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Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) organized a meeting on Aug. 20 between State Deputy Secretary for Education De’Shawn Wright and more than 20 local school superintendents and Board of Education members. The gathering provided local education leaders with an opportunity to voice their concerns and opinions on the challenges facing schools and teachers in Western New York, as well as what the state must do to improve local education.

“The fact that the governor sent such a high-ranking education official to our community shows that our calls for fair aid allocation and greater control of our schools are being heard,” Hawley said. “Issues such as Common Core, mandate relief, special education programs, and eliminating the Triborough Amendment, Gap Elimination Adjustment and frivolous lawsuits were examined.

"The local education leaders in attendance did a terrific job of illustrating to Deputy Secretary Wright the need for equitable school aid regardless of geographic location or socio-economic status. The meeting helped make the point to the highest levels of the State Education Department that children in low-wealth school districts deserve the same opportunities as kids in wealthier areas.

"I thank Deputy Secretary Wright for taking the time to travel to our community as well as all of the local education leaders who did such a tremendous job showing how much Western New York cares for its students.”

The First Presbyterian Church, 300 E. Main St., Batavia, is hosting a community clothing and household item giveaway Sunday and Monday.

Donations are still be accepted today. Organizers are looking for clean, gently used clothing and household items such as towels, bedding, curtains, tablecloths and throw rugs.

There's always a need for donations of clothing for infants, boys and girls, and for men and women, shoes, sneakers, purses and hats, plus winter clothing for children and adults.

Donations can be brought to the church today from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m.

Items that cannot be left include large items, furniture, appliances and similar items.

For those who need to receive such donations, the giveaway is from noon to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday and from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday.

Washington Post: Untangling the fate of U.S. aid to Egypt

Press release:

Phase 1 of the Cedar Street road reconstruction will be starting on Monday Aug. 26. Cedar Street will be closed to traffic from Edward Street to the north side of the Genesee County Highway Dept. drive. A traffic detour will be in place directing traffic around the project via Harvester Avenue. This road closure will be in place for approximately five weeks.

NOTE: I spoke with Guy Clark at Cedar Street Sales and Rental. His shop will remain open and accessible throughout the reconstruction process. He also said, "look for some fun events" during the next five weeks.

Today, Billie and I celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. Shortly, we'll hit the road. We're staying in Buffalo tonight and then tomorrow will go see, from the U.S. side, for the first time, Niagara Falls.

We've lined up some help for news coverage tomorrow, but for the next 24 hours there will be no scanner coverage.

I'm not, however, turning off my phone and many people know how to reach me via phone, text or Facebook, if needed. 

Our news partner, WBTA, is also available to help us with news coverage.

Tomorrow the president's motorcade is likely to pass down the Thruway. (There is the obvious and inevitable rumor that he'll come down Route 5, of course). If anybody happens to get a picture of that and can send it our way, that would be great.

Photo and information submitted by Tim Kingdon.

The first ever Elba Community Pig Roast is from 1 to 8 p.m., Saturday, in the Veterans Memorial Park, Village of Elba.

The event includes music by Brent Presia from 2 to 4 p.m. and Mac from 5 to 8 p.m.

The event is free just to attend. A pig roast ticket is $10, which includes salt potatoes, mac salad and baked beans. Hamburgers and hot dogs will also be sold.

Proceeds will be used for park maintenance and improvements.

Helping put the event together, from left, Fire Chief Mike Heale, Trustee Steve Hynes-Fisher, Chaps Elba Diner owners Doug and Sandy Chappius, DPW worker Phill Young and Kelly Wade, who put together the vender blender for the occasion.

Today, The Batavian stopped in on the Elba Lancer's football practice for a few snaps.

Head Coach Michael Cintorino said that even with standouts Zach DuBois and Zac Gillard graduating, the Lancers have had some good young players waiting in the wings and are now ready to step into starting roles.

Garrett Chapel steps into the starting QB role, Andy Underhill will help anchor the backfield and Brandon Naylor will lead the defense.

I've not been able to post a poll question this morning because PollDaddy.com has been down all morning. I'll post one later, if I can.

Latoya D. Jackson, 27, of 112 State St., Batavia, is charged with acting in a manner injurious to a child less than 17, assault 2nd, and assault 2nd (recklessly causing serious injury with a weapon). Jackson was allegedly involved in a fight at 121 Liberty St., Batavia, in which she injured two people with a knife at 8:39 p.m., Monday.

Dustin W. Bogue, 31, of 109 Oak St., Batavia, is charged with criminal trespass, 2nd, criminal contempt, 1st, harassment, 2nd. Bogue is accused of violating a no-offensive-conduct order of protect.

Michael S. Lytle, 24, of 11 Wood St., Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd, for allegedly violating an order of protection.

Raymond Paul Meshlovitz, 34, of Main Road, Corfu, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, 4th, and unlawful possession of a prescription form. During a search of his residence by probation, Meshlovitz was allegedly found in possession of brass knuckles, a switchblade knife and prescription forms.

Jacob Duane Defisher, 17, of Roanoke Road, Pavilion, is charged with petit larceny. Defisher is accused of stealing money from Darien Lake while employed there.

Amanda Marie Bowles, 28, of Williams Street Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Bowles is accused of shoplifting from Walmart.

Tammy L. Draper, 46, of 22 Porter Ave., Batavia, is charged with disorderly conduct. Draper is accused of making obscene gestures and yelling obscenities while on State Street at 3:39 p.m., Saturday.

Landrea D. Wroten, 41, of 5 Dellinger Ave., Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Wroten is accused of stealing a friend's purse.

Cody D. Cutitta, 26, of 5 Fairmont Ave., Batavia, is charged with aggravated harassment and disorderly conduct. Cutitta is accused of standing in the middle of Fairmont Avenue and swearing at 2:15 a.m. He's also accused of making threats by phone.

Nicola Marchesoni, 53, of Hamilton Street, Albion, is charged with driving while impaired by drugs, unlawful possession of marijuana, failure ot keep right and moving from lane unsafely. Marchesoni was stopped at 9:20 p.m. Tuesday on Quaker Hill Road, Elba, by Deputy Joseph Corona.

The Sheriff's Office once again experienced an increase in calls for service in 2012.

There were 27,787 calls in 2012 compared to 25,923 in 2011 and 21,334 in 2010.

The latest numbers are in the recently released Sheriff's Office annual report.

Here is some of the other data contained in the report.

Jail:

• The jail served 83,497 meals;
• The inmate food expense was $138,361;
• The inmate medical expense was $184,713;
• A total of 1,146 inmates were booked;
• The jail population over the course of the year went from 85 inmates to 69 inmates;
• Corrections officers completed 808 hours of training;
• The jail collected $61,000 in fees for such things as housing Wyoming County inmates, federal inmates, state prisoner transports and the inmate telephone system ($22,000).

Civil Service:

• There were 511 summons/supoenas served;
• For Family Court, 964 summons;
• Evictions, 138.

Law enforcement:

• Deputies received 5,362 hours of training on about 30 topics, including breath analyis, criminal street gang investigations, DNA evidence, domestic violence, sex offender cases, DWI enforcement, terrorist bombing, awareness, workplace violence, drug identification, active shooter training, police mental health, child abuse and human trafficking;
• 438 active warrants were cleared;
• The Stop DWI program received $154,799 in grants;
• 200 child IDs were processed;
• Department vehicles traveled 812,486 miles;
• DWI arrests -- 150, with 29 being in the 21-24 age range, 113 males, 51 on Saturdays and 14 felony DWIs;
• Refusal to take breath test -- 22;
• Total breath tests administered was 138, with 15 reading .00, six .08, 11 at .14, 15 at .15, 13 at .16 and nine at .22.

Accident statistics:

• There were 10 fatal accidents and 11 total fatalities;
• There were 136 hit-and-run accidents;
• There were 192 personal injury accidents;
• Accidents involving an animal -- 596;
• Alcohol related accidents -- 52.

Citations:

• 204, expired registration
• 68, uninsured motor vehicle
• 31, tinted windows
• 35, driver's view obstructed
• 124, unlicensed operator
• 142, aggravated unlicensed operation
• 29, leaving the scene of a property damage accident
• 224, disobey traffic control device
• 57, failure to keep right
• 69, following too closely
• 42, failure to yield right of way
• 307, speeding over 55 mph
• 404, speeding in zone
• 3, driving too slowly
• 56, driving while on mobile phone
• 293, no seat belt

Criminal complaints:

• 36, aggravated harassment
• 2, arson
• 11, bad check
• 131, burglary
• 36, criminal possession of a controlled substance
• 61, criminal contempt
• 118, criminal mischief
• 29, disorderly conduct
• 20, endangering the welfare of a child
• 49, fraud
• 1, gambling
• 105, grand larceny
• 138, harassment
• 419, larceny
• 283, liquor law violations
• 1, motor vehicle theft
• 9, rape
• 16, sexual abuse
• 65, trespass
• 83, unlawful possession of marijuana
• 1,904 total criminal complaints

Investigations

• The Local Drug Enforcement Task Force initiated 73 cases, made 71 drug arrests, with 16 cases pending and 14 search warrants executed;
• The task force handled 57 vice cases with 44 arrests;
• There were 17 polygraph tests given;
• Investigators handled 118 misdemenaor cases;
• There were 262 pistol permit records checks;
• A 20-year-old cold case was solved when Deputy Chris Erion used a polygraph  and a child abuse suspect confessed;
• The juvenile section handled 199 cases.

The 9-1-1 Call Center:

• 49,846 calls for police, 2,342 for fire and 8,459 for EMS, for 56,440 total;
• The Sheriff's Office received 23,231 calls for service; BPD, 14,749, Le Roy PD 3,562;
• Dispatchers received 29,156 inbound seven-digit calls;
• Dispatchers completed 580 training hours;

Court Security:

• 600 knives were found during screening, 33 razors, 108 scissors, two drug paraphernalia and 17 "other" weapons;
• 56,917 people were screened and 19,478 items scanned.

Animal Control:

• 45 animal bite cases
• 465 cats adopted
• 21 cats euthanized
• 538 cats impounded
• 233 dogs adopted
• 16 dogs euthanized
• 429 dogs impounded
• 16 livestock cases investigated
• 239 lost animal cases investigated

Genesee Justice:

• In its 14th year;
• 305 victims of serious and violent crimes served;
• 18 compensation claims filed;
• 28 clients assisted in family court;
• 218 in-person counseling;
• 782 phone counseling;
• The Child Advocacy Center served 112 children in Genesee County and conducted 54 sexual abuse examinations, 84 forensic interviews, made 38 therapy referrals.

A reader requested a picture of this evening's moon. Tomorrow's moon will be full. Tonight's is not.

Craig M. Lawson is indicted on one count of assault in the second degree, a Class D felony. The indictment accuses Lawson of hitting another person with intent to cause serious physical injury. Lawson allegedly hit Jason McNeil following the Kid Rock concert at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on July 5. McNeil suffered a serious head injury when he fell to the ground and remains hospitalized at ECMC. Lawson, a Canadian who was originally arrested on a misdemeanor charge, is out of jail on $1,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the felony charge Sept. 3.

Felipe R. Fernandez is indicted on a count of aggravated unlicensed operation in the first degree.  Fernandez is accused of driving a motor vehicle on May 8 in the Town of Batavia while knowing that his license to operate a motor vehicle was revoked with 10 or more suspensions.

Hector A. Leon-Figueroa is indicted on a count of criminal possession of marijuana in the third degree, a Class E felony. Leon-Figueroa is accused of possessing more than eight ounces of marijauna March 10 on the Thruway in the Town of Bergen.

Jimmy T. Garcia Jr., is indicted on a count of grand larceny in the fourth degree. Garcia is accused of of stealing $3,010 sometime between Aug. 24 and Aug. 29 in the Town of Batavia.

Rochester media is buzzing today about a purported announcement by the Seneca Nation looking to open a casino in Henrietta.

WHAM 13 is among the stations reporting that the tribe wants to expand to the Rochester suburb.

Michael D. Kane, president and CEO of Western Region OTB, said this afternoon, there will be no Seneca-owned casino in Henrietta, at least not any time soon.

"Under the current statutory scheme, they will not be able to put a casino in Western New York," Kane said. "Without a statutory change, which isn't likely to happen in today's environment, they cannot do what they're looking to do."

Kane said he isn't really sure what prompted the Seneca's to announce an interest in a casino in Henrietta when something like that happening at this time is more of a dream than even a hope.

"If casino gaming became regulated in New York State rather than prohibited, then perhaps they could fashion some agreement with the federal government to do it," Kane said. "From my point of view, there's no change in enforcement from today than there was yesterday."

Western OTB runs Batavia Downs Racetrack and Casino which, under terms of an agreement between the Senecas and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, is blocked from expanding into a full-fledged casino.

According to WHAM, the Senecas have hired Flaum Management to "coordinate the development" of a casino.

"This is an exciting day," CEO David Flaum said. "I am profoundly grateful for Seneca Nation for choosing me. I hope to assist them in bringing a casino here."

Kane said Flaum has been a consultant for the Senecas for 12 years.

Also, see the Rochester Business Journal: Seneca Nation to work with Flaum on gaming, hospitality development here.

Genesee County's unemployment rate improved slightly from June to July, according to data released today by the NYS Department of Labor.

The rate for July was at 6.1 percent, a tick lower than June's 6.2 percent. Both numbers are more than a percentage point better than the 7.5 percent rate in July 2012.

Only Ithaca, at 5.6 percent, has a lower unemployment rate than Genesee County. Glens Falls is also at 6.1.

The labor department reports 2,000 people without jobs in the county, compared to 2,400 a year ago.

Elsewhere in GLOW:

• Livingston: 6.8 percent
• Orleans: 8.5 percent
• Wyoming: 6.7 percent

The state's rate is 7.6 and the nation's is 7.7.

At Monday's meeting, the City Council rejected on a 6-2 vote a plan to spend $35,000 to build a dumpster enclosure on School Street.

City administrators have been looking for a way to clean up the collection of dumpsters used by nearby businesses and sought approval to use VLT money (money from slot machines at the Batavia Downs Casino) for the project.

Council members said that money should be spent elsewhere or saved.

"That money should be used for other things," said Councilwoman Rose Mary Christian, "like reducing our budget or the fact that we need new sidewalks or resurfacing our city streets, just helping our taxpayers all the time instead of businesses all the time. And I have nothing against businesses, but nobody helped me pay for a dumpster."

Pier Cipollone also said taxpayers should benefit from the VLT money, not private businesses.

"The VLT money will end up in the budget," Cipollone said. "It will end up in a contingency fund that will offset sidewalk construction, infrastructure improvements which would, in the end, decrease the tax levy."

City Manager Jason Molino agreed to try and rework the enclosure to reduce its cost by $10,000 eliminating any direct contribution by either business owners or taxpayers.

The measure defeated Monday night also called for spending $30,000 to mill and resurface the parking lot around the proposed dumpster enclosure.

(Based on story by The Batavian's news partner, WBTA.)

Expectations are high for Le Roy football this year, with players such QB Mike McMullen who started as sophomores when the Knights contended for a Section V title and now return as juniors. The group includes Tom Kelso, Kody Lampkin and John Pierce.

Here's some photos from today's practice.

The team captains were named today. The captains are Kody Lampkin, Mike McMullen, Tom Kelso and Brandon Van Grol.

McMullen wore his patriotic socks.

Mike McMullen

Tom Kelso

Lineman Anthony Paladino, who transferred from Notre Dame back to Le Roy, with head coach Brian Moran.

Center and defensive lineman Kody Lampkin

Conrado Caballero.

Tom Kelso

John Pierce

Information and photo provided by Tony Ray.

Team DirecTV is the champs of the Monday Night Oakfield Softball League. DirecTV beat Larry's Steakhouse in the playoff 13-1 and beat Oakfield Hotel for the championship, 30-7.

First row from left to right: Jason Pratt, Chuck Gugel, Ryan Gugel, Ron Klienback. Back row: Evan Nenni, Andre Kinder, Tony Ray, Matt Dimartino, Otis Thomas, Drew Crofts and Rich Baird.

Fifteen years ago, leaders with several churches in Le Roy came together to create an after-school program for children. That was the start of the Le Roy Christian Community Project. Today, LCCP runs eight programs, including a backpack program, a free weekly community dinner and a caregivers support group.

Yesterday, County Legislator Shelly Stein presented LCCP's board of directors with a proclamation from the county commemorating the group's 15 years of service to the community.

Photo from left: Heather Zerillo, Selby Davis, director of Grace's Kitchen; Pastor Colleen O'Connor; Board Chair Dave Parton (in the back), Pastor John Partise; Sam Defazio; Vice Chair Lisa White; Board Treasurer Mary Tyler; Lauren Humphrey; Community Outreach Coordinator/Board Secretary Lois Nicholson. In the front row, Susan Wakefield, director of LCCP; Shelly Stein; Jana Pritchett, assistant director.

NY Daily News: 82% of Americans say U.S. is losing the 'war on drugs'