Center Street and School Street (between Center and Liberty) are closed today for repaving.
The Houseknechts are back in the vending business.
John and Tom, who sold Loose Ends in 2008, after the family sold its Pepsi bottling company, has re-acquired their former business.
The new name is Crickler Vending. Crickler after the former Pepsi-Cola Batavia Bottling Corp., which was founded in 1890 as Crickler's.
"It looked like a good business opportunity and it's a business we're familiar with operating," Tom Houseknecht said.
The company has distribution centers in Rochester, Buffalo and Horseheads. Houseknecht said they consider their market areas Rochester, Buffalo and Elmira.
There are no plans to operate a distribution center Genesee County at this time, Houseknecht said.
The brothers re-acquired the business May 17 and immediately started re-branding their delivery trucks.
The second annual Spring Celebration hosted by the Le Roy Christian Community Project is planned for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 7, in Trigon Park.
Fun, food, friends. Here's what in store:
Chicken BBQ tickets are available at Hobby Horse, 5 Star Bank, Le Roy Village Fitness, The Bank of Castile, Curves, and at the LCCP office (7 E. Main St.) or from any of its board members.
Check out LCCP's Facebook page for more info. and updates. The phone number to 768-7540.
Gold Sponsors of the event are Tompkins Bank of Castile, Ryan Plumbing, Heating & Fire Protection, and the Rotary Club of Le Roy.
Press release:
The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council is pleased to announce the Decentralization Re-grant recipients for 2014 in Genesee and Orleans counties, funded by the New York State Council on the Arts. This year GO ART! received 27 applications to the Reach Grant Program requesting a total of $65,696.00. With $41,600 available, 26 of the applicants were awarded grants.
GO ART! is also pleased to re-grant two Ripple Grants ($2,500 each) to provide funding for the creation of new work by local individual artists who wish to involve the community in their creative process. One Arts Education Grant (recently renamed the Spark Grant) was awarded as well in the amount of $2,000. This grant provides funds to individual artists to create programs to work directly with children in a K-12 public school setting.
Reach Grant Program Award Recipients in Genesee County
2014 Ripple Grant Recipients (both in Batavia)
The Decentralization Regrant Program (known locally as Reach, Ripple and Spark) was first developed in 1977 by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) in response to a mandate by the New York State Legislature to encourage greater participation in the state’s cultural funding at the local level. Local decision-making is the basic principle of the Decentralization Regrant Program in supporting a wide range of community-based professional and avocational arts programs in diverse communities throughout the state, and in helping to support the work of individual artists. GO ART! is proud to administer the NYSCA Decentralization Regrant Program in Genesee and Orleans counties.
The grant process begins in the summer with grant workshops held throughout Genesee and Orleans counties. Individuals, nonprofit organizations and local government agencies submit applications in the fall for community-minded artistic and cultural programs. These proposals are reviewed by a panel (there are separate panels for the Reach, Ripple and Spark grants), made up of artists, community leaders and educators from the two counties. The panel then submits funding recommendations to the GO ART! Board of Directors for approval, and grants are awarded. Through the Decentralization Regrant Program, GO ART!, NYSCA, and the New York State Legislature hope to expand, upgrade and increase arts and cultural programming in Genesee and Orleans counties.
A caller to dispatch reports "her daughter was asked to do lewd acts on a school bus." City police are responding.
A two-car accident with injuries is reported at 7228 Griswold Road. It's at the intersection of Griswold and West Bergen roads. LeRoy fire and medics are en route.
UPDATE 5:19 p.m.: A responder on scene reports that there is one minor injury.
UPDATE 5:46 p.m.: Medics are back in service; there was no patient transport.
UPDATE 6:02 p.m.: The Le Roy assignment is back in service.
The City of Batavia has received two significant awards, City Manager Jason Molino announced at a press conference held at the Fire Hall this afternoon.
The city is receiving a Strategic leadership & Governance Program Excellence Award from the International City/County Managers Association, and Firefighter Chuck Hammon is being honored by NYS Child Safety Advisory Board with a Shining Star Award for his efforts to increase the number of child safety seats installed in the city.
The ICMA will recognize the City of Batavia at its 100th annual conference in Charlotte, N.C., in September.
The award recognizes the creation and implementation of the city's strategic plan.
"With input from the community and the hard work of City Council and staff, we have been able to create an effective planning process that has demonstrated real results in efficient operations and meeting the service needs of our residents," Molino said. "Though our continued efforts to improve our operations, make sound decisions and strong investments, the city is being recognized for making a meaningful impact for our residents, businesses and visitors alike."
Hammon was recognized because over the past three years, he's taken the city's child safety seat program from almost nothing -- only two trained installation technicians -- to a program with 18 technicians and more than 150 installations and inspections a year. Batavia has one of the most active fire stations for child safety seats in WNY now, Molino said.
Press release:
"For too long, Western New York's veterans have been denied the honor of being laid to rest among their fellow heroes right here in our community," Congressman Chris Collins said. "Today's announcement of a veterans’ cemetery in Pembroke finally rights that wrong. This location will allow veterans from all around our region to be properly and locally honored for their service to this country."
Background: The VA has selected a 132-acre parcel on Indian Falls Road in the Town of Pembroke (Genesee County) as home for the long-anticipated Western New York Veterans’ Cemetery. Currently, the closest veterans’ cemetery is located in Bath, approximately 100 miles away.
Press release from Sen. Charles Schumer's office after the jump:
Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has selected a site for the long-awaited Western New York Veterans’ Cemetery. The cemetery will be located on a 132-acre parcel at 1232 Indian Falls Road in the Town of Pembroke, Genesee County, just north of the Pembroke Thruway exit.
This veterans’ cemetery will be the first and only of its kind in the Buffalo-Rochester area, and will save thousands of military families from having to travel upward of 100 miles to visit their loved ones at what is now the closest veterans’ cemetery in Bath.
Schumer, along with various veterans groups, have led the charge to bring this much-needed veterans’ cemetery to Western New York. They've argued that a lack of a national veterans’ cemetery within a 75-mile radius of Buffalo and Rochester meant that it is long past time to establish a national veterans’ cemetery at a closer location for the hundreds of thousands of veterans living in the region.
The site is located approximately 30 miles from Buffalo and 48 miles from Rochester. The cemetery will provide a fitting burial option to approximately 96,000 currently underserved veterans and family members living in Western New York.
Schumer said this site selection is great news for the many thousands of deserving veterans living in Buffalo, Rochester, and beyond. With this new cemetery in Pembroke, these veterans and family members will be able to have a proper military burial near their homes in Western New York, and their families will be able to pay their respects without having to travel over 100 miles – something that can be a tremendous burden for many families.
“I am pleased that after four years of hard work, we finally have a site in place," the Senator said. "After serving our country so valiantly, and for so many years, it is only appropriate that we develop a national shrine, on a beautiful piece of land right in our backyard, for our veterans’ final resting place.”
Schumer has long argued that it is critical for a veterans’ cemetery location to be located in Western New York. He has pushed the VA as well as the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to decide on a site and conduct the necessary environmental reviews as quickly as possible. Half of New York’s veterans are 65 years of age or older, and it’s well overdue to plan for their future and to ensure that they are treated with the honor they deserve.
Schumer has heard from local veterans groups that veterans in Western New York desperately want to be buried in a national shrine, but don’t want to force their families to travel far away to visit, at potentially great hardship. Some veterans have reported that families are delaying interring the cremated remains of their loved ones, with the intention of making this new cemetery their loved one's final resting place.
Today, more than 22 million veterans are eligible for the honor of burial in a national cemetery. Veterans with discharges other than dishonorable, their spouses and dependent children, may also be eligible for burial in a VA National Cemetery. Those who die on active duty may be buried in one, too.
Schumer joined with Western New York vets for years in calling for the VA to locate the first federal veterans’ cemetery in the region. Around 2009-2010, the VA updated its burial policy, which changed the threshold of veterans required to construct a new national cemetery to 80,000 veterans within 75 miles of a proposed site.
With this new policy, the region was more than qualified, with 96,000-plus veterans in Western New York who live beyond 75 miles from the nearest available national cemetery -- in Bath. Moreover, a total of nearly 300,000 veterans across Western New York could be served by this cemetery. Schumer has fought from the start to push the VA to move forward in finding a site for this cemetery, and he has pushed the process through a variety of roadblocks.
Total Tan has been in Batavia since 1996, but starting this week it's all new.
The salon has moved to the new retail strip between Lewiston and West Main, next to the future new Tim Horton's.
Owner Cyndi Leonard, who founded Total Tan in Williamsville in 1994, said she and her managers had been looking to remodel and upgrade the old location in the Valu Plaza, but decided a new space made more sense.
The new location is filled with new, more modern units -- 20 in all, including five stand-up bays and a spray booth.
Pictured are (name redacted upon request), Cyndi Leonard, Rachel Mitchell and Emily Crego.
If you noticed a parade of antique vehicles heading through town today, they're all owned by Pat Thorp (pictured) and his father Nelson Thorp of East Bloomfield. It's a portion of their 22-vehicle collection.
The caravan was on its way to the University at Buffalo for a classic car show. We caught up with it at West Main Mini Mart.
The ladder truck is a 1949 American Le France, bought new by the City of Canandaigua for $26,000 and was in service until 2008.
The woody is a 1940 Plymouth and is only one of 17 known in existence.
The pickup truck is a 1937 Plymouth and has won multiple national awards.
The jeep is a 1952 Willies Army Jeep. That was the last year that model was made.
Pat Thorp said the vehicles will be passing back through Genesee County some time after 4:30 p.m. Saturday, if you want to try and catch a glimpse of these classics.
Le Roy's Zoning Board of Appeals will likely try to retain its own attorney in the Frost Ridge case, board Chairwoman Debbie Jackett said today.
At a hearing May 20, Town of Le Roy Attorney Reid Whiting told Judge Robert C. Noonan that the ZBA didn't have an attorney in court that day because the board chose not to be represented.
He said the ZBA had been served with notice of the lawsuit.
Jackett said the board didn't know it was named in a lawsuit until members read about the court hearing in The Batavian.
The ZBA was named by plaintiffs David and Marny Cleere and Scott and Betsy Collins because the ZBA found in July 2013 that camping and amplified music were permitted uses at Frost Ridge.
The board's position is and was, Jackett said, that camping and amplified music were both permitted uses prior to the area being zoned residential/agriculture in 1967.
The vote was unanimous, Jackett said, and the board's position hasn't changed.
The town board cannot overrule the ZBA's decision.
"Their view is contrary to our view," Jackett said.
Which is why Whiting can't represent the ZBA, she said.
The ZBA serves both the town and village governments, but the board doesn't feel the village attorney should represent the ZBA since Frost Ridge is a town issue, so the ZBA is scrambling to secure independent legal representation.
The Town of Le Roy will be obligated to pay for the ZBA's attorney.
Frost Ridge and owners David and Greg Luetticke-Archbell are defendants in two lawsuits, one filed by the town and another field by Cleere and Collins challenging their legal ability to both exist as a campground and to operate occasionally as a live music venue.
The plaintiffs maintain that the campground and amplified music violate the current zoning ordinance. Frost Ridge maintains that the property was recreational use prior to 1967 and it's recreational use today.
Noonan issued a temporary injunction May 23 barring Frost Ridge from amplified music and alcohol service on the property, citing the likelihood that the town would prevail on the merits of the case. His decision was based on the May 20 hearing that lacked ZBA representation.
Since the ZBA doesn't have an attorney yet, it's unclear whether any motion could be brought forward challenging the injunction.
A conference meeting -- where dates will be set for future proceedings in the cases -- is scheduled for tomorrow. Jackelt said she is unsure if the ZBA will be able to retain counsel in time for that court appearance.
A manhunt is under way in the area around Graham Corp. for a possible warrant suspect. A caller contacted dispatch about a "suspicion male" walking around and a Batavia Police officer spotted him and provided a name, which if it's him, is wanted by the law. After the suspect saw the officer, he ran into the woods behind Graham Corp., located on Florence Avenue. A canine unit is available if needed, the police said. The suspect is a white male wearing white pants and a red hoodie. He is said to be close to Cedar Street now.
Jarrod K. Fotiathis, 19, of Ellicott Street, Batavia, is charged with false personation. Fotiathis was suspected of being involved in a fight Wednesday night on Swan Street. When questioned, Fotiathis allegedly gave a false last name to a police officer. Officers reportedly asked him several times for his real last name and Fotiathis allegedly refused to do so.
William Scott Smith, 46, of Main Road, Pembroke, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Smith was allegedly found in possession of marijuana at 11:45 p.m. May 16 on Main Road, Pembroke, by Deputy Kevin McCarthy.
Michael Joseph Elmore, 23, of Summit Street, Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and trespass. Elmore allegedly trespassed on private property and was found in possession of marijuana at 3:10 p.m. May 24 by Deputy Kevin McCarthy.
Kristine Szumigala, 40, of East Avenue, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Szumigala was allegedly involved in a fight at 8:57 a.m. Sunday at 16 Bank St., Batavia.
The conception of local artist and photographer Jim DeLooze, 58 On Main will come to fruition on June 16 when it officially opens.
“I own the building and am a professional photographer,” said the 30-year Le Royan. “I wanted to do something with photography and teaching, so opening the gallery came together as a culmination of ideas.”
There will be an art gallery, coffee shop, green screen photography studio, and a photography computer lab. There is also plenty of room to accommodate the classes DeLooze would like to offer.
“To be successful, we need to give the community what it wants,” DeLooze said.
His photography career began at Kodak in Rochester directly after high school. Later, he opened his own photography studio on Main Street, Le Roy, which catered to weddings and portrait work. He says he enjoys shooting anything to do with people.
After closing that business, his interest in art remained and led to a position at Le Roy's Jell-O Gallery Museum. It's there he began “kicking around the idea of opening a studio.”
The art gallery is open to local artists and artisans to showcase their work. It offers a permanent home for as long as the artist would like to rent the space. And with the artist’s permission, 58 On Main will produce photographic reproductions for sale. Since there are no exclusive rights, the artist is welcome to display their work in other venues.
“The fees to display and sell an artist’s work (in 58 On Main) is very inexpensive by way of comparison of larger galleries. Each wire will hold up to 30 pounds of multiple pieces, while heavier work, a piece that can weigh up to 60 pounds, will use two wires for the charge of one.”
Artists can also access 58 On Main's Web site and electronic advertising.
The coffee shop, Barista’s, is natural accompaniment for an art gallery. D&R Depot restaurant co-owner Sean Valdes will run it and the menu will include gourmet coffee, espresso, tea, pastry, scones, and light lunches -- soups, salad and sandwiches.
Friday nights will be special at Barista's. Planned are "Wine and Dessert"; "Social Painting" -- where participants are given two-hour instruction in painting; "Music Night" featuring musicians; "Travelogue" - for people to share their travels near or far; poetry readings, game night and more.
“We are a family friendly atmosphere," DeLooze said. "We want to give the community an option for their Friday nights.”
While the coffee shop has its individual name included with the business, the nomenclature for all the businesses at 58 Main Street, Le Roy, is 58 On Main.
“There are a number of businesses under one roof, so we decided utilizing the physical address (58 Main Street) as the main name for the gallery," DeLooze said. "We wanted to keep it simple and catchy.”
Saturday morning photography classes are also planned.
“We will be offering anything from photography basics to using Photoshop and HDR (high-density resolution) photography. It’s here for the community. Input is both welcomed and encouraged. We’d like to know what the community is interested in learning.”
58 On Main would also like the community to become actively involved and offer courses on their interests and expertise. DeLooze says drawing a diversified crowd and truly opening the gallery up to the community's interests is paramount for success.
“There will be a little bit of everything for people to enjoy. It’s a great place for parents to stop in while waiting for their child to get out of practice.”
58 On Main is seeking artists and artisans interested in displaying their work in the gallery. It is also working with the Jell-O Gallery Museum to put day-tour packages together to promote local businesses on Main Street.
For more information on 58 on Main visit their Web site at www.58onmain.com or contact DeLooze at jim@delooze.com or 585-768-2402.
Adam Figlow is a single father of four and a maintenance man at Ascension Parish in Batavia. Fellow parishioner and parish volunteer Sue Hartrick describes him as very humble, quiet, and "an extremely hard worker."
"You can ask him to do anything and say it doesn't have to be done right away," Hartrick said, "and then you turn around and it's done in a half hour."
But he has fallen on hard luck. In December, Figlow was diagnosed with a rare form of soft tissue cancer called spindle cell sarcoma.
Figlow said he first knew something was wrong one day in late summer, when he noticed a strange growth on his left arm.
"It never hurt or anything," he said. "It was just cosmetically annoying."
Since being diagnosed, he has undergone two surgeries and radiation therapy. His aunt and uncle, Kathy and Nick La Farnara, drove him to all of his appointments and stood by him through the surgeries, for which he expressed deep gratitude.
Figlow is set to return to work next month, but will have been out on disability for six months at that point. New York State disability payments have not been enough to keep up with Figlow's hospital bills and everyday living expenses.
That is why Ascension Parish will be hosting a spaghetti dinner, theme basket and 50/50 raffle on Saturday, May 31 from 5 until 7 p.m., with theme basket and raffle drawings starting at 7 p.m. The event will be at the parish's Slomba Hall, at 17 Sumner St. in Batavia.
Each meal will include spaghetti, meatball/sausage, salad, bread, dessert and a beverage.
Presale dinner tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for children, or $8 at the door. Takeout will be available.
Hartrick, who has spearheaded the event from day one, has been overwhelmed by the generous response.
"I thought it would be fabulous if we could get 30 baskets (for the basket raffle)," Hartrick said. "As of now, we have 79 baskets and 33 gift cards."
A variety of theme baskets -- including dog and cat, camping, gardening, children's toy and lottery baskets -- have been donated by individuals and businesses in and around the Batavia area.
"We've gotten more generosity than I could ever imagine," Hartrick said. "I was hoping the parish would rally around Adam in his time of need. They have not rallied...they have soared."
"The heart of Batavia and the parish community is unbelievable," Figlow said. "I can't thank them enough...I'm just so appreciative of everybody."
Basket ticket costs are as follows:
Additionally, someone donated a handmade quilt depicting an outdoor scene. It has a value of about $200, and will be the object of a 50/50 raffle. People can buy tickets $2 apiece or three tickets for $5.
For more information, call Hartrick at 786-8198.
Figlow is pictured with his sons, Joe (13) and Noah (5). His daughter Ashanti and son Nicholas were unavailable for a photo.
Susan Meier, owner of Photography by Susan Meier, received four awards at the annual awards ceremony of the Batavia Photography Club. The event, held at Bohn’s Restaurant on May 6, annually recognizes the efforts of their members.
An active member of the Batavia Photography Club for 17 years, Meier received awards for: Best Color Digital; Best Color Print; Image of the Year; Most Advanced Photographer of the Year.
Meier says “My involvement with the Batavia Photography Club has helped me grow as an artist and encouraged me to expand my craft.” Her print, “Feathered,” was accepted at Todmorden Papermill Gallery in Toronto Canada and is on view now through June 7. Additionally she has submitted several prints to 6x6x2014 -- Rochester Contemporary Art Center’s International Small Art Show to be held in June.
For more information about photography by Susan Meier visit here or call 585.861.0415.
It's that time of year when nature's youngsters begin coming into the world on a daily basis. This whitetail fawn has learned that remaining absolutely still and concealed is vital to its survival. A trio of us had been working a few scant feet away for nearly half an hour before noticing the newborn.
Just a few hours old, the fawn remained motionless in a residential flower bed while we spread mulch about its hideout. Once aware of its presence, we worked quickly, quietly and with little commotion as possible. Having completed the job, we moved on and the little one never flinched. No doubt mom was not far away, watching the entire time.
A Genesee County Grand Jury has filed an indictment against a Batavia resident who is accused of firing a handgun at another person while on State Street on Sept. 27.
Deshawn Allen Butler, 34, was wanted for a time in connection with the shots fired incident and was arrested in December. He was released from jail a few days later when the prosecution, which wasn't ready to proceed with a pre-trial hearing, called a felony hearing.
Butler was indicted on counts of criminal use of a firearm, 2nd, a Class C violent felony, criminal possession of a weapon, 2nd, a Class C violent felony, and attempted assault, 1st, also a Class C violent felony.
Other indictments filed by the Grand Jury:
Kelly M. Zwolinski is indicted on a count of criminal possession of stolen property, 4th, a Class E felony. Zwolinski is accused of knowingly possessing stolen property valued at more than $1,000. In this case, a Western barrel-racing saddle, a Western trail saddle, two sets of stirrups and a breast collar.
Jose A. Esquilin is indicted on a count of DWI as a misdemeanor and aggravated unlicensed operation, a Class E felony. Esquilin was stopped Dec. 6 on the Thruway in Pembroke.
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