Sandy Gillard, center, hasn't not worked in 38 years.

She has worked at Batavia's Richmond Memorial Library since 1972, went back to school for her bachelor's and MLS (Master of Library Science) degrees while raising three sons about 20 years ago, and has worked very hard to make the library a fun and welcoming place for kids and their families. 

Gillard is retiring this year, and Tuesday of next week will be her last day as children's librarian at Richmond.

On Wednesday, families and friends gathered at a reception -- held in the library's Children's Room -- to express their appreciation for her years of service.

Gina Bergman was one of the parents in attendence. She had a lot to say about what Gillard has meant to her family -- especially to her 7-year-old daughter, Amanda.

"Amanda adores her," Bergman said. "She always treats her like a rock star whenever we see her in public -- like at a restaurant she'll say, 'Oh my gosh, it's Mrs. Gillard! Let's go say hi!' She's really instilled in Amanda a love for the library."

Pictured Gillard with Robert Bombard, 11, who presents her with a flower as a token of his esteem.

"I say she's very important [to the library]," Bombard said. "She brings people to the library with her niceness. It's always great to see someone with such laughter and joy."

Gillard has had a similar effect on other library staff members as well. Kathleen Facer, reference and technology librarian at Richmond, has worked with her for many years and come to know her very well, both as a librarian and as a person.

"Whether in working with the public or with fellow staff members," Facer said, "Sandy's knowledge, enthusiasm and kindness have always been an inspiration."

"She has really come to define the Children's Room here at the library," said Library Director Diana Wyrwa. "She's developed it so much over the years, and she's always proven to be very good at literature selection. I've had many librarians tell me that the Richmond Library has one of the best children's literature collections available."

Having begun her job as library director in 2004, Wyrwa says that she came to the library "at the apex" of Gillard's career, "where we have 700 kids coming to the library and many different programs for children."

One of Gillard's major contributions to the library has been the development of the Summer Reading Program, which she admits is one of the aspects of her job that she will miss.

"I love the creativity of planning and collaborating with my husband (who builds set pieces based on each summer program's theme) to transform the Children's Room into a magical place," Gillard said. "I will miss describing an idea and watching Craig make it a reality. We make a good team!"

She will also miss her colleagues and the families she works with, with whom she has formed deep connections.

"She always remembers the kids," Bergman said. "It's amazing. Sometimes someone will come in who she had in Story Hour 30 years ago, and she'll still talk about the things they used to do when they were little."

Amy Joslyn, a former clerk at Richmond and now a children's librarian in Fairport, said that Gillard influenced her decision to go back to school and become a librarian. Part of Gillard's influence was the fact that she "brought the library to the community."

"She's always been the link," Joslyn said. "To the kids, she was the library. She really loves her job, loves the kids and relates well to parents. She was a big influence on me."

Pictured Gillard, far right, back at the beginning of her career (photographer unknown).

In a way, Gillard's retirement marks the end of an era. At 38 years, she is the library's senior staff member. She has seen many changes throughout her career, but some things have stayed the same.

"What I've seen change is the amount of media attention and commercialization books get," Gillard said. "There are dolls, board games, TV characters, movies, etc., based on children’s books. Still, really good books are being published now just like years ago."

She also notes the way technology and the availability of release dates, etc., online has influenced changes in young audiences.

"In the 1970s children came to the library to see what new books were available. Now they come to the library wanting to know if you have the latest title in a series. They know the release date and expect that you will have the book on the shelves ready for them to take home."

But as the decades have progressed and changes have come and gone, one thing has remained constant: Gillard's love for her profession.

"I have been the luckiest person in the world," she said, "because I have been paid to do what I love. Richmond Library is Batavia’s greatest asset. The board (of directors) and staff and Friends of the Library have been a joy to work with, and I am proud to have had a small part in building a Children’s Room that is the envy of people from other communities."

In retirement, Gillard plans to volunteer in the community, spend time with her elderly mother, travel with her husband and read (of course).

For more details about Gillard and her career, have a look at this Q&A, which was conducted about a year ago.

Pembroke teacher Gregory Kinal and his daughter, Brooklyn teacher Tracy Kinal, began a pen-pal program so that their respective seventh-grade classes could get a taste of the other’s way of life.

Six years later, the program continues to thrive.

Last Friday, 40 seventh-graders from Shallow Intermediate School in Brooklyn finally met their Genesee County pen pals after corresponding with them throughout the school year.

Arriving in a bus at Pembroke Junior/Senior High School, the teachers paired up everyone for a brief meet-and-greet before enjoying special games run by the physical education department.

Their weekend activities included marching in the Stafford parade and traveling to Niagara Falls for a day of hiking and fun.

According to Gregory Kinal, who has taught at Pembroke for 40 years, the pen-pal program serves mainly as an examination of city vs. country culture, the similarities and differences between the two.

This sometimes leads to interesting revelations. One year, the Shallow students were noticeably surprised to see an area in Pembroke without sidewalks. Another year, one student asked, “How do you get a cab out here?”

The program, funded by businesses in Buffalo, Binghamton and Brooklyn, has also led to long-lasting friendships.

"Even after six years,” Kinal says, “some pen pals still keep in contact with one another.”

Both father and daughter decided a possible reversal of the program, sending the Pembroke kids to Brooklyn, would be both expensive and distracting.

"Pembroke has a lot to offer,” Gregory Kinal says, pointing out his students would eventually get the chance to go on their school trip to Washington the following year.

After playing variations of team tag, charades and musical chairs, the students spent the rest of the afternoon eating pizza and chatting.

Tracy Kinal, who has taught English-as-a-second-language for eight years, said that her class of new and former immigrants would discuss the pluses and minuses of their Pembroke experience once they returned to Brooklyn. Her father would similarly talk about the Brooklyn students with his class.

“Not everything looks like NYC,” Tracy Kinal explains.

“We live in a multi-cultural society,” Gregory Kinal says. “There’s a world outside of Genesee County.”

An RV fire with heavy smoke is reported in a yard at 6854 Clinton St. Road in the area of Warner Road. It is near a barn and it is unknown if it is occupied. Byron, South Byron, Stafford and Le Roy fire and Mercy EMS is called to respond.

UPDATE (12:55 p.m.): The fire is contained to the RV and is under control.

UPDATE (by Howard): Fire crews cleared the scene at 1:41 p.m.  The possible cause was a fan left on to air out the trailer. The motor may have overheated.

Sallome's Italian Deli, 40 Oak St., Batavia, NY: Wraps, subs, paninis and pasta as well as pizzas -- Sallome's offers a tasty variety of Italian deli items for eat-in or take-out. We have $10 gift certificates for $5 each.

Stafford Trading Post, 6173 Main Road, Stafford, NY: Lunch or dinner, Stafford Trading Post offers a variety of fresh, homemade meals, as well as snacks and drinks. Now in a new, expanded location. We have a $25 gift card for $12.50.

T.F. Brown's, at 214 E. Main St., Batavia, NY: T.F. Brown's is a great place for a good meal, good friends and to catch up on what's going on in the sports world. "If it happens in sports, it happens at Brown's." We have a $20 gift card for $10.

Matty's Pizzeria, 4152 W. Main St., Batavia, NY: Matty's is another Batavia favorite for pizza and wings. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Kravings, Valu Plaza, 4152 W. Main St., Batavia, NY: Kraving's offers soups, salads and sandwiches, fresh and flavorful; Monday through Saturday. We have $10 gift certificates for $5.

Alex's Place, 8322 Park Road, Batavia, NY: People come from all over the region for a fine dining experience at Alex's. It's best known for its ribs, of course, but Alex's seafood is also a favorite of the restaurant's diners. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

Delavan's Restaurant and Tavern, 107 Evans St., Batavia, NY: To me, Delavan's is one of those restaurants where you want to eat frequently until you try everything on the menu. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Center Street Smoke House, 20 Center St., Batavia, NY: Authentic Southern BBQ, from ribs to brisket with all the fixin's. We have a $20 gift card for $10.

Margarita's Mexican Restaurant, 15 Jackson St., Batavia, NY: When you're looking for an authentic Mexican meal, Margarita's is the place to go. The food and atmosphere are perfect and the service is always outstanding. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

NOTE: If you've never bought Deal of the Day before, or are otherwise unfamiliar with the rules and process, click here.

SOLD OUT

Clinton Stanley Worthington, 20, of Genesee Street, Corfu, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and no/inadequate stop lamps. Worthington was stopped at 2:25 a.m. in the area of 8974 Upton Road, Batavia, by Deputy James Diehl.

A grand slam home run in the 7th inning from Nick Longmire broke a 2-2 tie and powered the Batavia Muckdogs to a 6-3 victory over Mahoning Valley on Thursday.

It was Longmire's third HR of the season, giving him the league lead, and with 14 RBI over the first seven games, he's well ahead of any other player in that category as well.

The Muckdogs are in second place with a record of 4-3.

Jose Rada (1-1) threw three scoreless innings to pick up the win. Starter Kevin Siegrist went five innings and gave up two runs.

Left fielder Rainel Rosario had three hits.

Batavia faces off against Mahoning Valley again tonight, and then return home tomorrow to begin a five-game home stand. First up, State College. Game time Saturday is 7:05 p.m.

UPDATE: The name of the "spotter" in this story has been removed. Public records indicate there is no way the person mentioned was a spotter at the time of the described incidents.  Dan says the only thing he remembers for sure was that his name was "Petey." 

While the dignitaries introduced each other and made their speeches -- all very solemn and respectful -- I couldn't help myself, I wandered over to the Wall.

The Wall is a smaller replica of the Vietnam War Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. It's on display at the Veterans Hospital in Batavia until Monday afternoon. Today, at 5 p.m., the dignitaries hosted opening ceremonies.

Dan Matthews was at the Wall, too. I took his picture, and moments later I gave him my business card and offered to send him a copy. That's when he told me his story.

Matthews, who splits time between Pembroke and Phoenix, was a sniper, an elite sniper. He served in the Marine Corps on a "recluse" mission.

A young man named XXX was assigned as his spotter.

On XXX third outing with Matthews, they were on a mission and XXX was working hard to do a good job. At one point, Matthews told him he needed to get his head down. He kept spotting. He didn't move fast enough.

"I inhaled bits of his brain," Matthews said.

He then added, "but I killed the other sniper."

Two days later, on another mission, he killed an enemy three-star general.

But to this day, Matthews said, he still struggles with the memories of his time in Southeast Asia.

When I showed him the picture I took of him touching Peter's name, he said, "I can never touch the real Wall."

I'm sorry, but I missed the speeches.

I met Dan Matthews and learned about XXXX instead. They are what the Wall is really about. With due respect to the dignitaries, it's not about speeches.

You should visit the Wall while it's here. I don't care if you're a hawk or a dove, pro-interventionist or anti-interventionist, or supported the Vietnam War or opposed it: You should visit the Wall. The Wall isn't about politics or American foreign policy. It's about young men and women who died doing either what they thought was their duty, or  they felt was the only choice they had. It isn't about the generals or the politicians. It's about our neighbors and our uncles and their friends and their family. It's about Ken Matthews and it's about XXXX

UPDATE: Click here for WBTA's coverage.

More pictures after the jump:

City Fire is being dispatched to Dunkin' Donuts where a child is unable to get out of a car because the seat belt is stuck.

On Tuesday, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced her reform agenda to clean up Washington, and make Congress more accountable and responsible.

Here is her news release:

The centerpiece of Senator Gillibrand’s agenda includes new, bipartisan legislation that would require complete transparency for all federal earmark requests. Senator Gillibrand’s plan will also end automatic pay raises for members of Congress, rein in corporate special interest influence on elections, and once and for all ban all senators from placing obstructive, anonymous holds on important Presidential nominations or legislation in the Senate.

“I haven’t been in Washington long, but it doesn’t take long to know exactly what’s wrong with it,” Senator Gillibrand said. “Everyday people are not being heard because too much business is happening behind closed doors. Too often the system only benefits the special interests that have way too much power. My agenda puts the interests of families before all else by making government more transparent and accountable.

My reform agenda ends automatic pay raises for members of Congress, reins in special interest influence on our elections, forbids Senators from anonymously obstructing legislation, and makes the federal funding request process fully transparent so citizens can judge for themselves how politicians are spending their money.”

• Make federal earmark requests fully transparent

Senator Gillibrand has led by example, becoming the first Member of Congress to post all of her federal funding requests, official daily schedule and personal financial disclosure on her own website. Senate and House rules now require members to post federal funding requests. Senator Gillibrand’s federal funding requests, daily public schedule and personal financial disclosure are all available here <http://gillibrand.senate.gov/newsroom/schedule/>.

Now, she has joined Republican senators Tom Coburn (R-OK) and John McCain (R-AZ) to author bipartisan legislation that makes the federal earmark process fully transparent and easy for citizens to access. The Earmark Transparency Act creates an easily searchable database of all federal earmarks, both authorizing and appropriating.

The database will include the following information about each federal funding request: amount of initial request made by requestor; amount approved by the committee of jurisdiction; amount approved in final legislation (if approved); type of organization receiving the request (public, private non-profit, or private for-profit entity); project name, description and estimated completion date; justification explaining how congressionally directed spending item would benefit taxpayers; description, if applicable, of all non-federal sources of funding for the congressionally directed spending item; requests and supplemental documents submitted to a committee of Congress.

The database will include information on all bills that pass either chamber beginning the day the bill is signed into law. Gillibrand’s legislation is co-sponsored by 24 members of the Senate and 28 reform organizations, including The Sunlight Foundation, Center for Responsive Politics, the Liberty Coalition and the Project on Government Oversight.

Gillibrand is also introducing new legislation in the Senate that bans private or for-profit companies from receiving federal funding.

• Reduce corporate special interest influence on elections

With the corporate victory in the Citizens United U.S. Supreme Court case that allows corporations to spend limitless amounts of money on elections, the voice of corporate special interests will only grow and topple that of the average voter.

To help keep elections fair and honest, Senator Gillibrand is pushing the Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act, legislation to reverse the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court that allows special interests—including even foreign-controlled corporations—to spend limitless amounts of money to influence elections. This legislation ensures that corporations stand by their political actions by disclosing the primary funders of political advertising.

• Require new disclaimers on all television advertisements funded by special interests.

If a corporation is running the ad, the CEO will have to appear to at the end to say that he or she approved the message, just like a candidate must do today. If an advocacy organization is running the ad, both the head of the organization running the ad, and the top outside funder of the ad, will have to appear on camera.

Additionally, a list of the top five funders to that organization will be displayed on the screen in an effort stop the funneling of big money through shadow groups to fund virtually anonymous political advertising – following money to its origin, and making its sourcing public for the first time ever.

• Mandate an unprecedented level of disclosure not only of an organization’s spending, but also its donors.

Organizations will have a choice in disclosing their donors: They can either disclose all of their donors that have given in excess $1,000, or they can disclose only those donors who contribute to the group’s Campaign-Related Activity Account, if they solely use that account for their spending.

All spending intended to influence an election—whether on television, radio, print, online, direct mail, telephone, and billboards—would flow through this account. Every donor who contributes more than $1,000 would have to be disclosed.

Organizations must disclose these donors to the FEC, the public on their websites, and to their shareholders and members through their annual and quarterly reports.

The legislation also: prevents foreign-controlled entities from spending unlimited sums in our elections through their U.S.-based subsidiaries; bans companies with government contracts in excess of $50,000 from making unlimited expenditures; ends expenditures by companies that receive government assistance, such as the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP); strengthens current law to grant lowest unit rate to candidates by giving those same rights to the parties – on a limited geographic basis.

• End automatic congressional pay raises

From 1991 to 2007, Congress voted to raise its own pay 11 times, for a total increase of $63,600 in their annual salary, according to CRS. A one-year elimination was ultimately included in the final appropriations bill and members did not receive a pay raise in 2011. Gillibrand voted twice in the House of Representatives to end the automatic pay raise.
 
Senator Gillibrand has opposed congressional pay raises, and is a proud cosponsor of legislation to permanently end the automatic pay raise for members of Congress.
 
The automatic annual adjustment for members of Congress is determined by a formula using a component of the Employment Cost Index, which measures rate of change in private sector pay.

The adjustment automatically takes effect unless (1) Congress statutorily prohibits the adjustment; (2) Congress statutorily revises the adjustment; or (3) the annual base pay adjustment of General Schedule (GS) federal employees is established at a rate less than the scheduled increase for members, in which case members are paid the lower rate. Members may not receive an annual pay adjustment greater than 5 percent. This adjustment formula was established by the Ethics Reform Act of 1989.
 
Now Senator Gillibrand is joining with a bipartisan group of 20 of her colleagues to send a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to take up and pass S. 620, legislation that passed in the Senate last year to permanently end automatic pay raises. Passing this bill would save roughly $80 million over 10 years, and help demonstrate that Congress is willing to tighten its own belt as we work to reduce record deficits.

• Ban anonymous holds on legislation

Currently, there are 132 anonymous holds on President Obama’s federal court nominations, and countless more on other legislation before the Senate. These holds bring the legislative process to a halt with no way to hold the obstructionist accountable. Together with 67 of her colleagues, Senator Gillibrand has written to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), calling on the leaders to once and for all end the practice of senators putting anonymous holds on legislation.

Last year, city workers had to remove the weeds from around the seemingly rotting Latina's building, billing the property owner for the abatement.

LKLWL Properties out of Amherst may be in for another bill from the city if owner Tom Lewin doesn't deal with the growing weed problem soon.

BID Director Don Burkel said he spoke with Lewin the other day and he said Lewin was adamant that he's not going to do anything with the building, neither in regards to upkeep nor selling the property.

I called Lewin this morning and left a voice mail asking him to confirm whether that's his position. No call back yet.

Of course, most of us call the building the Latina's building because that's still the company name on the side of the structure. 

I called Latina's Food Services out of Tonawanda and asked if a company spokesman would comment on any potential public-relations problem in having a decrepit building in the middle of Batavia with its name on it. No official spokesman would come to the phone. The only response was through a receptionist who said he was told to say, "We don't own the building."

Previously:

• Property owner refuses to discuss sea gulls plaguing former Latina's location
• Gulls at Latina's market a nuisance again this year

Hundreds of motorcycle riders were in the procession this morning escorting the Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall from Le Roy to the Veterans' Home in Batavia.

As local law enforcement cleared the way, the procession moved swiftly through town.

The Moving Wall will be on display through the weekend, night and day, with opening ceremonies at 5 p.m., today.

Charles Thigpen Gus "Gusto" Williams, 31, of 4213 Cookson Road, Alexander, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd, and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. The Local Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at 4213 Cookson Road, Alexander, on Wednesday afternoon. Williams was allegedly found in possession of crack cocaine, powder cocaine, Hydrocodone, Suboxone and $770 in U.S. currency. Williams was jailed on $15,000 bail.

Dyllon E. Soccio, 20, of 134 Tracy Ave., Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 4th, criminal possession of marijuana, 2nd, and three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. The Local Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at 134 Tracy Ave., Batavia, on Wednesday afternoon. Soccio was allegedly found in possession of 3/4 of a pound of Psilocybin (mushrooms), about 2 1/2 pounds of marijuana, a quantity of powder cocaine, Hydrocodone, Valium and $2,096 in U.S. Currency.  Soccio was jailed without bail.  Additional charges may be pending.

A 17-year-old resident of Prospect Avenue, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. The youth is accused of placing items in her purse while at Tops Market and attempting to leave without paying.

A skip loader being removed from a flatbed truck has reportedly rolled over in the area of 8669 North Road, Le Roy.

No reports on injuries, though a medic is on scene.

The loader reportedly rolled into the woods.

Le Roy Fire and law enforcement is en route.

The county highway department is also requested to the scene because the roadway is "tore up pretty good."

Dispatch describes it as an eight-inch gouge in the roadway.

UPDATE 9:06 a.m.: Clarification: A truck was hauling a trailer with equipment on it. It apparently went around a curve too fast and the trailer rolled over. When the truck stopped, the parking brake either wasn't on or malfunctioned and the truck rolled into the woods.

UPDATE 9:39 a.m.: A wrecker is on scene and the road will be closed so the truck can be moved.

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City Fire responded quickly this morning to a reported house fire at 4 Morton St., Batavia.

Lt. Jay Steinbrenner said when crews arrived, they could see smoke rising out of the chimney, which usually indicates a basement fire.

What firefighters found was a dehumidifier that malfunctioned, and quickly doused the small fire.

There was no structural damage.

Reader Chad Hilchey sent in this picture at 11:14 p.m. of a funnel cloud spotted in Oakfield. 

A dispatcher who worked overnight had heard nothing of a possible funnel cloud and said there wasn't a single report of storm damage over night. "Not even a tree limb down," he said.

There was a severe thunderstorm watch overnight, which was lifted at 6 a.m.

UPDATE: Chad clarifies that he took the picture around 6:30 p.m.

A car has crashed into a tree just south of the intersection of West Bergen and Selden roads in Le Roy and the fire department is responding.

This afternoon while waiting for a business in the Harvester Center to open, I killed time by walking along the south side of the building looking for objects to photograph.

If you've ever looked closely at the building, there are stars bolted into the walls between the first and second stories. These, I'm sure, are not decorative, but part of the building's support structure, bolting thick wires that run from wall to wall. That's just a guess, but I've seen this kind of construction before.

Below, a "weed" (I can't identify the flower) set against a red door, and three more pictures after the jump.

Kimberly Lynn Blue, 21, of 7 Wood St., Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, and unlawful possession of marijuana. Blue was reportedly a passenger in a vehicle stopped for alleged traffic offenses 5:53 p.m., Tuesday. During the stop, she was allegedly found in possession of a quantity of marijuana and Ritalin. The stop was made by Deputy Brian Thompson.

General G. Sanders, 38, of Haxton Lane, Oakfield, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Local law enforcement made contact with Sanders when a van was stopped in order to execute a bench warrant out of the Town of Batavia for a passenger in the van, Jeremy Lyons. The stop was made at 2:33 p.m., Tuesday, by Deputy Brian Thompson and a unit from the State Police. During the stop on Angling Road in Pembroke, Sanders was allegedly found in possession of marijuana.

Luke M. Tarnacki, 19, of Sandridge Road, Alden, is charged with driving while impaired by drugs, failure to keep right, unlawful use of an electronic device (texting) and aggravated unlicensed operation. Sheriff's deputies Ron Meides and Chris Parker were dispatched at 7:47 a.m., Wednesday, to the scene of an alleged accident on Route 33 near Read Road in the Town of Batavia. A vehicle had driven through a ditch and left the scene. Tarnacki was located later and reportedly admitted to texting while driving. Tarnacki reportedly crossed two lanes of traffic and drove off the roadway on the opposite shoulder. Upon further investigation, deputies determined that Tarnacki was allegedly driving while impaired by drugs. Tarnacki was jailed on $3,000 bail.