and softball.  Adrianna is the Secretary of her class and currently employed at Crazy Cheap Cars. In her free time, she babysits for family and family friends.  Adrianna is running for Onion Queen in hopes to give back to the great community she was fortunate enough to grow up in. 

Georgia Luft
Georgia is the daughter of Matt and Laura Luft and has lived in Elba her entire life with her brother Hudson and sister Caroline.  Georgia is a three sport athlete participating in soccer, basketball and softball.  She  has participated in National Honor Society, Student Athletic Association and FFA as a member and past officer.  Outside of school Georgia is part of travel basketball teams and has been active in 4-H since she was eight.  She is part of the fur and feather club as well as dairy club.  She has been a member of Genesee County Dairy Princess program for several years and really enjoys promoting the dairy industry.  She is also a member of the Padre Pio Church in Oakfield.  Georgia’s spare time is spent with her family, friends and her animals.  Georgia will be going on to college after graduation but is unsure of where. She is undecided in what career path she will head down but is considering business or law enforcement. 

Laci Sewar
Laci is the daughter of Marc and Darcy Sewar. She has lived in the town of Elba for her entire life and has made many friends along the way.  Laci enjoys going out to eat with her friends and going on camping trips with her family.  She likes making apple crisp and baking holiday treats with her dad.  Doing this every year makes the holidays extra special.  Laci also enjoys shopping and going on road trips with her mom.  She looks forward to these trips as it is a good bonding time.  Laci has been the class Treasurer since 7th grade and is a high honor student. She has participated in the Yearbook Club, Future Teachers, National Honor Society, Student Athletic Association, Volleyball, Basketball, and Softball.  Outside of school, she participates in travel basketball, volunteers at church, and is active in Girl Scouts, where she earned her Bronze and Silver Awards.  Laci is currently two thirds of the way done with her Gold Award.  Her Gold Award project consists of refurbishing the stations of the cross at the Elba church and making a station of the cross program for children in grades 3-6.  After graduation she plans on attending Daemen or D’Youville to obtain her Doctorate in Physical Therapy.

Carolyn Sybertz
Carolyn is 17 years old and lives in Elba with her mom, dad and  younger sister.  She attends Elba Central School where she will be a senior this fall.  She participates in volleyball, softball, Student Athletic Association, National Honor Society, the Genesee County 4-H program and she is a Genesee County Dairy Princess Program Ambassador.  Carolyn also works at Zuber Dairy Farm in Bergen New York.  After graduation she plans on attending a four year college to hopefully major in animal Sciences.  Carolyn chose to run for Onion Queen this year in hopes of representing the small town of Elba that has helped shape her into the person she is today. 

Press release:

On August 24, 2021, smartDESIGN Architecture, PLLC hosted its first annual golf outing. This year, smartDESIGN chose Habitat for Humanity of Genesee County as the charitable beneficiary. The tournament was a great success – raising $3,420 for Habitat for Humanity and an additional $390 from a basket raffle.

Habitat for Humanity provides housing to those in need by partnering with families to provide a hand up, not a handout. The mission of Habitat cannot be fulfilled without the support and generosity of local community members. Habitat is incredibly grateful for the generosity offered by smartDESIGN. To learn how you can help, please visit www.geneseehabitat.com.

Photo: Jake Whiting (Habitat Board President); Jaylene Smith-Kilner (Habitat Executive Director); Martha Bailey (smartDESIGN Office Manager); and Ed Smart (smartDESIGN Owner and Principal)
 

Press release:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) Board of Directors will consider resolutions advancing three projects with a combined capital investment of approximately $19.9 million at its board meeting on Thursday, September 9, 2021.

The GCEDC Board will consider a final application for incentives from Liberty Pumps for its proposed $13.7 million expansion at its operations in the town of Bergen at the Apple Tree Acres industrial park. The company plans on constructing a 107,138 sq ft. materials center, creating 30 new jobs with an average salary of $52,000 annually plus benefits.

Liberty Pumps is seeking property and sales tax exemptions of approximately $1.5 million.  It is estimated the expansion project would generate $29 of private investment into the local economy for every $1 of public investment. A public hearing regarding the project incentives was conducted on August 26, 2021.    

The Board also will consider accepting an initial application from Valiant Real Estate USA, Inc. (New York Bus Sales.)  Valiant is proposing a $4.5 million capital investment to construct a 20,000 sq. ft. facility on Saile Drive in the town of Batavia. The project would create 24 new jobs with an average salary ranging from $30,000 – $75,000 annually plus benefits.

Valiant Real Estate USA, Inc. is seeking sales, mortgage, and property tax exemptions of approximately $430,120. The project is estimated to generate $50 of investment into the local economy for every $1 of public investment.

Finally, the Board will consider accepting an initial application from J & R Fancher Property Holdings LLC which is proposing to construct a two-story mixed-use building on 2.6 acres at Buffalo East Tech Park in the town of Pembroke. This is the first of three phases of development that Fancher is proposing at the tech park.

The $1.7 million investment would include six market-rate 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom apartments on the second floor and a first floor comprised of a 7,000 sq. ft. vanilla box interior intended to attract commercial tenants. The total planned square footage of the facility is 14,000 sq. ft.

J & R Fancher Property Holdings LLC is requesting sales, mortgage, and property tax exemptions totaling $254,336. and is estimated to produce $4 of investment into the local economy for every $1 of incentives.

If the initial applications for Valiant Real Estate USA, Inc. and J&R Fancher Property Holdings LLC are accepted, public hearings on the proposed project incentives agreements will be held prior to consideration of the final resolution.

The Sep. 9 GCEDC Board meeting will take place at 4 p.m. at 99 Med-Tech Drive, Suite 107.  The meeting also will be available online at www.gcedc.com.

Tori Ganino isn’t afraid to admit that self-assertion is her thing.

At least when it comes to dogs. That canine characteristic of extreme self-assertion — and unwanted aggressiveness — has fueled her career and prompted the 35-year-old to continue her education.

She has recently obtained certification as a Dynamic Dog Practitioner. 

“My passion is aggression. We need to know what’s going on internally,” she said during an interview Friday.“ This certification is more helping out and spotting behavior in dogs. I can see myself applying this to the dogs I work with and to my own dog. I just want to keep learning.”

Ganino is not new to embracing knowledge when it comes to working with dogs, and the canine behavior specialist eagerly added dynamic dog practitioner to her resume. Never heard of such a thing? That’s because the rigorous four-month course is only available in the United Kingdom. Other people have enrolled in the course but Ganino said that she is the only one in the U.S. to successfully complete it. 

While dynamic dog practitioner may seem like an embellished title, it makes sense as Ganino explains it. Say your dog Rufus is a bit more surly than usual, and he has been barking at visitors, and — especially uncharacteristic of Rufus — nipped at one of them. You might think he is just being a bad boy, however, there very well might be underlying issues at play. 

“Dogs are so extremely stoic; they hide things so very well,” Ganino said at her Elba residence. 

Beneath that quiet strength might be hip pain, an achy spine or pulled muscle, she said. By thoroughly assessing the dog, she will be able to pinpoint likely sources of the pain that are causing and coming out as aggressive behavior. Contrary to popular belief that older dogs would be more prone to this occurrence, Ganino said that she has seen it in younger dogs more often. They may be working dogs that herd animals or train for agility courses, or simply playful dogs that throw their little bodies out of whack scampering on slippery floors, she said.

An online dictionary defines dynamic as “a process or system characterized by constant change, activity, or progress; relating to forces producing motion.” Just like humans often do, dogs may overcompensate an injury in one area by overusing the other, Ganino said. That can in turn create a lot of pain and/or discomfort within the dog's body, she said.

The course taught her to understand what normal movement is for the dog so that she can determine what is abnormal movement. That involves taking a history of how the dog moves, what it was like before becoming more aggressive and how it behaves now, such as biting, barking or lunging at people. 

Ganino had owned and operated Calling All Dogs daycare until the dreadful Covid-19 struck. She made the difficult decision to close in March 2020, which ended up opening up a window.

“It has given me the opportunity to do this intense four-month course,” she said. “I had to present six case studies.  There’s not a similar program in the world.”

The programme (spelled properly in England) teaches how to spot potential pain and discomfort in dogs “using specific, measurable and professional techniques from the ground up, whilst giving you an in-depth knowledge of the canine body,” the course website, allaboutthedogtherapy.co.uk, states. 

“There are so many excellent dog training and behaviour courses out there that give you the latest up to date science based techniques to make you become an expert in your chosen field,” it states. “Despite all of them teaching you about A, B, C's they are ALL missing one vital component that is key to understanding most problem dog behaviours.”

Only 14 students are admitted at a time, and they are forewarned that the course is intensive with a blueprint for how to use the material, conduct an assessment and present the findings to the client’s veterinarian. This last piece is key to a fully implemented plan, Ganino said. She will perform a two-hour assessment of the troubled canine to evaluate its activities, movement, walking, running, standing and sitting, and the overall behavior of the dog, she said. 

The finished product includes a report, video and recommended plan of action that may include prescription meds, X-rays, physical therapy and exercises. That will go to the client, behavior consultant and vet. The vet will be the one to recommend a more specific route, such as the type of medical tests or prescriptions to implement for the dog's treatment.

“There’s a lot going on when it comes to behavior and aggression; it’s not just on the outside, but a lot going on inside. Unless you’re trained, you don’t see it,” Ganino said. “We can be that team to work through these problems.”

For more information, or to find out if your dog could benefit from Ganino’s expertise, go to callingalldogsny.com, and click on Schedule a Free Consultation.

Photo by Gina Sierra, ginasierra.com

Coordinated by the University of Albany’s School of Public Health,    the listening tours will consist of two 90-minute forums in four rural New York counties. One forum will include community members at-large (Sept. 30) and the other will consist of community providers/stakeholders (Oct. 1).

“Each county setting has its own unique aspects and cultural norms that can influence people’s mental wellness,” said Lynda Battaglia, Genesee’s director of Mental Health & Community Services. “We expect that our participation in these Listening Tour forums will generate valuable information that will enable us to better serve our residents.”

Battaglia advised that the purpose of the program is to gain insight on the following questions:

• What are the main factors that contribute to increased risk of suicide in rural New York? What factors contribute to positive mental health and wellbeing?

• How do community members seek help for behavioral health concerns, and what factors influence these help-seeking preferences?

• How can rural communities – individually and as a whole – improve availability, awareness, access, and utilization of mental health services and resources?

At the conclusion of the project, each county will receive a presentation (in-person or virtual) and written summary of the results and recommendations coming out of their forums, Battaglia said.

Furthermore, information gained across all eight forums conducted in the four counties will also be aggregated to develop an overall set of recommendations to present to the Rural Suicide Prevention Workgroup and to the New York State Suicide Prevention Council.

“Ultimately, the listening tour protocol will be refined and disseminated statewide so that all counties will have the tools to conduct their own forums in the future,” she added.

The forums, which will be confidential in a Virtual private group setting, are scheduled as follows:

Sept. 30, 4:30 p.m., for Genesee County residents (no other requirements are necessary).

Oct. 1, 1 p.m., for community providers/stakeholders (requirements are that participants must be service providers/stakeholders who provide services to Genesee County. This could include school personal, law enforcement, emergency management services, religious establishments, etc.).

Those interested in participating are asked to contact Brenda Reeves at 585-344-1421, ext. 6681, or at brenda.reeves@co.genesee.ny.us. The deadline to respond is Sept. 27. A Zoom link will be provided upon registration.

Press release from AAA:

Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $3.19, up four cents from last week. One year ago, the price was $2.22. The New York State average is $3.28 – up five cents from last week. A year ago, the NYS average was $2.30. AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:

• Batavia - $3.25 (up one cent since last week)
• Buffalo - $3.23 (up seven cents since last week)
• Ithaca - $3.26 (up six cents since last week)
• Rochester - $3.28 (up eight cents since last week)
• Rome - $3.29 (up two cents since last week)
• Syracuse - $3.25 (up seven cents since last week)
• Watertown - $3.24 (up two cents since last week)

AAA expected a jump in gas prices following the storm and taking into account the demand surrounding the holiday weekend; motorists are expected to pay the most expensive gas prices since 2014. However, AAA is happy to report there is ample gasoline supply in the U.S. Once the impact of the Gulf Coast storm is mitigated, and winter blend fuel is in production, gas prices should begin to decline.

From Gas Buddy:

"As expected, Hurricane Ida's disruption to the oil and refining industry led gas prices to rise over the last week, though thankfully, the rise wasn't very significant," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. "With several Louisiana refineries poised to have power restored in the days ahead, the impact on gas prices could soon reverse, and with gasoline demand now likely to decline with the close of the summer driving season, I see the odds rising that gas prices will soon begin a seasonal downturn, accelerated by the expiration of summer gasoline requirements on September 15. By Halloween, we could see the national average back under $3 per gallon."

A motor vehicle accident is reported at East Main Street and Ross Street, Batavia.

Unknown injuries. 

City Fire and Mercy EMS responding.

Photos by Kristin Smith. For more, click here.

Aerial photos of yesterday's Labor Day Parade in Oakfield by Timothy Wojkowski.

I took the photo above last night after stopping to buy some sweet corn off Route 33 in Stafford.

Below, sunset in Alabama by Joanne Meiser.

Michael Robbins, 61, of Batavia, is charged with burglary 3rd and grand larceny 4th. Robbins is accused of entering a building and stealing various items in the early morning of Aug. 1.  He was arraigned in City Court and ordered held in jail.

Ray S. Saile, 19, of Judge Road, Alabama, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. While on duty at Labor Daze, deputies were asked to assist the Oakfield Fire Department with an incident involving Saile and his girlfriend. Saile allegedly violated an order of protection by being with his girlfriend.  He was arrested and released on an appearance ticket.

Steven Stuart Johnson, 57, of South Lake Avenue, Bergen, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon 3rd, criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, DWI/Drugs, and headlight out. Johnson was stopped at 3:15 a.m., Sept. 2, on South Lake Avenue, by Deputy Jacob Gauthier for an alleged traffic violation.  During a search of Johnson, he was allegedly found in possession of cocaine.  The vehicle was inventoried prior to being towed and deputies reportedly found brass knuckles in the center console. Johnson was issued an appearance ticket.

Adam Altobelli, 40, of East Rochester, was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to appear. He was arraigned in City Court and released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

Travon Armstrong, 36, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Armstrong is accused of stealing a bicycle.  He was issued an appearance ticket.

Destiny Green, 25, of Batavia, is charged with burglary 2nd and criminal contempt 2nd. Green allegedly stole an item from a protected party's residence. Green was reportedly found inside the residence. Green was arraigned in City Court and released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

Amanda Havens, 39, no permanent address, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Havens is accused of leaving two children under age seven unsupervised leading to the children roaming the streets without supervision. The children were found by patrols near a local business at 3:30 a.m., Aug. 17.  Officers could not contact Havens until she turned herself in later that day.  She was arraigned in City Court and released on her own recognizance.

Jadeyn Goras, 18, of Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief 4th. Goras is accused of throwing a rock through the rear window of a vehicle park in the driveway of a residence in the City of Batavia.  He is also accused of throwing a stone from a garden and throwing it through a window of a door leading into the residence.

David Klotzbach, 41, of Batavia, is charged with dog running at large.  Klotzbach's dog was allegedly running at large at 8:10 a.m., Aug. 27.  He was issued an appearance ticket.

Robert Goodwill, 28, of Batavia, is charged with DWAI/alcohol. Goodwill was reportedly found driving erratically from South Main Street Road to UMMC.  Goodwill was issued traffic tickets and released.

Nicholas Kingdollar, 25, and Kayleen Laird, 25, both of Batavia, are charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Kingdollar and Laird allegedly failed to provide adequate supervision of a child at a residence on Jackson Street, Batavia, the evening of Aug. 30.  The child was reportedly able to climb out a second-story window and onto the roof.

An unidentified 18-year-old from Batavia is charged with three counts of petit larceny. The youth was arrested by State Police at 9:25 a.m., Sunday.

Photos by Timothy Wojkowski

The fun continues -- and continues today -- at Labor Daze in Oakfield, including a classic car show at Crazy Cheap Cars.

Photos by Kristin Smith.  For more, click here.

Jason Smith shared this picture from yesterday of a deer crossing the Ellicott Trail.

A motor vehicle accident is reported in the area of 1031 Ledge Road, Alabama.

The vehicle is 30-40 feet off the roadway, according to a first responder, and on its roof.

It was occupied by five people. One person has a minor injury.

Alabama Fire and Mercy EMS responding.

Oakfield-Alabama/Elba started its 2021 season in dominating fashion, beating Cuba-Rushford 64-6.

Gaige Armbrewster had seven carries for 202 yards and four touchdowns. Bodie Hyde, three carries, 68 yards, two TDs and one passing reception for a TD to go along with five tackles on defense.

Kameron Cusmano rushed four times for 80 yards and a TD and caught a 15-yard TD pass.

Aiden Warner, six carries, 52 yards, and a TD.  

Nate Finta lead the team with 13 tackles and Angelo Penna had 10 tackles.

Head coach Tyler winter said, "Our guys did a great job of making sure the focus for this week of practice was to put in the work necessary to put the best product of OAE football on the field.  Without the preseason scrimmage and a lack of scouting, we couldn't really put the focus on the opponent.  They had a great week of practice and the success they achieved today was a total team effort."  

Also on Saturday, Pembroke beat Wellsville, 55-26. Tyson Totten carried the ball 13 times for 291 yards and five touchdowns. Dakota vonKRamer, two carries, 65 yards, and a TD. Alex Lamb scored a rushing TD.  Caleb Felski returned a kickoff 85 yards for a TD.  On Defense, Chase Guzdek had six tackles and a sack. Pete Farrington also had six tackles and a fumble recovery. Jacob Dulski had five tackles.  Jyden Mast, four tackles and a sack. Sam Pfeiffer, two tackles and a sack.

Photos by Kristin Smith. For more, click here.