Taken this afternoon: Trees and barns at the end of a sweet cornfield on South Street Road, Le Roy.

A 77-year-old resident of Sunny Brook Trailer Park in Oakfield never even left his property today to cut limbs from a tree in his neighbor's yard.

His tree trimming with a chainsaw on a pole resulted, however, in a trespassing charge.

James Herbert Manes, of Sunset Parkway, Oakfield, was arrested by Deputy Chris Parker.

Parker said Manes and his neighbors have a documented history -- at least two prior law enforcement contacts in 2011 and 2012 -- of disputes.

The trespassing charge, Parker said, is the result of that history and the assertion that the park manager told Manes he couldn't cut the tree limbs.

Manes allegedly stood on the roof of his storage shed to cut the limbs.

Parker was dispatched to the scene at 11:30 a.m.

"Obviously, you're allowed to cut tree branches on your side of the property, but he reached over and cut the limbs down to the base," Parker said.

Manes was issued an appearance ticket.

Press release:

This week, Genesee Community College's Board of Trustees elected Diane D. Torcello as chair for the 2014-2015 year. The Board also elected Laura J. Bohm as vice chair and Donna M. Ferry as secretary.

Torcello, of Pavilion, is a Bank of Castile executive. Bohm, of Batavia, is a retired housing administrator. Ferry, of Darien, is secretary/treasurer of S.J.F. Construction, Inc.

In other business, the Board of Trustees:

•    Approved a technical amendment to the College's 2014-2015 operating budget, reducing anticipated sponsor support by $250,000 and increasing fund balance support by the same amount.
•    Welcomed two new members of the Board of Trustees: Robert L. Boyce and Jacalyn F. Whiting, both of Le Roy. Boyce was appointed by the Genesee County Legislature and Whiting was appointed by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo. Both members will serve seven-year terms. The 10-member volunteer Board of Trustees is the governing body of Genesee Community College.

One of the great annual community events in Genesee County is the 4-H livestock auction at the fair. This year's auction was held last night. The event draws people from throughout Genesee County -- not just farmers and those involved in ag. The event is the culimination of a lot of hard work by 4-H members in raising their sheep, goats, swine and beef. 

Auctioneers from William Kent kept the bids flowing.

To purchase prints, click here.

A throng of fans filled the grandstands -- engines roared and the smell of victory hung heavy in the air. Thursday proved to be a fine day for racing and Raceway 5 was the stock car battleground.

The Genesee County Fair continues its 175 year history with agricultural displays, local talent and fine fair food. Children's small fingers, sticky with cotton candy and funnel cakes generously sprinkled with powdered sugar -- these fair food staples could all be washed down with a nice cold glass of fresh-squeezed lemonade. 

Once again, passersby were treated to mouthwatering smells and the frequent call of Midway hawkers.

The Fair runs through July 19 with a variety of events and displays scheduled throughout the day. For event information visit http://gcfair.com/Home/FairInformation/DailySchedule.aspx .

Press release:

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) announced today that work on a project to resurface Route 5 from the west Le Roy Village line to the Livingston County line in the village and Town of Le Roy, Genesee County, is slated to begin on Monday, July 21, weather permitting.

The schedule calls for removal of pavement markings and site preparation along the five-mile corridor, the week of July 21. The paving work, which will consist of a micro-surfacing treatment, followed by replacement of permanent pavement markings, will begin the week of July 28. No changes will be made to the pavements markings. It is anticipated the project will take about three weeks.

In the area east of the village, traffic will be reduced to a single alternating travel pattern controlled by flaggers. In the village area, traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction. Street parking in the business district will be prohibited during the paving operations.

Motorists should expect delays and allow plenty of extra travel time to safely travel through the highway work zone.

Access to all residential and commercial driveways will be maintained throughout the duration of the project.

The general contractor for this project is Suit Kote of Cortland, Cortland County.

Press release:

On Wednesday July 16th the City refunded (refinanced) the current City Centre debt service. This effort refinanced approximately $4,050,000 of general obligation bonds that financed the construction of the City Centre in 2004.

These bonds were issued by USDA Rural Development, and at the time were considered low interest at 4 percent. However, much like refinancing your own home mortgage, refinancing the City's outstanding bonds will reduce the interest paid over the life of the loan. The refunding was approved by City Council on April 8, 2013, and the City along with its financial advisors, Municipal Solutions, Inc., have been monitoring bond market rates for over the past year to find the time when market rates would be at their lowest level to maximize the savings to the City's taxpayers.

Interest rates on municipal bonds are very favorable at this time and the savings realized by refunding the outstanding bonds now resulted in more than $73,000 in increased budgetary savings compared to rates that were presented to City Council one year ago. In total, this refunding has saved the City approximately $303,000 in interest payments during the remaining 21-year life of the reissued bond, ending in 2036.

The Batavia boys U-12 soccer team beat le Roy 3-0 on Thursday evening to complete an undefeated season in Rochester District Youth Soccer League, Division 4.

Photos by Barbara Paserk.

Washington Post: Net neutrality was just the start. Can the FCC keep states from banning public Internet?

• All Day - Magical John | Entertainment Tent
• 10am - 4-H Horse Show Fitting, Showmanship & Western | Horse Ring
• 11am - EXHIBIT HALLS AND BUILDINGS OPEN
• 1pm - MIDWAY OPENS | Amusement Area
• 1-7pm - Mr. Scribbles | Exhibition Bldg.
• 1pm - 4-H & Open Class Beef Show & Showmanship | Show Ring
• 3-6pm - GPS & Solar Fun Fest | Merton Building
• 3pm - 4-H Goat Obstacle Course Contest | Livestock Building
• 5:30 pm - 4-H Tractor Driving Contest - Via Pre Registration | Kennedy Building
• 6pm - NIOGA Jr. Showmanship
• 6pm - 4-H Dog Show
• 7pm - COUNTY FAIR GRAND DEMOLITION DERBY | Grandstand
• 7pm - Beer Tent Opens
• 8-11pm - Paul Cumming’s & Friends – Local Country Music Artist | Beer Tent
• 10pm - EXHIBIT HALLS AND BUILDINGS CLOSE

Dont Forget about Saturday's ESP Tractor Pulls!

There have been reports of some mysterious cloud of gas -- or a gas smell -- in the East Pembroke area, according to the dispatch center, but no origin for the smell has been found.

East Pembroke Fire Department was dispatched to locate the source and is back in service.

"They've exhausted all leads," according to a dispather.

Press release:

Genesee County STOP DWI is hosting STOP DWI Night at the Ballpark on Saturday, July 19, at Dwyer Stadium. This initiative is part of a season-long promotion at minor league ballparks throughout the State being sponsored by the New York State STOP DWI Foundation.

Before and during the game the Genesee County Probation Department and the Genesee and Orleans County youth bureaus will be on hand with interactive activities for the family as well as the Genesee County Sheriff’s canine, Destro. Patrol cars from the City of Batavia, Village of Corfu and the Genesee County Sheriff's Office will be on display.

Deputy Joseph Corona will throw out the first pitch. Deputy Corona is honored for having the most DWI arrests in Genesee County for 2013.

Please join Genesee County STOP DWI in promoting our “Don’t Drink and Drive” message and enjoy a night at the ballpark this Saturday. Gates open at 6 p.m. with a 7:05 p.m. game start time. The Muckdogs will be playing against the Connecticut Tigers.

Roadway paving on Otis Street in the city, which was scheduled for tomorrow, July 18, has been rescheduled. The work will be done between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, July 21-22. Residents should not park on the roadway and are asked to park on neighboring streets during the closure.

Likewise, there will be lane reductions and traffic delays on South Jackson Street from Chestnut / Jackson streets to Otis due to paving work also rescheduled for 7 a.m. to  5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.

Lastly, work on Union Street from West Main to Richmond Avenue that was planned for July 17 has been changed to Monday. This work will close the roadway to all traffic from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Residents should not park on the roadway and are asked to park on neighboring streets during the closure.

In each case, all motorists need to seek alternate routes.

*Weather delay would be the next business day.

Questions? Call the Bureau of Maintenance at 345-6400, ext. #1.

Sweetland Pines Golf Course, 5795 Sweetland Road, Stafford, NY: Sweetland Pines is a par 3 golf course, great for beginners and experienced golfers working on the short game. Relaxed golf game, average play is about 1 hour and 20 minutes, leaving the golfer time to enjoy rest of the day. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

Bohn's Restaurant, 5256 Clinton St., Batavia, NY: Fine dining in an atmosphere of casual elegance. Lunch and dinner, steak, prime rib and seafood. Ask about Bohn's catering services and banquet facility. We have a $25 gift certificate for $15.

Sweet Pea’s Cupcakery Café, 23 Jackson St., Batavia, NY. We are a full-service Cupcake Bakery and Café. Now serving fresh-baked artisan pizza on Friday nights! We offer soft-serve ice cream, too! Treat yourself to a variety of baked goods, mainly varieties of specialty and traditional scratch-made cupcakes, as well as other bakery items like cookies and brownies. We also serve a variety of hot and cold beverages. Check out our location, or place an order for parties, gatherings or any other reasons you can think of to enjoy some cupcakes. We have a $10 gift card for $6.

Daphne's Restaurant & Lounge, 241 Swan St., (Off Rt. 63/Ellicott St.) Batavia, NY. Daphne's is destined to become a favorite for any who enjoy something special in a dining experience. Formerly the old St. Nick's Social Club, now unrecognizable to those who used to frequent the club, Daphne's provides you with a warm, inviting atmosphere and decor, which complements the array of wonderful dishes. We offer homemade seafood and pasta dishes, meatballs that are addicting as well as large salads, hot sandwiches & homemade potato chips. Fresh desserts are prepared in our own kitchen (tiramisu has been the top seller so far). We have a $20 gift certificate for $12.

Santino's Pizza, 2 Main St., Oakfield, NY: We're pizza and a whole lot more! Voted #1 pizza in Genesee County in blind taste test! Santino's features pizza, wings, subs, wraps, ice cream, and more! We have a $20 gift certificate for $12.

Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle, 8 Center St., Batavia, NY: Feel like a kid in a toy store again, or treat your kids to the greatest toy store they will ever see. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

Settler's, 353 W. Main St., Batavia, NY: Settler's has a 25-year history of serving great, affordable breakfasts, lunches and dinners to Batavians. We have a $20 gift certificate for $12.

Dave's Ice Cream, 3872 W. Main Street Road, Batavia, NY: Dave's offers only locally purchased products, including Perry's hard ice cream in a wide variety of yummy flavors, with a wonderful assortment of toppings and homemade waffle cones. Different soft-serve flavors are offered weekly. We have a $10 gift certificate for $6.

Blue Pearl Yoga, 200 E. Main St., Batavia, NY: Stretch your body and soul with yoga. This offer is a $20 gift certificate off instruction. For new students only. Not good with any other discounts or offers. Use before October 2014.

Sweet Ecstasy Bakery & Bistro, 201 E. Main St., Batavia, NY. A retail and special-order bakery and cafe located in Downtown Batavia inside Seymour Place. Offering a wide variety of items such as cookies, filled cupcakes, quick breads, pies, breakfast pastries, daily. On Fridays, it offers fresh artisan bread like baguettes, sourdough and rye starting at noon. The custom cakes are out of this world with 3D characters or gorgeous wedding cakes to suit any budget. For all your sweet treats, we have a $10 gift certificate for $6.

SOLD OUT

Press release:

We regret that due to situations beyond our control, our as advertised “New Midway Company” did not bring all of the scheduled rides. We however have a good selection of rides available to fairgoers. We have reduced the price of wrist bands to $12 for an entire session. Ride sessions are: Thursday 5pm-10pm, Friday 1pm-5pm & 6pm-10pm, & Saturday 1pm-5pm & 6pm-10pm. Friday and Saturday the rides are open from 1pm-11pm. We hope everyone comes out to the 175th Genesee County Fair!

For a complete listing of events during fair week, visit gcfair.com

Yet another fine day at the Genesee County Fair. Fairgoers strolled lazily under blue skies, dotted with white billowing clouds, as the scent of fried dough and sausage hung in the air, enticing passersby to just try a little taste. 

The day’s events included Draft Horse Show Hitch Classes, Swine Breeds and Showmanship, musical entertainment by Monster Johnson, and rounding out the day - the Fair Queen crowning of winner Courtney Jones. 

The 18-year-old Batavia native is a recent graduate of Batavia High School and a Rustic Riders Horse Club member. Jones will be attending Niagara University this fall where her course study includes early childhood and early childhood education.

The runner-up was Heather Dries.

Winners in the pageant’s other categories included:

— Princess — Lauren Hull, winner, Rebekah Allen, runner-up.

— Junior Princess — Karly Smith, winner, Emily Boldt, runner-up.

—  Little Miss — Eva Marie Rhoads, winner, Madelynn Pimm, runner-up.

Others awarded included Emily Boldt - Miss Congeniality and Rebekah Allen - the Tooley Memorial Award.

The Fair runs through July 19 with a variety of events and displays scheduled throughout the day. For event information visit http://gcfair.com/Home/FairInformation/DailySchedule.aspx .

New York will finally pay off some of their IOUs to the county.

County Treasurer Scott German learned Tuesday that $4.1 million in funds meant to cover 2013 Nursing Home expenses will be transferred to the county Aug. 13.

That's the good news. We'll get to the bad news shortly.

The $4.1 million is what is known as an Inter-Governmental Transfer. It's money that originates with the federal government and sent to the states so the states can transfer it to county governments that run nursing homes. The money is meant to help offset the difference in reimbursement fees between Medicaid and Medicare (it's more complicated than that, but that's the easy explanation).

In June, the county received $4.3 million in back IGT payments from 2012.

Of the $8.4 million IGT received, the taxpayers of Genesee County paid an amount equal to 50 percent, or $4.2 million, as a local match.

But that isn't all of the bad news.

County Manager Jay Gsell said the feds are phasing out the IGT program. The Aug. 13 payment is probably one of the last two or three the county will ever receive.

No program has been announced to replace it.

Once there's no IGT -- and if there's no program to replace it -- the local share cost of running the Genesee County Nursing Home will likely be at least $3 million a year, and that figure is growing each year, German said. The operating deficit will need to be funded by local taxpayers.

Of the $4.3 million received in June, $2 million went into the general fund to pay off money the Nursing Home borrowed from the general fund.

Some of that IGT money will be used to pay off a $5.8 million Revenue Anticipation Note (RAN -- a short-term loan based on the promise of anticipated revenue).

The $4.1 million the county receives Aug. 13 should pay off the rest of the RAN, a loan that must be retired by November.

If for some reason, there is a shortfall, the county will either need money from the general fund or another loan, German said, to pay off this RAN.

But it's anticipated there will be a $200,000 surplus from the IGT payment, which will be gobbled up by Nursing Home expenses in short order. The county will then need to borrow more money to cover Nursing Home expenses with no guarantee the feds or the state will help with the expense at a later date.

The County Legislature met with an attorney today who is helping them explore options for dealing with the Nursing Home. The meeting was held in close session and was purely informational for the legislators, Gsell said.

• All Day - Magical John - Entertainment Tent
• 9am - 4-H Dairy Show & Showmanship | Show Ring
• 9am - 4-H Horses In Place
• 10am - 4-H Horse Show, Fitting, Showmanship and English | Horse Ring
• 11am - EXHIBIT HALLS & BUILDINGS OPEN
• 1pm - 4-H Goat Knowledge Olympics Contest | Livestock Building
• 2pm - 4-H Horse Show Dressage Classes | Horse Ring
• 5pm - MIDWAY OPENS | Amusement Area
• 5:30-7pm 4-H Market Animal Auction Buyers Dinner
• 6pm - RACEWAY 5 SPECIAL STOCK CAR RACES | Grandstand
• 6:30pm - “Genesee’s Got Talent” Talent Showcase | Entertainment Tent Stage
• 7pm - 4-H Market Animal Auction | Show Ring
• 8pm -Beer Tent Opens
• 8-11pm - Barnstorm – Country Band | Beer Tent
• 10pm - EXHIBIT HALLS & BUILDINGS CLOSE