Heather M. Ground, 27, of Meadville Road, Tonawanda Indian Reservation, and Casey A. Jonathan, 35, of Skye Road, Tonawanda Indian Reservation, are charged with harassment, 2nd. Ground and Jonathan allegedly became involved in a dispute during a ceremony at the Longhouse on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation. Ground allegedly pushed and then punched Jonathan. A few minutes later, Jonathan allegedly punched Ground in the mouth.

Shawn C. Wetmore, 40, of 38 Maple St., Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child, harassment, 2nd, and criminal mischief, 4th. During a fight, Wetmore allegedly kicked a door open, which was close to an infant. He allegedly threw an item at another person. Wetmore was jailed on $5,000 bail.

Carrie Q. Blunt, 20, of 24 Thomas Ave., Batavia, is charged with false personation. Blunt was arrested on a bench warrant during an unrelated investigation.

Keith Joseph Jackson, 18, of Slusser Road, Batavia, is charged with possession/consumption of alcohol under age 21. Also charged, Corey Jarome Mooney, 19, of Lockport Road, Oakfield, and a 17-year-old female resident of State Street, Batavia. The trio was allegedly at an underage drinking party at 12:04 a.m., Saturday, on Orchard Street in Oakfield. The case was investigated by Deputy Patrick Reeves and Deputy Matthew Fleming.

Devine Raheem Worthy, 28, of Congress Street, Buffalo, was arrested on a bench warrant for alleged failure to pay restitution.

The Batavia City Council will discuss a resolution to award a refuse and recycling collection contract to Allied Waste Services at its Monday meeting. A public hearing date has not yet been announced, but there will be one before a vote on the matter Feb. 25.

City staff is recommending Allied as the lowest responsible bidder for the contract.

Allied's bid for the first five years was $4,341,125.

Genesee ARC, which has provided trash service to city residents for nearly 30 years, submitted the highest bid at $5,073,673.

Cascade Engineering has received staff recommendation as the lowest responsible bidder for a supply of wheeled trash and recycling carts to be delivered to residents.

At the Feb. 25 meeting, the council will also need to vote on a resolution amending the local law to make the new tote-based system possible. This resolution likewise will be the subject of a public hearing with the date to be announced beforehand.

Also on this Monday's agenda:

• Councilwoman Rosemary Christian has asked the council to approve a letter supporting a ban on assault rifles;
• There's a request to discuss sidewalk snow removal under Section 159-8 of the municipal code;
• Prospective owners of the former State Police barracks are asking that the property be rezoned, as it once was, to industrial. A purchase offer for the property is contingent on the zoning change. The property is located at 655 W. Main St.;
• The council will be asked to schedule a public hearing on the proposed city budget.

It started out as a simple idea and now it has become a big annual event for the Pembroke Lady Dragons.

Last year after the wife of Pembroke Coach Ron Funke was diagnosed with breast cancer, the girls basketball team thought they would show support by playing a game with a pink basketball.

They wound up raising $4,000 for breast cancer research after Disney donated amusement park passes, another company donated pink uniforms and dozens of local businesses donated items for auction.

"It just kind of grew to something that for these girls as a team, it’s their identity," Head Coach Mike Wilson said. "These are community-minded kids. They think about other people."

Last night, for Pembroke's game against Holley, the girls again donned pink uniforms and hundreds of community members showed up for the event.

"When they saw how many teachers and how many community members were affected by this and the difference what they did made for those people, it became something that meant a lot to them to try and keep going," Wilson said. "They feel responsible to those people. They feel responsible for the community.  This is just a way for them to give back in some small way to the community that has gone the extra mile for them."

The goal for last night was to raise $6,000. We haven't heard yet how much was raised. Pembroke won the game 34-13.

Coach Mike Wilson, his daughter and the Buffalo Bisons mascot.

Dannielle Della Penta takes the court prior to the start of the game.

Cora Erb with a lay up.

Holley's Kassy Sutton and Pembroke's Rylee Moser tangle over a loose ball.

Cassie Williams goes for a rebound.

City workers were on Wood Street this morning in 12-degree weather repairing a water main -- actually a residential feeder line off the main.

Press release:

The Genesee County Baseball Club will hold its annual Batavia Muckdogs Hot Stove Dinner and Auction from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16 at the Clarion Hotel at 8250 Park Road. in Batavia. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under.

The evening will begin with a cocktail hour followed immediately by dinner. The Hot Stove Dinner is a time for good food, friendship and baseball talk. The night also features silent and live auctions of baseball-related memorabilia (including signed bats and balls), work by local artists, and gift certificates from a variety of local businesses.

This year’s dinner will also benefit the Genesee County Animal Shelter. Each attendee is asked to bring a bag of dry dog or cat food to be donated to the shelter.

Tickets may be purchased in Batavia at Dwyer Stadium, Gerace’s Hair Care, the Williams Law Firm, and the offices of Dr. Ross Fanara and Dr. Alan Barcomb.

UMMC and Rochester General Hospital have released a joint press release regarding talks over a closer affiliation:

United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) and Rochester General Health System (RGHS) announced today that they are finalizing details of an expanded affiliation. This more defined affiliation will broaden and strengthen health care service provided to patients in Genesee County, help UMMC address the changes and challenges of healthcare reform, and will maintain all local control of UMMC operations in Batavia.

The two healthcare institutions are no strangers to each other, having partnered in the areas of Pathology, Urology, General Surgery and GI since 2008. Like United Memorial Medical Center, Rochester General has served residents of Genesee County and its surrounding areas for more than a century.

“As a regional health care delivery system, a core element of our mission is to collaborate with smaller area healthcare providers to help them better serve their local communities,” said Mark C. Clement, president and CEO of Rochester General Health System. “We currently participate in a number of collaborative relationships with hospitals, including Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca and Newark-Wayne Community Hospital, an owned affiliate of the system.

“Changes in state and federal reimbursements along with regulations associated with national healthcare reform have shown that a partnership with a larger, regional healthcare center will be imperative to the success of continuing to provide quality care right at home,” said Mark C. Schoell, president and CEO of United Memorial Medical Center. “Rochester General is a high-quality organization with a depth of resources, well established physician organization and similar cultural ideals.”

In making its decision to affiliate with RGHS, the UMMC board cited the system’s national recognition and longstanding focus on high-quality patient care and safety, its expertise in clinical integration, its comprehensive medical specialties that will enhance existing services available in the Batavia community, and its successful track record of collaboration with smaller acute care hospitals like Newark-Wayne. The UMMC board is committed to keeping appropriate health care local and providing the best care possible.

RGHS is the only area health system to be nationally rated by SDI – a premier health care analytics firm – as a TOP 100 Integrated Health Network (2007-2012). Integrated care networks are consistently recognized for delivering higher levels of quality, service, patient safety and efficiency. These are important factors, made even more so, as the government and insurers shift reimbursement to value-based health care.

The Democrat & Chronicle has a little more on a story we reported yesterday about United Memorial Medical Center moving toward a closer relationship with Rochester General Hospital.

While we the information we were given seemed to indicate no formal agreement between the two hospitals, the D&C reports an affiliation agreement is being negotiated.

Clement called the discussions a “work in progress” and while there is no formal agreement, he said talks are likely to result in one.

At the same time, he said RGHS is working with officials at United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia to expand their four-year collaboration into an affiliation agreement.

In an affiliation, the hospitals still govern themselves. This is not a merger. It would provide more specialized services to patients.

“From the patient perspective, they should be very happy with it,” said Mark Schoell, president and chief executive officer of United Memorial. “Whether they recognize it or not explicitly, implicitly they’ve seen the results of some of the collaboration. I think when they see some of the programs that we’ll be able to put together, they will find this a good thing. We’ll have access to a lot of expertise in a smaller community you don’t normally see.”

While the D&C doesn't discuss ACOs under the Affordable Care Act, the article does say the act is accelerating the move toward affiliations, quoting Schoell, “we would have continued down this path without health care reform.”

The article concludes:

Schoell said it should lead to better results. “In the past, the patients we had to transfer out of the area will be able to stay in our hospital. It provides the support we need for the rest of our medical staff.”

Ken Hazlett, 51, is a lifelong Batavia resident who was diagnosed with brain and lung cancer shortly after Thanksgiving. He is undergoing treatment at Wilmot Cancer Center in Rochester, and on Saturday there will be a benefit to raise money for his medical expenses.

"Hit a Home Run for Ken Hazlett" will be held on Saturday at Polish Falcons, at 123 S. Swan St. in Batavia, starting at 2 p.m.

The event will feature a Chinese Auction with 120 to 150 baskets, a 50/50, a 46-inch TV to be raffled off, a week's cabin rental at Frost Ridge Campgrounds in Le Roy (valued at $600), and a Little League package that will include a batting glove, a bat, and tickets for reserved seating at a Buffalo Bisons' game. 

Basket drawings will take place at 6 p.m.

Clor's Chicken BBQ dinners and T-shirts, which cost $9 and $10 respectively, will be available at the event or in advance. Hazlett's niece, Nicole Newton, said there will be a limited number of extra dinners (she anticipates about 75) available on the night of the event.

Saturday's event will also include beef on weck, pizza, pop and water.

Hazlett is well-known locally for having umpired Little League games for many years, as well as for coordinating the area's umpires for about a decade. He was invited to Cooperstown in August 2011 to watch the international Little League tournament, at which he was honored to be the umpire behind the plate at the final game.

For more information or for dinner and T-shirt pre-orders, call 409-4385, 584-3589 or 409-8802. People can also pick up dinners and T-shirts at the Detail Shop, at 3875 W. Main St. Road, or Mazures Automobile Repair Service, at 643 E. Main St., both in Batavia.

Photo submitted by Nicole Newton

This was e-mailed to Notre Dame alumni this evening:

Longtime ND Fighting Irish Boys Basketball Coach Mike Rapone ('71) currently stands at 598 total wins as a result of an 81 – 41 victory over the Pembroke Dragons on January 18, 2013.

We travel to Holley on Friday, January 25, 2013 to take on the Hawks. A victory at Holley sets up the possibility of a potential 600th victory at home on Tuesday, January 29, 2013 with the visiting Kendall Eagles. The Varsity game will begin at approximately 7 p.m. This game is sure to be a sellout, so get here early!

Our Varsity Boys Basketball team is also in action – at home -- on Thursday, January 31, 2013 vs. GR rival Elba Lancers.

Coach Rapone currently holds the Section V record for most Varsity Boys Basketball victories, yet he will be the first to reach the 600 plateau win mark in Section V Boys Basketball!

A pregnant female has possibly suffered a minor injury in a motor-vehicle accident in the area of 1046 Bloomingdale Road in Alabama. Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 8:44 p.m.: The responders were advised to proceed in non-emergency mode for a possible sign-off.

St. Joseph Catholic School kicks off Catholic Schools Week with an Open House at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 27th. Prospective families are encouraged to visit and learn more about its academic standards and Christian values. No registration is required.

The school, currently serving about 300 students in 13 districts from pre-K to eighth grade, has several events scheduled for Catholic Schools Week.

On Monday, parents will join students for Lunch and Bingo, along with Crazy Hat and Hair Day. On Tuesday, students will be allowed to dress up as their favorite storybook character, while Wednesday is Movie and Pajama Day. Students will visit the YMCA and the ice rink on Thursday. Jump Rope for Heart activities will take place on Friday, followed by a Family Dance on Friday night.

Other upcoming events at St. Joe’s include the Penny Carnival, which will be held on March 16th at the school, and the Super Mammoth Sale, which is scheduled for April 6th.

Currently, 60 percent of families attending St. Joseph School receive some type of financial aid and nearly 20 percent are non-Catholic.

To find out more, call 343-6154 or visit www.sjsbatavia.org

A dog whimpering outside is of concern to a Le Roy resident who called the Emergency Dispatch Center to ask that police officers respond to check on its welfare. The location is somewhere by the north end of Wolcott Street, but no exact address was provided. The caller was out walking her dog and heard the animal's distress. Police are trying to locate the dog now.

UPDATE 8:56 p.m.: Heard nothing more on this call. FYI ...The National Weather Service in Buffalo says the temperature here is 9 degrees, with a possible low of 4 and a windchill factor of 0. (Mammals ought best be sheltered.)

Press release:

The Water Department is scheduled to make a repair on the water main on Wood Street in the City of Batavia on Friday Jan. 25th. This work may cause temporary periods of low / no water pressure or possible discolored water in the immediate area. The street will be limited to local traffic only once work begins. Every effort will be made to keep disruptions to a minimum.

Preservationists in Le Roy are making a last-ditch effort to save the Wiss Hotel building at the corner of Lake Street and Main Street, the gateway into the village.

Trustees gave Wiss Hotel supporters very little reason to believe during the course of Wednesday night's village hall meeting that they will accept this new offer.

"I'll reserve judgment until I read the proposal, but I have a mind right now that it needs to come down," Trustee Robert Taylor said.

Only Trustee Jennifer Keys is clearly a supporter of preservation and Trustee Jim Bonacquisti, who two weeks ago almost wavered on his opposition to saving the Wiss, came out strongly in favor of getting rid of the building.

Trustee Mike Tucci, who was adamant two weeks ago that the building come down, was absent.

Mayor Greg Rogers said this week, as he did two weeks ago, that accepting the offer is a sound business decision, but once again expressed a level of disagreement with the idea that the building should be saved.

Rogers said the board will discuss the offer in closed session at a time when all five members are present and vote on it publicly afterward.

Attorney Bob Fussell, who has been leading the citizen effort, told village trustees last night that the new offer addresses some of the apparent objections raised two weeks ago, when trustees failed to adopt a proposed counteroffer to the group.

The key points:

• There is now officially a Le Roy LLC;
• The group would pay $10,000 to the village at the close of escrow;
• The time line for taking over the building and ensuring its safety is accelerated.

Even with these changes, a number of residents who attended last evening's meeting raised objections to the trustees selling the property to the LLC.

"We’re sitting here waiting for somebody to really get hurt, and the liability you’re going to incur is going to be a hell of a lot more then the cost of tearing it down," Jim Nielsen told the board.

Later in the meeting, Fussell countered Nielsen, noting that it won't be possible for the village to get the building demolished any faster than the LLC could take it over.

Resident Tom Spadaro offered $125,000 on the spot for the Wiss lot once the building is down and the hole is filled in. He said the lot is worth at least $250,000.

New estimates for tearing the building down range from $146,000 to more than $200,000, but it's unclear if that includes any liability for asbestos abatement or any possible contamination remediation.

Rogers said if the building is torn down, the village will actively seek a buyer for the lot at a market rate, even if takes a couple of years to find such a buyer.

"If we go through with taking it down, we're going to sell it and try to come out ahead," Rogers said.

Residents in opposition called the Wiss an eyesore, dangerous and a fire trap.

Eve Hens, who owns the adjoining building and has residential tenants, said she's constantly in fear of a fire at the Wiss.

"It scares the heck out of me that if there’s a fire in that building it could travel not only into our building, but all the way down Main Street," Heus said.

She called destruction of the Wiss an "urgent issue."

(CLARIFICATION: Possibly because of my misunderstanding, but Hens e-mailed to say that she isn't opposed to saving the Wiss, just that something must be done immediately because of the fire danger, whether it's demolition or restoration; it's an urgent issue.)

Fire Chief Tom Wood agreed it's an urgent issue, and stressed that something be done. But whether that means tearing it down or restoring it, isn't an issue the fire department takes a position on.

“There’s no possible way I can justify putting guys into this building during a fire situation," Wood said. "Absolutely not. Somebody would get hurt. I hate to say this, I would be lucky to save two building (if there was a fire). This building needs to be torn down or something needs to be done with it right away. We’re dragging our feet. Something has to be done either way you go."

Bonacquisti said he's done some research since the last meeting, and in reaction to those who called construction of the Walgreens in the village a mistake, he noted that the former buildings at that location generated only $4,3100 in sales tax revenue in their final year, whereas last fiscal year, Walgreens generated $9,400 in sales tax.

The store employs 23 people, including 16 Le Roy residents, he said.

People don't move to Le Roy, he said, just because of a beautiful village. They also like the fact that Le Roy is affordable, it is safe and it has good schools, and he considers Walgreens one of the village's businesses as well.

"I do a lot of my business here and I'll tell you, you won't find better customer service than Walgreens," Bonacquisti said. "I know profits go up the corporate chimney, that was a statement that was made, but that’s not a concern of mine. We’re making money here and people are working there."

For preservationists, destruction of the Wiss is more symbolic than a matter of saving a historic or elegant building, which nobody claims as descriptions of the Wiss.

"When demolition becomes the easy way out, we may be looking into a future that does not include a business district at all," wrote Lorie Longhany, who could not attend the meeting, in an e-mail to Fussell.  "A building here, another one over there and the historic nature of this community is gone forever."

Doug Hill said tearing down the Wiss could just unleash a domino effect that would eviscerate the business district.

“When you take that building down, then you’re talking about the building next to it and the building next to that," Hill said. "That’s where you are going to change this whole community. Not with tearing down the Wiss, but the fact that the Wiss property is not big enough probably to develop and you’re going to be going to the next building and the next building and tearing down.

"Pretty soon this is not going to look like a community that is attractive to live here. It’s not going to be historic any more. It’s going to look like off Mount Read Boulevard in Greece."

Candace Bower said her family goes back in Le Roy for 200 years and she for one thinks it's time for Le Roy to stop destroying its heritage.

“We need to stop wringing our hands and putting up more what ifs in the way," She said. "Just dream. This board can be the group that finally decided to look to the future of this village and see what it can be if we dare to dream.”

It's also just practical to save the Wiss, some preservationists argued.

Lisa Compton cited studies that show density equals greater economic benefit to a community.

Terry Keys, husband of Trustee Jennifer Keys, said that once the Wiss is gone, it can't be brought back and the LLC is the only group that has come forward with any kind of plan to do something productive with the building.

"The issue is are we willing to write a check and wait to see what happens or are we willing to take a check and watch what happens?" Terry Keys said.

Dennis Melander said he was initially opposed to saving the Wiss, but after reading Rick Hauser's report, he realized saving the Wiss isn't just a pipe dream, but a practical response to a real problem.

"I would object to any taxpayer money being used on demolition when you have a viable offer right here to take it off your hands and save the cost of the demolition," Melander said.

Fussell said that Hauser has estimated saving the Wiss will cost the LLC $400,000 and he already has verbal commitments for $200,000.

“There are people who are interested," Fussell said. "We may not be able to get it for a week, we may not be able to get it in a month, I don’t know. We may not be able to get it at all. But we’re already half way there.”

Press release:

The Genesee Community College Board of Trustees approved two new academic concentrations in the Fashion Business program on Monday night – E-Commerce and Event Planning.

The new concentrations will permit students to focus their study in the rapidly growing fields of online retailing and retail/business event management. The plan for the new concentrations will now be forwarded to the State University of New York and the New York State Education Department for approval.

An academic concentration is a cluster of courses focusing on a specialized topic. Students pursuing either of the new concentrations will still receive a degree in Fashion Business, but they will participate in extensive coursework in their areas of special interest.

The E-Commerce field is experiencing explosive growth, according to Interim Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Michael S. Stoll. In the early years of the Internet, only a few retailers sold goods and services online. A lot has changed.

"Virtually all major retailers have an online presence and most small- and mid-sized businesses are discovering they need to sell online in order to build their customer base," Stoll told trustees.

Board Chair Maureen T. Marshall recounted a conversation she had with a senior officer of one of the nation's leading retailers who told her that the company was struggling to improve its online presence and needed qualified employees in the e-commerce area. Students pursing the E-Commerce concentration will be prepared to help manage retail Web sites and online processing centers, and plan and implement online retail campaigns.

The Event Planning concentration focuses on the growing number and variety of business-oriented special events, especially retailing events. Retailers based in traditional stores are discovering they often need to stage special promotions and events to attract customers or introduce new product lines, Stoll said.

These include freestanding events in highly trafficked stores, malls and other public locations. Students completing the concentration will be prepared to implement complex event project plans that can include promotion, logistics, food and beverages, security, and a wide variety of other elements that comprise a successful event. Students will also be prepared to plan and implement activities at trade shows and conventions.

The two new concentrations will not require new faculty or staff, Stoll said. Courses involved in the concentrations, such as Customer Relationship Management, Principles of Event Management, Meeting and Convention Planning, Introduction to Project Management, Computer Graphics, Introduction to Web Development, and Web Publishing are already offered as part of other academic programs at Genesee.

Student Trustee Samantha Macey Vogt said that the new Event Management concentration will enrich the experience of many Fashion Business students involved with the college's April Fashion Show. The show is produced entirely by students, who must plan and arrange for thousands of details, Vogt said. The Genesee Community College Fashion Show has earned a reputation for excellence, and is now one of the largest fashion shows in Western New York, attracting about 1,600 guests annually. This year's show is scheduled for April 27 at the Batavia campus.

The Fashion Business program prepares students for a wide variety of careers in the fashion and retailing fields. Graduates work in the design industry, marketing industry, manage wholesaling and distribution operations, and manage retail stores. The popular program attracts students locally and internationally, President James M. Sunser noted.

In other business, trustees approved continuing (four-year) appointments for 35 faculty and staff members, including 11 first-time continuing appointments.

Receiving their first continuing appointments were learning specialist Susan M. Chiddy, instructor/librarian Michelle A. Eichelberger, and the following instructors: Deborah A. Carrasquillo, Nursing;  Amy V. Conley, Accounting; Gary W. Glaser, Biology; Jodi S. Harvey, Teacher Education; Roxanne M. Holthaus, Nursing; Eileen M. Mathis, Psychology and Human Services; Derek D. Maxfield, History; Tonya L. Passamonte, Nursing; and Teresa L. Sukiennicki, Biology.

These faculty and staff members were reappointed:

• James M. Bucki, director, Academic Computer Technology Programs;
• Professors Michael A. Crittenden -- Physics, Donna J. Ehrhart -- Business/Computer Information Systems, Kathleen A. Kimber -- Spanish, Frank L. Mayo  -- Speech and Theater, and Jane A. Weston -- Biology;
• Associate professors Michelle D. Abdella -- Mathematics, Elise C. Banfield -- Psychology, Marina A. Cappellino -- Computer Systems and Network Technologies, Cheryl A. Corke -- Accounting, Julie A. Jackson-Coe -- Reading, Patricia J. Kendall-Cargill -- Nursing, Pamela E. Swarts -- Digital Art;
• Assistant professor/librarian Nichola J. Lerczak;
• Academic advisor Mary Jo Dumuhosky;
• Technical specialists Lisa E. Papke -- Office of Financial Assistance, Katie M. Brown -- Office of Financial Assistance, Amy L. Churchfield -- Dansville Campus Center, and Carrie E. Sputore -- Office of Admissions;
• Technical assistants Nina I. Mortellaro -- Human Communications and Behavior, and David W. Sink -- Arcade Campus Center;
• Academic support assistant Judith M. Littlejohn;
• Athletic assistant Ronald L. Spiotta;
• And Student Resource Center associate Jennifer L. Ross.

Trustees also:

•    Heard Vice President for Student and Enrollment Services Virginia M. Taylor report that the opening of classes Monday went smoothly. She said that some students waited until the last minute to register for classes. "The Records and Advisement offices were swamped today," she said. Taylor noted that the college's 12-week course session will begin Feb. 11, and prospective students who have not registered for the Spring 2013 semester but who still wish to pursue study this semester can register for 12-week session classes now.

•    Heard Director of Development and External Affairs Richard G. Ensman Jr. report on the current activities of the Genesee Community College Foundation. He said that current priorities include alumni and community outreach, regional giving, additional student housing services, and growth of Trek the Trail, a springtime fundraising event for friends and alumni. Ensman also said that the foundation hopes to provide support for the college's Facilities Master Plan. "There's a lot of interest and excitement about what this Facilities Master Plan can mean to the college and the community," he said.

•    Heard President Sunser report that Jamie L. Chappius has joined the college's staff as technical assistant at the Medina Campus Center. She is a resident of Albion, and most recently served as a graduate assistant at the School of Nursing at the University at Buffalo. She holds B.A. and Ed.M. degrees from the University at Buffalo.

Super Bowl Raffle sponsored by The Rotary Club of Le Roy -- The club is raffling off a 43" Samsung HDTD/LED with a 2-year warranty. Tickets are $5 each or 3/$10. Drawing is February 2nd at Spirits in Le Roy. Tickets are now available at The YNgodess Shop.

All proceeds will be given to: Rotary Club of Le Roy, Le Roy Youth Soccer, Le Roy Little League, Oat-ka Festival Backyard Circus, Le Roy Youth Wrestling, Grace's Kitchen R.E.A.L. - Rotary Excited About Literacy, and the Hurricane Sandy relief effort.

So stop by The YNgodess and get your ticket today at 73 Main St., Batavia.

A former Center Street Smoke House employee who was caught doctoring transactions must repay more than $24,000 as part of a plea deal that reduced his charges from grand larceny, 3rd, to petit larceny.

Adam J.Hoag, 36, of 162 Ross St., Batavia, told Judge Robert Balbick last week that he could get the $24,459.59 in restitution from a trust account. The money will be held in escrow until his sentencing April 19.

Hoag was arrested in September after a manager discovered some suspicious register activity.

A more thorough audit, according to court records, found that Hoag, a waiter, had been voiding out items on tickets, claiming gift certificates that had not really been redeemed, and claiming coupon discounts that had not been turned in, starting in May 2010.

According to a police report, Hoag said he had forgotten to turn the gift cards in at the end of his shift and then later discarded them.