Stafford

Stafford Fire recognizes top responders in 2023, installs 2024 officers at annual dinner

Howard Owens — Apr 14, 2024, 7:45am

For 2023, the Firefighter of the Year in the Stafford Volunteer Fire Department was a collective award, going to the Top 10 responders (11 members, counting a tie) for the year.

The Firefighters of the Year are Brian Breemes, Randal Henning, Tim Eckdahl, Chris Penkszyk, Mark Dougherty, Ashley Swartzenberg, Jason Smith, Ken Collins, Brian Pocock, Don Hall, and Ben Pocock.

The firematic officers installed for 2024 are:

Timothy Eckdahl, chief
Brian Pocock, 1st assistant chief
Brian Breemes, 2nd assistant chief
Kari Breemes, 3rd assistant chief
Jason Smith, 4th assistant chief
Randal Henning, rescue squad captain
Chad Rambach, rescue squad lietuenent
Donald Hall, fire police captain
Ben Fox, fire police lieutenant
Brian Pocock, master mechanic
Brian Breemes and Matt Hendershott, training officers
Julie Bobo and Ashley Swartzenberg, chief's secretary

The administrative officers:

James Call, president
Kari Breemes, vice president
Bonnie Logsdon, secretary
Stephanie Call, treasurer
Trustees: Stanley Gere, Jason Smith, Ashley Swartzenberg, Chad Rambach, Stephanie Call
Auditors: Ben Fox and Kenneth Collins.

The dinner was held on Saturday at the Batavia Country Club.

Photos by Howard Owens

Photo: Barn on Batavia Stafford Townline Road

Howard Owens — Apr 14, 2024, 7:00am

A barn on Batavia Stafford Townline Road as seen from Byron Road on Saturday evening.
Photo by Howard Owens

Charles Mike Hammon named new president of Godfrey's Pond

Press Release — Mar 19, 2024, 11:25am

Press Release:

Newly elected as the Godfrey Pond Association’s President is Charles Mike Hammon, who brings with him over 13 year’s experience in various roles in and around the Pond.
Mike chose to retire from the Fire Service and was originally hired as the Pond’s caretaker in 2011 and served in that role for over 10 years. He became the Grounds Chairman in 2016 and served on the Board until his election this January.
Mike jokes that it took three tries to finally retire from the Pond’s caretaker position. He now serves as the caretaker for the Hammon-Mabie Family cottage located at 7889 Bigelow Drive on the Pond.
The Pond is a unique piece of God’s green earth that we have been chosen to protect and maintain. Why Godfrey’s Pond, you ask. Where else would you want your kids and grandkids to go?
We encourage you to visit our grounds and all that we have to offer you and your family by attending any of our Open House events scheduled for Sunday, May 26 and Sunday, June 16. We also have our Hunting & Fishing Days on the weekend of Sept. 21 and 22, 2024.

Historical Society meeting in Stafford canceled

Staff — Feb 28, 2024, 4:49pm

Tonight's meeting of the Stafford Historical Society, originally scheduled for 7 p.m., has been canceled.

It has not yet been rescheduled.

SUNY GCC announces their fall 2023 president's list

Press Release — Feb 1, 2024, 8:40am

Press Release:

198 students from Genesee Community College were named to the President's List. Students honored on the President's List have maintained full-time enrollment and earned a quality point index of 3.75 (roughly equivalent to an A) or better.
Phyllissa Mitzel of Alexander
Julia Lennon of Alexander
Kristian Natalizia of Alexander
Christian Haller of Alexander
Brendan Burgess of Batavia
Rachel Gelabale of Batavia
Alexandra Christopher of Batavia
Ryan Bowen of Batavia
Alexander Hunt of Batavia
Michelle Witherow of Batavia
Elizabeth Clark of Batavia
Danielle Clark of Batavia
Allison Dent of Batavia
Christian DeSantis of Batavia
Aden Chua of Batavia
Paul Daniszewski of Batavia
Duane Kross of Batavia
Ashley Hightower of Batavia
Clara Wood of Batavia
Amanda Audelo of Batavia
Stacie Stein of Batavia
Joseph Perl of Batavia
Hailey Smith of Batavia
Blake Pahuta of Corfu
Alec Skeet of Corfu
Isabella Wheeler of Darien Center
Julia Yax of Darien Center
Michael Miller of East Bethany
Kyra Rhodes of Oakfield
Heidi Burdick of Oakfield
Tyhler Wood of Oakfield
Kenneth Kline of Oakfield
Athena Mitchell of Oakfield
Erica Scott of Stafford
Joan-Marie Gabalski of Byron
Sean Whiting of Le Roy
Mia Hampton of Le Roy
Maverick Blachowicz of Le Roy
Makayla Grant of Le Roy
Willard Prevost of Le Roy
Morgan Beverly of Le Roy
Shaun Graham of Le Roy
Bryn Luckey of Le Roy
Matthew Bolton of Le Roy
Ian Kepple of Le Roy
Colton Dziekan of Pavilion
Dylan Wiedrich of Pavilion
Lauren Russell of Pavilion
Alaina Rowe of Pavilion

Comptroller's audit recommends Stafford Fire's directors improve financial management of department

Howard Owens — Dec 14, 2023, 9:55pm

While finding no malfeasance or misuse of public funds, a NYS Comptroller's Audit is critical of the Board of Directors of the Stafford Volunteer Fire Department for its handling of financial planning.

The comptroller's key findings include inadequate revenue estimates for 2021, 2022, and 2023, a lack of realistic budgets, and no written multiyear financial or capital plan to help guide budget development.

The lack of proper revenue estimates meant the district had extra revenue that could have been better allocated to capital projects, particularly fire truck replacements, the report states.

In the three audit years, the board failed to include in its revenue estimates funds from farmland leasing, interest income, fire insurance tax proceeds, donations, and fire hall rental. In 2022, that amounted to $36,577 in revenue that wasn't included in financial planning.

"We compared the budget with actual expenses for 2021 and 2022. The operating budget was underestimated by $29,667 (10 percent) in 2021 and $33,298 (11 percent) in 202," the report states.

In response to the audit, Board President James Call said the district treasurer did share more than once the district's truck replacement plan, the comptroller's auditors determined the report was outdated.

The budget for 2023 also did not include a line item for buildings and ground maintenance, which in prior years exceeded $50,000.

"The Treasurer told us," the report states, "these were errors in the budget and that she corrected them after we brought the omissions to her attention. The Treasurer also provided us with a corrected copy of the 2023 budget. The corrected budget increased the amount budgeted for building and grounds maintenance to $40,000 and decreased the amount budgeted for insurance to $40,000, and further decreased the firematic budgeted amount by $20,000."

Auditors determined that board members were not adequately involved in the budgeting process and oversight of monthly expenses.

The auditors issued these recommendations, which Call, in his letter, said the board will implement.

Review and adopt structurally balanced budgets that contain realistic revenue and expense estimates.
Present the budget to the membership for a vote, as required by the bylaws.
Review the monthly financial reports provided by the treasurer and actively monitor the department’s spending.
Consider having Department officers attend applicable and beneficial training sessions to obtain a better understanding of their duties.
Develop a written multiyear financial and capital plan to establish long-term goals and objectives for funding and long-term capital needs. This plan should be monitored and updated on an ongoing basis, and any funds already set aside for capital assets should be designated as such by board action.

Photo: Christmas fire truck in Le Roy

Howard Owens — Dec 14, 2023, 7:00am

A fire truck lit up with Christmas lights in front of the Scofield Rolloff offices on Route 5 in Stafford. The truck appears to be retired apparatus. There are no department decals on it.
Photo by Howard Owens.

Stafford resident struck and killed while retrieving mail on Route 5

Howard Owens — Nov 10, 2023, 10:56am

A 74-year-old Stafford resident was struck and killed by a 2010 GMS Sierra on Thursday on Route 5 in the Town of Stafford, according to State Police.

James R. Ehmann was getting his mail at the time he was struck, according to the report.

The Sierra was traveling westbound and entered the turn lane at Batavia Stafford Townline Road when it struck Ehmann.

Paramedics attempted life-saving measures and Ehmann was transported to United Memorial Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

The 52-year-old driver, who was not identified by State Police, is suspected of impairment or distracted driving.

The NYSP Collision Reconstruction Unit and Bureau of Criminal Investigation assisted in this investigation.

Person ejected from vehicle that strikes tree in Stafford

Howard Owens — Nov 7, 2023, 9:23pm

A person was reportedly ejected from a vehicle after it struck a tree at Roanoke and Transit roads in Stafford.

The person is reportedly awake and breathing.

Dispatchers

Mercy Flight has been dispatched.

Roanoke at Route 237 is being shut down.

Stafford Fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 9:47 p.m.: Mercy Flight is on the ground.

UPDATE 20:27 p.m.: Assignment back in service.