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Photo: Sheriff's Office recognized for anti-DWI efforts

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office was recently awarded a “Law Enforcement Agency Award” by the New York State STOP-DWI Foundation, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) New York State, and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee for its efforts in deterring drunk diving.

During 2010, officers of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office made 202 DWI arrests, checked 60 establishments for sales to minors and charged more than 500 individuals with illegal possession of alcohol at Darien Lake. The Sheriff’s Office also conducted Sobriety Checkpoints and DWI Saturation Patrols throughout the year.

The Sheriff’s Office participates with community partners in the “Underage Drinking Task Force,” which consists of representatives from law enforcement, school administrations, the county manager’s office, and alcohol treatment and prevention organizations in an effort to address concerns with underage drinking. Not only does this task force educate those under the age of 21 but also the parents.

Also during 2010, the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office instructed 337 students in the D.A.R.E. Program and taught them the ramifications of alcohol abuse.

The award was presented to Sheriff Gary T. Maha, center photo, Chief Deputy Gordon Dibble, left, and Genesee County STOP- DWI Coordinator Frank Ciaccia during an awards luncheon held in Schenectady on Nov. 15. Several individual officers from various law enforcement across the state were also recognized, along with two other law enforcement agencies.

Muckdogs announce 2012 home schedule

By Howard B. Owens

The Batavia Muckdogs will open their 2012 season at Dwyer Stadium on June 18 versus the Auburn Doubledays.

For fireworks fans, the Muckdogs will be home on July 4.

Popular teams visiting this year are farm clubs for the Yankees (Staten Island), New York Mets (Brooklyn) and the Red Sox (Lowell).

The team will play 38 home games in 2012. Six will be on a Friday.

In addition to the 38 home games the Muckdogs will play at Dwyer Stadium next season, they will also host seven Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankee games in 2012. Those dates and times are as follows:

Friday, April 20, vs. Norfolk (Baltimore Orioles Affiliate) at 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, April 21, vs. Norfolk at 1:05 p.m.
Sunday, April 22, vs. Norfolk at 1:05 p.m.
Monday, April 23, vs. Norfolk at 12:05 p.m.
Saturday, May 5, vs. Pawtucket (Boston Red Sox Affiliate) at 7:05 p.m.
Sunday, May 6, vs. Pawtucket at 1:05 p.m.
Tuesday, June 12, vs. Louisville (Cincinnati Reds Affiliate) at 11:05 a.m.

Ticket packages for the Muckdogs and Yankees games, coupon books and season tickets for the 2012 season are all currently on sale. Holiday Packs are also on sale. For just $25, fans can purchase four undated general admission tickets, a T-shirt and a voucher for a 2012 program. They can be purchased by calling 343-5454, or in person at Dwyer Stadium from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Local GOP looking for candidates to fill at-large seats on city council

By Howard B. Owens

Announcement from the City of Batavia Republican Committee:

The City of Batavia Republican Committee is accepting applications from city residents interested in filling one of the two city council at-large positions that will be opening up at the beginning of the year.

Letters of interest and resumes can be dropped off or mailed to the attention of Joe Gerace at 16 Vine St., Batavia. Letters of interest are due by Monday, Nov. 28.

The City of Batavia Charter requires these positions to be filled by individuals currently registered with the Republican Party, as this was the party of the two outgoing at-large city council members.

Fire hydrants on Myrtle Street, Le Roy, vandalized

By Howard B. Owens

A Le Roy fire chief reports that all of the fire hydrants on Myrtle Street have been vandalized. 

The caps have been stolen.

The chief asks dispatch to contact Monroe County Water Authority. The hydrants will all need to be flushed and recapped.

UPDATE 8:45 a.m.: A Le Roy police officer on scene, making a criminal mischief report.

Route 19 bridge over Thruway being shut down due to icy conditions

By Howard B. Owens

There have been several minor vehicle accidents on the Route 19 bridge over the Thruway in the past 20 or 30 minutes.

Law enforcement on scene has requested Le Roy fire police to respond and shut down Route 19 at Griswold Road and at North Road.

Fire crews will be able to roll over the bridge to get in position, but will need to proceed very, very slowly.

Road crews are being dispatched to the bridge to salt the road.

There are at least three, and probably more, accidents being handled by troopers.

Only minor injuries have been reported.

Photo: Ribbon-cutting for new meeting space at Coffee Culture

By Howard B. Owens

Brenda Richardson, manager of Batavia's Coffee Culture location thought an empty room in their building was going to waste, so she suggested turning it into an event center available to the community.

Her bosses apparently liked the idea because Thursday evening, Chamber President Lynn Freeman joined her for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new room.

The room is available for rental for parties, meetings and other group gatherings.

The spacious room is decorated with paintings by local artists. The paintings are also for sale.

Among the handouts for chamber members at the ribbon cutting was a flier advertising the availability of the Coffee Culture store to a franchisee. According to the flier, for an investment of about $295,000, you could become the owner of your own coffee house right in Downtown Batavia. SBA loans are available.

Big rig and car collide on eastbound Thruway

By Billie Owens

A tractor-trailer vs. car accident is reported on the eastbound Thruway at mile marker 403.0. It's right on the county line. Mercy Flight is on standby. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments, along with Mercy EMS, are dispatched. Unknown injuries.

UPDATE 6:06 p.m.: Dispatch spoke with the driver of the car who said injuries, if any, are minor. The car is in the median. The big rig is sitting sideways about a three-quarters of a mile east of the car, according to a responder.

UPDATE 6:12 p.m.: Mercy Flight is put back in service. A third vehicle is involved and it's on the shoulder of the roadway near the other car.

UPDATE 6:14 p.m.: A responder says it looks like five vehicles, plus the tractor-trailer, were involved in this accident. State Troopers are on scene.

UPDATE 6:22 p.m.: "We have medics up here, where are all the victims?" asks a responder. One person is boarded and collared, one is a sign off, and one other is inside a medic vehicle. Traffic is said to be backed up about three miles. They are going to try to corral the traffic into one lane so it can begin moving again.

 

Education chairman visits Genesee County, says funding inequality needs to be addressed

By Howard B. Owens

At the invitation of Sen. Michael Ranzenhofer, Sen. John Flanagan was in Genesee County on Thursday to meet with local education leaders to discuss school funding.

In a press briefing after the meeting at Genesee Community College, Ranzenhofer and Flanagan said the focus of the discussion was on the inequality of state aid among districts statewide.

"Our obligation is to find some plan that is equitable," said Flanagan, chairman of the Senate Education Committee. "I will tell you flat out that coming here, working with Senator Ranzenhofer regularly, even before coming here, you get a much clearer picture about the stark realities in this area."

The lack of equitable funding often means that Upstate and rural school districts are not able to offer some of the programs that help lead to admission into better colleges.

"There is a growing divide between the haves and have-nots," said Michael Glover, district superintendent for the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership. "We've actually watched our schools and the kids who attend them fall further and further behind."

Flanagan said one of the goals coming out of meetings such as today's is to craft a budget plan to present to the governor.

"Hopefully, we can get him on board early in the process," Flanagan said.

Ambulance dispatched to jail for victim of an assault

By Howard B. Owens

Medics have been dispatched to the Genesee County Jail for the victim of an assault.

The victim is unconscious but breathing.

City of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy EMS on scene.

A deputy has also been dispatched to the jail.

Corfu woman who shot husband in knee given three years in prison

By Howard B. Owens

Her husband has forgiven her for shooting him in the knee and dozens of friends and family members sent letters of support to Judge Robert C. Noonan, but a 52-year-old Corfu resident will still spend three years in state prison.

The sentence is what Patricia Hardesty agreed to when she entered a guilty plea Sept. 22 to assault, 2nd, and it was the minimum sentence available to Noonan under the state's sentencing guidelines.

"This is kind of a sad case," Noonan said. "Everybody who has had any input to the court has said, 'please be merciful,' 'please don't send her to jail,' 'don't send her to prison,' 'send her to counseling or back to her family.' But I can't do any of that. I have no power to do any of that."

Hardesty shot her husband in the knee Aug. 1, 2010, during an argument at their home on County Line Road.

Typically in assault cases, Noonan is asked to sign an order protecting a victim for a period of time, but in this case, there was no request for such an order.

"It should have become clear to you before this event, and it should certainly be clear to you now, that you should never drink alcoholic beverages," Noonan said before Hardesty left the court room. "Whatever you do to stay away from alcoholic beverages, whether in prison or out of prison, that should be a very important thing for you to do."

Main St. Pizza Company Week 11 NFL Challenge

By Howard B. Owens

In Week 10 of the NFL season, Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald caught seven passes for 147 yards. 

None of the entrants in our week 10 contest expected Fitzgerald to have such a good game.

So this week's winner was picked in a random drawing from all entrants in the contest.

The winner is Richard Suttell. Richard wins a double order of boneless wings and a small sub from Main St. Pizza Company. He has one week to claim his prize.

To enter this week's contest, click here.

Corfu Fire District trustees vote to discipline three members for alleged misuse of credit cards

By Howard B. Owens

In a 3-0 vote Wednesday night, the Corfu Fire District Board of Trustees approved a resolution disciplining three people for alleged ethical violations and misappropriation of funds.

The vote came following a closed session in which the trustees met with members of an ethics review panel that looked into accusations that the district's treasurer, a former fire chief and a sitting trustee allegedly misused district credit cards and kept incomplete records.

The panel was appointed in September after a NYS comptroller's audit uncovered possible irregularities in the use and reporting of credit card transactions.

Based upon the findings of the ethics panel -- which reportedly uncovered possible further misappropriations not contained in the state's audit report -- the district's former treasurer, Shari Salim, was suspended from the district for two years; her brother, and former department chief Jeff Ammon, was suspended for one year, and their father, trustee Bob Ammon, was asked to resign from the district board.

The trio will also be asked to reimburse any funds due to the district, plus legal and accounting fees.

The district's recently retained attorney, Mark Boylan, of Le Roy, said after the meeting that the matter has also been turned over to the Genesee County Sheriff's Office for a possible criminal investigation. 

The resolution passed by the board also appoints a CPA to do a thorough audit of the district's books.

While the ethics panel's report indicates there was allegedly repeated personal use of the district credit cards by Shari and Jeff, it's unclear how much of that personal use was reimbursed to the district.  

One charge by Bob Ammon came under scrutiny. In 2007, Ammon reportedly made a $359.51 purchase at Dick's Sporting Goods. While listed in the report as a not approved purchase, Ammon reportedly told the ethics panel that the purchase was agreed to and paid for by the fire department. The purchase, he reportedly told the panel, was for exercise equipment for the fire hall.

The report states that while payments were made on the credit cards with other than district funds, some of those payments were late resulting in late charges on the district's cards.

There are also authorized purchases on the cards, allegedly, for which there are no receipts and no proof that the purchases were actually made.

The total of non-approved charges from 2004 to 2007 (the period reviewed by the panel, since the comptroller's office had looked at more recent dates) exceed $2,600, according to the report. Again, a substantial amount of that money appears to have been repaid with non-district funds, but the panel could not determine the exact amount that was repaid.

The district board, while it includes volunteers for the department, is elected by Corfu residents. The board collects taxes and manages some of the revenue used to help fund the fire department. The fire district and fire department are separate entities.

Only three members of the district board participated in the closed session because Bob Ammon recused himself and a fifth member was unable to attend because of health issues.

Former home of Barber and Charlotte Conable in Alexander listed for sale

By Howard B. Owens

In local politics, there's no bigger name than Barber Conable.

The longtime Genesee County resident started his career as an attorney in Batavia, and eventually became a 10-term congressman who went on to lead the World Bank.

Besides championing creation of 401(k) accounts, Conable also sponsored legislation that eventually made microbreweries possible (though that wasn't his intent -- he just thought one of his constituents should be able to brew his own beer).

Conable remains highly regarded for his integrity and intelligence.

The Post Office in Batavia is named after him as is the Conable Technology Center at Genesee Community College.

Then, there is the matter of his stately house in Alexander.

Conable and his wife, Charlotte, purchased the home in 1959 and raised their four children there. Until recently, Emily Conable lived in the house, but with her youngest son going off to college, Emily decided to move out of the 2,772-square-foot residence and put it up for sale.

The remaining household items of Barber and Charlotte are also being auctioned off at Bontrager's (a number of items are up for auction tonight (see pictures below)).

The listing went to Paul and Mary Ellen Hartwick, of Nothnagle, who lived for many years across Main Street in Alexander and were friends with Barber and Charlotte.

The Hartwick's took me on a tour of the house today and clearly cherished their memories of the Conables.

The house has four bedrooms and was built in 1830 by an Alexander attorney, A.B. Harrington. Harrington also built, for his son, the house across the street where the Hartwicks now live.

"If we could make our living selling historic homes, that's all we would do," Paul said.

The house, at 10532 N. Main St., sits on a five-acre, park-like lot that zigzags from Main Road to Route 20.

The house is listed for $199,900.

Chair given to Barber Conable by the Brookings Institute.

Barber Conable's collection of license plates

Barber Conable's Cornell University yearbook (Conable is in the first column, lower right).

A book by Henry Kissenger, former secretary of state, signed to Barber Conable by Kissenger.

Photo: Chamber holds annual meeting at Terry Hills

By Howard B. Owens

Members of the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce gathered at Terry Hills this afternoon for the chamber's annual meeting and installation of officers.

Chamber President Lynn Freeman gave an update on chamber activities and spoke about the chamber's decision to partner with Tompkins Insurance to provide a new health insurance plan to members (key reasons -- the ability to offer monthly payments for members and eliminating a fee the chamber had to charge with the former plan).

JoAnne McInerney from Tompkins also spoke about the state of the health insurance industry and the trend away from co-pay plans to higher deductible plans.

Likely buyer for 'Project Wave' plant is PepsiCo

By Howard B. Owens

A pair of top executives from the company behind a development in the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park in Batavia were on hand this morning to see the first of several tons of dirt get moved from one spot to another.

Even without a purchase agreement to buy the 81-acre parcel from GCEDC, the company is apparently eager to get this project under way immediately to meet a deadline for product production of early 2013.

The company wants site grading completed before the worst of winter hits.

While the executives did not want to be identified in publication, sources in the dairy industry have fingered PepsiCo as the company likely behind "Project Wave."

It makes sense.

According to a story in the Oct. 14 edition of the Wall Street Journal, Pepsi is embarking on a partnership with a yogurt company based in Germany in an effort to enter the fast-growing yogurt market in the United States.

This would be Pepsi's first foray into the U.S. dairy business, but fits an overall strategy laid out in the business press for Pepsi to grow market share in nutritional foods as the market for soft drinks declines.

The Jacksonville, Fla.-based firm that has led Project Wave through the regulatory process and start of construction is Haskell Architects and Engineers. On its website, Haskell lists PepsiCo as among its clients.

While the executives at the construction site this morning asked that their names not be published, an internet search of one of the executive's names confirmed he is an employee of PepsiCo.

The executive made it clear, however, that Batavia is only one site among four under consideration and his employer hasn't made a final decision on which site it will construct its plant.

It is, however, the site that is being bulldozed. And the company seems eager, and has big plans, to enter the U.S. yogurt market by 2013.

According to Project Wave specs, the plant will eventually employ 600 people working three different shifts on 16 production lines.

Assuming it opens on schedule in 2013, the plant will initially employ 180 people working on three production lines.

Both executives praised GCEDC and the Town of Batavia for having this shovel ready site available.

"There are only three of our four sites in the northeast that would be ready this quickly for production," one executive said. "These shovel-ready projects are key to attracting big companies."

Mike Wheeler, the project's architect, was also on site this morning and reiterated the importance of having all of the regulatory approvals in place, along with the infrastructure necessary for the project to get started right away.

"My hats off to these guys," Wheeler said. "They put the community in the best possible position for this project."

Final approvals in place for 'Project Wave' to begin construction

By Howard B. Owens

When an as-yet-unnamed company breaks ground on a development project Wednesday morning, it could mean as many as 600 new jobs in Batavia some day, and it will mark the end of a 15-day sprint to get the project pushed through the local and state regulatory process.

At the end of Tuesday's Town of Batavia Planning Board meeting, where a site plan and a change in the parcel map were approved, Chris Souzzi, VP of business development for GCEDC, said the swiftness of the approval process proves why shovel-ready business parks are so important.

"We can see now why we need these parks," Souzzi said. "Here we have a company that wants to build this fast, and in 15 days, you (the planning board) just approved a site plan. That's huge and that's why they're here."

Michael Wheeler, representing "Project Wave," as the secretive food-processing development is known, said the fact that the nine-month-long environmental review process had already been completed for the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park, plus the review was a spot-on match for the kind of site contemplated in Project Wave, were huge factors in the client picking Batavia.

That said, not much is in writing yet.

The company has yet to close escrow on the 81-acre parcel and land in Avon and two already graded parcels in Pennsylvania are still, at least marginally, in the running for the big plant.

And the plant is big. In phase one, it will exceed 300,000 square feet, and if built out fully will have a 120-foot high cold storage tower (modeled after a similar automated storage tower owned by Wegmans near the airport in Rochester).

On day one, if it opens on schedule in January or February of 2013, the facility will employ 180 people and operate three production lines. At full build-out, the plant will employ 600 people on 16 production lines, all working in three daily shifts.

Grading and foundation preparation work begins at Wednesday morning and the unnamed company wants to see work completed by the end of December, according to Wheeler.

"At that point, it just gets so miserably cold up here that us Southerners can’t work any more," said Wheeler, who lives in Florida.

The company isn't scheduled to take possession of the property until the fall of 2012, when it will start moving in its production equipment.

UPDATED to add a picture I forgot to post last night of Mike Wheeler, left, and Paul Marchese.

St. Joe's, Holy Family schools notify parents of merger

By Howard B. Owens

Genesee County's two Catholic elementary schools are apparently planning a merger, according to a letter sent home to parents.

The letter obtained by The Batavian was sent to parents of children at St. Joe's in Batavia and Holy Family in Le Roy. It states:

Local leadership has agreed that the schools will reconfigure next September for the beginning of the 2012-13 school year. Following a thorough analysis of several reconfigurations, the model emerging as one of the favorites: Pre-K to 8 and an after-school programs at the current St. Joseph School site; Pre-K and an after-school program at current Holy Family site.

The letter states that a name has not yet been selected for the reconfigured school.

The letter is signed by Kevin Robertson, principal of Holy Family, and Karen Green, principal of St. Joseph School.

The reason for the merger, according to the letter, is driven a lot by the declining elementary school population in Genesee County.

The number dropped by 7 percent from 2000 to 2010, according to the letter.

"We need to meet the spiritual and pastoral needs of all of our parishioners," the letter says. "That requires a more equitable distribution of parish income."

Discussions among local leaders began in the early fall, according to the letter, which invites parents to provide feedback on various options for curricula and programs in the reconfigured school.

Fight at McDonald's in Le Roy

By Billie Owens

Three people were reportedly fighting in the parking lot of McDonald's restaurant in Le Roy. Police are now on scene. Two of the individuals left and are walking toward "the eagle." They are described as youths, one has long brown hair.

UPDATE 3:56 p.m.: The police have been provided with two names, both males.

Top Items on Batavia's List

Part-Time Children's Library Clerk Haxton Memorial Public Library is seeking a Part-Time Children's Clerk 19 Hours a week $15.00/hr. Interested applicants please go to www.co.genesee.ny.us for an application or come to the library at 3 North Pearl Street, Oakfield. Any questions, please call at (585) 948-9900
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