Stafford

Here's photos from yesterday's Stafford parade and carnival. The carnival continues today and tomorrow.

To purchase prints of these photos, click here.

Organizers of the Stafford Carnival have canceled festivities for tonight. Just about everything -- including the beer tent -- is flooded.

Jamie Call said everything will be ready to go by tomorrow, however.

There's a new energy at Stafford Country Club says club President Marc Staley, with more activities for families and improvements to the golf course that keep it interesting but also make it more playable for those who aren't long hitters.

Stafford is in its 91st year and has had good times and bad times, Staley said, but things seem to be on an upswing these days.

"We try to make sure people come out here and enjoy themselves, that's number one," Staley said. "We have a top-notch course that's playable, a tremendous outdoor pool -- the largest outdoor pool in Genesee County -- a fish pond, bocce ball, tennis, sledding in the winter, dining -- there's a lot of things that are very family friendly about the place."

Stafford, being a private club, has the reputation, of course, of being elitist and stodgy. That might have been true at one time, Staley said, but that was then and this is now. There are more women members and more children around.

"We're working hard to get the word out as a board that this isn't some stuffy place, not some place over in Stafford where only rich people go and hang out and smoke cigars," Staley said. "I think it had that feel to it for many years, and I think by design. A lot of members liked that persona, but times have changed."

It's hard to dispel the myth, according to Staley, because the club's charter prohibits it from spending money on marketing.

The club also can't advertise its membership fees, which are considerably lower than one might expect and for avid golfers as affordable, at least, as playing open-to-the-public courses on a weekly basis.

"When people contact us, they're typically shocked that there's no initiation fee and that there's a dues structure that's payable over 10 months," Staley said. "For a family that's playing 30 or 40 rounds of golf a summer, whose husband, wife and kids are playing, it is every bit as affordable as playing those rounds on a public course where you're paying greens fees and renting a cart every single time. Every time you go, it's a hundred or hundred and twenty bucks if you take a family."

An annual full family membership with unlimited golf is a bit over $3,000, plus members are obligated to spend at least $600 a year on food and drinks, which helps ensure the club can afford to keep staff on its payroll. 

There are also tiers of membership for people who don't play as much golf, or don't play golf at all. A social membership (you can still pay greens fees for up to three rounds a season) is $600. That gets you unlimited access to the clubhouse, pool, two clay tennis courts and all social events.

In recent years, the number of social memberships dropped off, Staley said, but the board is working at incorporating more social events into the calendar to bring some of those members back.

Staley said his experience is typical of many of the family members -- he joined when he was single and 28. Back then, it was all about golf. Now he's married with two young children. His wife golfs, but the family spends a lot of time at the pool (which is has its own food and beverage service) and participating in family events, such as scavenger hunts and family meals.

Six times a year the Staleys participate in the club's "Nine and Dine" event, which puts two couples in a foursome for a best-ball tournament and then the players enjoy a meal together.

It's a great way, he said, for members to meet each other and get to know each other better.

One of the big social events, Staley said, is the annual bocce ball tournament. It's a packed house with an Italian buffet that night.

The big annual events are the club's invitational golf tournament, in which members must invite a guest, and the fall tournament, in which members can play each other. The tournaments tend to be packed, Staley said, and even attract galleries who follow the play.

The course opened in 1922 and was designed by Walter Travis, a renowned course designer who had already built several beautiful courses in the Northeast, including Orchard Park, Look Out Point and Cherry Hill.

In the middle part of the century, some of the Travis-designed features were lost and the club has been working over the past 15 years to bring those features back and to make other improvements to the course, Staley said.

An example at Stafford is shaving the grass shorter on the aprons of the greens. Most of the greens have slopes and mounds around them that can make hitting a green more challenging, but also give the golfer more creative options for pitching, chipping and putting.

"During times of economic stress, maintenance decisions get made, not just at our course, but other courses, too," Staley said. "If you look at some of the history of the courses in Rochester that have been around for years, they change. You really have to make a concerted effort to put them back to play the way they were designed. Only then can you see the brilliance of the designer."

One of the projects under way at Stafford is to build more forward-placed tee boxes. It's part of the USGA's "Play it Forward" program. With more young golfers, more women and more seniors, golf courses need to become more playable.

"When you come out here you want to enjoy yourself," Staley said. "You don't want to get your butt kicked for four hours."

There have also been trees removed that weren't part of the original Travis design, or because they've become diseased; and there has also been a major renovation of the bunkers.

There's a whole, multi-year master plan for improvements.

"It will take us a lot of years and a lot of money to do it, but we're trying to stay committed as a board to doing something to move it along, move it in the right direction," Staley said.

Staley thinks a lot of people in Genesee County simply aren't aware of what Stafford has to offer or what a unique opportunity Stafford offers to golfers who would enjoy a private club membership. He said board members hope they can start to change the Club's image.

"If you picked Stafford up and dropped it in the middle of Perinton, we have a different story here," Staley said. "You would be paying $15,000 or $20,000 up front just to get in the door, but we not here. That's the beauty of this place. It's sort out in the middle of nowhere, and for people who live in Le Roy or in Batavia, you really have a gem out here, a beauty of a place."

On the Web: Stafford Country Club.

A young woman from Le Roy said she believes she fell asleep before her car went off the road on Route 5 in Stafford at 11:22 p.m., Thursday.

The 2003 Dodge sedan became fully engulfed in flames after hitting a mailbox and then an earth embankment.

Marisa B. Fox, 20, of South Street Road, Le Roy, suffered minor injuries in the accident, which was investigated by Deputy Frank Bordonaro.

No citations were issued.

Stafford Fire Department responded to the fire call and Mercy EMS assisted at the scene.

(Initial Report)

A vehicle is on fire on Main Road in Stafford and "going pretty good" according to a responder on scene.

The vehicle may have been involved in an MVA.

Stafford Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 11:31 p.m.: It is an accident. The driver just requested an ambulance. Mercy EMS being dispatched.

UPDATE 11:36 p.m.: A deputy is on scene. A mailbox was destroyed at a residence.  The accident site is west of Hanson.

UPDATE 11:43 p.m.: The fire was under power lines. The flames weren't high, but they were hot. Dispatch is notifying National Grid to check the lines in the morning.

UPDATE 11:44 p.m. A chief now believes the lines did burn a bit and National Grid is requested to the scene now.

UPDATE 11:49 p.m.: Fire is out.

Lamar Iteef Randall, 27, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal impersonation, aggravated unlicensed operation and speeding (71 in a 55 mph zone). Randall was stopped for allegedly speeding at 5:50 p.m., Wednesday, on Clinton Street Road, Stafford, by Deputy Joseph Corona.

Paul W. Zambito, 64, of Kendall Road, Pavilion, is charged with forged inspection. Zambito was stopped by a Wyoming County Sheriff's deputy in the Town of Covington for an alleged expired vehicle inspection and no front plate. His vehicle inspection was allegedly found to be forged.

Cassi Ann Schutt, 26, of West Crest Drive, Rochester, is charged with petit larceny and trespass. Schutt was allegedly observed by security at Walmart shoplifting $270 in merchandise. Schutt was charged with trespass because she has been allegedly banned from all Walmart stores because of a prior shoplifting accusation.

Terry Ann Fulmer, 60, of Jackson Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Fulmer is accused of stealing $32.03 in merchandise from Kmart.

Daniel P. Ingraham, 44, of 12 Fawn Ridge Road, Henrietta, is charged with obstructing governmental administration, 2nd, and open container. After Batavia PD was dispatched to Austin Park to investigate a report of an intoxicated male, Ingraham was allegedly observed driving a 1990 red Chevrolet Blazer through the back parking lot of the police station. Ingraham parked and got out of the vehicle. Officers reportedly attempted to escort Ingraham into the police building for further investigation when he allegedly fled, running through Austin Park. He was apprehended on Porter Avenue. Ingraham was ordered held without bail pending his next court appearance.

A tractor-trailer fire is reported on the Thruway near mile marker 381 in the westbound lane.

At least one caller has reported the fire. It's not known what cargo the truck may be carrying.

Le Roy Fire Department is responding.

Mile marker 381 is just west of the West Bergen Road overpass.

UPDATE 5:09 p.m.: A chief on scene reports there is no fire. The truck driver is having mechanical trouble.

A wire across the roadway on Randall Road prompted law enforcment to shut down the road until it can be removed. The location is between Richmond and Buckley roads. Stafford Fire Department is responding, along with a Sheriff's Deputy for traffic control.

UPDATE 1:55 p.m.: The wire has been removed and the road is reopened. Stafford is back in service.

A large turtle that's injured is reportedly laying in the roadway on Main Road in Stafford. Law enforcement is responding.

UPDATE 11:01 a.m.: "The turtle's been removed from the roadway and I'll be back in service," says the officer.

A motorcycle accident is reported in the 6000 block of East Bethany - Le Roy Road. The driver is conscious and alert, but lying on the ground complaining of shoulder pain. Stafford Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 4:42 p.m.: Mercy Flight is called to the scene.

UPDATE 4:55 p.m.: Westbound traffic is shut down.

UPDATE 5:08 p.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne and headed to Strong Memorial Hospital.

UPDATE 5:11 p.m.: The road is reopened. The Stafford assignment is back in service.

Bryan McWayne Hargrave, 26, of Morrow Road, Pavilion, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property, 3rd. Hargrave was reportedly found in possession of a vehicle and tools that had been reported stolen in Le Roy on Saturday. Hargrave was jailed on $20,000 bail.

Woodrow Clarence Horseman, 37, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Horseman was allegedly caught shoplifting at Kmart.

Beth M. Overacker, 34, of North Chili, is charged with operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs, aggravated DWI (child in car), endangering the welfare of a child, controlled substance not in original container and criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. Overacker was stopped at 11:53 a.m., Saturday, on R. Stephen Hawley Drive, Batavia, by State Police. Overacker was held on bail. No further details released.

Jason W. Lebar, 27, of Stafford, is charged with illegal discharge of a firearm and criminal possession of a weapon, 4th (prior criminal conviction). Lebar was arrested by State Police in connection with an alleged incident reported at 7:08 p.m., Saturday. No further details released.

A 26-year-old Stafford resident is looking at $6,184 in restitution to the Department of Social Services and possibly six months in jail after pleading guilty Monday to a single felony count of offering a false instrument for filing, 1st.

Stacy Patterson was originally charged with four counts of offering a false instrument for filing.

As part of the plea deal, Patterson is ineligible for future social services payments.

Patterson submitted various forms to DSS from October 2010 through October 2011 and in the process failed to report her husband's wages from his employment.

Patterson was receiving food stamps at the time.

Sentencing is set for 9:30 a.m., July 15.

A working structure fire is reported on Hutchinson Street in Pavilion. Stafford, Bethany and Le Roy fire departments, along with York, are responding with Pavilion. Bergen is asked to fill in at the Le Roy Fire Hall. They are on the second floor at this point checking for extentions.

UPDATE 12:15 a.m.: The fire is pretty well knocked down. The exact address is 6918 Hutchinson St. Two Rochester & Southern trains scheduled to run by soon are asked to slow it down. National Grid is called to the scene along with Salvation Army, the latter to provide refreshments.

UPDATE 12:19 a.m.: Interior crew reports no sign of fire extension on second floor, "must be in the attic." They are opening up the roof to vent the structure. "We can find no way into the attic from the second floor." Command reminds tankers not to park on the railroad.

UPDATE 12:22 a.m.: The city's Fast Team is requested to the scene.

UPDATE 12:24 a.m.: No response from Salvation Army, calling the Pavilion Auxiliary instead. "We're exiting the building. There's nothing we can do up here," says the fire chief regarding the interior crew.

UPDATE 12:28 a.m.: They cut a hole in the ceiling and reported seeing nothing, but a thermal camera shows fire and heat "in the eaves in the eastside." Subsequenty, fire "self-venting through the roof." Interior crews are exiting the house. "There's nothing we can do up here." Initially, flames were seen shooting out the back of the three-story house.

UPDATE 12:33 a.m.: A Mercy rig was called in by fire command for a firefighter, unknown injuries, now a second rig is called for a second patient, told to go Route 19 to Route 63, past the Pavilion Bank.

UPDATE 12:36 a.m.: All crew members are accounted for and out of the structure. They are trying to cool the attic in order to get a crew back up in there.

UPDATE 12:39 a.m.: The American Red Cross will likely be needed to respond, says the chief. Howard, at the scene, reports a small terrier-type of dog came running out of the house and was scooped up by a firefighter and handed over to its owner.

UPDATE 12:46 a.m.: The train company is contacted and asked to stop the trains scheduled to pass through on Hutchinson Street.

UPDATE 1:03 a.m.: The power company is there now and has shut off power to the house.

UPDATE 3:44 a.m.: Pavilion leaving the scene, all units back in service.

A couple is roadside in the area of Prole Road and Horseshoe Lake Road with a Great Dane who is "very friendly" that they found wandering in the area.

The animal control officer is on another call and about to go off shift, so a dispatcher raised a deputy on air and informed him, "I guess you're the Great Dane catcher today."

"It's what I live for," responds the deputy drolly.

UPDATE: The owner has been located and the deputy can stand down.

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported on the eastbound Thruway at mile marker 382.1. Le Roy Fire and Ambulance Service is responding.

UPDATE 2:59 p.m.: Due to the lack of available ambulances, Bergen's ambulance is requested to the scene. An ambulance from Caledonia is also called. A person at the scene reports three people are injured.

UPDATE 3:02 p.m.: The availability of Mercy Flight is checked. Also, an ambulance from Henrietta is called in.

UPDATE 3:07 p.m.: A responder reports there are six patients. A second ambulance out of Henrietta is requested. Mercy Flight out of Buffalo is available.

UPDATE 3:09 p.m.: Apparently Byron was also called, because Byron is requesting Clarendon is asked to stand by in Byron's fire hall.

UPDATE 3:11 p.m.: A Mercy rig has become available and it is asked to stage at the Thruway entrance.

UPDATE 3:17 p.m.: Bergen is taking a patient to Rochester General Hospital. Stafford is asked to stand by in its own quarters.

UPDATE 3:22 p.m.: Bethany's ambulance is requested. A crew from Darien is asked to assemble in quarters.

UPDATE 3:32 p.m.: A patient is being taken to Strong Memorial Hospital.

UPDATE 3:34 p.m.: A chief on scene reports five patients have been removed from a vehicle. Henrietta is taking a patient to Strong.

UPDATE 3:39 p.m.: Caledonia is taking a victim to Strong.

UPDATE 3:41 p.m.: Stafford is told to stand down from its standby in quarters.

UPDATE 3:48 p.m.: Le Roy fire is packing up and preparing to return to service and the State Troopers are in charge of the scene.

A caller reports a shed fire off Ellicott Street Road near Paul Road.

The caller didn't have an exact address.

Stafford Fire Department is dispatched.

UPATE 7:05 p.m.: A chief arriving on scene reports heavy smoke in the area.

UPDATE 7:06 p.m.: A chief requests a second alarm for tankers.

UPDATE 7:10 p.m.: Bethany is responding.

UPDATE 8:07 p.m.: All units back in service.

Genesee County Economic Development Center is trying to get initial permitting completed on a proposed expansion of the Upstate Med-Tech Center on R. Stephen Hawley Drive just in case a specific medical device technology company wants to lease the space.

Mark Masse, VP of operations for GCEDC, told the County Planning Board on Thursday that a contractor has a potential leasee and is in negotiations now. Getting certain regulatory hurdles cleared now would help the process.

"If they reach an agreement, the potential leasee is working on a tight time frame," Masse said.

Masse doesn't know yet how many new jobs could be created by the company.

"They haven't gone before the board yet for incentives from us," Masse said. "More information would be available at that point in time, if it gets to that point."

The planning board unanimously approved site plan review for proposed 60,000-square-foot facility.

The board also unanimously approved a site plan review for a proposed 60,000-square-foot cold storage facility at the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park.

Masse said GCEDC still owns the property the unnamed company is considering for the facility and sales negotiations are ongoing.

That company also has yet to come to the GCEDC board seeking incentives, so Masse doesn't know yet how many new jobs will be created by the facility.

In other board action:

• Did not approve variances for applicants to operate a gift and hobby shop on Knowlesville Road, Alabama, and a country store on Tesnow Road, Alabama. The board encouraged the applicants to seek a zoning change with the town rather than get a variance to existing zoning.
• Approved a special use permit for a home welding business at 7460 Alleghany Road, Alabama.
• Declared that a proposed boarding house at 316 E. Main St., Batavia, isn't subject to county planning review. Owner Terry Platt is looking to convert a single-family home into a 12-room boarding house.
• Approved subdivision and site plan review for 7,015-square-foot building to house a gun store, laser engraving business and indoor shooting range at 8240 Buffalo Road, Bergen.
• Approved site plan review to rebuild a fabrication business at 1606 Broadway Road, Darien.
• Approved, with modifications, a site plan review and area variance for a new Dollar General at 111 N. Main St., Oakfield.
• Approved a site plan review for conversion of a former restaurant and apartment complex at 6309 Clinton Street Road, Stafford, into a four two-bedroom apartment and a single one-bedroom apartment complex.

Patrick Maxwell Hackett, 44, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with rape, 3rd, unlawful dealing with a child, 1st and endangering the welfare of a child. Hackett is a registered Level 2 sex offender. He is accused of engaging in sexual relations with a minor in the Town of Batavia. He also allegedly supplied alcohol to the minor. Hackett was taken into custody with the assistance of Batavia PD.  He was jailed without bail.

Francisco Javier Molina, 47, of Edgecreek Trail, Rochester, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08, speed not reasonable and prudent, failure to keep right and consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle. Molina was allegedly driving on Route 33, Stafford, at 7:53 p.m., Tuesday, when he took a left turn too fast onto Caswell Road. Molina and his passenger were allegedly seen tossing beer cans from the vehicle. They were both issued citations for alleged littering and Molina was cited for alleged refusal to take a breath test. Molina was stopped by Sgt. Greg Walker.

Billie Jeremy McMurty-Rivera, 28, of Hollenbeck Street, Rochester, is charged with falsifying business records, 2nd. McMurty-Rivera, while incarcerated in the Genesee County Jail, is accused of altering commissary paperwork of three other inmates without their consent to obtain food and other products. Bail was set at $5,000.