The Batavia Lions Club is hosting the 5th Annual Bike Tour on Saturday, June 14th. Join us for a 25-mile ride or 50-mile ride. Road assistance, bike support, free fruit and drinks will be available throughout the tour. Free hot dogs, hamburgers and drinks will be provided to riders upon completion.

Location: Starting and ending at the parking lot behind the Polish Falcons, 123 S. Swan St., Batavia.

Check in times:
7 to 7:45 a.m. -- 50-mile ride
8:15 to 9:15 a.m. -- 25-mile ride

Starting times: 8 a.m. for the 50-mile ride and 9:30 a.m. for the 25-mile ride.

Entry Fees: After May 16th -- $35; All children under 16 years of age $15, but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Kids under 5 are free. Same day registrations are accepted with cash or check payment the morning of the event.

For applications and/or further information contact Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle or visit www.batavialions.com.

City Council President Brooks Hawley will be holding six City Hall meetings, one for each ward. The meetings will be entitled “Coffee with the City Council President” and will be held at City Hall in the Community Room.

These meetings will be used as a direct connection to the president to have a forum with residents to collect thoughts, concerns, ideas or interests from city residents. The meetings will be held from 10 a.m. – noon on the following days:.

Ward 1         Saturday, June 14^th

Ward 2         Saturday, June 21^st

Ward 3         Saturday, July 19^th

Ward 4         Saturday, Aug. 2^nd

Ward 5         Saturday, Aug. 9^th

Ward 6         Saturday, Aug. 23^rd

“I hope and encourage Batavia city residents to come meet with me personally at these times and dates. I look forward to the dialogue and opportunity to sit and talk with constituents about our community,” said Brooks Hawley, City Council president.

If there are any questions, please contact:

City of Batavia City

Council President

One Batavia City Centre Batavia, New York 14020

Phone: (585) 409-9895

Press release:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) announced the retirement of James L. Vincent from the GCEDC’s board of directors at its board meeting on Thursday, June 5, 2014.

Vincent served on the GCEDC board of directors for 31 years, playing an instrumental role on the board since 1983. In addition to being a board member, he also served as the GCEDC’s vice chairman for several years and helped the GCEDC become one of the most progressive economic development agencies in New York State through his deep, comprehensive understanding of the need for sustained economic growth. During his tenure as a member of the board, Vincent helped foster increased economic activity in Genesee County by advocating for new employment opportunities and a high quality of life for residents and their families.

Vincent served as president of L-Brooke Farms, Inc., an 8,000+ acre processing vegetable and grain farm since 1986. He also served as chairman of the New York State Advisory Council on Agriculture and the Genesee County Water Resources Agency, among others.

Vincent is past president of Genesee Memorial Hospital, Genesee Community College Foundation, Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, and Genesee County Farm Bureau, as well as board member of Farm Fresh First, LLC, Pro Fac Cooperative, Inc., and former town supervisor. 

The GCEDC congratulates Vincent in his retirement from service to the GCEDC board and recognizes him as an exceptional leader in economic development and a dedicated citizen worthy of esteem of not only the GCEDC, but throughout Genesee County.

Press release:

The Board of Directors of the Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) approved a final resolution for applications for assistance from 9 Apollo Drive, Inc., and an initial resolution to set a public hearing for United States Gypsum Co. at the June 5, 2014, board meeting. 

United States Gypsum Company Co. is planning to upgrade its paper mill at 2750 Maple Ave. in Oakfield, NY.  The project will include replacing and relocating equipment, stock cleaning and enhanced manila production to improve the safety, quality and efficiency of the facility.

The upgrades will consist of three phases and are expected to commence in 2016. The projected capital investment is approximately $23 million. The investment will retain 98 manufacturing jobs and create 12 new production jobs.

9 Apollo Drive, Inc., is a business that manufactures doors and windows. The company plans to purchase the building located at 2 Apollo Drive in the City of Batavia to accommodate its growth and expansion. 9 Apollo Drive, Inc., will make a capital investment of approximately $750,000.

In 2002, the company was granted a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) for the building located at 9 Apollo Drive, Inc., by the GCEDC and pledged to create eight new jobs. According to PARIS reporting submitted to the GCEDC in 2013, the company has created 29 jobs at this location.

“It is very encouraging to see existing businesses in our region invest resources to improve production and operations and, just as important, retain existing jobs and create new jobs,” said Wallace Hinchey, GCEDC board chairman.

A tractor and a forklift have reportedly collided at Empire Tractor on East Main Street Road, Batavia.

An employee may have suffered a broken leg.

Batavia fire and Mercy EMS responding.

A bicycle has reportedly been struck on Route 98 near Goodman Road, Alexander.

Alexander fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

No word on injuries, if any.

UPDATE 8:54 a.m.: Mercy EMS response is cancelled. Alexander ambulance is on scene.

UPDATE 9:07 a.m.: Alexander fire clearing the scene. Alexander Ambulance transporting one to UMMC.

Time: This Is Why Bacon Smells so Good

Le Roy Main Street Revitalization hosted a village clean-up this afternoon with residents, including students, pitching in to pull weeds and pick up garbage.

Above, Carly, Contado and Jack pull weeds from a garden bed along Main Street.

Candy Bower and Jennifer Keys cleaning the brick alleyway off Main Street.

For more information about Le Roy Main Street Revitalization, visit the group's Facebook page.

Batavia High School track star Alex Egeli stopped in to see his chiropractor, Tom Mazurkiewicz, today before heading off to the state championships in Syracuse.

Egeli is ranked the number one runner in the state in the 400 meter hurdles and 110 meter hurdles. He's the first BHS track team member to qualify in four state events (those two, plus 100-yard dash and he's a member of one of the relay teams).

Mazurkiewicz will be at the state championship as well, working as a chiropractor.

Chiropractic care is being increasingly recognized as important by athletes, Mazurkiewicz said, because joint restriction and muscle imbalance can impede performance and increase the chance of injury. It's become a part of the training routine for NFL and Olympic athletes, he said.

Egeli will attend Freedonia next year and then maybe move up to a Division I university.

Many carnival rides are in place and workers are busy making other preparations for the annual St. Joe's Lawn Fete this weekend in Batavia.

Two men from New Jersey stopped in Batavia today to gather signatures from people who agree with their "Impeach Obama" message. They were also gathering signatures on a petition to reinstate the Glass-Steagall Act.

Art Murphy and Chris Sare, from Bogota, N.J., said their goal is to visit every congressional district. They've been to Florida, Texas, California, among other places.

There were set up on West Main Street near the eastern entrance to the Tops parking lot.

The funding for their travels comes primarily from the LaRouche PAC.

Quite a few people stopped to sign the petitions.

They also got a visit from Batavia PD and the city's code enforcement officer.

City code prohibits any kind of sign in parkways. If it's planted in the ground, no matter what the message, it's illegal under city code.

Police responded to a citizen complaint about the signs.

When Code Enforcement Officer Ron Panek arrived, he showed them the section of code they were allegedly violating.

Murphy asked how to contact the city attorney. He said there are court cases that give them the right on public property to conduct political protests. He said they would follow up, but said they would obey the orders of the police.

Once the signs were down, the Sgt. Dan Coffey and Panek left, leaving Murphy and Sare to carry signs up and down the sidewalk if they wished. As they left, even more people were stopping to sign petitions.

A fire on the roof, near an air-conditioning unit, is reported at the Flying J Travel Plaza. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding along with Corfu and the city's Fast Team. The fourth platoon is called to stand by in city quarters. The building is evacuated. A first responder on scene reports nothing showing. Command says units already on the road can continue emergency mode.

UPDATE 10:58 a.m.: Fire appears to be out.

UPDATE 11:11: A code enforcement officer is on scene.

UPDATE 11:46 a.m.: Corfu is back in service.

UPDATE 11:55 a.m.: Pembroke command says they are picking up and will be leaving the scene shortly.

Jordan Ray Smart, 22, of 6 Gibson St., Oakfield, is charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs. Smart was reportedly involved in a three-car accident on Main Street in Le Roy on Wednesday. Smart's car reportedly hit a parked car, which was pushed into another parked car. There were no injuries reported. Smart was arraigned and released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

Johnathon Bryce White, 21, of Reed Road, Churchville, is charged with criminal contempt. White allegedly violated an order of protection by riding in a vehicle with the protected party.

Kenneth Scott Lathrop, 27, of Tower Avenue, Syracuse, was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to fine out of Town of Oakfield Court. The fine was related to a DWI charge. Lathrop was jailed on $500 bail.

Dwayne Andrew Pearsall, 23, of Washington Avenue, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd, and endangering the welfare of a child. Pearsall is accused of being in a domestic dispute that took place in front of his daughter. Pearsall was jailed on $2,000 bail.

Press release:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) will jointly host a Batavia Developers Tour with NAIOP (the Commercial Real Estate Development Association) on Wednesday, June 11, from 9 a.m.to 1 p.m.

The event will provide interested business owners and investors the opportunity to tour renovated sites and commercial spaces in the City of Batavia, as well as learn about the various economic development incentives that are available through the GCEDC.

The event will highlight several of Batavia’s development sites and will include a tour of the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park and other shovel-ready parks and Downtown sites. The tour also will include visits to Batavia’s opportunity area sites, including City Centre, Della Penna Site, Creek Park Site and the Harvester Center Complex.  

Speakers will include City of Batavia Manager Jason Molino, Batavia Improvement District Director Don Burkel, Batavia Development Corp. Director Julie Pacatte and GCEDC President and CEO Steve Hyde.

“This is a great way for us to showcase shovel ready sites and locations in the City of Batavia to the development community,” Hyde said. “Through this event, we also hope to educate developers about the business growth potential that exists here and how the various incentive programs through our agency can enhance economic development opportunities in Batavia.”

The tour will end with lunch at the Center Street Smoke House in Batavia. To register, please contact Karen McCready at NAIOP Upstate New York at 585-249-9232 or at naiopupstateny@gamial.com.

Evan Stout raised his hand during a tour of the milking parlor at Grassland Dairy in Pavilion this morning because he wanted to know if it hurt the cows when they're milked.

Steven Tudhope assured him they were not hurt.

Evan was one of more than 200 area school children who toured Grassland, owned and operated by Brent Tillotson, as part of Kinder Farmin' Day (formerly Dairy Day), sponsored by the Genesee County Farm Bureau. 

"It's important for today's generation to learn about agriculture because they're going to be tomorrow's consumers and tomorrow's ag workforce," said Barm Sturm of the Farm Bureau.

Tillotson said he hosted the tour this year because he thinks it's important for children to learn firsthand about dairy farming.

"We do as much for kids as we can," Tillotson said. "It's good for them to come out and see that food doesn't just come off a truck."

Steven Tudhope explains to a group of Pavilion students how cows are milked.

Chad Tillotson shows a group of Wolcott School students the different kinds of organic feeds used on Grassland, which is a certified organic dairy farm.

Kara, of Wolcott School, holds a chick.

Melissa Thater with her young goat and a group of children.

Ralph E. Stevenson, 60, of Clinton Street, Bergen, is charged with confinement of companion animal in vehicle. Stevenson allegedly confined three small dogs to the interior of his car in 81- degree weather at Walmart. The internal temperature of the vehicle at 11:34 a.m., Monday, was 122 degrees on the dashboard and 116 degrees on the seats, based on measurements by a laser thermometer.

Kenneth L. Powell, 58, of Telephone Road, Le Roy, is charged with menacing, 2nd, and harassment, 2nd. Powell allegedly threatened a person with a knife and hit that person in the face with his fist. The alleged incident was reported April 30 on Ellicott Street.

Crystal J. Hough, 31, of Ellicott Street, Batavia, is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd. Hough was arrested on a City Court bench warrant.

Shaqueita Lashaun Irvin, 22, of Hutchins Street, Batavia, was arrest on a bench warrant related to a petit larceny charge. The warrant was issued in Village of Corfu Court. Irvin was jailed on $5,000 bail. Irvin was also arrested on a warrant out of Town of Batavia Court for alleged trespass.

A 16-year-old resident of Indian Falls Road, Corfu, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, 4th, and unlawful possession of marijuana. The youth allegedly possessed brass knuckles and marijuana.

Bryan David Dinelli, 41, of Churchill Street, Akron, is charged with aggravated harassment. Dinelli is accused of making unwanted phone calls for no legitimate purpose to another person.