Home Owners of the Year, Bradley & Kelly Trzecieski with Councilwoman Kathy Briggs.
Download: Statement by Briggs (PDF)
Business of the Year: Parise's Auto & Towing. Accepting the award from Councilman Tim Buckley is owner Mark Dickinson.
Download: Statement by Buckley (PDF)
Don Carroll receives Volunteer of the Year award from Councilman Sam Barone.
Download: Statement by Barone (PDF)
Press Release:
After researching financial aspects, location possibilities and public support, the Byron Bergen Public Library Board (BBPL) has concluded that absorbing full financial responsibilities for the library location at the Gillam Grant Community Center is not viable given current level of funding. The library location in the Village of Bergen will continue to remain open.
At the beginning of the year the Gillam Grant Community Center approached the BBPL Board indicating that they would no longer be able to host the library at their location without financial support from the BBPL. The Gillam Grant Community Center had provided staffing and space for the library to operate in their location. With expected cutbacks in county and local funding the BBPL is not able to take over these expenses.
After review of public input and discussions with local funders, the BBPL will focus efforts on the Bergen village location to provide programmatic outreach to community members. For more information about the Byron Bergen Public Library, visit www.bbplibrary.wordpress.com.
A car reportedly spun out and was struck by a semi-truck on the eastbound Thruway near mile marker 402.3.
Mercy EMS is responding. Indian Falls fire and Pembroke have been dispatched.
The driver is reportedly conscious and talking with somebody, but no further word on injuries.
A utility pole has blown down in Alabama and the fire department is being dispatched. There is a report of fire on the wires and the pole has fallen into trees.
I thought I heard 238 Sky Road as the address, but that doesn't come up on Google Maps. The reported address is 238 Skye Road, Alabama.
Total Image - Dawn Williams, 226 Ellicott St., Batavia, NY: Dawn offers clipper cuts for men, women and children, as well as coloring, highlights, perms and waxing. We have a $22 gift certificate for $11.
New Today, Total Image Hair Salon/Sarah and Amanda Lowe, 226 Ellicott St., Batavia, NY: Time to update your style? Try something different or finally get the hair styling you've dreamed of, give Sarah or Amanda at Total Image a try. We have a $22 gift certificate for $11.
O'Lacy's Irish Pub, 5 School St. Batavia, NY: In Irish pubs, it doesn't get more authentic than O'Lacy's. Be sure to try the homemade chips. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.
Adam Miller Toy & Bicycles, 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.
Kravings, Valu Plaza, W. Main Street, Batavia, NY: Recently opened, it offers soups, salads and sandwiches, fresh and flavorful; Monday through Saturday. We have $10 gift certificates for $5.
Jackson St. Grill, 9 Jackson St., Batavia, NY: Try the fresh, skinless haddock fish fry on Fridays. We have a $10 gift certificate for $5.
NOTE: If you've never bought Deal of the Day before, or are otherwise unfamiliar with the rules and process, click here.
sold out
The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Batavia. The warning is active until 2PM currently, and the storm is forecasted to arrive in Batavia at 1:50PM. A watch remains in effect until 3PM according to the NWS website.
Alert text after the jump...
Update: Not exactly a "severe" storm, it put on a mild show for about 5 minutes and then moved on.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NYC029-037-281800-
/O.NEW.KBUF.SV.W.0100.090928T1723Z-090928T1800Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
123 PM EDT MON SEP 28 2009
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BUFFALO HAS ISSUED A
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
NORTHEASTERN ERIE COUNTY IN WESTERN NEW YORK
WESTERN GENESEE COUNTY IN WESTERN NEW YORK
* UNTIL 200 PM EDT
* AT 122 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR LANCASTER...AND MOVING EAST AT 60 MPH.
* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
ALDEN BY 130 PM EDT...
DARIEN BY 140 PM EDT...
OAKFIELD BY 145 PM EDT...
BATAVIA BY 150 PM EDT...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM EDT MONDAY AFTERNOON FOR WESTERN NEW YORK.
&&
LAT...LON 4313 7830 4314 7816 4292 7809 4287 7830 4287 7848 4282 7849 4276 7874 4293 7883
TIME...MOT...LOC 1723Z 249DEG 52KT 4288 7866
$$
ZAFF
If you’ve ever driven down Center Street, I’m sure you’ve noticed the garage next to the Smoke House painted as a “Fire Headquarters.” This garage has just recently become the newest spot for local bands to perform.
Hosted by Glass Roots next door to it, the venue's third show took place Friday night. It's open to artists of all types and Friday’s show featured three very different genres of music.
First to perform was Greengage, a local jam band with a reggae influence. Then, the duo known as Davey O. played a set of acoustic folk rock. Lastly, Steve Ditzel, a Batavia resident, took the stage with his turntables and got the crowd moving to his electronic beats.
The show started around 7:30, drawing a large crowd of highly diverse people and ran up until last call for drinks. There was a 50/50 raffle, too. While there's no firm schedule for future events, Glass Roots shop owner Jeremy Almeter says that there will be more shows and to stop by for more details.
Heavy winds and light hail are moving into Genesee County from the west, according to a report on the scanner.
The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch in effect until 3 p.m.
UPDATE: Severe thunderstorm watch is cancelled.
Also, I was in a meeting and couldn't get all the details, but:
Wet pavement is most likely to blame for a one-motorcycle accident that took the life of a Byron man late Saturday afternoon.
Kevin P. Stearns, 29, of 7862 Byron Road, Byron, was pronounced dead at the scene by County Coroner Jack Taylor at 5:55 p.m..
Stearns was reportedly driving his 1995 Honda motorcycle eastbound on the Thruway near mile marker 402, just east of Exit 48-A in Pembroke, when he moved from the passing lane to the right to pass another vehicle. The bike reportedly skidded out of control and hit a guard rail.
Neither speed nor alcohol were a factor, according to a State Police spokesman, who described the roadway as slick with rain at the time.
The accident occurred at 4:50 p.m.. No other vehicles were directly involved.
Brittany Baker, who signed on as a correspondent with The Batavian this summer, starts work today in the newsroom of the Daily News. We're happy for Brittany. She's an ambitious young journalist. She did a terrific job for us and we're sure she has a bright career ahead of her. Both Billie and I are grateful to Brittany for all of her work.
Meanwhile, we have two new interns starting today.
Amy Weidner completes a bachelor's degree in broadcast communications at SUNY Brockport in December. She's focused on pursuing a career in news media. Amy grew up in Genesee County and currently lives in Batavia. She's a 2005 graduate of Oakfield-Alabama High School. Amy's primary beat during her internship will be Le Roy.
Ethan Thompson is a high school student who is home schooled. We first became aware of Ethan in April when Tasia did a profile of him and his entrepreneurial activities. Ethan describes himself as a "teenage entrepreneur." He likes to write, read and produce videos and he's very much into computers. He runs his own media company, Just Passing Thru Productions. He also owns and runs Youth in Action Mag, a site for Christian teens. Ethan, an Oakfield resident, will be producing news and feature videos, primarily about community events, for The Batavian during his internship.
As for our other correspondents, Gretel Kauffman is back in school, but may make an occasional contribution, and Tasia Boland has been busy with some good changes in her life, but she plans to start writing again soon.
Joseph Kyle Loveland, 26, of 665 Niagara Falls Blvd., Amherst, is charged with harassment. Loveland allegedly punched another person in the face while at Chestnut Ridge Country Club in Darien at about 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. The victim was reportedly treated at the scene and declined transportation to a hospital. Loveland was issued an appearance ticket. The incident was investigated by Sgt. Greg Walker.
Pamela A. Loughridge, 41, of 5630 Buffalo Road, Apt. 5, Churchville, is charged with DWI, aggravated DWI with a BAC of .08 or greater, aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle and moving from the lane unsafely. Loughridge was stopped at 6:04 p.m. yesterday by Deputy Chad Minuto on Route 237 in Byron.
Justin J. Jaszko, 30, of 8087 Kelsey Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal trespass. Jaszko allegedly entered the residence of his child's mother in Oakfield and refused to leave. The alleged incident occurred Friday morning at 8:45. Deputy Christopher Parker handled the call.
Ann M. Burgler, 49, of 6592 Royal Parkway, Lockport, is charged with DWI, DWI with a BAC of .08 or greater and failure to keep right. Burgler was stopped by Deputy Kevin McCarthy on Route 5 in Pembroke at 2:54 p.m. on Saturday.
Adam M. Gaylord, 29, of Byron, is charged with DWI, operating a vehicle with a BAC of .08 or greater and criminal possession of a weapon. Gaylord was stopped by State Police on Chapel Road in Elba at 10:50 p.m. on Friday.
Stephen L. Nichols, 33, of New York City, is charged with DWI and DWI with a BAC of .08 or greater. Nichols was stopped by State Police in Pavilion at Route 63 and Route 20 at 2:50 a.m. on Saturday.
The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory for most of Western NY today from 10AM to Midnight. According to their forecasts we can expect 20-30 MPH winds and gusts exceeding 45 MPH, along with showers and thunderstorms. These winds have the possibility of causing damage, especially due to it being early Fall, with most leaves still on trees. This applies to Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Wayne and Wyoming Counties . For the full NWS release click on "Read More" below.
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
355 AM EDT MON SEP 28 2009
...STRONG WINDS EXPECTED ACROSS WESTERN NEW YORK TODAY AND TONIGHT...
.DEEP LOW PRESSURE IN THE VICINITY OF GEORGIAN BAY THIS MORNING WILL SWING A STRONG COLD FRONT ACROSS WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEW YORK DURING THE COURSE OF MONDAY. WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND GUSTY THUNDERSTORMS WILL ACCOMPANY THE PASSAGE OF THIS FRONT...WITH SOME STORMS POSSIBLY CONTAINING DAMAGING WINDS.
A GREATER THREAT WILL COME IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT DURING THE AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...WHEN WINDS WILL LIKELY GUST TO 45 MPH OR MORE. THIS WILL ESPECIALLY BE THE CASE OVER THE NIAGARA FRONTIER AND ALONG THE LAKE ERIE SHORE AREA WHERE GUSTS TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE. GIVEN THAT THE REGION IS STILL FULLY FOLIATED...STRONG WIND GUSTS WILL HAVE AN INCREASED POTENTIAL TO CAUSE DOWNED TREE LIMBS AND POWER LINES.
NYZ001-002-010>012-019-020-085-281600-
/O.CON.KBUF.WI.Y.0008.090928T1400Z-090929T0400Z/
NIAGARA-ORLEANS-NORTHERN ERIE-GENESEE-WYOMING-CHAUTAUQUA-CATTARAUGUS-SOUTHERN ERIE-INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NIAGARA FALLS...MEDINA...BUFFALO...BATAVIA...
WARSAW...JAMESTOWN...OLEAN...ORCHARD PARK...SPRINGVILLE
355 AM EDT MON SEP 28 2009
...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT...
A WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT.
EXPECT WINDS TO INCREASE ACROSS THE REGION LTER THIS MORNING AFTER THE PASSAGE OF A COLD FRONT. WIND SPEEDS WILL LIKELY AVERAGE 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS OVER 45 MPH. SINCE MOST TREES ARE STILL FULLY FOLIATED...THERE IS AN INCREASED POTENTIAL FOR DOWNED TREE LIMBS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WIND ADVISORY IS NORMALLY ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS ARE FORECAST TO BE 31 TO 39 MPH OR GUSTS WILL RANGE BETWEEN 46 AND 57 MPH. WINDS OF THESE MAGNITUDES MAY CAUSE MINOR PROPERTY DAMAGE. MOTORISTS IN HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES SHOULD USE CAUTION UNTIL THE WINDS SUBSIDE. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER RADIO AND TV STATIONS FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES.
Also on NY-Alert and The Weather Channel
On Friday night, the Assembly of God church in Batavia hosted a back-to-school rally for local youth.
This was a community-outreach event intended "to start a fire in the hearts of the youth," said Pastor Lou Krutz.
It started with a demo by the Solid Rock Skate Team out of Rochester. After that, kids were given the option to play dodgeball or hang out in the building and play games. Then there was a concert by the local band Elmwood Drive.
A message was also given by Pastor Krutz entitled "Are you a chicken or a pig?". It compared what a chicken sacrifices and what a pig sacrifices and how it relates to a commitment to God. The night ended with a game of intense dodgeball.
I thought the event was an overall success.
Below is a quick video of the event.
By Becky LeFevre
As a child, I spent most of my days at home with my grandma and grandpa while my mom was at work. My grandma practically lived in the kitchen. She was a great cook and made absolutely delicious pies. I watched her diligently and over time learned how to add just the right amount of water to make the dough flaky but not tough, how to flute the edges of apple pie or make a lattice top for a cherry pie. I learned that sometimes you have to adjust the amount of sugar depending on the sweetness of the fruit. I can bake a great pie. But, I also learned that great pie takes a lot of time, and time is in short supply. I’ll bake a pie for Thanksgiving and Christmas, maybe a birthday or once when the sour cherries are in season, but for the rest of the year I settle for creative alternatives.
The following recipes are the absolute simplest pie-alternatives you can find. Not only are they thrown together in less than 5 minutes, they look and taste fabulous and are nutritious. If you want a pie but don’t have time, try this:
First, get some of your favorite fruits. I have peaches from Partyka farm and 20oz apples from Chryst farm, both from the Genesee Country Farmers Market.
Then, turn on your oven to 350
For Peaches, cut peaches in half and remove pit. Place facing up (skin down) on a baking sheet (you can cut a thin slice off the back of the fruit so it sits up straight on the baking sheet). Top with either:
· a pad of butter and teaspoon of light brown sugar OR
· drizzle on some honey with a few sprigs of fresh lavender, or lemon zest
· for extra excitement, add a some fresh berries or plums to the peaches when they are halfway done. Don’t add berries in the beginning or they will get mushy.
Bake for a half hour (while you are eating dinner). Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream.
For Apples, remove the core from apple (try to keep the bottom of the apple intact). If your apple is quite large or you don’t have patience with the core removal, cut it in half and remove the core that way.
Fill the apple with a pad of butter and approximately a teaspoon of light brown sugar, depending on the size of apple. Sprinkle on some cinnamon or insert a stick of cinnamon. You can also add some raisins and pecans. Bake on 350 for a half hour or till tender. Serve will a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Tonight I’m roasting a chicken for dinner, with potatoes, onions and beans from the market. I’m going to slip 2 huge sugar-butter stuffed apples into the oven when the chicken is done, and voilà…dessert!
Great Kutz, in the Valu Plaza, 4152 W. Main Street Road, Batavia, NY: Batavia's newest full-service salon, offering affordable haircuts for men and women on a walk-in basis. Today, we have two gift certificates for men's haircuts, a $12.95 value for $6 each (gift card can be applied toward other services, but not products).
Kravings, Valu Plaza, W. Main Street, Batavia, NY: Recently opened, it 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.
Center Street Smoke House, 20 Center St., Batavia, NY: Ribs, brisket, steak, prime rib -- Center Street is a meat lover's paradise. We have a $25 gift card 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.
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.
NOTE: If you've never bought Deal of the Day before, or are otherwise unfamiliar with the rules and process, click here.
Press release:
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand urged the House-Senate Conference Committee to include $350 million for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help New York farmers struggling during the dairy crisis in the final Agriculture Appropriations Bill. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont authored the provision that was included in the Senate version of the legislation.
“Our dairy farmers are hurting. A large step was taken when we convinced Secretary Vilsack to increase prices paid to farmers, and this is an important second step. We need more to ensure that our dairy farmers survive this crisis and we will continue working to make sure that they do,” Senator Schumer said.
“During these tough economic times, this increase will bring some much needed relief for our farmers,” said Senator Gillibrand, the first New York Senator in 40 years to serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee. “While this is great for New York's dairy farmers, this is only a temporary solution to the fundamental problems with the dairy pricing system. I will continue to work for a long term fix for our farmers.”
New York farmers are facing a dairy pricing crisis. According to the USDA it costs a New York dairy farmer $18.82 to produce a hundredweight of milk. Yet in July the average New York farmer received only $11.60 per hundredweight, though a number of farmers reported receiving even less. The Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC), which was designed to be a safety net when there is a large price discrepancy, has not been able to adequately protect New York’s dairy farmers. As a result, New York farmers have been forced to either take on massive debt to cover their costs or go out of business.
In their letter, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand joined with 27 of their Senate Colleagues, writing, “America needs a strong, diverse dairy industry to feed our nation and keep rural communities thriving. If retained in the final Agriculture Appropriations Conference Report, the funds provided by this amendment can be utilized by Secretary Vilsack to provide relief to America’s dairy industry. These funds are crucial to helping hasten the recovery of farm milk prices this fall.”
The Agriculture Appropriations Bill is now being reconciled by the House-Senate Conference Committee, before final passage in both chambers, and sent to the President to become law.
A reader sent along a link to the USGS site about an earthquake in Attica on Sept. 23 because no media reported the event.
Granted, it was a small one, but still worth noting.
The 2.4 shaker was actually 3 miles southeast of Attica.
There was also a temblor reported in Attica on June 5.
Press release:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Chris Lee (NY-26) issued the following statement today after signing a discharge petition to amend the House rules to require that legislation be posted on the Internet for at least 72 hours before a vote on the House floor. More than 170 Members of Congress have signed on to this petition, which are used to force a vote on legislation that has been blocked by the majority leadership. Lee said:
“Western New York taxpayers deserve the ability to weigh in on these important and complicated pieces of legislation which are being rushed through Congress.
“As we saw with the ‘cap and trade’ national energy tax legislation and the enormous ‘stimulus’ spending bill, leaders in Congress have denied the American public the right to full transparency in the legislative process.
“This bill will allow Members of Congress, the American public and the press 72 hours to actually read the huge bills that are often introduced in the dead of night. This common-sense reform is long past due."
Press release:
Washington, D.C. – At the urging of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the Department of Health and Human Services today provided spending and reporting guidelines for counties that received child care funds in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Until today, local officials have been unable to spend these funds because the federal government had not yet provided guidelines for the program. Counties can spend these federal dollars to meet a broad range of needs for their child care centers, including restoring kindergarten seats, saving child care programs from getting cut, and paying for salaries.
“This is great news for counties across New York that have been waiting for the federal guidelines needed to put these funds to use for families that rely on these centers for quality, affordable child care,” Senator Gillibrand said. “I would like to thank Secretary Sebelius for responding so quickly to my request and for understanding that in these tough economic times we need to speed the process of providing federal assistance for these important services.”
New York State’s Office of Children & Family Services received $96.8 million in May to help provide New York families with affordable child care over the next two years through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), which Senator Gillibrand helped pass earlier this year. Approximately $84 million will be allocated to counties across New York over the next two years -- helping approximately 123,000 New York children enrolled in county child care programs.
In a letter sent Tuesday to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Senator Gillibrand asked that the agency immediately take steps to issue federal guidelines to New York State for distribution of the funds.
Full text of the letter:
September 22, 2009
The Honorable Kathleen Sebelius
United States Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20201
Dear Secretary Sebelius:
I write to express my urgent concern regarding New York State’s inability to release the $96.7 million in federal child care stimulus funds that it has received under the under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“ARRA”). New York State’s Office of Children and Family Services received these funds in early May of this year, but has been unable to distribute them to its social service districts because it has been unable to obtain federal guidance on the allowable uses and reporting requirements for these funds pursuant to Section 1512 of the ARRA.
Thousands of working families in communities throughout New York State have not been able to access the assistance they desperately need in order to pay for childcare. Without access to quality childcare, parents risk missing work and losing jobs they need to support their families.
I was a strong supporter of the economic recovery plan, and I continue to support the tremendous work you and President Obama are doing to provide emergency assistance to middle income and low income Americans in need during this economic crisis. I know you agree that we must make sure that families receive assistance as soon as possible.
I urge you to act quickly to provide guidance to the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, and similar agencies throughout the nation, so that working families no longer risk losing access to quality childcare.
Very truly yours,
Kirsten E. Gillibrand
United States Senator
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