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Press release:

For the third year in a row Genesee County has been recognized in the top five of the rankings in the Metro Food Processing Industry Growth category by "Business Facilities" a national site selection publication.

The agriculture industry in Genesee County employs more than 1,500 workers, a number that will dramatically increase with the opening of Alpina Foods, LLC, and PepsiCo/Muller yogurt manufacturing facilities.

“The construction of two major new food processing facilities by Alpina and the joint venture between PepsiCo and Theo Müller demonstrates a significant return on our investment in our Agri-Business Park which we believe is driving our high national ranking,” said Steve Hyde, president and CEO of Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC). “We are honored to be once again recognized by 'Business Facilities' as it keeps us on the radar screen for site selectors throughout the United States and the world.”

The Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park encompasses 202 shovel-ready, pre-permitted acres strategically located between Western New York and the Finger Lakes Region. On site there is access to low-cost process water via a local aquifer that produces more than six million gallons per day and a pretreatment facility as well as rail access.

Through the support of National Grid and National Fuel, the site has an enhanced utility infrastructure. The agri-park was originally a public-private partnership between GCEDC and Farm Credit East.

“The Agri-Business Park in Genesee County is perfectly tailored to fill a niche in our region created by our productive agricultural sector,” said Mary Pat Hancock, chair, Genesee County Legislature. “It makes perfect sense to have those who process food to have their facilities as near as possible to where the food is produced.

"It makes for a better, safer, and tastier product and is also more efficient.  Our resources lend themselves to food processing and our location is ideal for quick market access. We look forward to continued success and expansion.”

Alpina Foods LLC, one of the most recognized dairy companies in the world and a leading dairy producing company in Colombia and South America, has decided to open its first specialty yogurt manufacturing plant in the United States at the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park.

PepsiCo, in a joint venture with German dairy company Theo Müller, also broke ground earlier this year on a $206 million yogurt manufacturing facility at the park. Other food processing facilities in Genesee County include O-AT-KA Milk, Yancey’s Fancy and Allan’s Canning. 

“The significant dairy supply, abundance of fresh water, and talented workforce are just some of the assets that attract food manufacturers such as PepsiCo, Theo Müller and Alpina foods to Western New York,” said Mark S. Peterson, president and CEO of Greater Rochester Enterprise. “It’s no wonder that more than 100 food manufacturers have operations here.”

“Genesee County’s strategic location and agricultural assets make it a prime location destination for the food processing industry,” said Thomas A. Kucharski, president and CEO of Buffalo Niagara Enterprise.

“The vision Genesee County officials have shown in developing shovel-ready sites like the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park has distinguished them among peer communities and allowed us to succeed in attracting global investment and job creation like Alpina, Mueller and more."

For any residents looking to donate money to help Paul Konieczny save his multi-generational house on Harvester Avenue, which was badly damaged by recent storms, a donation page has been set up with a Web site that helps enable such efforts.

The page is located at "Paul's House" on Indiegogo.com.

The page was set up by Amy D'Amico.

To learn more about Indiegogo.com, click here.

Local officials welcome new NYS Health Department regulations cracking down on the sale and possession of synthetic drugs, but also say the new rules are no substitute for aggressive legislation from Albany.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo made three stops across the state today to announce new rules against drugs he deemed more dangerous than crack cocaine or methamphetamines or heroin.

“It is a new face on a very old enemy. It’s an enemy that we fought decade after decade. The enemy is drugs, and it’s an ongoing battle. When you beat one manifestation of the drugs, it comes back in another form, sometimes more virulent.

But whether it’s crack cocaine or methamphetamines or heroin back in the old days, this is just the newest explosion of that old enemy. And in some ways it’s more dangerous and it’s more insidious, because this wasn’t sold in a back alley. This wasn’t sold on a street corner. This isn’t sold in the shadows. This is sold in broad daylight, over the counter in stores all across this state and across this nation.”

Unlike a previous health department ban on synthetic cannabinoids, which allowed only for civil penalties, the new emergency regulations give local police officers the power to arrest people found in possession of banned substances.

If convicted, a person caught selling or possessing one of the banned substances could be fined $500 or serve 15 days in jail, and while the new regulation (PDF) allows for multiple penalties for a shop owner caught with several packages of drugs, District Attorney Lawrence Friedman said he's concerned the new rules won't have the desired effect.

"When you consider the harm that we know is caused by these substances, I would like to see more teeth in the law," Friedman said.

When The 420 Emporium stores, along with the residence of the owner(s), were raided by the DEA on July 25, agents recovered more than $700,000 in cash.

Friedman said thinks the penalties need to be harsher than just a $500 fine, even if the fine and jail time can be strung together.

Sheriff Gary Maha expressed some of the same reservations.

Maha urged the Legislature to pass a bill that would make the sale or possession of synthetic compounds a violation of the law under the state's penal code, rather than just a violation of the public health law.

"This appears to be a 'Band-Aid' approach until the legislature enacts such legislation," Maha said. "It helps, but is not enough."

The new regulation bans a dozen specific compounds associated with the type of synthetic drug commonly known as "bath salts." 

While the state has already listed some "bath salt" compounds as controlled substances, the state doesn't have a comprehensive "analog" law (a law that bans substances that are the same or similar to already illegal controlled substances).

The new regulation does specifically cover analogs of banned substances. It also covers a wider variety of the more than 450 known synthetic cannabinoids.

While the regulation specifically states employees of stores selling such products can be prosecuted, the store owners (anybody with an ownership interest in the store) are also held to criminal liability even if not present at the time of sale.

Besides the fine and jail time, a store owner could lose his business.

Batavia PD Chief Shawn Heubusch wasn't available for comment today, but City Manager Jason Molino said the health department's new regulations were a topic on conversation today in a meeting between city staff and the county health department.

Molino said that while the new law seems to lack teeth, it is a step in the right direction.

He also pointed out that tonight is National Night Out and several neighborhoods in the city are actively participating, including the neighborhood around Pringle Park, which organized its own event this year.

"When neighborhoods get together, that is your more powerful enforcement tool," Molino said.

Inset photo: File photo.

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It's national Famers Market Week and to help commerate the event, Rep. Kathy Hochul stopped by the Genesee County Farmers Market in the Batavia Downs parking lot this morning.

Above, Hochul buys flowers from Kathryn Schneider, as mother Dana looks on. Dana Schneider is owner of Stonehouse Acres. Hochul told Kathryn that she worked in her mother's flower shop as a child as did her daughter. "See, you can learn a lot selling flowers," Hochul told Kathryn.

Below, Hochul is greeted by another constitutent and a couple of pictures of flowers and corn for sale today at the market.

Todd Allan Betts, 35, of Transit Road, Elba, is charged with reckless endangerment, 1st, endangering the welfare of a child, menacing, 2nd, criminal obstruction of breathing and harassment, 2nd. Betts was charged following the report of a domestic incident. Betts allegedly grabbed a woman by the throat and threw her to the ground. He allegedly pointed a shotgun in the direction of the woman and a child. Betts was jailed on $2,500 bail.

Tametha A. Wentland, 40, of Harlow Road, Darien, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Wentland is accused of physically contacting a victim. The incident was reported at 11:59 p.m., Saturday. Wentland was arrested by State Police.

Levi Winnie, 26, of 590 Council House Road, Basom, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. The alleged incident was reported at 4:15 a.m., Saturday. Winnie was arrested by State Police on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation. No further details were released.

Friends and family have come through for Paul Konieczny, at least when it comes to the work of repairing the shattered foundation on his home at 144 Harvester Ave., Batavia, which collapsed in a storm July 31.

The work is getting done thanks to the volunteer effort of long-time friends, Konieczny teen-age children and other family members, but Konieczny said he still might not have enough money to meet all of the financial needs that go with making the repairs.

The materials for the new foundation alone costs more than $1,000.

"We're just day-by-day," said Konieczny.

And day-by-day met a bit of a set back yesterday when nearly an inch of rainfall in an hour caused more of the damaged foundation to collapse.

Don Johnson, a friend of Konieczny for 30 years, and a contractor, is working as fast as he can during his off hours to get the new foundation wall in place, knowing that any more rain before the work is done could mean more damage.

"He's willing to fight because he knows I don't want to leave," said Konieczny, who previously said he isn't going to leave the house that's been in his family for 130 years.

Johnson (top photo) said is effort is "just what friends do." He said, "We help as best we can at the things we can do."

Konieczny said he would welcome any financial assistance anybody might be able to provide.

"I'm grasping for hope," Konieczny said. "I pray to God we can get this done."

Bottom photos: Ron Gibble, another long-time friend of Konieczny's, pitches in with the help of Konieczny's son Andy. Daughter Kayla was also helping today. Gibble said he will do the plumbing work once the project gets to that point. The very bottom photo, one of Paul's sunflowers. Kayla said they used to have a neighbor who grew sunflowers and the neighbor and Paul would compete every year over who could grow the tallest sunflower.

A suspect in a series of burglaries in Le Roy and Batavia who was taken into custody during an alleged break-in a week ago has been charged with one count of burglary.

Russell P. Cessna, 24, of 18 Pleasant St., Le Roy, was arrested after being allegedly caught in the act on Summit Street, Batavia.

Investigators say Cessna made forcible entry into the residence and stole jewelry, cash and coins.

Following a series of similar burglaries in Le Roy, Batavia and other parts of Genesee County, the Le Roy PD, Batavia PD and Sheriff's Office cooperated on an investigation and set up a surveillance detail, which led to Cessna's arrest.

Cessna was taken into custody and held in jail on a warrant for alleged violation of parole.

Additional burglary charges are pending. He will be arraigned in Batavia City Court at 1 p.m., Tuesday.

An 88-year-old Le Roy resident, Marie Costa, died this morning in a single-car  accident in the Village of Le Roy.

Costa's vehicle reportedly jumped the curb in front of McDonald's Restaurant and traveled along the south sidewalk of Main Street and collided with the former Pontillo's Restaurant building.

The accident was reported at 7:46 a.m.

Investigators have yet to determine the cause of the accident and Costa's death.

Le Roy fire, Le Roy ambulance, Le Roy DPW and the Sheriff's Office Crash Management Team assisted Le Roy PD at the scene.

Photo: Reader submitted photo.

I'll be out of service most of the morning, at a minimum, for routine medical reasons.

Billie will post some items later.

Of course, Billie will monitor the scanner, as usual.

New York Times: To Increase Learning Time, Some Schools Add Days to Academic Year

Press release:

Genesee ARC and the City Youth Bureau Parks program teamed up this summer to offer educational tours at ARC’s new Trash & Recycling facility, 3785 W. Main St. Road.

Children from all five city parks program sites signed up to learn about the city’s recycling efforts and how items are reduced, reused and recycled.  ARC Trash & Recycling Coordinator Mike Smith shared information about recycling seven different types of plastic, as well as tin cans, paper and the number one product recycled at the new facility, cardboard.

A new initiative called e-recycling was showcased during the tour, explaining the NYS law requiring recycling of electronics such as a computers, televisions, cell phones and electronic games.

(Photo: Mike Smith and a group from the Williams Park recreation program in front of piles of baled tin cans).

Elba crowned its 2012 Onion Queen on Saturday evening and she is Jamie Marshall (blue dress). First runner-up is Makenzie Bezon, left, and second runner-up is Paige Pangrazio.

If you're unable to view the slide show below, click here. To purchase prints of these photos, click here.

Amy Swanson, assistant director for Crossroads House, sent along a couple of pictures from yesterday's Run the Roads for Crossroads House 5K. She said it was a "wonderful day" for a run. A total of 211 people turned out for the event. Collin Mulcahy finished first to win the Overall Male with a time of 17:19; Liz Valento was the Overall Female winner with a time of 20:35.

The complete results can be found at www.crossroadshouse5k.com.

Swanson wrote:

All proceeds raised today help support the mission of Crossroads House in providing comfort care to the dying. Individuals with three months or less to live can stay at Crossroads House completely for free where our volunteers and nurses take care of physical, emotional and medical needs.

We accept residents from not only Genesee County, but also Wyoming county as well. All of our funding comes from in-kind donations, memorials and community support like we experienced today! Along with the runners and walkers who turned out today, more than 50 area business sponsored this event!