A car is on its roof on the westbound Thruway at mile marker 400. It's in the median. Unknown injuries. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 7:03 a.m.: A fire chief on scene reports everyone is out of the vehicle. But there's a language barrier and so the issue of whether there are injuries remains unclear.

UPDATE 7:08 a.m.: A responder on scene reports the location is actually between mile markers 401 and 402.

UPDATE 7:32 a.m.: The location is mile marker 401.8. The assignment is back in service.

A car accident is reported on Route 98 north of Batavia Elba Townline Road. The vehicle is on its side in the roadway, blocking traffic. Mercy medics are responding along with Elba fire.

UPDATE 5:30 a.m.: The location is in the area of 7499 Oak Orchard Road. Town of Batavia also responded. Minor injuries reported. One person has been extricated.

UPDATE 5:31 a.m.: Town of Batavia is back in service.

• Oakfield-Alabama: "This is a message from the Oakfield-Alabama Central School District. Due to the anticipated cold temperatures and wind chill students will not have school tomorrow, Friday, February 20th. All faculty and staff are still required to report as Friday will now be a Superintendent’s Conference Day. This unplanned change to the calendar will result in students attending school on Monday, April 27th which was originally planned as a conference day. Please make note of this change on your calendar. Extracurricular activities are not canceled at this time, except for the elementary super hero party. The party will be rescheduled for a later date.  Please stay safe and warm tomorrow!"
• Elba Central Schools: As a result, tonight's production of CATS has been rescheduled as a matinee for 2 p.m., tomorrow. The 7 p.m. performance tomorrow will go on as scheduled. (Look for photos on The Batavian later today from last night's dress rehearsal.)
• Alexander Central School
• Notre Dame High School
• Pavilion Central School District
• Pembroke Central School District

Send closures and cancellations to howard@thebatavian.com.

A chimney fire is reported at 1084 Ledge Road, just east of the Reservation boundary line. Alabama fire is responding.

UPDATE 8:10 p.m.: Fire is out. Alabama assignment is back in service.

The outlook for farm profits in 2015 is far from sunny, according to media reports, and Craig Yunker, CEO of CY Farms, sees things much like other industry experts and economists who are predicting tight and declining margins.

Yunker, who stays abreast of agricultural markets and trends in the normal course of business, just returned from trips to California and Chicago, where he met with other farm executives and farm profits were very much the focus of discussions.

"We're looking at softer prices, tighter margins and a tougher year," Yunker said. "The good news is, farmers are in pretty good shape. Dairy farmers are coming off a strong year. The guys growing grain had good years when the market was strong. A lot of them paid down debt and pre-paid expenses going into 2015. Most farmers are strong financially in terms of balance sheets and that should help them survive these tighter markets."

Yunker is a member of the Association of Agricultural Production Executives, which is a group of 150 farmers. They just met this past week in California. He's also a trustee for the Farm Foundation, which just met in Chicago.

Much of the concern about farm profits is being driven by a recent USDA report, which predicts a 25-percent decline in farm income for 2015.

Corn prices have fallen substantially from their high of two years ago.  

In grains, the nation's farmers enjoyed record exports in 2014, but export revenue is expected to decline in 2015 (volume should remain roughly the same, but prices are down).

Globally, grain inventory is up, cutting demand.

The rate of economic growth in China is slowing, which cuts the demand for exports.

India has a big stockpile of wheat.

The strong U.S. dollar makes U.S. exports more expensive for other countries.

There's a glut of dairy products on the market.

While lower fuel costs will mean some savings, the cost of fertilizer hasn't caught up yet.

There's been no impact on seed prices yet.

With unemployment rates down, the labor market is tight, especially for truck drivers. Yunker expects that to push labor costs higher.

On the farm labor front and immigration, there are not as many immigrants coming to the U.S., so there are fewer available workers. As workers return to their home countries, or get arrested, or take jobs in other sectors, they're not being replaced by new workers. That will mean higher wages for the available farm workers.

A lot of vegetables grown locally go to food processors and those seasonal contracts haven't come out yet, so it's hard to predict what the prices will be, but Yunker said he's expecting prices to be softer this year.

There's a lot going on in the world that has a ripple effect on farm prices.

There was a huge worldwide onion crop last year, but the dockworkers' strike in California also means that onions that would normally be shipped to Asia are starting to flow East, so onion prices are down and dropping.

The weather has meant people are less likely to dine out, which has a big impact on cabbage prices, since a lot of the cabbage market is driven by what restaurants buy (think, for example, cole slaw).  

While lower fuel prices mean consumers have more dollars to spend, they don't typically spend that extra cash on more or better food or eating out more often.

"The benefit of lower fuel prices really goes to Walmart and those places rather than farmers," Yunker said.

As for ripple effects, the turmoil in the Ukraine could have an impact on corn prices. Ukraine is typically a big corn producer, but civil war could disrupt production, but worse for Ukrainian farmers is the deflation of their country's currency. Corn seed could be prohibitively expensive, so what do they do? Yunker wondered. They could dip into their wheat bins for seed and grow a lot more wheat, which costs them nothing. Whatever Ukrainian farmers do will impact the worldwide grain market.

"Those kinds of things are going on all over the world," Yunker said. 

The lack of a pipeline for shipping oil from the north into U.S. production facilities and ports has oil producers turning to rail. (Notice, there've been more oil tanker fires recently?) 

Haulers moving oil on rail means there's less capacity for shipping grain by rail, Yunker said. Midwest grain growers can't move their grain, so they're forced to lower prices.

The dock strike in California is having several impacts on ag prices. Milk powder, for example, that would normally sail to Asia, is being trucked (because rail cars aren't available) to the East Coast for shipment to Asia by that route. That's leading to higher milk powder prices.

Yunker expressed some frustration with how Obama is handling the strike, or not handling it.

"I don't understand why the labor secretary goes out there," Yunker said. "He's going to be a labor guy. He (Obama) should take a stronger stand. Trade is so important to ag. Ag depends on exports.  ... there's been no push for trade since Obama took office."

There was a time, Yunker said, when trade talks would be in the news all the time. The past few years, not so much.

"Generally, agriculture is disappointed in that," Yunker said. "We haven't seen any trade deals in six years. Now he's asking to fast-track trade, but the Republicans are loath to give it to him because they're mad at him for a lot of reasons."

The boom in farm revenue the past couple of years drove up the cost of farm real estate, Yunker said, which means some farmers are paying higher mortgages, and farmers who lease land are being asked to pay higher rents when those leases come up for renewal.

Predicting farm revenue with any certainty is about as trusty as predicting the weather months from now, which brings us to the weather. Another drought in the Midwest or an El Nino will impact crops and prices, thereby changing the whole outlook.

Local impacts both in WNY and everywhere there are farmers means car dealers will sell fewer pickups as cash flow for farmers tighten, and farm equipment dealers could see sales decline.

For the most part, Yunker thinks local farmers will hold on in 2015.

"There are players who will be really pinched because they don't have their house in order," Yunker said. "But for the most part, guys will be in good shape because they have good balance sheets."

Tonight’s meeting of the Genesee County 4-H Swine Club has been cancelled, according to Brandie L. Schultz, administrative assistant for Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Press release:

Genesee Community College invites visual artists to submit their work for possible exhibition at GCC's Rosalie "Roz" Steiner Art Gallery located in the Genesee Center for the Arts on the Batavia campus. This call for work is open to individual artists and group exhibitions in all media interested for the 2016-2017 academic year.

The deadline for consideration is May 1, 2015.

The Steiner Gallery's mission is to foster community involvement in the arts while enhancing the learning experience for all GCC students, faculty and staff. Proposals are selected by the GCC Gallery Committee, which seeks out exhibitions rich in content and quality craftsmanship.

According to gallery docent Mary Jo Whitman: "Our gallery attracts both artists and visitors from throughout Western New York. We are currently averaging about 300 visitors each month. Our committee is always looking for artists that can contribute meaningfully to the education of our students while participating in the larger discourse of the contemporary art world."

The Roz Steiner Gallery opened in Spring 2011 and offers 1,700 square feet of outstanding exhibit space featuring 25-foot walls, moveable island walls, bamboo flooring and multimedia capabilities. See more at the Gallery's facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/gccgallery.

Artists interested in submitting their work can do so via the submission process available on the Gallery Web site at http://www.genesee.edu/campuslife/arts/gallery/submissions.cfm

Press release:

As of March 1st, seniors in Genesee County will have another option to get out of the house and stay active. Tender Loving Family Care, a Brockport-based business with roots in Batavia, has reached an agreement with Genesee County to operate Adult Day Programs in the Office for the Aging location at 2 Bank Street in Batavia.

Adult Day Programs are dynamic, multifaceted programs that focus on fitness and wellness, entertainment, personal care and nutrition. A typical day starts out with a continental breakfast of muffins and pastries along with discussion of current events and socialization. Seniors then participate in different activities including: arts and crafts, card games, indoor bowling, baking, or simply watching "The Price is Right!" on TV.

Morning activities are followed by a hot lunch and afternoon activities like bingo, trivia, wii bowling, and others. Some days, seniors enjoy field trips to area attractions. TLFC founder and CEO Annika D’Andrea says Batavia will be the fourth location for her company that currently operates similar programs in Albion, Brockport, and Le Roy.

“Tender Loving Family Care began in Batavia and we are happy to be back in the city doing what we do best, helping seniors and families live happy and productive lives,” D’Andrea said. “Adult Day Programs offer families the flexibility and support they need to thrive. In some cases transportation is available, making this a smooth transition for those involved.”

Tender Loving Family Care offers a variety of services for seniors including both medical and non-medical in home care, and assisted living facilities including Canal View in Albion and Garden View in LeRoy. To find out more, visit www.tenderlovingfamilycare.com or call (585) 637-0333.

There are few examples of Mid-century Modern architecture in Batavia, especially among commercial buildings, and one that has been neglected for a long time has found a savior.

D.A. Tufts Construction has purchased 438 East Main Street, which is at the corner of Main and Harvester and is perhaps most often thought of as the former WBTA building.

Dave Tufts said he's admired the building since he was a little kid and is a big fan of Mid-century Modern, so he want to be sure to preserve the era's clean lines and Jetson-style modernism of the structure.

"It's one of my favorite periods, so we're excited about it, to be honest with you," Tufts said. 

Tufts plans to convert the 2,900-square-foot first floor to office space, suitable for business or medical use, and the second floor will become two large apartments (1,300 square feet each) with open floor plans (appropriate for the era) and high-end amenities.

In a statement about their plans, the Tufts said, "The repurposing of the building goes along with the current trend of people returning to urban areas to enjoy downtown living."

They will also construct two more apartments on the property and all four apartments will have private garages.

The exterior will be upgraded with a new entry way and balconies for the apartments, but preserve the stamped brick facade common to the Mid-century Era and simple lines that dominate the look and feel of the current building.

The last tenant of the building, T-Shirts Etc., moved downtown four years ago, and the building has been vacant since. It's sort of gone to seed over all those winters and summers of emptiness.

Renovation work has begun inside, but there's a lot of work ahead for his crews, Tufts said, to bring out the best the building has to offer.

Tufts said Julie Pacatte, economic development coordinator for the city, has helped them throughout the planning process.

Pacatte said she helped the Tufts by developing a marking list for potential office space tenants and also helped them with an application for a grant from National Grid for main street revitalization projects, which she expects will be approved.

"We're thrilled about the project," Pacatte said, because it hits on so many of the city's economic development goals -- from providing mix-use buildings; bringing more viable commercial space and residential space to the central city corridor; and providing higher-end housing (apartments with garages) that doesn't currently exist in the market.

"We love that they're honoring the architectural style of the property," Pacatte said.

Lucine Kauffman, president of the Genesee County Landmark Society, said the Tufts' plans sound like good news.

"I think it's great to start raising awareness to start saving Mid-century buildings," Kauffman said. "When we think about preservation, we usually think of buildings from the 1800s, especially in this area, but there are a lot from the first half of the last century that are certainly worth preserving."

Converting a former commercial building into a mix-use structure (apartments and commercial) fits right in with the trend nationally toward what planners call "new urbanism," Kauffman said, which has so many benefits for local communities, such as economic growth and reduced crime, and it's good for the environment, by reducing the need for commutes and not filling landfills with demolished buildings.

"It's especially true in a city like Batavia, where there has been so much urban renewal and so much devastation," Kauffman said. "I think it's important to move forward and make the best of what we have now. When you see the plans for the Save-A-Lot building, what was done with the Williams building (Alberty Drugs), and what Tompkins has done with their building where WBTA is now, where they're kind of dressing it up, that's the best we can hope for, where people make the best of it."

Kauffman is aware Mid-century Modern may not be to everyone's liking, but that doesn't mean Mid-century Modern shouldn't be preserved.

"Buildings don't have to be grand," Kauffman said. "They don't have to be fancy. They don't have to be anything. They don't have to be esthetically pleasing to everyone. So long as a building represents a specific era or a specific architectural style, it's worth saving."

Press release:

The Batavia Police Department has launched a proactive sex offender house check campaign that will have officers checking registered residences for sex offenders that live in our community. The check is to encourage compliance with NYS sex offender registration laws and to bring offenders who are in violation into compliance. These checks will be random and unscheduled.

The Batavia Police Department has also launched its new Local Sex Offender Web page on the City of Batavia Web site. Citizens can view information pertaining to all the sex offenders that are registered in the City Of Batavia. The page can be found by clicking on “Click for the list of Sex Offenders in the City of Batavia” located at http://www.batavianewyork.com/police-department/pages/sex-offenders.

Press release:

Congressman Chris Collins (NY-27) today released the following statement regarding his opposition to President Obama’s request for fast-track trade promotion authority.

“I am a firm believer in free trade, but it must also be fair trade,” Congressman Collins said. “The secret executive branch negotiations on massive trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership will hurt American workers and businesses by excluding important provisions to combat currency manipulation. It is because of the hardworking Western New Yorkers struggling for a fair chance at the American Dream that I will oppose granting the president fast-track authority to negotiate free trade agreements.”

Justin Lee Pyatt, 26, of Jackson Street, Batavia, is charged with menacing a police officer. Officers responded to 113 Jackson St., Batavia, at 2:02 p.m. Monday to check on the welfare of Pyatt after receiving reports that he was distraught. Pyatt allegedly brandished a knife and threatened two officers. Pyatt was taken into custody without incident and jailed without bail.

Julio C. Morales, 29, of Upton Road, Batavia, is charged with theft of services. Morales is accused of dining at Main St. Pizza Company and then attempting to leave without paying for his meal.

Shaun P. Coulter, 29, of Harvester Avenue, Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. Coulter allegedly broke a window during a domestic incident reported at 8:54 a.m. Wednesday. He was jailed on $500 bail.

Gina L. Donovan, 39, of Haven Lane, Batavia, is charged with trespass. Donovan allegedly refused to leave the Richmond Memorial Library after being told by staff to leave the property.

Michele S. Lafreniere, 30, of Handsome Lake Drive, Caledonia, was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to appear on a charge of aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd. Lafreniere turned herself in and paid $500 bail before being released.

Lawrence David Liles, 58, of Mill Road, Stafford, is charged with criminal mischief, third degree assault and harassment, 2nd. During an incident reported at 6:25 p.m. Aug. 12 Liles allegedly grabbed the phone of a female when she attempted to contact law enforcement. He allegedly struck another person at the scene, causing injuries.

Emisha Marie Milton, 20, of Thurston Road, Rochester, is charged with petit larceny. Milton was arrested on a warrant out of Town of Batavia Court. She was released on her own recognizance from Genesee County custody, but turned over to Gates PD on a warrant on an unrelated matter.

Nancy Ellen Chatt, 69, of Prestige Crossing, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, failure to keep right, moving from lane unsafely and speed not reasonable and prudent. Chatt was charged following a one-vehicle accident, reported at 7:08 p.m. Jan. 24 and investigated by Deputy Matthew Fleming.

Eric McKenzie Smith, 29, of Ross Street, Batavia, is charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, 3rd. Smith was reportedly located by Rochester PD in Rochester while driving a vehicle that he allegedly refused to return to its owner. He was turned over to the Sheriff's Office, arraigned and released.

Jordan Nathanial Odom, 18, of Main Road, Stafford. Odom is accused of stealing items from Pavilion High School on Jan. 13. A 17-year-old resident of Clipnock Road, Stafford, was also charged with petit larceny.

Ketrina Barnes, 19, of Rochester, is charged with grand larceny, 4th. Barnes was arrested at Genesee Community College by State Police. No further details released.

Washington Post: Why restaurants are putting bacon back on everything again

If you're the optimistic sort, you might look at the 30-day forecast and choose to believe it. If you believe it, we'll have two days of single-degree temperatures Thursday and Friday, and after a 30-degree weekend, 10 degrees on Monday, and then things start to look up considerably. March 1 should be 30 and never lower the rest of the month heading into spring.

Of course, 30-day forecasts are notoriously unreliable.

But perhaps you're an optimist.

Meanwhile, an inch or two of snow tonight and bone-chilling wind for a couple of days. And then we can hope.

Photo: Ellicott Street behind Save-A-Lot.

Press release:

The City Council is seeking to fill a part-time City Court Judge position. This position is appointed by City Council to serve a six (6) year term and will be effective April 21, 2015. Minimum qualifications require candidates to be an attorney admitted to practice law in the State of New York for at least five (5) years as of the date he or she commences the duties of the office and must be a resident of the City of Batavia.

All interested candidates please submit a letter of interest by Feb. 28, 2015 to:

City Court Judge

Attn: City Council President Brooks Hawley

One Batavia City Centre

Batavia, New York 14020

Press release:

The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, recognized today the City of Batavia’s Employee Wellness Program as part of the 2015 Bright Ideas program.

This year’s cohort includes 124 programs from all levels of government — school districts; county, city, state, and federal agencies; as well as public-private partnerships — that are at the forefront in innovative government action.

In 2009 Batavia made a complete shift in the way it looked at health insurance, and a wellness program was established to influence employee behavior and focus on preventative care. Employees and spouses who participate in the program and achieve or exceed identified results have the opportunity to earn credits to either reduce their health care contribution or lower their out of pocket deductible.

The employee and spouse, if both participate, can achieve a maximum of 25-percent discount on their health insurance premium, or pay as little as 5 percent for health insurance. The employee health care contribution is 30 percent of the plan's annual cost.

The following are the targeted goals for each factor based on standards established by the National Institute of Health and American Diabetes Association:

1. Health Risk Assessment – Need to complete (employee and spouse)

2. Fasting Glucose - <=99

3. LDL Cholesterol - <=99 mg/dL

4. Blood Pressure - <= 139/89

5. Nicotine Use – Non-use only

In addition, if a participant shows a 60-percent improvement in fasting glucose, LDL cholesterol or blood pressure over the prior year, he/she will receive credit for the category, as the improvement shows significant movement toward obtaining the category goal.

The City’s medical plan also has a case management program in place that works with members to help coordinate all necessary health resources to maintain a healthy quality of life. The overall goal of the City’s wellness program is to drive preventative utilization, reduce the number and severity of claims and reduce health care costs.

With respect to health care expenses, the City has seen impressive accomplishments in managing what are regularly considered “unmanageable costs." Since 2010, Batavia has enjoyed an annual increase in healthcare premiums of only about 4 percent -- compared to an average of double-digit increases nationally. Notably, the cost of the average family healthcare plan in 2014 was $15,927, this was a 5-percent decrease from 2013. Batavia’s health insurance premiums have experienced marginal annual increases in health care premiums when compared to most municipalities in New York State and across the nation, while premiums paid by employees have gone down.

Most importantly, Batavia employees, spouses and families have become more educated and participatory in their own health.

“The Bright Ideas program demonstrates that often seemingly intractable problems can be creatively and capably tackled by small groups of dedicated, civic-minded individuals,” said Stephen Goldsmith, director of the Innovations in Government Program at the Ash Center.

“As exemplified by this year’s Bright Ideas, making government work better doesn’t always require massive reforms and huge budgets. Indeed, we are seeing that, in many ways, an emphasis on efficiency and adaptability can have further-reaching effects than large-scale reforms.”

This is the fourth cohort recognized through the Bright Ideas program, an initiative of the broader Innovations in American Government Awards program. For consideration as a Bright Idea, programs must currently be in operation or in the process of launching and have sufficient operational resources. They must be administered by one or more governmental entities. Nonprofit, private sector and union initiatives are eligible if operating in partnership with a governmental organization.

Bright Ideas are showcased on the Ash Center’s Government Innovators Network, an online platform for practitioners and policymakers to share innovative public policy solutions.

About the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation:

The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation advances excellence in governance and strengthens democratic institutions worldwide. Through its research, education, international programs, and government innovations awards, the Center fosters creative and effective government problem solving and serves as a catalyst for addressing many of the most pressing needs of the world’s citizens. For more information, visit www.ash.harvard.edu

Press release:

The Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming County health departments are encouraging residents to “Think Health.” Taking time to think about your health and taking positive health steps will lead to healthier outcomes. Learning something new every day is one way to “Think Health”…

New York State relies on local health departments to promote, protect, and improve the health of their residents. Currently the Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming County health departments, in partnership with local stakeholders, are distributing a survey to assess the public’s knowledge on the existence of and accessibility (ease of access / use) of mental health and substance abuse services locally.

This effort is directly related to the 2013-2017 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) and will serve as a baseline measurement of the area’s knowledge and/or use of these services. This priority was included in the Community Health Improvement Plan after it was found that the tri-county area has higher suicide (15.7 crude, 15.6 age adjusted) rates than the NYS average (9 crude, 8.6 age adjusted) and depression / mental health issues / and stress ranked as top concerns for the public in 2013 as well.

The survey is available online and paper. Paper surveys can be found at the health departments, as well as participating libraries, human service agencies and events throughout the tri-county area.

You can access the Community Health Survey online at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MEB2014

“Later in the year, a user-friendly online-based informational database focused on these services will be created and promoted in the tri-county area in hopes to increase awareness of what is available and make efforts to fill gaps in services locally,” said Paul Pettit, Public Health director for the Genesee and Orleans Counties health departments.

The survey can be taken by individuals living and/or working in Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming counties. The survey is anonymous and is only 10 questions. Your honest thoughts and opinions are appreciated. All ages are encouraged to take it for themselves. If you are under the age of 18 years old, be sure to receive permission to take the survey from your parent(s) or guardian(s).

“This project is made possible through grant funds obtained from the NYS Health Foundation,” said Laura Paolucci, Public Health administrator for the Wyoming County Health Department. “This is a new territory for the public health sector and the more input from the community, the stronger the ‘building block’ of this project and those related will be.”

If you have any questions, would like to comment on the survey, and/or review the 2013-2017 Community Health Improvement Plan contact your local Health Department:

Genesee County Health Department call: 585-344-2580, ext. 5000, or visit their Web site at

www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/health/index.html

Press Release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) said today that he intends to push for legislation to allow military spouses’ professional licenses to be held valid in New York if they were obtained in other states. Hawley said New York State should not punish those who wish to continue their career in a state of which their original license was not obtained and the legislature should make this a priority as 47 other states have passed measures to correct this issue. 

“The current laws do a disservice to families with a member in the armed forces,” Hawley said. “In many cases, spouses of armed service members cannot afford to remain unemployed when they relocate, due to the military obligations of a family member, to an area where their license is not held valid. Those with professional licenses often bring a valuable set of skills to the area where they live, and it would serve our state’s best interests to allow them to practice here. Members on both sides of the aisle have sponsored legislation for several years that would correct this issue, and I will push to see that it gets passed this session.”

Hawley, a veteran of the Ohio Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserves, currently sponsors two separate bills to address this issue. He has been a champion of veterans’ issues during his time in the Assembly as shown by his work as Ranking Minority Member of the Assembly’s Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

A delegation representing thousands of 4-H members in New York State will expand their knowledge of state government when they travel to Albany March 1 for the 80th annual 4-H Capital Days event.

Nearly 130 teen delegates and their chaperons will attend, representing 4-H members from counties across the state, as well as the boroughs of New York City.

Proudly representing the Genesee County 4-H Youth Development Program again this year will be Melissa Keller, of Corfu.

During the event, 4-H members, volunteer leaders, and staff will meet with leaders in state government, members of the court system and officials from a variety of state agencies. In addition, they plan to observe a working session of the State Legislature. Member of the Assembly Bob Oaks will discuss the legislative process with the 4-Hers.

Participants will learn about career opportunities in government as they tour state agencies, participate in discussion sessions, and visit with their legislators.  They will also have an opportunity to tour the Capital and visit the Corning Tower, New York State Museum and other significant features of the area.

The New York State Association of Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Educators sponsor the 4-H Capital Days program. For more information regarding local opportunities in 4-H Youth Development, call Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County at 585-343-3040, ext. 101, or e-mail genesee4h@cornell.edu

A wind chill warning has been issued by the National Weather Service and it will be in effect from midnight through 10 a.m. Friday in WNY.

Winds will be 10 to 20 mph with wind chill values as low as minus 35 degrees. The wind will make it feel like it's 25 degrees below zero or colder for several hours.

Dangerous cold and threatening wind chills will be possible by Thursday night and this could lead to frostbite and hypothermia if you are outside and not properly dressed.

"Those planning to venture outdoors should use common sense and dress warmly."