Asteria String Quartet presents "First Viennese Valentine's" with music from the First Viennese School -- Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven -- on Saturday Feb. 3 at the Dibble Family Center in Batavia.

The chamber recital starts at 7 p.m.

Beforehand, starting at 6 p.m., the quartet will serenade you as you enjoy special hors d'oeuvres, cash bar and also non-alcoholic beverages.

Musicians for the evening are: Kiran Rajamani -- violin; Leighann Howland -- violin; Evie Boughton -- viola; and Shade Zajac -- cello.

Tickets are: $20 per guest; $35 for two guests; $15 for senior citizens.

The Dibble Family Center is located at 4120 W. Main Street Road.

This event is sponsored by Roxy's Music Store, The YNGodess Shop, and the Genesee Symphony Orchestra (www.geneseesymphony.com).

The Alexander United Teachers Union will be hosting a Community Health and Wellness Fair, open to the public, on Thursday, Jan. 25.

It will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Alexander Central School’s High School Cafeteria, located at 3314 Buffalo St. in Alexander.

There will be sensory tables, gross motor challenges, food samples, face painting, balloon animals, bounce houses, giveaways and more. All ages are welcomed and there is no admission fee.  

This is the third biannual Health and Wellness Fair hosted by the Teacher’s Union.

There will be representatives from:

• Balanced Fitness
• Body Sense
• GCASA
• RRH UMMC
• Pampered Chef
• Cross roads
• Independent Living
• Rainbow Preschool
• YWCA
• GLOW
• Young Living
• Paige’s Bounce Houses
• Sheriff’s Department
• Genesee County Health Department
• Mental Health
• Fidelis Care
• Gateway Home
• Alexander Volunteer Fire Department
• Batavia Cross Training
• Pure Haven Essentials
• NYS Troopers
• Genesee County Parks and Forest
• Sweet-n-Fit
• Wegmans
• Tops
• Uncle Bud
• The Spa at Artemis
• Pembroke Family Medicine
• UNITS
• PTA
• Refuse 2 Lose Martial Arts
• Alexander teachers

Meghan Ripstein, AUT vice president

The weekend before last, I had the pleasure of attending the Alexander Volunteer Fire Department's annual installation and awards dinner.

The next morning, before I had a chance to post the pictures, I got sidetracked by the blockade and fire situation on Washington Avenue, then I had an afternoon event to attend. By the time I got home that night, it didn't even occur to me that I hadn't posted the pictures yet.

Apologies to the folks in Alexander. Here are the pictures.

For 2018, the Firematic Officers are: Chief Marshall Merle, Deputy Chief Paul Hirsch, 2nd Assistant Jim Burkhardt, 3rd Assistant Dean Hendershot, 4th Assistant Tom Green, Ambulance Captain Todd Fleenor, Ambulance Lieutenant Darlene Merle, Truck Captain Aaron Hirsch, Truck Lieutenant Carl Homer, Training Captain Sean McPhee, Training Lieutenant Ryan Hinz, and Safety Officer Nate Fix.

Administrative Officers: Dean Hendershott, president; Tom Green, VP; Amanda Donnelly, recording secretary; Jennifer Merle, financial secretary; Jackqueline Lowe, treasurer; Bob Spiers, chaplain; and trustees Sean McPhee, Darlene Merle, Deb Green, Amanda Donnelly, Ryan Hinz, Matt Pietrzykowski and Nate Fix.

Ladies Auxiliary Officers: Donna Rhodes, president; Ann Buckenmeyer, VP; Kate Goodman, secretary; Colette Guarino, treasurer; Marge Kelsey, flag bearer; Donna Rhodes, chaplain; and directors Sandy Homer; Marge Kelsey and Linda Higley.

Top photo: Ryan Hinz, Firefighter of the Year.

Jenny McPhee, EMS Provider of the Year.

James Burkhardt, EMS Non-medic of the Year.

John Meier received the President's Award.

New York Times: Governor Cuomo: The Way to a More Just New York State

A rollover accident is reported in the Thruway in the area of mile marker 401.6 in the eastbound lane.

Dispatchers have received several calls on it.

One person is reported to be still in the vehicle.

Pembroke fire, Indian Falls fire, and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 8:39 a.m.: A vehicle is on its roof on the bridge of the off and on ramp, according to a chief on scene. Traffic is backing up.

UPDATE 8:42 a.m.: The chief believes the driver is out of the vehicle. There is a snowplow pushing it onto the median.

UPDATE 8:46 a.m.: There were two people in the vehicle. They are in a State Police car. One has a complaint of shoulder pain. The other is apparently uninjured.

UPDATE 9:10 a.m.: Pembroke and Indian Falls back in service.

A rollover accident is reported on Route 238 near Bowen Road, Alexander.

No word on injuries.

Alexander fire and ambulance dispatched.

UPDATE 11:55 p.m.: Minor injuries.

After stopping to see somebody about a possible story on South Main Street Road, I noticed several trees hanging over the Tonawanda Creek dripping with icicles.

Police are responding to a residence on Ellicott Street, Batavia, for a report of someone trying to break down the back door.

A man is unconcious in the parking lot of Sacred Heart Church after being struck in the face during an altercation. The assailant left the scene. City police and Mercy medics are en route. The church is on Sumner Street.

UPDATE 3:03 p.m.: Police and medics are on scene. An officer reports to dispatchers that somebody picked up the unconsious man and took him away in a vehicle. "No discription of where he went; I'll be checking the area."

Raymond EJ Smith Jr., 43, of Lockport Road, Oakfield, is charged with operating a snowmobile while impaired by alcohol, operating a snowmobile on a street or highway, operating a snowmobile without liability insurance, operating an unregistered snowmobile, and refusal to take a breath test. Smith and his snowmobile were found by a passerby overturned in a ditch at 10:19 p.m. Saturday on Lockport Road, Oakfield. He was not injured. The accident was investigated by Deputy Jeremy McClellan. (Initial Report)

Katherine Marie Wilkinson, 21, of Buffalo Street Road, Alexander, is charged with falsely reporting an incident. Wilkinson is accused of falsely reporting that a person hit her in the face. When deputies arrived to investigate the complaint, Wilkinson allegedly told the deputies the incident did not happen.

Jeffrey D. Freeman, 37, of South Spruce Street, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Freeman allegedly threw a plate at another person while at Denny's on West Main Street, Batavia.

Winston Ashton Lockhart Sr., 22, of Holland Avenue, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd, and acting in a manner injurious to a child. Lockhart was charged following a report of a domestic incident on Holland Avenue at 11:55 a.m. Jan. 7.

Douglas A. Curry, 66, of Grand Avenue, Rochester, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Curry was arrested on a warrant for allegedly violating an order of protection.

Franciso Martinez, 44, of Bridgeman Street, Buffalo, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, harassment, 2nd, endangering the welfare of a child, and robbery, 3rd. Martinez was allegedly in a fight with another person at a residence on Bank Street at 8:36 p.m. Thursday. During the domestic incident, he allegedly stole an item from the victim. He was jailed without bail.

Matthew J. Vickers, 38, of Court Road, Pavilion, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, speed not reasonable and prudent, and failure to keep right. Vickers was reportedly involved in a motor-vehicle accident at 8:28 p.m Jan. 6 on West Main Street, Batavia.

Vox: The Supreme Court is about to decide how your online purchases are taxed

Rich Wagner's 300 game and Scott Kern's 299 were among the highlights in Genesee Region league bowling action for the week of Jan. 8-14.

Wagner, a 35-year-old left-hander from Batavia, finished with a perfect game to post a 761 series in The North Pole league on Thursday night at Mancuso Bowling Center.

Kern, 62, of Basom, started with a 299 (leaving a 5-pin on the last ball) en route to a 652 series in the Wednesday County Line Stone league at Scopano's Lanes in Oakfield.

Other highlights ilncluded 700 series by two women in the G&W Vending League at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen -- Caycee Landers' 706 and Laurie Morgante's 703. The 700 series is the first USBC-certified 700 series for Morgante.

Kim Williams posted a 647 series in the Monday Night Ladies league at Mancuso's.

For a list of high scores from the area, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of this page.

A caller reports finding an overturned snowmobile in a ditch off Lockport Road near Bliss Road in Oakfield.

Oakfield fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 10:31 p.m.: Snowmobile driver is conscious and alert.

UPDATE 10:54 p.m.: The driver is not injured but is being transported to UMMC for evaluation. 

A resident in Byron noticed a cat carrier on her porch on Friday. The door was open and when she took a quick look inside, there was no cat.

She left the tan carrier, with a black handle, on the porch not thinking much of it until today when she looked inside and found a male black and white cat.

The unneutered cat is about 9 months old, said Animal Control Officer Agie Jaroszewski.

The cat has apparently been going in and out of the carrier since being abandoned.

Jaroszewski said there was a blanket in the carrier but this morning it was covered with snow.

The cat is now warm and safe at the shelter.

If anybody knows who abandoned the cat, call the Sheriff's Office at (585) 343-5000.

A lot of Batavia residents were busy this morning clearing snow from their driveways and walkways, including Nate Baker on Ellicott Place, above, after a storm dropped about a foot of snow on the city.

Eric Haile on Summit Street.

Cliff Vagg on Ellicott Avenue.

The National Weather Service has warned of possible flooding as the Tonawanda Creek through Batavia nears the 9-foot level.

Currently, the water level, as measured at the bend behind the County Courthouse, is 8.64 feet.

It's been on a steep climb since 7 a.m.

It's expected to crest at 9.1 feet.

The minor flood stage is 9 feet.

Kibbe Park is expected to flood, and possibly Walnut Street and Law Street.  

There is flooding in Alexander and the Town of Batavia along the creek.

There is a flood warning in effect until 1 p.m.

Information provided by the Polk County Sheriff's Office in Florida:

A man who was shot -- twice in the head, once in the arm, and once in the shoulder -- at the home of a former Alexander resident who was murdered Jan. 3 in Florida died today.

Kenneth Maier, of 7462 Berkley Road, Polk City, Fla., succumbed to injuries around 1 p.m. (Jan. 12).

William Reiss, 68, formerly of Alexander, died at the scene after a man he had sold guns to previously, came to his home, was allowed in, and allegedly shot the two men before stealing guns and a pickup truck with the aid of two accomplices.

"We are heartbroken to hear that Kenneth passed away today. We are sending our thoughts and prayers to Kenneth's family and friends. This act of vicious murder should have never happened," said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.

"The three suspects from Mobile, Ala., will be pending additional murder charges in relation to Kenneth Maier's death. We will send another update when additional charges are placed. We appreciate the assistance of the Mobile Police Department in this investigation."

Some of the firearms were recovered, along with the victim’s stolen truck, which was torched. All three suspects will be extradited back to Polk County to face first-degree murder and other charges.

On Jan. 6, three suspects were arrested in the case: 22-year-old Kenley Campbell, 22-year-old Darril Lamar Rankin Jr., and 18-year-old Gerjuan Demarcus Jackson all of Mobile.

Thus far, they have all been charged with:

• First-degree murder (FC)
• Attempted first-degree murder (F1)
• Armed burglary with assault/battery (F1)
• 13 counts of grand theft of a firearm (F3)
• Robbery with a firearm/deadly weapon (FL)
• Conveyance burglary (F3)
• Grand theft of a motor vehicle (F3)

For previous coverage click here and here.

A caller reported he's stuck in his vehicle, which is in the water on a flooded old Creek Creek Road, south of Peaviner.

Now he says he's out of the vehicle but has a shoulder injury.

Old Creek Road is closed due to flooding.

Alexander fire and ambulance dispatched.

UPDATE 5:53 p.m.: The road is washed out. Responders will need to come in from Hunn Road and should exercise caution.

UPDATE 7:10 p.m.: The assignment went back in service about 45 minutes ago. Fire personnel brought the victim to the medics, who were staged nearby. The truck's rear wheels were on dirt; the front wheels were submerged in floodwater. A tow company winched out the vehicle and removed it.

Heather Adams of Pembroke lived in this tiny house on wheels for a year and a half before buying a bit of land that already had a house on it so now she would like to rent it out as a bed and breakfast room during the summer.

To do that, Adams had to request a temporary use permit.

Thre's no zoning regulation locally that handles tiny houses on wheels.

"Tiny houses are their own unique thing," Adams said. "They're not an RV; they're not a mobile home. They don't really fit any codes existing at this time."

If her experiment using it for a bed and breakfast unit is successful, the Town of Pembroke may need to come up with the appropriate zoning regulation to allow its use.

Last night, the County Planning Board recommended approval of the temporary permit.

Adams said she wants to set it up as a B&B on her South Lake Road lot so more people can experience tiny house living. 

"The plan is to rent this out as little B&B so people can learn about tiny houses and try it out for themselves," Adams said. "A lot of people see is such a small space and think 'I could never live in that,' but when you see how they're set up, they are there really nice.They make a great use of space and they're really liveable."

This tiny house (pictured) is actually split level. It's 8 foot by 24 foot with 200 square feet of livable space. Adams said she liked it because the bed was on the first floor so her dogs could sleep with her.

"I lived in another tiny house previously when I lived in Alaska and only had a bed upstairs and I had a ladder," Adams said. "And so I couldn't sleep with my dogs."

The tiny house movement began years ago, Adams said, when people wanted small, unencumbered, uncluttered spaces to live in but the places where they tried to build them would run into building code issues because they were so small. So people came up with the idea of putting them on wheels and then they were unregulated.

She thinks they really meet a need for people who want to live a simpler life.

"It's simple living," Adams said, "just really simple living. You don't have a lot of stuff so you don't have to spend a lot of time cleaning, your expenses are a lot less, and you can just spend much more time enjoying life."