A motor-vehicle accident with injuries and entrapment is reported at 2745 Pearl Street Road (Route 33) at the intersection of Wilkinson Road in West Batavia. East Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. The availability of Mercy Flight is being checked.

"We believe the vehicle may be underneath a tractor-trailer," says a dispatcher.  "...Multiple vehicles." A BLS ambulance out of Darien is called for evaluations of patients. Fire police from Corfu are asked to shut down traffic on Route 33 at Read Road; Town of Batavia Fire Department is asked to close Route 33 at Hopkins Road.

UPDATE 1:26 p.m.: This is a fatal accident. More T/K.

An accident with injuries and possible shots fired reported on Galloway Road, between Downey Road and Kelsey Road, Batavia.

The report is that a driver swerved to miss a deer and a hunter fired at the deer.

Town of Batavia fire dispatched but to stage at Fire Hall.

Mercy EMS dispatched.

Deputies are responding.

UPDATE 11:05 a.m.: Per a deputy on scene, Town of Batavia fire assignment is back in service.

UPDATE 4:06 p.m.: Per the Chief Deputy Gordon Dibble, reports of hunters firing rounds in the area were not substantiated. Initial investigation indicates a driver was eastbound on Galloway Road when two deer ran in front of the vehicle from the north, causing the driver to swerve. The driver struck a fire hydrant, shearing it off, in the area of 3321 Galloway. There were no injuries.

Janet L. Gatley, 48, of Niagara Falls Boulevard, North Tonawanda, is charged with falsifying business records, 1st, criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, petit larceny, and violation of public health. Gatley is accused of stealing numerous controlled substances from UMMC, where she was employed. The alleged thefts were investigated by Batavia PD and the State Attorney General's Office.

Jordan J. Schunk, 18, of Alexander Road, of Alexander, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Schunk was allegedly found in possession of marijuana while in DeWitt Recreation Area after hours, at 8:58 p.m. Monday.

Jammie Lee Brown, 26, of Gates-Greece Townline Road, Rochester, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Brown is accused of grabbing and pushing another person while at a gas station on Route 19, Town of Le Roy, at 4:31 p.m. Thursday. Brown was jailed on $250 bail.

Kenneth Carl Niles, 26, of Route 88 North, Newark, is charged with petit larceny. Niles is accused of shoplifting from Walmart. Also charged, Scott James Gunkel, 38, of North Main Street, Newark.

Collin Wickings, 24, of Bergen, is charged with first-degree sex abuse. Wickings is accused of sexual contact with a child less than 11 years old. Wickings was arrested as a result of an investigation by State Police. No further information released. The investigation is pending.

A few hundred people came out this morning getting their excercise in before today's Thanksgiving holiday sponsored by The Kiwanis Club of Batavia. This has been a great tradition enjoyed by many people.

Today, Vic Marchese, owner of Main St. Pizza Company, presented a $3,309 donation to Genesee Cancer Assistance. The funds were raised in October through the sale of large pizzas -- delivered in a pink pizza box -- with $1 from each large pizza sold going to the charity.

Pictured, Fred Hamilton, Lori Kurek, Sue Underwood, Nickie Fazio, and Vic Marchese.

Batavia High School's Drama Club performs "Sally Cotter and the Censored Stone," a parody by Dean O'Carroll, next weekend.

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m., Dec. 1 and 2, and 2 p.m. on Dec. 3.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for students and seniors. Tickets are available at the door.

The cast:

• Sally Cotter, Eryn Dunn
• Sally's Mother, Tanner Kolb
• Reubenon Ryebread, Cameron Bontrager
• 1st Censor, Madeline Keenan
• 2nd Censor, Alicia Scroger
• Dave, Pierce Corbelli
• Harmonica, Elise Hoerbelt
• Ursa Malaise, Parise Ricks
• Ed Molar, James Weatherbee
• Professor Athena McDonaldsa, Tanner Kolb
• Professor Shiftia Shape, Aubrey Towner
• Professor Albatross Underdrawers, Evan Bellavia
• Aaron A. Ardvarkovich, Gavin Tucker
• Shea'mon Canavan, AT Thatcher
• Navel Longfellow, Samuel Rigerman
• Polly Pixie, Emily Kilner
• Poppy Pixie, Riley MacDonough
• London Liverwurst, Lillian Whiting
• Val Crabby, Courtney Lougheed
• Gerry Boyle, Oliver Havens
• Freesia Chestnut, Jordyn Mott
• Kitty Ball, Macayla Burke
• Chloe Crane, Claire Griffith-Sarkis
• Patty Petronia, Laura Lepkowski
• Hedgerow the Owl, Phoebe Fryer

Genesee Community College's Forum Players will perform "Strong Kids" Children's Theatre at 7 p.m., Dec. 1, at the Stuart Steiner Theater. 

The musical celebrates confidence and believing in one's self while simultaneously addressing bullying, peer pressure, and rejection often faced by children today. It is a musical compilation of poems, new and original monologues, and some classic favorites from "Hairspray," "The King and I," "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," "Wicked," and "The Lion King."

The cast of "Strong Kids" are all GCC students and includes singers, dancers and soloists. 

The cast:

• Abanoor Abdi, Vocal Ensemble, Rochester
• Celeste Brownell, president of Forum Players 2017-2018, Vocal Soloist, Vocal Ensemble, Dance Ensemble, Bergen
• Chrisjon Canty, Vocal Soloist, Vocal Ensemble, Rochester
• Marissa Carbonell, Vocal Soloist, Vocal Ensemble, Dance Ensemble, Batavia
• Emily Carey, Vocal Ensemble, Medina
• Joseph Cartwright II, Dance Ensemble, Hunt
• Jamie Crawford, Dance Ensemble, Mount Morris
• Jack Diskin, Vocal Soloist, Le Roy
• Kayla Lander, Dance Ensemble, Dance Soloist, Mayfield
• Troy McCrorey, Vocal Ensemble, Chester, S.C.
• Liliam Montilla, Vocal Soloist, Vocal Ensemble, New York City
• Rebecca Naber, Dance Ensemble, Hamburg
• Erin Phillips, Vocal Soloist, Batavia
• Cameron Sanzo, Dance Ensemble, Batavia
• Jennifer Schreiber, Dance Ensemble, Rochester
• Cody Taylor, Vocal Soloist, Dance Ensemble, Vocal Ensemble, Medina
• Taylor Wilson, Vocal Soloist, Vocal Ensemble, Dance Ensemble, Cheektowaga
• Maki Ishikawa, Vocal Soloist, Vocal Ensemble, Japan
• Sayaka Miura, Vocal Soloist, Chiryu City, Japan
• Natsumi Sasabe, Dance Ensemble, Vocal Soloist, Japan
• Akane Hagiwara, Dance Ensemble, Japan

"Strong Kids" is directed by Maryanne Arena.

Tickets to see "Strong Kids" are available now and are $8 for adults, $5 for seniors (55+) and GCC faculty/staff. Students and children pay $3, and GCC alumni with ID will receive a $2 discount on an adult ticket. To reserve seats, contact the GCC box office at boxoffice@genesee.edu or (585) 345-6814.

       Joseph James

Joseph B. James, 36, of Central Avenue, Batavia, is charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd, and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd.

James is accused of selling crack cocaine to an agent of the Local Drug Task Force on two occasions last month. 

Task Force members arrested James at the County Courts Facility while he was being sentenced in an unrelated case.

He was jailed without bail.

His arrest comes following an investigation into the sale, transportation and possession of crack cocaine in the City of Batavia.

The District Attorney's Office assisted in the investigation.

       Adante Davis

The final defendant in a four-man team involved in a home invasion of a residence on Central Avenue in October 2016 entered a guilty plea to attempted burglary in the second degree in Court today with an agreement to serve five years in prison.

That's the sentence his compatriots received after their guilty pleas earlier this year.

Adante Davis will be sentenced at 1:45 p.m., Dec. 21.

Davis managed to evade capture for a year while Daniel Gilbert, Marquis Saddler and Oliver Thomas all agreed to guilty pleas and are now serving five-year prison terms.

The attack occurred at about 11 p.m. Oct. 28 last year. The four men entered the apartment and, according to witness statements obtained by The Batavian, several family members and a friend were at the residence when they heard a knock on the door. 

When one of the residents answered the door, four men rushed in and started hitting one of the men in the home. A resident chased them off with a baseball bat and then there was a confrontation in the street before all four men fled the scene.

Great home featuring kitchen with breakfast nook, formal dining room, living room, three bedrooms, full bath on second floor, has new tile on floor and subway tile on bathtub walls. Hardwood floors and natural woodwork throughout! Hot water heater 2012, washer and dryer 2016, glass block basement windows 2011. Call Michelle Dills, Howard Hanna at 585-343-6750 or click here for more information on this listing.
 

Press release from Assemblyman Steve Hawley:

“As we kick off the bustling holiday season on Black Friday, it is important to consider shopping at some of our locally owned, small businesses this weekend for Small Business Saturday," Hawley said. "The dedicated men and women that own and operate these businesses take pride in the products they sell and are crucial in growing our local economy.

“As a small business owner/operator for several decades, I know firsthand the trials and tribulations of our state’s business owners and have strived to become their voice in Albany. By patronizing these tremendous companies this weekend you will undoubtedly take part in helping to create local jobs, stimulate our economy and make Western New York a fantastic place to do business.”

Attention shoppers! The day after tomorrow is "Plaid Friday" at the Genesee County Animal Shelter and all adoption fees for all adult dogs and cats will be half price.

The pet sale lasts through Sunday, Nov. 26.

The animals must be at least a year old "qualify for this amazing deal." Usually, the adoption fee is $60.

If an animal is not spayed or neutered, an additional $35 deposit is required.

VFA rescue dogs are also half off the usual adoption fees of $50 to $150.

All shelter animals are current with vaccines; dogs are tested for heartworm and cats for FeLV/FIV. Most of them are also spayed or neutered.

Bring a leash for your new canine friend and a carrier for your new feline friend.

Make your holidays extra special with a new Best Friend Forever!

The Genesee County Animal Shelter is located at 3841 W. Main Street Road, Batavia.

Hours are:

• 1-3 p.m., Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Friday
• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday
• 1-3 and 7-9 p.m., Wednesday
• CLOSED THURSDAY

Press release from the GC Sheriff's Office:

A 30-year-old Perry man is charged with DWI after a rollover accident early this morning on Route 63 near Fargo Road in Bethany.

Kenneth Wayne Wilson Jr., of Burke Hill Road, is also charged with: speed not reasonable and prudent; uninspected motor vehicle; moving from lane unsafely; and leaving the scene of a property damage accident.

The actual location of the single-vehicle accident was determined to be 5604 Ellicott Street Road (Route 63) and it occurred at 1:24 a.m.

Deputies responded and after an investigation they arrested Wilson.

It is alleged that he was driving while intoxicated. He was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital via ambulance. He was released on appearance tickets returnable to Bethany Town Court at 7 p.m. on Jan. 9.

The case was investigated by Deputy Travis DeMuth, assisted by Deputy Jeremy McClellan.

For previous coverage, click here.

Batavian Paul Spiotta became only the second bowler to win a GRUSBC Masters and Senior Masters title when he captured the 12th annual Genesee Region USBC Senior Masters tournament on Nov. 11 at Medina Lanes.

The 60-year-old right-hander defeated 50-year-old lefty Mike Johnson, also of Batavia, in an exciting final match, winning a ninth and 10th frame roll-off, 59-40, after both bowlers put up scores of 246.

---------------

Mike Pettinella’s Pin Points column will appear on Friday this week.

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Spiotta strung four strikes before leaving one pin on his final ball, forcing Johnson to get three strikes to win. Johnson got the first two -- the second one on the cross -- before leaving a solid 7 pin, setting up the roll-off.

In "overtime," after Johnson spared, Spiotta delivered three straight strikes to come away victorious.

Spiotta said he was “very focused” throughout the tournament, and noted that his carry got better after the qualifying round.

“I had a nice line to the pocket but I was also tripping a few 4-pins when needed plus I had a crossover strike and a cave-in strike that really helped,” he said.

After he and Johnson tied, all Spiotta thought about was coming up with strikes in the roll-off.

“All I knew was that if I could keep striking, I’d win and that’s what happened,” he said. “Hats off to Mike Johnson in his first Senior Masters, he really bowled very well down the stretch.”

The victory was worth $260 for Spiotta, a former GRUSBC association president, who averaged 226 for his seven games -- qualifying 10th with 630 before posting 485 for two games in the second round and 223 for his one game in the third round.

He also won a free entry into the GRUSBC Masters in February and a plaque from Joe’s Awards & Trophies. The event drew 41 entrants.

Johnson earned $150 for placing second while Jim Foss of Medina won $100 for placing third. Johnson defeated Foss, 267-192, in the first game of the three-bowler stepladder finals to earn the right to face top-seeded Spiotta.

Jim Pursel of Batavia, Rick Saunders of Batavia and Phil Schepis of Medina finished in the fourth through sixth spots, winning $70 each, while Bill Logan of Albion, Fred Gravanda of Batavia, Bob Hodgson of Medina, Scott Shields of Batavia, John Wolff of Batavia and Joe Trigilio of Attica also cashed.

Spiotta joins Gravanda, his cousin, as the only Masters and Senior Masters champions.

For complete tournament statistics, go to www.bowlgr.com.

Photo at top - Paul Spiotta and Mike Johnson.

If Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were alive today, what would they say to each other?

Genesee Community College associate professors Derek Maxfield (History) and Tracy Ford (English) are teaming up to create an imagined conversation between the two founding fathers in retirement.

The men had been close friends, but their friendship fell apart and they didn’t speak for 10 years," Maxfield said. “When they were both retired from politics, their friendship was renewed through correspondence."

Jefferson was in Monticello, Va., and Adams was in Quincy, Mass., when they began writing to each other.

“This conversation that we’re going to stage, while it physically never happened, we’re using the correspondence, to form what we say to each other,” Maxfield said, adding that the aim is to make Jefferson and Adams more human, to promote a better understanding of them both.

At 7 p.m. on March 7 at GCC, they will have an advance presentation of the program for the public. They will reading from a script at podiums, as a warm-up to work through the script.

Maxfield will be Adams; and Ford will be Jefferson in the program.

When Maxfield first read the correspondence between the historic figures, he wondered what they would say to each other now.

“If they did see each other face to face again, what would that look like?” Maxfield said. “That’s what we’re aiming for.”

The associate professors named the group after a quote from Shakespeare because they were looking for a unique name.

“We wanted it to have some history or literature flavor to it,” Maxfield said. “We came across this and it seemed perfect, because both Tracy and I are 'rudely stamp’d.' ”

"Rudely Stamp’d" has a kickstarter campaign to fund the costumes and props, located here. Maxfield said they want the most authentic-looking costumes for the program.

“We’re hoping to raise $6,000 before Dec. 25,” Maxfield said.

They hope to expand the group eventually, to include other programs, including an Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas debate.

Maxfield said he hopes to bring other living historians into Rudely Stamp’d.

“The idea is eventually to bring in select others,” Maxfield said.

Rudely Stamp’d is not a business.

“It’s not something we’re going to make money with,” Maxfield said. “It’s something we want to make available for anyone who is interested.”

Associate Professor Tracy Ford (submitted photo)

Associate Professor Derek Maxfield (submitted photo)