Tickets for the special Mega Woody Pedal Car and the Buffalo Bills Turf are available before the raffle at Crossroads House, stop by anytime for tickets, 11 Liberty St., Batavia.

All baskets and mega raffles will be drawn starting at 3 p.m. the day of the event. See you at the ARC Community Center, 38 Woodrow Road, Batavia, on Oct. 26th!

Press release from AAA:

Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $2.65, up a penny since last week. One year ago, the price was $2.85. The New York State average is $2.69 – down a penny from last week. A year ago, the NYS average was $2.99.

AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:

• Batavia -- $2.67 (down 1 cent since last week)
• Buffalo -- $2.66 (down 1 cent since last week)
• Ithaca -- $2.66 (no change since last week)
• Rochester -- $2.67 (down 2 cents since last week)
• Rome -- $2.69 (down 1 cent since last week)
• Syracuse -- $2.58 (down 3 cents since last week)
• Watertown -- $2.66 (no change since last week)

New data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows that total domestic gasoline stocks are down compared to this time last year. Demand slipped a bit, but remains higher than last year’s rate at this time.

Until supplies increase or demand decreases, motorists may see moderate increases in pump prices, which is reflected in today’s national average.

At this time, local prices have not been impacted. At the same time, oil prices decreased by 15 cents at the close of Friday’s formal trading session. Crude inventories are up as domestic production is on the rise.

Press release:

The Christian Students United (CSU) Club at Genesee Community College invites the college and the community to a Free Movie Night from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 29, in the William W. Stuart Forum of the Batavia Campus, located at One College Road, Batavia.

"The Case for Christ" is a 2007 Pureflix movie based on the award-winning best-selling book, which portrays the real-life story of Chicago investigative journalist Lee Strobel's journey from atheism to Christianity.

The film stars Mike Vogel, Erika Christensen, Faye Dunaway and Robert Forster.

For more information about the film, click here.

CSU will be selling inexpensive homemade baked goods and the proceeds will go to the student club's sponsored child from Haiti, 11-year old Fedson Hyppolite.

CSU's student mission is to edify and encourage one another to be the light of Christ at GCC. The club welcomes all students regardless of their religious affiliation, and the group meets on Thursdays, 12:30 - 2 p.m., in room T122.

Any questions can be referred to the CSU president, student Anna Sprout asprout@my.genesee.edu, or to the CSU advisor, Jim Simon jsimon@genesee.edu, 585-798-1688, ext. 4191.

Reader and photographer Frank Capuano sent us a picture he made this morning of the sky over Batavia.

The weather was beautiful today.

The driver of a vehicle involved in a one-vehicle rollover accident in the area of 1029 Seward Road, Alexander, has left the scene.

Alexander fire dispatched to secure the vehicle (ensure there are no safety issues).

Law enforcement is searching for the area of the driver.

Today, Medal of Honor recipient David Bellavia issued a statement confirming that he will not seek the NY-27 congressional seat, endings months of speculation in political circles about his plans.

“I am formally announcing I will not run for Congress in the 27th District of New York in the upcoming Special Election. My service to our great community and country is unwavering, but I have a new responsibility to the U.S. Army. The Medal of Honor recognition is providing me with an incredible opportunity to serve at a level not thought possible just a few months ago. I am traveling the country, as an ambassador for Western New York, educating and influencing future soldiers and fellow citizens, as well as training and advising military leadership.
 
"Acting upon my long-standing and sincere desire to run for Congress at this time would require me to set aside pre-existing commitments I have made to my Army, my family, and those with whom I do business. I have carefully considered the needs and advice of party leadership and those closest to me and I am extremely thankful and forever humbled by the overwhelming support from Western New York.
 
"Go Bills! Go Sabres!” 

Bellavia ran for the seat in the 2012 primary and lost to Chris Collins, who resigned office three weeks ago in conjunction with his guilty plea on federal insider trading charges.

Currently, Bellavia is traveling and is unavailable for further comment.

It's expected that Gov. Andrew Cuomo will call a special election at which point GOP candidates will likely be interviewed by the seven GOP county committee chairs in the district and the chairs will select a candidate for the special election ballot.

That wouldn't preclude any candidate from any party running on a third-party line, as Jack Davis did in 2011 after Chris Lee resigned. Bellavia endorsed Davis in that race and Kathy Hochul beat the handpicked GOP candidate, Jane Corwin.

Assuming there is a special election, likely April 28, in conjunction with the Democratic presidential primary in New York, there would still be a primary election in June and a general election in November 2020.

After Bellavia won the Medal of Honor, political consultant and Trump ally Michael Caputo started a Draft David Bellavia committee in an effort to show Bellavia that he had the support of voters in the district to run and win the seat. Most political observers considered him a shoo-in to win if he ran.

Caputo issued the following statement:

The 27th Congressional District has the luxury of a wealth of qualified Republican candidates. Our draft team thought David was the best one, but only if it matched his aspirations. We respect his decision and wish him the best the world has to offer. We also look forward to seeing what this new chapter brings in his life of service to our nation.

There are potential candidates for the seat who have been waiting on the sidelines for Bellavia to make his decision, including Assemblyman Steve Hawley and Erie County Comptroller Stefan Mychajliw.

Hawley issued the following statement:

I have the utmost respect for David and his service to our country. His decision to continue his service as an emissary for the U.S. Army is laudable and honorable. I will continue to weigh my options. I enjoy being an elected representative in Western New York fighting for the values that make our area very special. It’s HOME. 

Mychajliw's statement:

"NY27’s loss is the country’s gain - and I know David will continue to serve our country with honor and excellence in his next role. David deserved the respect and time to make his decision, on his terms, and as I’ve said, I would make a decision once he made his.

One thing I am certain of - with impeachment of President Trump on the line, we cannot let this seat fall into the hands of a pro-choice, Never Trumper who only claims to support the President now that there’s a political promotion on the line. Washington doesn’t need another weak, opportunistic politician - it needs fearless conservatives who will take the fight to the Democrats and stand with President Trump.

Within the next few days, I’ll make a final decision on running in NY-27 to ensure we have a voice that actually fights for conservatives, not one that simply poses as a conservative."

Among the candidates already running is State Sen. Rob Ortt. Here's his statement:

“U.S. Army SSG. David Bellavia is a national hero who will continue to serve our country in a manner that we should all be grateful for. I commend David on his decision to continue representing the Army and for his work founding the Deuce Deuce Relief Fund, and I look forward to working with him in the future to ensure that our veterans are made a priority when returning home from combat. The health and well-being of our veterans are one of the reasons I have chosen to run for Congress, and the need for battle-tested veteran leadership in Washington, D.C. is greater now than ever before.”   

Photo: File photo by Paula Zack of David Bellavia receiving the key to the city from Batavia City Council President Eugene Jankowski.

A three-car collision with injuries is reported at 8259 Lewiston Road. Town of Batavia Fire  Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 12:02 p.m.: There is entrapment. The location is between Cheryl Lane and Veterans Memorial Drive.

UPDATE 12:05 p.m.: Oakfield Fire Police are asked to shut down traffic at Route 63 and Galloway Road.

UPDATE 1:17 p.m.: Genesee County Sheriff's Sgt. Ronald D. Meides said there were two vehicles involved in the accident, not three. Witnesses told officers that the red pickup truck was southbound on Lewiston Road when, for unknown reasons, it left its lane of travel and drifted into the opposite lane. A northbound blue sedan tried to veer onto the right shoulder to avoid a collision but could not as the truck continued on and struck the car. Meides said it was not a true head-on collision -- more of a "glancing front bumper to front bumper" crash. The sedan's female driver from Oakfield required extrication as did the male driver of the pickup truck. He had a male passenger; both men are from Lockport. All three were conscious and alert and able to answer questions when first responders arrived. The female was taken to ECMC; the men were taken to Strong Memorial Hospital. Meides said their injuries are serious but not life threatening. Drugs or alcohol are not factors, Meides said, adding that charges are pending.

Press release:

Local guitarist/singer Dylan DeSmit will be releasing his new album, "Sittin' by the Fire," on Nov. 8th.

The new album is a follow-up to his 2017 EP, "Pizza for Breakfast."

Recorded over the past year and a half at Watchmen Studios in Lockport, "Sittin' by the Fire" features more of a Southern rock/country rock sound than DeSmit's previous work.

It consists of 12 tracks, including the singles "October" and "Castle." The album will be available on all online streaming platforms, including Spotify, Itunes, and Bandcamp. It will also be available on CD.

One of our previous recordings of The Batavian Sessions with Dylan DeSmit:

In the battle of unbeaten Class D teams, Notre Dame beat Alexander on Friday night 40-0. This means the Fighting Irish will go into the postseason as the #1 seed in Class D and Alexander will be ranked #2.

Notre Dame's QB Gab Macdonald was 7-10 passing for 213 yards and a TD. He rushed 11 times for 49 yards and a TD. Jeb Reese carried the ball 20 times for 118 yards and a TD. Tony Zambito had two receptions for 93 yards.

For Alexander, Dylan Busch and Josh DeVries had solid games but the Trojans couldn't sustain a drive. Busch was 11 for 21 passing for 121 yards. Devries had five receptions for 87 yards. Ty Woods led the Trojans with 11 tackles.

Also on Friday:

• Batavia beat Newark 38-15 to finish the regular season at 5-2.
• Le Roy beat Wayland-Cohocton 43-12 to finish the regular season 7-0. The Knights are the #1 seed in Class C. Kyler LaCarte rushed for 109 yards and scored a TD while passing for 188 yards and two touchdowns.

Before Friday's game in Alexander, players Nathan Luker and Evan Whitmore did a fine job singing the National Anthem. Video below.

Press release:

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) is holding a free “Meet the Candidates” Day to enable local residents with disabilities -- or anyone from the community -- to hear and discuss issues with some on the ballot in the November General Election.

Our Chief Policy Officer Todd Vaarwerk points out that those who achieve local positions now may be the state and national leaders of tomorrow!  So, whatever your political views, this is your year to get involved!

The event takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 22nd, ILGR’s Main Office in the Crickler Executive Business Center, 319 W. Main St. in Batavia, in the Douglas J. Usiak Multipurpose Room.

To date, we have confirmations from Batavia City Court Judge candidates Durin B. Rogers (R, C, I) and Benjamin J. Bonarigo (D, WOR, GRE); and Batavia City Council Ward 3, Deborah Kerr Rosenbeck (LBT).

We have also invited those who are not running unopposed in the following positions, although not all will attend: Genesee County Legislators District 8; Batavia City Council wards 3 and 5; various local positions: Alexander Town Clerk; Bergen Town Clerk; Bethany Town Council; Byron Town Supervisor and Town Council; Darien Town Supervisor, Town Justice and Town Council; Pavilion Highway Superintendent; and Pembroke Town Justice.

They will address their constituents and take questions.

(The party abbreviations (in alphabetical order): C – Conservative, D – Democrat, GRE – Green, I – Independence, LIB - Libertarian, R – Republican, WOR – Working Families.)

If an attendee wishes to be familiar with the “hot” disability issues, sheets of suggested questions will be provided; but participants are encouraged to ask about public concerns that are close to them. The building is fully disability accessible.

To RSVP or get additional information call Donna at (585) 815-8501, ext. 411.

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) is a member of the Western New York Independent Living Inc. family of agencies that offers an expanding array of services to aid individuals with disabilities to take control of their own lives.

From the Genesee County Health Department:

Did you know there is a pill to prevent HIV? Pre-exposure prophylaxis, also known as PrEP, is a safe and effective daily pill that can greatly reduce your risk of HIV infection.

PrEP is prescribed for HIV-negative people who are at a higher risk for getting HIV, most commonly through sex, injection drug use, or sharing needles. A lot of people still don’t knowabout the benefits of using PrEP to protect against HIV.

That’s why the New York State Department of Health has declared Oct. 20 – 26 as PrEP Aware Week.

“If you are exposed to HIV, the medicines in PrEP stop the virus from spreading throughout your body, preventing anHIV infection” said Brenden Bedard, director of Community Health Services of Genesee and Orleans counties. “People at high risk for getting HIV should talk to their healthcare provider about starting this preventative treatment.”

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), when taken daily, PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV. Studies have shown that PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99 percent when taken daily. Among people who inject drugs, PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV by at least 74 percent when taken daily. PrEP is much less effective if it is not taken consistently.

Before you start PrEP, your doctor will test you to make sure that you do not have HIV and that your kidneys and liver are healthy. While you are on PrEP, your doctor will test you every three months for HIV and at least every six months for other STIs.

Even though PrEP is one important tool for protecting yourself from HIV, you can further reduce your chance of getting HIV by using condoms during sex and by using new sterile (clean) needles if you inject drugs.

The CDC offers these guidelines on people who should consider taking PrEP:

• Anyone who is in an ongoing relationship with someone who is HIV-positive.

• Gay or bisexual men who have sex without a condom or have been diagnosed with an STI in the past six months.

• Heterosexual men or women who do not regularly use condoms with partners with an unknown HIV status who are at substantial risk for HIV infections (people who inject drugs).

• People who have injected drugs in the past 6 months and have shared injection equipment or have been in treatment for injection drug use in the past six months.

Many insurance plans, including Medicaid, cover PrEP. Assistance may also be available if you are uninsured or if your co-pay or deductible is too high. For additional information about PrEP, including a directory of medical providers who prescribe PrEP, and information about resources to pay for PrEP, please visit www.health.ny.gov/PrEP.

For more information about PrEP, please click here.

For information about Health Department services contact the Genesee County Health Department at: 344-2580, ext. 5555, or visit their website.

The Breast Cancer Coalition will present a talk on the long-term effects of radiation beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, at Richmond Memorial Library in Batavia.

This event is cosponsored by Assemblyman Steve Hawley and Senator Michael Ranzenhofer.

It is free and open to the public. No reservations necessary. The library is located at 19 Ross St. in the City of Batavia.

Dr. Kevin J. Mudd, of the UR Medicine Wilmot Cancer Institute, will be the speaker.

Radiation treatment for breast cancer is known to reduce recurrence and increase survival rates for the disease.

• But are there risks associated with this form of treatment?
• What long-term effects may be attributed to radiation therapy?
• Do the therapeutiv benefits outweigh the potential risks?
• Are there ways to prvent or minimizue long-term effects?
• What should a patient be aware of in the weeks, months and years following radiation treatment?

To contact the Breast Cancer Coalition, phone (585) 473-8177, email:   infor@bccr.org or visit their website.

A caller reports that a woman came to her house with a facial injury and said her car had struck something and asked her not to call for help before wandering off.

It's unknown what she struck or the exact location of the possible accident.

Alexander fire is being dispatched to the area of 3393 Dodgeson Road, Alexander.

Submitted photo and press release:

When artists of different genres come together, their combined creation inspires in new ways seldom seen at the beginning of their collaboration. Such is the case with a new exhibit opening at the Roz Steiner Art Gallery at Genesee Community College on Nov. 12.

The gallery will display a series of 52 acrylic paintings created by Professor of Fine Arts at Genesee Community College, Heather S. Jones. The paintings were created to illustrate a children's book titled "M is for Mindful," written by national award-winning journalist Robin L. Flanigan, which is being published by Good Nature Press in November as part of the exhibition.

"M is for Mindful" is a children's poetry book that cultivates self-awareness, compassion, respect for diversity, and other practices that shape the way people think and act. The story is visually represented by Jones's vibrant nature-themed paintings. The illustrations guide children through the book's concepts, empowering young readers to attain and maintain an intentional, balanced and considerate life.

On Thursday, Nov. 14, a special celebration will take place in the gallery and the entire community is invited to attend any and all parts of the day:

• 12:30 p.m. -- Meet Jones and Flanigan and hear them talk about their project;
• 1 p.m. -- View the exhibit, mingle and enjoy refreshments;
• 2:30 p.m. -- Robin L. Flanigan reads from "M is for Mindful" in the gallery;
• 5 - 8 p.m. -- Book Launch and evening reception: Purchase a copy of "M is for Mindful" and have it signed by both the illustrator and author to celebrate the project and inspire young and old readers alike.

This exhibit will be on display at GCC's Roz Steiner Gallery from Nov.12 - Dec.12.

The artist and author met through the happy coincidence of a mutual friend in central New York, where a vibrant network of artists in all media and persuasions thrive.

Jones has taught at GCC since 2008, and she is active in many creative pursuits, including but not limited to her role as collaborator with international Vida Design Studio, through which she designs clothing and products; study abroad instructor with multiple colleges; and creative director and illustrator of Good Nature Press.

Through the years, she has also taught at Geneseo State University, Empire State College, as well as public schools and she was the administrative director at Camp Stella Maris.

She earned her MFA from RIT and her BFA from Alfred University, and she received a SUNY Chancellor Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities in 2015.

Besides painting, Jones' professional skills also involve printmaking, photography, glassblowing, metal fabrication, ceramics, textiles and organizational management. Her work can be viewed at the following online websites:

• GlassFeather Studio www.glassfeatherstudio.com
• Saatchi Art Gallery https://www.saatchiart.com/hsjones
• Vida Collections https://shopvida.com/collections/heather-jones

A seasoned writer with bylines covering a dynamic range of topics, Flanigan uses the name and website "The Kinetic Pen" to capture the essence of her gift as an author, observer and her 20-plus year career as a writer. Raised in Sedona, Ariz., and now settled in Rochester, she earned her BA in Language and Literature from St. Mary's College of Maryland, including one year of study at the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance in Oxford, England.

Flanigan honed her craft as a newsroom beat reporter for 11 years, working for the Democrat and Chronicle in Rochester and The Herald-Sun in Durham, N.C. During this period of her career she earned nearly a dozen newspaper and press awards.

Since 2005, Flanigan has been a freelance writer for numerous magazines, newspapers, literary magazines and marketing initiatives, including but not limited to People magazine, US Airways, Education Week, The Sun, Motherwell and Talking Writing, and her coffee-table book entitled "Rochester: High Performance for 175 Years" was published in 2009.

Among her many topics are personal profiles, education, healthcare, business, home trends, beauty, fashion and family life. "M is for Mindful" is her first children's book.

The book project is an excellent illustration of how artistry and creativity cross into different media, and when combined the result is truly an enterprising opportunity that inspires in ways that may not be as available singularly.

"I am excited to show my students how the fine arts and painting can create opportunities to be entrepreneurial impacting not only their careers, but also inspiring an audience in ways far beyond the original canvas or exhibit," Jones said. "This project and the exhibit illustrate how careers in creativity can take an artist in all kinds of directions as long as they remain open, receptive and flexible in their life's journey."

Jones's talent and hard work in creating these paintings and contributing to "M is Mindful" have earned her a place in GCC's Recognition Matters series, which highlights the accomplishments of the College's faculty, staff and students. Officials at GCC have embraced this series as a way to acknowledge not only the achievement, but the high quality of the recognized individuals who demonstrate GCC's "beyond expectations" brand.

The Roz Steiner Art Gallery is open to the public Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Wednesdays - Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The gallery is also open during special events as published at www.genesee.edu/campuslife/arts. Admission is free.

For more information, contact Gallery Coordinator Mary Jo Whitman at (585) 343-0055, ext. 6490, or via email: mjwhitman@genesee.edu.