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Smell of natural gas reported at UMMC, surrounding area

By Howard B. Owens

City fire is on scene at North Street and Chandler Avenue, the site of a natural gas leak.

The call originally came in from UMMC as a report of a natural gas smell in the hospital, but the strongest concentration of the odor turned out to be at Chandler and North, where construction is taking place.

A two-inch line was struck, but workers didn't want to shut off the gas because many of the older homes in the area have pilot light systems that would cause the houses to fill with gas.

The leaked gas was apparently being picked up by the hospital's HVAC system, so the hospital has switched to recirculated air until the problem is mitigated.

National Fuel is on scene.

Accident reported at Route 98 and Route 262

By Howard B. Owens

An accident with at least one person injured has been reported at routes 98 and 262, Elba.

Elba Fire Department and Mercy EMS responding.

Photos: Preschoolers get lesson in how firefighters save lives

By Howard B. Owens

Members of the Town of Batavia Fire Department stopped by Grandma's Luv'n Care on Clinton Street Road on Thursday afternoon to help educate the children there about how they save lives and prevent fires.

Oct. 9 through 15 is Fire Prevention Week and departments throughout the county are taking part in similar education and outreach programs.

At the child-care center today, Assistant Chief Nate Fix (top photo, right) and firefighter David Tran (bottom photo) showed the children what firefighting gear is and Tran suited up so the children can learn that a firefighter in their house during an emergency isn't a scary monster, but a friend there to help them.

Earlier in the day, the volunteers were at GCC's child-care center. They've made similar presentations at BOCES and will be at Lucky Duck Day Care next week.

Woman hospitalized after vehicle struck by semi at routes 63 and 20, Pavilion

By Howard B. Owens

A pickup truck attempting to make a left turn from Route 20 onto Route 63 was struck head-on by a semi-truck heading southeast on Route 20 last night.

The 8:20 p.m. accident sent a woman to the hospital.

Pavilion Fire Department responded to the scene at 8:50 p.m. and extricated the female driver from the pickup truck. She complained of feeling dizzy and said she might have blacked out.

Brenda D. Baker, 48, of Nunda, was transported by Mercy EMS to Strong Memorial Hospital.

Baker was driving a 1997 Ford pickup.

Her truck was struck by a semi owned by Pavilion Drainage and being driven by Nathaniel D. Coral, 35, of Dodson Road, Wyoming.

The accident report does not list any citations.

The accident was investigated by Deputy Matthew Butler.

(Initial Report)

A six-course theatrical feast at GCC

By Gretel Kauffman

There's something for everyone in the Genesee Community College Forum Players' evening of "One Acts: Fast, Funny & Fabulous," which opens tonight at the Stuart Steiner Theatre.

"I wanted to give the students the widest variety of experiences I could," says GCC Fine Arts Director Maryanne Arena. "We have everything from a satire on Hamlet to a very farcical comedy to something very touching, and I like them all for different reasons. 'Naomi in the Living Room' is very slapstick, physical comedy. 'Blind Date' is the best written and the most poignant. 'Second Beam' is about actresses auditioning for a role, and I certainly haven't forgotten what that was like."

The aforementioned "Naomi in the Living Room" stars Peggy Marone as an insane, "child-like" woman who is visited by her son and his wife. Marone says the show was a step outside her usual comfort zone.

"At work sometimes I multitask and feel psychotic," Marone laughs. "But I don't know if I've ever been this psychotic." 

Tyler Eldred also faced challenges with character development, but for a different reason: Tyler is featured in three of the one acts -- "The Philadelphia", "15-Minute Hamlet", and "Foreplay or the Art of the Fugue" -- and plays four different characters within those shows. Although the third-year theater and theater tech student has been involved with shows offstage more often than on, he says he enjoys acting more than technical work.

"It's probably because I'm a sadist, and being onstage involves so much more work," he jokes. "It's also an opportunity for me to step outside my comfort zone."

Emily Jones, a sophomore theater arts major, also has her acting hands full.  She is in four of the one acts, and performs with a singing and dancing quartet in between each show. 

"It's so hard," she says of getting into character for each performance. "With a regular show you have the whole show to work up to it, but with this you only have a few minutes for each show. It's probably the hardest thing I've done in 10  years."

Fellow sophomore theater major Patrick Dodge is just as busy as Jones, with involvement in five of the shows. His amount of stage time, he says, is approximately the equivalent of having a role in a full-length production.

His favorite show out of the five is "Blind Date" -- a Horton Foote comedy about a seemingly sullen teenage girl who is set up on a blind date by her aunt, a former beauty queen. 

"I get to play kind of a nerdy guy," he explains. "And secretly I'm very clumsy and nerdy."

Playing opposite Dodge in the role of the sullen teenage girl is Sarah Lawson, a sophomore education major. Lawson also enjoys portraying her "Blind Date" character, but for different reasons.

"It's been really interesting finding out who (my character) is," she says. "At first she seems like an unpleasant person, but she's really just lonely and not very skilled socially. And she loves Rudy Vallee."

Three of the shows--"The Philadelphia", "15-Minute Hamlet", and "The Second Beam" -- are directed by Norm Gayford, an English professor at the college who has been extremely involved with the Forum Players for the past five years. 

"It's very challenging because you have to keep changing moods, and it's hard getting everybody focused," he says about the evening's fast pace. "It's like reading multiple short stories rather than reading a novel."

The showtimes are as follows:

Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 14 at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 15 at 7:30 p.m.; and Oct. 16 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for high school students, GCC faculty and staff, and senior citizens (55+), and $3 for GCC students with a valid ID. Tickets can be purchased at the box office or advance by calling 345-6814. The Stuart Steiner Theatre is located at 1 College Road in Batavia.

Law and Order: Batavia resident accused of using stolen credit card

By Howard B. Owens

Joshua Gerald Bachorsk, 26, of South Spruce Street, Batavia, is charged with three counts of criminal possession of stolen property, 4th, and petit larceny. Bachorsk is accused of possessing a Pembroke woman's credit card without her consent and using it on three separate dates to purchase gift cards at a retail store on Veterans Memorial Drive. Bachorsk also allegedly removed a washer and dryer set from the basement of the same woman's home and sold them without her consent. Bachorsk was jailed on $10,000 bail.

Aaron Walter Pahuta, 19, of Route 20A, Warsaw, is charged with petit larceny. Pahuta is accused of shoplifting from Kmart.

Matthew Scott Williams, 23, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with aggravated harassment, 2nd. Williams is accused of sending threatening text messages to another person.

Matthew S. Williams, 23, of Hundredmark Road, Elba, is charged with grand larceny, 4th. Williams is accused of stealing his father's RG Industries .22 caliber revolver from their residence. Williams was jailed on $10,000 bail.

William Heany, 75, of 400 E. Main St., Batavia, is charged with forcible touching. Heany is accused of touching the intimate parts of a woman by force.

name redacted, 25, of Tracy Avenue, is charged with petit larceny. redacted is accused of shoplifting from Kmart.

Kelly M. Stalker, 33, of Indian Falls Road, Pembroke, is charged with burglary, 3rd. Stalker allegedly broke into a locked storage area in a trailer on Indian Falls Road and removed prescription medication and money belonging to somebody else. Stalker was jailed on $5,000 bail.

Genesee ARC's trash and recycling program to be featured on Saturday morning TV

By Billie Owens

Genesee ARC is going to be featured on WGRZ-TV's "WNY Living" segment at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15.

Area residents can tune into Channel 2 and take a look inside Genesee ARC’s Trash & Recycling program. Agency Executive Director Donna Saskowski and Trash & Recycling Coordinator Mike Smith are going to be interviewed in the feature that includes some great on-location video footage.

Genesee ARC has been providing trash and recycling services to the City of Batavia since 1983. This program employs as many as 20 individuals with developmental disabilities, while at the same time providing an invaluable service to City of Batavia residents.

For questions or information, please contact Shelley Falitico, Genesee ARC director of development at 343-1123, ext. 231.

Senator Ranzenhofer will have his mobile office in Le Roy on Friday

By Billie Owens

New York State Senator Mike Ranzenhofer comes to Le Roy this Friday to meet with constituents. He and a member of his staff will be at Le Roy Town Hall, located at 48 Main St., from 10:30 a.m. until noon.

“Many Le Roy residents wrote letters, sent emails and called my office throughout the legislative session to have their voice heard," says Ranzenhofer in a press release. "But now that session in Albany is over, I still want to hear from constituents. That’s why we’re bringing the New York State Senate to Le Roy on Friday morning."

Senator Ranzenhofer and a representative from his staff will be on hand to listen to residents’ views on important state issues and answer questions concerning state departments or agencies.  "Senior Citizens Guides to Health Care Services" and "Financial Security" and "Focus on Veterans" brochures will also be available.

No appointment is needed. Le Roy residents can contact Senator Ranzenhofer’s District Office by phone at 1-800-597-3517 for more information.

S.O.S. - 'urgent need' for DRY food at county animal shelter

By Billie Owens

Volunteers for Animals sent out an urgent notice today seeking donations of dry pet food at the Genesee County Animal Shelter. They need kibble - for dogs, puppies, cats and kittens.

"If you are able to help out please consider dropping off food donations during adoption hours. We greatly appreciate the community's support and could not do what we do for the animals without it," says the e-mail.

Adoption hours are:

  • Sunday through Friday 1 to 3 p.m. (Closed Thursdays)
  • Wednesday 7 to 9 p.m.
  • Saturday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The shelter is located at 3841 W. Main St. Road in the Town of Batavia. Phone is 343-6410.

Volunteers for Animals can be contacted at <http://www.vol4animals.org> or at P.O. Box 1621 Batavia, NY 14020.

Contest: Main St. Pizza Company NFL Challenge Week 6

By Howard B. Owens

To enter this week's contest, click here.

In the Week 5 contest, I screwed up a setting and nobody's answers were recorded. Therefore, the winner was picked randomly from among all contest entrants. I apologize to the entrants for the botched job.

The winner of the Week 5 contest is Tony Johnson.

Reminder, winners have one week from the day they're notified to claim their prize.

Minor injuries reported in accident at Main and Oak, Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

An accident has been reported at West Main and Oak streets.

A mother is reporting that she and her 3-year-old may have hit their heads on airbags.

The cars have been moved to the parking lot of Oliver's Candies.

Batavia Fire Department and Mercy EMS are requested to the scene by Batavia PD, non-emergency.

Photos: Mother and child in Centennial Park on a Fall day

By Howard B. Owens

Stella was quite happy posing for her mother, Anna Molino, at Centennial Park this morning until she noticed me starting to take pictures, too. Then she got camera shy.

UPDATE: Anna sent over some pictures from her photo session with Stella. Here's two of them.

Car and truck collide on Main Road in Stafford

By Billie Owens

A car and pickup truck have crashed at 5270 Main Road in Stafford, near the Seven Springs Road intersection. Injuries are reported. Stafford fire and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 10:58 a.m.: The roadway is almost completely blocked. The truck was towing heavy machinery, which will need to be lifted. A tow-truck company is called to assist. Fluids are leaking. A Sheriff's deputy is on scene along with a medic.

UPDATE 11:03: "Everything is intact but the truck is kind of sitting on the car," says a responder at the scene.

UPDATE 11:11 a.m.: The tow-truck driver is not injured. The occupants of the car will need medical attention and will be transported via ambulance.

Car accident reported on Route 77 near Thruway overpass

By Howard B. Owens

One car is off the road and has hit a pole in the area of 8285 Alleghany Road, Indian Falls.

The driver is out of the car and on his feet, but has a head injury and other cuts.

Indian Falls fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE: While I was away from the computer, Mercy Flight was dispatched to this call. The scene is clear now.

Truck vs. pickup accident reported in Pavilion

By Howard B. Owens

There's a truck vs. pickup truck accident in Pavilion. We don't have the exact location at the moment.

A person in the pickup truck will need to be extricated, but she is conscious and alert.

Mercy Flight is grounded due to weather.

Pavilion Fire Department and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 9:01 p.m.: The location is routes 63 and 20 and traffic is being shut down on both. The collision was head on.

UPDATE 9:09 p.m.: Victim extricated.

Alpina groundbreaking 'a success for the entire region'

By Howard B. Owens

By this time next year, there will be a factory in Batavia turning out 4,000 tons of yogurt on an annual basis, employing 55 people and buying milk from local dairy farmers.

The first step toward that goal was taken today with a ceremonial groundbreaking by South America-based Alpina Products at the site of its planned 40,000-square-foot facility.

“Alpina’s decision to locate in Batavia is a success for the entire region,” said Town of Batavia Supervisor Greg Post.

Alpina started marketing yogurt products aimed at U.S. consumers in the Northeast several years ago. The Batavia plant will be its first U.S.-based manufacturing facility.

Managing Director Carlos Ramirez Zavarce said Alpina was built on European tradition and now embraces American pride in expansion in New York.

Batavia, he said, was part of a list of 50 potential sites for the plant when Alpina first started planning for growth, but quickly moved to the head of the class.

Besides a strong dairy tradition and an abundant supply of milk, as well as trained workers and easy access to a market area of 125 million potential consumers, local leaders demonstrated, he said, that they would be as committed to Alpina's success as the company's executives.

"We understood that you got the message that if we were successful, you would be successful," Ramirez said. "That was very important for us. We have no doubt we're going to have success here. This is the right location, the right place."

After the groundbreaking, attendees were invited to sample Alpina's yogurt products and there was a strong sense of excitement about this initial factory opening in the long-anticipated agri-business park.

“Today’s groundbreaking of Alpina Foods’ first manufacturing facility in the United States is proof that Batavia is a great place to do business,” said Sen. Michael Ranzenhofer. “Alpina’s $15 million investment and its decision to create 50 jobs sends a clear message that other private-sector companies should consider Genesee County for their next investment.”

GCEDC CEO Steve Hyde has said previously that there are other prospects for the business park in the pipeline, but until deals are signed, he is unable to provide public details.

VIDEO: Promotional video from Alpina.

Alpina CEO Julian Jaramillo

Alpina Managing Director Carlos Ramirez Zavarce

Roger Parkhurst, who will be director of operations at the new plant

Sen. Mike Ranzenhoffer and Assemblyman Steve Hawley

GCEDC CEO Steve Hyde

Mother who allegedly lost track of children said they were playing 'hide-and-seek'

By Howard B. Owens

An allegedly intoxicated mother who apparently lost track of the whereabouts of her children initially told a Sheriff's sergeant who knocked on her door that she lost track of her youngsters during a game of hide-and-seek.

From WBTA:

Genesee County Sheriff’s Sgt. Greg Walker says 31-year-old Jolene Goodell of Attica Road was drinking at her own home on Monday evening. Her 10 and 7-year-old daughters were home with her, but left the house and walked over to the neighbors' place, telling the folks next door that mommy couldn’t make them dinner right now.

The neighbors called 9-1-1, and lawmen showed up and found Jolene Goodell alone.

"We asked her where her children were," says Sgt. Walker, "and she originally said she didn't know. Then she said she'd last seen them about 30 - 45 minutes ago...and then she said she was playing 'hide-and-go-seek' with them."

Goodell was jailed on $1,500 bail, charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

Previously: Law and Order: Allegedly intoxicated woman accused of not knowing whereabouts of her children.

Top Items on Batavia's List

Tourism Marketing Assistant Position The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, serving as the official tourism promotion agency for Genesee County, NY is seeking an experienced marketing professional to assist in the overall Chamber tourism and marketing initiatives for Genesee County. https://visitgeneseeny.com/about/join-our-team
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Town of Batavia Court Department is seeking a part time as needed Court Officer. Court Officers are responsible for maintaining order in the court room and court facility during proceedings. Please send resume to Town of Batavia, Attention Hiedi Librock, 3833 West Main Street Road, Batavia, NY 14020. Complete job description is available on the Town web site or at the Town Hall Application deadline is April 15, 2024.
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