Bryon

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today that the Town of Byron will receive $924,000 in loan funding and $756,000 in grant funding for their Water Improvement Area #1 project, which will extend public water service to nearly 200 residents throughout the town.

The loan and grant are part of a $70 million project to improve critical rural infrastructure in New York.

With the release of these funds, the USDA is supporting 24 infrastructure projects in the state. 

“When we invest in rural infrastructure, we invest in the livelihoods and health of people in rural America,” said Rural Development Acting NY State Director Brian Murray. “Under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, USDA is committed to Building a Better America by investing in America’s rural infrastructure, expanding access to broadband, clean drinking water, and resilient power infrastructure. The investments we are announcing today will drive the creation of good-paying union jobs and grow the economy sustainably and equitably so that everyone gets ahead for decades to come.”

Goats are in the roadway at 7015 Townline Road, Byron, east of Tripp Road.

"The caller's trying to keep them out of the roadway," says the dispatcher.

Genesee County Sheriff's deputies are responding.

Meanwhile in the city, police are asked to respond to Summit Street near North Street for a report of a vehicle parked on the wrong side of the street.

UPDATE 11:09 a.m.: In the city, the responding officer says "All the vehicles are legally parked; I'll be clear."

Dana Ryan, 39, of Galloway Road, Alabama, is charged with two counts of fourth-degree grand larceny. An investigation by the Genesee County Sheriff's Office was initiated after two complaints reported to the Sheriff's Office, one in the Town of Pembroke, the other in the Town of Batavia. The complaints concerned payments which were allegedly made to Ryan by two different customers pursuant to construction contracts for work agreed upon but not completed. It is alleged that the payments to Ryan for home-improvement contracts were not allocated into a proper account and that these funds were used by the defendant for purposes other than the agreed upon work. The time frame of the allegations in the complaints, according to the Sheriff's Office news release, is February 2016 through May (2017). Ryan is due in Town of Pembroke Court on July 11 and in Town of Batavia Court on July 13. The case was investigated by Sheriff's Office Investigator J.M. Graff, assisted by Deputy K.M. McCarthy.

Danny D. Williams Sr., 28, of Pearl Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, second-degree menacing, and endangering the welfare of a child -- a child less than 17 years old. The charges stem from an incident which occurred at 8:01 p.m. on June 9 on Central Avenue, Batavia. It is alleged that Williams pulled a knife on an individual during an altercation and that there was a child in close proximity at the time. He was jailed in lieu of $15,000 cash bail or $30,000 bond and was due in Batavia City Court on July 7. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Chad Richards, assisted by Officer Christopher Lindsay.

Dustin L. Landin, 38, of Sierk Road, Attica, is charged with grand larceny -- value greater than $1,000. Landin was arrested for allegedly stealing money/property from a local business at 8:20 p.m. on June 28 on East Main Street in Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket for Batavia City Court on July 11. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Matthew Wojtaszczyk, assisted by officer Stephen Cronmiller.

Christopher Harris Pompa, 45, of Byron Road, Byron, is charged with DWI, refusal to take breath test, and speeding. At 6:16 p.m. on July 8 on South Lake Road in Bergen,  the defendant was stopped in the Village of Bergen following the observation of an alleged traffic violation. The defendant was arraigned on the charges and then released on his own recognizance. He is due in Bergen Town Court on July 19. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Ryan DeLong.

Joseph K. Schlossel, 58, of Linwood Avenue, Batavia, is charged with: moving from lane unsafely; backing unsafely; drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle; and DWI -- first offense. The charges stem from a one-car accident that occurred at 11:45 a.m. on March 11 on Clifton Avenue in Batavia. He was issued tickets and released and is due in City Court July 12. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer James DeFreze, assisted by Officer Nicole McGinnis.

Salvatore M. Schwable, 19, no permanent address, is charged with failure to appear. He was arrested on a bench warrant out of City Court for failure to appear for a scheduled court appearance and jailed on July 6 in lieu of $2,500 cash bail or bond. He was due back in court on July 7. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Chad Richards.

Salvatore M. Schwable, 19, no permanent address, is charged with fourth-degree grand larceny and two counts of petit larceny. The charges stem from an incident at McDonald's on East Main Street in Batavia at 6:33 p.m. on May 12. It is alleged that Schwable took property from three different individuals without their permission. The defendant was jailed without bail and was due back in court on July 7. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Chad Richards.

Felicia Dianne Swartenberg, 20, of Willowbrook Road, Brockport, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and speeding. At 9:51 p.m. July 8, the defendant was stopped on Waterman Road in the Town of Stafford for an alleged vehicle and traffic violation. The defendant allegedly possessed a quantity of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Swartzenberg is due in Stafford Town Court on Aug. 1 to answer the charge. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Ryan DeLong.

Lindsay Rae Crist, 20, of Redman Road, Brockport, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. At 9:51 p.m. July 8, the defendant was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped on Waterman Road in the Town of Stafford for an alleged vehicle and traffic violation. The defendant allegedly possessed a quantity of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Crist is due in Stafford Town Court on Aug. 1 to answer the charge. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Ryan DeLong.

(Photo and story submitted by Pat Lamon.)

Byron’s Summer Rec Program not only was founded by volunteers, but last week children attending that program did their own volunteering project. The children were under the watchful eye of "Miss Emily" Van Eenwyk, their rec leader from the very start.

The idea of giving back to the community started with founder, Laura Platt. The rec program was a vision of Platt’s who saw a vital need for some organized activities and fun for the children in her little town of Byron. Eight years ago and with the help of Debra Leaton, town clerk, Platt’s idea was realized.

“The program has benefited from so much community support,” Platt said.

The town’s children, most of whom are able to walk to the program, which is located in the park behind the Fire Department in Byron are engaged in organized activities from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Monday – Friday.

“This year we were lucky enough to offer free lunches to the kids!” Platt said.

The Byron-Bergen School cafeteria received a grant allowing them to provide the meals and Platt calls in a count in the morning and then picks them up at the school. She delivers the healthy meals to the site at noontime.

In addition to the usual supervised activities, the children also attended several field trips including, visiting the Erie Canal, the Genesee County Park, and Fantasy Island. They also went bowling and made a few walking trips to the park in town.

“Volunteerism got this program up and running, and it’s important to me that children experience the joy of giving back,” Platt said.

So every year she and Miss Emily find a worthy project. On Aug. 6, 19 children ranging in age from 5 to 15 and three rec leaders walked a quarter mile to Byron Mobile Home Park. On the way they passed through the cemetery where they spotted a frog, and lots of snails and slugs which they all examined.

They finally came to the home of Charles Lyman, a Navy veteran in his 80s. Once there the group proceeded to clean the moss and debris from the siding of his house. When the group took an ice cream break Jordyn Platt, one of the rec leaders, explained that she had once lived in that same house. Mr. Lyman couldn’t make it home due to a late running appointment, but he later called Platt to thank everyone for such a great job.