GENESEO — In a special evening at the Big Tree Inn, Community members and colleagues gathered in a tribute to former Geneseo Mayor Richard Hatheway. Hatheway served as the Mayor for 32 years and in his farewell comments cited the successes, numerous volunteer organizations in the community, Village employees and in a gracious moment of gratitude thanked his wife Linda. "It's not all about government it's about cooperation. It's about … [Read more...]
Cigarette Lights Mulch Fire on Millennium Drive, Geneseo
GENESEO – A discarded cigarette is to blame for a mulch fire that damaged a building on Millennium Drive on the afternoon of Aug. 11, just as pouring rain began to fall. According to Geneseo Fire and Ambulance Chief Andrew Chanler, the cigarette ignited a mulch fire which smoldered and damaged the side of the building, which contains two doctors' offices. "The mulch smoldered a great deal, throughout about 8 inched which had been laid … [Read more...]
NYS Gives Livingston County’s Everyday Heroes $36K Boost
LIVINGSTON COUNTY – The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DOCJS) gave a big financial boost to several Livingston County agencies that make a difference every day for the victims of crime and disaster. According to a press release from NYS Senator Patrick Gallivan, DOCJS is dividing a total of $36,000 between the Caledonia Police Department, Geneseo Police Department, Genesee Valley EMS, Geneseo Fire and Ambulance, and … [Read more...]
Geneseo Grass Fire a Reminder of Tinder Dryness Under New Growth
GENESEO – A grass fire clouded green fields off of Rte. 39 (Avon Geneseo Road) Monday afternoon, reminding local residents that under lush new grass is the same tinder-dry dead material from March. According to Geneseo Fire and Ambulance Chief Andrew Chanler, the property owner had safely burned an old brush pile on Sunday. Many hours later, at about 1:45 p.m. Monday, that smoldering fire ignited dead growth under the new green … [Read more...]
Geneseo Fire Chief Remembers Firefighter ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson as Role Model
GENESEO – Geneseo Fire Chief Andrew Chanler remembers one of his most devoted young firefighters, Matthew Hutchinson, as a role model for his two kids. 'Hutch,' also a student and outstanding hockey player at SUNY Geneseo, tragically lost his life with another current student and a former student on Sunday in an incident that shocked the Village and college campus at Geneseo. Hutchinson, 24, was somehow able to balance being a hockey player, … [Read more...]
Students Ticketed, Fire Dept. Ticked about Book Fires During Finals
GENESEO – Two SUNY Geneseo students were ticketed by Geneseo Police last week, finals week, after they allegedly not only started an open book and trash fire just feet from their Court Street house but kindled another fire after firefighters had responded. According to a press release from Geneseo Police Chief Eric Osganian, Michael Taussig, 22, of Dobbs Ferry, NY, and Mitchell Gillard, 21, of Elba, NY, were both ticketed for Open Burning, a … [Read more...]
Geneseo Warns Students of Social Host Law Ramifications After 3 Students Charged
GENESEO – On Halloween, three people currently listed as students were arrested by Geneseo Police under the recently passed 'Social Host Law.' The following Friday, a mass e-mail (copied below) from Wendi Kinney, Assistant Dean of Students for Fraternal Life and Off Campus Services for SUNY Geneseo, warned off campus students take reasonable precautions to keep party guests safe. The law is designed to help protect underage drinkers from the … [Read more...]
Geneseo Residents Battled Kelly’s Fire with Garden Hose
GENESEO – Two local residents who first saw and reported the fire that tragically destroyed Kelly's Saloon on Wednesday made valiant efforts to fight the flames with everything they had until they were overwhelmed by smoke. Matt Griffo says that he originally saw the smoke, called 911, and arrived at the scene with Don Livingston to find the back door of Kelly's completely engulfed in black smoke. "I was coming home when I saw the billowing … [Read more...]
Buckshot, Beloved Sheriff Mounted Patrol Horse, Passes Away
LIVINGSTON COUNTY – On February 4, much loved member of the Sheriff's Mounted Patrol, Buckshot, passed away. Deputy Sheriff Pat Lynch worked with Buckshot as a longtime Mounted Patrol partner at public gatherings, fairs, parades, assisting in traffic control, search and rescue, and civil disturbances. For many years the two participated in the Hemlock and Caledonia fairs, Dansville Festival of Balloons, Mounted Patrol's "Spring Tune-Up," and … [Read more...]
After the Fire: Insurance Nightmare
LIVINGSTON COUNTY – While our valley does look beautiful in a coat of snow, homes can be put at significant risk by our best efforts to batten down the hatches and survive winter's not-so convenient freezing temperatures. Within the past week, two Livingston County families have been displaced by fires caused by heating devices, and according to Andrew Chanler, volunteer firefighter and insurance agent with Chanler Insurance, many, many others … [Read more...]