Heather Volpe and her granddaughter Myla, 18 months, visit with a calf during the open house for State Street Hospital this morning. The open house, which includes visits with animals, a tour of the facility and demonstrations of medical equipment, door prizes and ice cream, continues until 3 p.m.
Gary Zimmerman with Clacker.
Tony Mancuso gives final instructions to a group of riders participating this morning in the Batavia Lions Club 6th Annual Batavia Bike Tour.
Heavy rain didn't dampen the spirit of Friday's Genesee Symphony Orchestra concert, which was moved from Jackson Square to City Centre because of the storms. As promised, the GSO delivered a lively and energetic show.
Press release:
Pembroke Town Board will meet Monday June 15, 2015 5 p.m. at the Pembroke Town Hall, 1145 Main Road, Corfu, NY to discuss a personal matter.
A one-car accident with unknown injuries is reported in the area of 6679 N. Bergen Road, Byron.
Byron and South Byron fire departments dispatched along with Mercy EMS.
The body of a male who had apparently been dead for an extended period of time was found this morning in an apartment in 400 Towers, located at 400 E. Main St. in the City of Batavia.
Det. Eric Hill, spokesman for Batavia PD, said there isn't much information available now because the officer handling the case is off duty and paperwork has not yet been completed.
There is a investigation, but Hill said he couldn't say one way or the other if foul play is suspected or if it's a death by natural causes.
The name of the deceased is not available.
More information will likely not be available until Monday.
The County Legislature is poised to accept what County Manager Jay Gsell characterized as the "highest and best offer" from a qualified buyer on the Genesee County Nursing Home.
The county received eight purchase proposals, Gsell said, and the recommended buyer is not only well qualified but also submitted the highest bid.
The details of the purchase agreement are not yet public and more details should be available when the Legislature meets in a special Committee of the Whole Meeting following the 4:30 p.m. Ways and Means Committee meeting Wednesday, in the Old Courthouse.
For years, county officials have maintained the nursing home is a multimillion-dollar drain on the county's budget and that state officials have been maneuvering counties toward the sale of such facilities by strangling state aid. Financial disclosures provided to potential buyers show the nursing home's losses have been piling up, with losses of $2.9 million in 2011, $3.7 in 2012 and $4.3 million in 2013.
A non-government agency (whether a not-for-profit group or for-profit company) will have greater flexibility in generating revenue than the highly regulated government-owned facility, plus have greater leeway in reducing expenses, and it won't be facing a squeeze on funding from the State of New York, according to county officials.
The anticipated vote by the Legislature is just the first step in a long process that could last up to nine months to complete the sale.
While Gsell said legislators have been doing their due diligence to ensure the anticipated buyer is qualified, the state has its own investigative process before it will OK transferring what's called a "certificate of need" to the new owner. The nursing home has two such certificates.
"At this point, with the deadlines the state has on financing nursing homes, especially adult operations like we have, the Legislature would like to start that process now," Gsell said. "The state conducts what it calls a character and compliance review and that could take six to nine months. That's what other counties have been through, including our neighbor to the north."
While Gsell would not at this time disclose the name of the buyer, citing purchase agreement restrictions, he said it is a company based in New York. That's one of the details that could be made public Wednesday.
For previous nursing home coverage, click here.
A proposed expansion of the O-AT-KA Milk Products plant at Cedar Street and Ellicott Street Road, Batavia, received a vote of approval from the County Planning Board on Thursday night.
O-AT-KA is contemplating adding a 194,543-square-foot building and a 35,279-square-foot building that will serve as warehouse space and a distribution center.
A spokesman for O-AT-KA repeated several times to reporters last night that the expansion remains a proposal at this time. There's no information available on how O-AT-KA's business might be expanding as a result of the new space.
The location of the new structures would be on the east side of the plant with vehicle access off of Ellicott Street Road.
The board recommended approval of a site plan review with recommended modifications for a stormwater pollution-prevention plan prior to final approval by the city.
Also on Thursday:
The board recommended approval of a site plan review for a 1,620-square-foot addition to the Pavilion Public Library. The expansion, which will include a new children's wing, is funded in part by a $200,000 donation from Edgar Mary Louis Hollwedel. Deborah Davis said the library is also seeking a state grant. The size of that grant could exceed $200,000.
The board recommended disapproval of a zoning map change on South Lake Road in Pavilion. Superior Plus Energy Services was seeking the change to develop a bulk storage and truck distribution center for bulk propane. The 32-acre site is currently zoned agriculture-residential and Superior Plus Energy is seeking a change to industrial. Staff's recommendation was for disapproval because the change would be inconsistent with the town's comprehensive plan and the Future Land Use Map, which plans for agriculture use or residential with minimum lot sizes of five acres.
A planned Dollar General store in Pavilion received recommended approval for its sign. The sign design presented previously by Moeller Sign Co. wasn't approved because it would have meant a sign larger than currently allowed in the zoning code. The new design complies with the code.
It's shred day at Brighton Securities. Anybody with documents to shred can bring them to their tent set up in the parking lot on East Main Street, Batavia, next to the Chamber of Commerce. They will be there until 3 p.m. and even serve you cookies and a beverage.
Pictured are Brittany Weeks, Christina Gregory, and George Arnold from Brighton Securities, and Mark Bonin, of Shred-Text.
Press release:
The Batavia Lions Club recently presented its annual scholarships and awards for the 2014-2015 school year.
Each spring, several graduating seniors at Batavia High School and Notre Dame High School apply for these scholarships, are interviewed by a committee of Lions Club members, and are chosen to receive $1,000 toward their college education. In addition, selected students from each high school are awarded the Art Roth Fine Arts Award and the Bill Cook Scholar Athlete Award.
The final award is the Batavia Lions Club Award in Communications, which is presented to a Genesee Community College student in memory of two former Lions and local media legends – Paul Bostwick, the former managing editor of the Batavia Daily News and James H. Gerrety, the former news director of WBTA.
During the high school football season each fall, members of the Lions Club man the food stands at each stadium to sell snacks during each home game. The proceeds are used exclusively for the scholarship and awards program.
Genesee Community College’s Jenna Wozniak won this year’s Batavia Lions Club’s Award in Communication.
Congratulations to all of this year’s winners and the best of luck in all of your future endeavors.
Top photo: Notre Dame’s 2014-2015 winners are (including Retiring Principal Dr. Joe Scanlon (L) and Athletic Director Mike Rapone (R): Emma Francis, winner of the Bill Cook Scholar Athlete Award, Anna Spring, winner of the Art Roth Fine Arts Award, and scholarship winners Lydia Moens and Anna Warner.
Bottom photo: This year’s Batavia High School winners are from left: Samir Jain, winner of the Bill Cook Scholar Athlete Award, scholarship winners Madison Kabel, Mica Pitcher, Katie Kesler, Allison Della Penna, and Ava Haitz, winner of the Art Roth Fine Arts Award.
New York Times: Dog-Related Bills Flood Albany as Major Legislation Stalls
A red vehicle is reportedly in a ditch in the area of 409 Bloomingdale Road, Basom.
A minor injury is reported.
Alabama fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.
A 36-year-old City of Batavia resident has been arrested by the Local Drug Task Force after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana and oxycodone as well as previously selling marijuana to agents of the task force.
Matthew C. Olcott, of North Spruce Street, faces seven misdemeanor charges following his arrest and was jailed on $5,000 bail.
He is charged with four counts of criminal sale of marijuana, 4th, criminal sale of marijuana, 5th, criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, unlawful possession of marijuana, and aggravated unlicensed operation, 2nd.
Olcott allegedly sold marijuana to agents on five separate occasions between November 2014 and February 2015. A warrant was issued for his arrest based on the evidence presented to Judge Robert Balbick in City Court.
He was stopped by task force members May 6 for allegedly driving on a suspended license. During that traffic stop, he was allegedly found in possession of marijuana and oxycodone pills. He was issued an appearance ticket, but allegedly failed to appear in City Court on his appointed date. Balbick issued an arrest warrant.
Task force members located Olcott at his residence Wednesday and arrested him on the two warrants.
We posted earlier today about the upcoming Flag Day tribute at the VA Center, which will be at 1 p.m., Sunday.
This afternoon, Frank Panepento was at the sign in front of St. Joe's to help promote the event, so here's a quick video of Frank playing "You're a Grand Old Flag."
There will be a Flag Day celebration starting at 1 p.m., Sunday, at the VA Center in Batavia.
Here's the schedule for the event:
A group of runners, including several members of the local law enforcement community, carried the Special Olympic Torch from Elba to the Genesee ARC building on Walnut Street, Batavia, this morning. Along the way, they stopped at the Batavia School District's fourth-grade track meet on Woodward Field.
Above, Garrett Schmidt and Avelin Tomidy get ready to assist Deputy Joseph Corona in carrying the torch for a lap around the track.
Carl talks about what Special Olympics means to him and how he won three medals at a recent competition.
Dave Chua
The runners approaching Van Detta Stadium.
Completing the lap around the track.
Photos from last night's Batavia High School Talent Showcase.
Above, Ross Chua performs with three volunteers from the audience, Cara Ranalli, Malik Vascianne and Lindsey Hill.
Ross Chua
Tyzonah Reese
Madison Hoerbelt and Andrea Gilebarto with Mr. Dan Grillo playing the piano.
Kelli Dumuhosky
Rachel Flint
Kesa Janes and Hannah Bluhm
McKenna Dzieman
Alex Hansen
Laura Guiste
Jerrett Laskett
Members of The Batavian Club receive more than $300 in gift certificates. These are gift certificates that be used in the same local businesses we all patronize every day.
An annual membership is a mere $60. So think about it, use your first $60 in gift certificates and the rest of your membership package is like getting free money. Who doesn't like free stuff?
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Press release:
The Genesee Symphony Orchestra is having a full-orchestra concert this Friday, June 12, 7 p.m. at Jackson Square. The GSO musicians are reaching out to our Batavia audience in hopes of having an entertaining concert for all ages. The program will be conducted and led by GSO concertmaster Gregory Docenko. Greg is a phenomenal violinist and will be playing his electric violin while conducting the orchestra through the program.
Greg has designed the program with musical arrangements that will get the audience whistling and clapping. There is a portion of the program that will feature the GSO Jazzers, and Blue Grass Fiddles. Howard Owens will be featured on his typewriter during the "Typewriter" by LeRoy Anderson. State Assemblyman Steve Hawley will read the narrative/story of "The Frog Prince" with orchestra accompaniment. "Stars and Stripes Forever" and a brass rendition of "America the Beautiful" will fill our patriotic hearts.
Though Jackson Square concerts are free, the GSO will be accepting donations to support our orchestra for the upcoming 69th season. So, bring your chairs and enjoy our very entertaining hour-long concert. The GSO is proud to continue and support our area's cultural traditions.
Photos by Howard Owens, rehearsal Monday evening in the band room at Batavia HS.
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