auction

For many years Gene and Peggy Bontrager were owners of Ringneck Hunting Preserve in Darien, NY. Now in retirement, they have sold their property and are moving to Tennessee. This auction will include their personal property. Please join us on June 29th at 5 p.m. at 2407 Broadway in Darien.

(Tyler Jirovec with his Grand Prize steer.)

Wallets heavy, hands at the ready; enthusiastic buyers weren't holding much back Thursday night. Buyers showed up in numbers for the 4-H livestock auction ready to see the best lambs, goats, hogs, and steer available at the Genesee County Fair.

Bill Hayes, owner/president of Turnbull Heating & Air Conditioning, won the Market Steer Overall Project Champion and Jr. Showmanship Champion for $2.20 a pound or an estimated $2,800. He then donated the steer right back to the 4-H; the champion steer weighed in at 1,390 pounds and was raised by Oakfield resident Tyler Jirovec. 

"I come to the auction every year to support these good kids, parents and staff," Hayes said.  

This is the first year the 4-H has allowed you to donate your winnings back to the program.

"I can see myself donating the animal back to 4-H, the program is so great," said Genesee County resident Bill Baskin. "I come every year, haven't missed one in a long time."

The 4-H champions are determined by a point system; points are added up based on your participation in 4-H meetings, community service, your overall placement, and showmanship. The individual with the most points by the Genesee County Fair date is Project Champion; the winner gets a large ribbon to show off.

"If you win Grand or Reserved Project Champion when you step into that ring, everyone wants to bid on you," said Tim Adams, 4-H swine club leader.

The 4-H Swine Club raises show hogs. The club has around 20 members ranging in age 8 to 19 years old. At initial weigh-in, a student's hog cannot weigh more than 80 pounds and must weigh between 210 and 285 pounds by the time of the fair. Adams says he donates roughly four hours of his time to the 4-H daily, and during fair week even more.

This year was special for the Swine Club, members were able to get rid of their wood pens and install metal ones, which are more sanitary for the animals and people.

"4-H is so much more than just marketing animals; it's a small family," Adams said.

The 4-H takes devotion and a lot of effort on the students' part. Some kids spend two or three hours a day grooming, walking and feeding their show animals. The learning experience doesn't stop at the children either; parents learn a lot about what it takes to raise a hog, cattle, goat or lamb.

"It's nice to have kids and friends to learn and grow with you," said Kevin Bezon, parent of Tucker and uncle of Leah and Ashton Bezon -- all 4-H participants.

"I easily spend three or four hours a day to the animals," said Tucker Bezon, proud owner of an impressive 1,208-pound steer.

Fourth-year 4-H participant Shianne Foss from Corfu placed fourth overall with a 1,300-pound steer. Much like other 4-H'ers, Shianne doesn't just go to the Genesee County Fair, she travels all over Western New York to show off her livestock and hard work. 

Overall Project Champion, Rate of Gain Champion, and Reserve Project Champion Miasy Ross was ecstatic after her lambs sold for top dollar. Placing one and two overall, Miasy is a very dedicated 4-H member and has been in the program for years.

"I actually gained so many friends, I wish more people did this," Miasy said.

4-H Livestock Auction is a great place for local farmers and livestock owners to display the results of their toil. You can feel the good spirits and pride of showmanship that abound while walking the auction grounds.

(Micheal Ermantrout had the Grand Champion goat.)

(Shianne Foss completes some final grooming before the auction.)

(Peggy Shuknecht, of Elba, holds Helena Kotarski, 2, so she can pet a cow.)

(Cole Phelps relaxes before the auction.)

(Photos by Howard Owens.)

To purchase prints, click here.

Dozens of people, including a few local business owners, packed into the former Delavan's Restaurant, 107 Evans St., Batavia, this morning for an auction of the building's contents.

Everything sold, except for the kitchen sink and the building it's attached to.

The real estate is still available, so here's your chance to own your own bar and grill, or maybe the ultimate man cave.

The auction was conducted by Bontrager's.

This morning a couple members of the Batavia Kiwanis Club went to Paul White's place to get a look, and take a ride, on his paraglider.

White is donating a ride on the paraglider to be auctioned off at the club's Bidding on a Brighter Future Auction & Gala at Batavia Downs on Sept. 22.

The event is the club's big annual fundraiser to benefit the Child Advocacy Center, which needs to move into a new home that it will own.

Last year, the event raised $30,000 for CAC. Kiwanis members have set a goal of $150,000.

The center has assisted more than 1,400 children who were victims of physical and sexual abuse over the past 13 years. CAC provides a safe and comforting environment for forensic interviews, medical examinations and advocacy for children who are victimized in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties.

Besides the paraglider ride, this year gala guests will be able to bid on a fully stocked freezer, sea cruises, cigars and accessories, fun in South Carolina -- a Hilton Head stay and a Myrtle Beach vacation, a Batavia Police Department "CSI Experience," a private pistol lesson for two with a sharpshooter from Batavia PD, fresh baked pies, children's scooters, a stained glass work, couch, chairs, sink and vanity, double oven, jewelry and lots more.

Tickets are $40 per person or $75 for a couple. Sponsorship levels range in price from $50 to $5,000. Sponsors must sign up by Sept. 12.

The club is also still accepting donations.

All donations to the foundation are tax deductible.

For more information, contact Anita at 813-5371 or Grace at 344-8576.

Below: Kiwanis member Peter Guppenberger prepares for a ride with Paul White. Photos provided by Grace Flannery.

The City of Batavia has eight properties owned by people who didn't pay their taxes. Monday night the city council voted to move forward with getting new owners for the properties. It agreed to put six of them up for auction, sell one to Habitat for Humanity and explore redevelopment options for the other.

The properties consist of five houses, plus two parcels of land zoned residential, and one commercial property located at 13-15 Jackson St., which is in Jackson Square.

The auction would hopefully allow the city to gain back some, if not all, of the unpaid taxes.

Councilman Bill Cox questioned that if the properties were sold to cover back taxes, would that change their assessed value? City Manager Jason Molino said he would be surprised if some of the properties sold for the amount owed.

They will be sold for prices lower than the surrounding houses. But in a distressed sale, Molino said the price of a "spotted" property is typically considerated without regard to the higher values of those around it.

Three of the residential properties have tenants. And one of the properties on Ellicott Street will have to be condemned due to the "terrible" shape it's in.

Council agreed to sell one of the properties to Habitat for Humanity, which will rebuild the house so it can become the home of a low-income family. Council saw this as an opportunity to take a house in rough shape and ensure it would be fixed up for a new family.

This was done as part of the Housing Development program.

Council President Marianne Clattenberg said that by starting out with one house being redeveloped, it gives them a chance to "start slow and see how this program works."

Molino carefully chose Habitat in order to virtually guarantee decent results for the first rehab project. Other agencies can be explored another time.

"The goal is to refurbish these houses and put families in them," Clattenberg said. 

Habitat is currently working on a house it bought for around $17,000. But Councilman Samuel Barone noted that it has never come up with the type of money it would need for this house-- nearly $21,000 in back taxes.

Molino said that before a sale contract is written, the nonprofit organization would be asked for a letter of commitment, promising completion of the project.

The only commercial property in arrears, 13-15 Jackson St., will take some time before a new owner can buy it.

The building has some historical background, according to Councilwoman Patti Pacino. Since it's in the Batavia Improvement District (downtown), the council would like to see it developed into something beneficial for the community.

They voted "yes" to seeking development options. The council wants to see the building used for a taxable purpose.

"It's going to take time," says Molino, who will have to gather information about what can be done with the property.

He added that his office has received interest in the building in the past.

Councilman Frank Ferrando said something needs to be done to avoid these situations. Action needs to be taken to get people and businesses to stay in the area.

"We talk about it and we don't take action," Ferrando said. "That's why these things happen. There isn't enough opportunity."

Councilman Bob Bialkowski summed the whole property situation up by saying "It's just very sad."

Wanna buy a church? How would you like a nice big living room with stained glass windows? Perhaps you could turn the church into a restaurant or community theater? Or maybe you're a pastor with a growing congregation and need more space.

No matter what you might want to do with the space, you will have your chance to win the former Oakfield Presbyterian Church, 80 and 82 North Main St., Oakfield, at auction at 5:30 p.m., March 18.

The church and adjoining house -- the manse -- will be sold together with a starting bid of $20,000. The high bidder has the option to buy all the contents of the buildings for an additional $5,000.

The assessed value is $398,000, and current annual taxes are about $16,607. 

The church was built in 1890. It's 11,740 square feet. Besides the manse, there's also a one-car detached garage.

Potential bidders can check out the buildings at open houses 10 a.m. to noon on March 13 and March 17. The winning bidder will be required to make an immediate $10,000 deposit.

The auction is being conducted by Harris Wilcox, a Bergen-based company.

The properties listed below were reportedly foreclosed on by Genesee County for non-payment of taxes.  They will be auctioned off March 27 at Bontrager's.

The properties listed as owned by Genesee County are properties that were not sold at the last auction.

TOWN OF ALABAMA 15.-1-42 SHAMROCK FRANK C KENYON AVE. TOWN OF ALABAMA 6.-1-79 COUNTY OF GENESEE 789 LEWISTON ROAD TOWN OF ALEXANDER 11.-1-40.12 UNKNOWN GENESEE STREET TOWN OF ALEXANDER 15.-1-29 CAPWELL THOMAS 4011 COOKSON ROAD TOWN OF BATAVIA 13.-1-107.1 COUNTY OF GENESEE EAST MAIN STREET ROAD TOWN OF BATAVIA 3.-1-114 MOONEY JUDY L 7881 LEWISTON ROAD TOWN OF BERGEN 6.-1-19.1 CONTE RICHARD E 6567 NORTH LAKE ROAD TOWN OF BERGEN 11.-1-26 DURRANT SHARON & DAVID J 6422 WEST SWEDEN ROAD TOWN OF BYRON 5.-2-44 TEAMCO CORPORATION 6657 COLE ROAD TOWN OF BYRON 7.-1-13.12 STANTON BONNIE 6902 ROUTE 237 TOWN OF LEROY 30.-1-94 FIX JOHN AND LORIE WARSAW ROAD TOWN OF PAVILION 15.-1-9.21 THE ESTATE OF GERALICE RAE BURGH STARR ROAD TOWN OF PEMBROKE 18.-1-52 CAPWELL THOMAS J SCRIBNER ROAD VILLAGE OF ALEXANDER 2.-3-20.1 FULLER JEREMY J 3438 TELEPHONE ROAD VILLAGE OF LEROY 7.-1-65 NORSTRAND DANIEL 1 PLEASANT STREET VILLAGE OF LEROY 7.-2-11 NORSTRAND DANIEL 8 PLEASANT STREET