Seen a creepy clown hanging around the City of Batavia? There have been reports...

"A neighborhood kid thought he saw a clown in a vacant lot," said Batavia Police Officer Marc Lawrence. "(Subsequently) A neighbor observed an open window in a residence on Central Avenue."

But the child did not actaully see anyone inside or entering the residence.

"Have there been any other reports of clowns in the city?" an officer asked Lawrence.

"There've been a couple, all unfounded," Lawrence replied.

Submitted photo and press release:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has listed the eastern massasauga rattlesnake as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The Service also determined that designating critical habitat for the eastern massasauga is not prudent.

Eastern massasaugas are currently found in scattered locations in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Ontario, Canada. In New York, this snake is found in two counties: Genesee and Onondaga.

The species, a candidate for listing since 1999, has been declining over the past few decades due to loss and fragmentation of its wetland habitat. Nearly 40 percent of the historical populations are now extirpated and an additional 15 percent are of uncertain status. Of those known remaining populations, most are experiencing ongoing threats, meaning additional population losses are anticipated in the future.

Under the Endangered Species Act, threatened species are plants and animals that may become endangered in the foreseeable future. While the Act protects listed species from take, which includes harming, harassing, injuring or killing, the law allows exceptions for take through permits, and all forms of take, including lethal take, are permitted if there is an imminent threat to human safety. Steps can be taken to keep snakes away from homes and outbuildings.

Habitat loss is the primary threat driving declines of eastern massasaugas, but as their numbers decline, other threats such as direct mortality or collection play a more significant role. Snakes may be killed while crossing roads as they travel between wetlands or after they emerge from hibernation; people intentionally kill or collect them; and they can be killed by prescribed fires and mowing when those activities are conducted after snakes have emerged from hibernation.

“Eastern massasauga rattlensnakes play an important role in the ecosystem, serving as both predator and prey,” said Tom Melius, the Service’s Midwest Regional director. “Conserving the massasauga means we are conserving natural areas that serve as habitat for many other plant and wildlife species.”

The timid eastern massasauga is a small snake with a thick body, heart-shaped head and vertical pupils. The average length of an adult is about 2 feet. The snake’s tail has several dark brown rings and is tipped by gray-yellow rattles. Massasaugas eat small rodents such as mice and voles, but they will sometimes eat frogs and other snakes. People’s fear of the massasauga and the species’ resultant persecution are largely unwarranted. Eastern massasaugas are docile, secretive snakes that will try to escape first rather than defend themselves or fight.

Massasaugas live in wet prairies, marshes and low-lying areas along rivers and lakes. Massasaugas also use adjacent uplands during part of the year. They often hibernate in crayfish burrows, but they may also be found under logs and tree roots or in small mammal burrows. Massasaugas use a mix of wetland and upland habitat that is important to many other species of wildlife as well as to humans. Wetland habitats provide wildlife habitat, recharge groundwater resources and improve water quality.

The eastern massasauga is currently state - or provincially listed as endangered, threatened or a species of concern in every state and province in which it lives. The Service and partners have been working together to conserve eastern massasauga populations since the species was named a candidate in 1999.

The Service determined that designating critical habitat for the eastern massasauga rattlesnake is not prudent because doing so would increase the threat from persecution, unauthorized collection, and trade. The final rule listing the eastern massasauga appeared in the Sept. 30, Federal Register. The rule has an effective date Oct. 31.

For more information about the eastern massasauga and the Service’s final rule to list the snake under the Endangered Species Act, visit http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/reptiles/eama/

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visitwww.fws.gov.

This week, the Batavia High School Girls Tennis Team capped a nine-match winning streak with a Division IV championship, the team's third, and now enter sectional play as the #2 seed in Class B. They next play Wednesday, vs. Aquinas, #7 seed, at home.

Press release:

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) will be holding a series of FREE anger management workshops at its 113 Main St. office in Batavia, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, beginning Oct. 11^th. Those who attend will be shown practical steps: to learn to manage anger; to stop violence and the threat of violence; to develop self-control over thoughts and actions; and to receive support and feedback from others in the workshops.

Pre-registration by Oct. 4 is required!

This workshop will be co-facilitated by Debra McKnight and Jim Strollo who bring experience and perspective to the endeavor. McKnight is a New York State certified Peer Specialist who has a degree in Human Services and holds a Mental Health First Aid Certificate. She is trained to provide help to people experiencing mental health problems such as depression, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse. Strollo has a master's degree in Psychology and is a Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC). He has conducted the Impaired Driver Program in Wyoming County for the past 26 years. Strollo is retired from the NYS Department of Corrections after a career of 25 years in counseling inmates. Together, they will create a welcoming and supportive environment.

Among the specific topics to be addressed are: an overview of group anger management treatment; a conceptual framework for understanding the events and cues that can produce anger; helping group members develop a plan for controlling anger; how to change the aggression dycle; the A-B-C-D model of cognitive restructuring and thought stopping; alternatives for expressing anger through assertiveness training and the conflict resolution model; how past learning can Influence present behavior in family situations; reinforcing learned concepts; graduation and the awarding of Certificates of Completion.

Independent Living serves people with disabilities in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties. Participants must attend all 12 workshops to earn their certificates. You can receive more information, and sign up for the workshops, by contacting Jim Strollo at (585) 815-8501, ext. 410, or by email at jstrollo@wnyil.org.

Press release:

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) will be holding a pair of focus groups on the concerns of LGBTQ individuals with disabilities.

Have your voice heard! This is a call for individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning (LGBTQ) and living with a disability (i.e. physical, sensory, mental health, or co-occurring disability) to take part in a focus group and to be heard about current services, programs -- or lack of services -- to help define your needs as a person with a disability living in our communities.

Besides taking a step to have truly appropriate services considered, participants will receive a light meal on the day of the focus group. The first group will meet beginning at 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 17, for a maximum of two to three hours, at the ILGR office, 113 Main St., Suite 5, just west of Center Street, in Batavia. Materials will be offered in accessible formats, if needed.

Space is limited to 20 people and the first LGBTQ individuals to apply will participate. Please register soon! The second focus group will be scheduled subsequent to the first as need be.

For more information, and to sign up, call Donna Becker, at (858) 815-8501, ext. 411,* or email dbecker@wnyil.org with the subject line of “Focus Group." Please RSVP by Oct. 14. We look forward to your feedback to help us learn the services you are receiving and/or need.

The Western New York Independent Living Inc. family of agencies offers an expanding array of inclusive and affirming services to aid individuals with disabilities to take control of their own lives.

*This is the correct extension; the original press release provided by the agency included the wrong extension number and it subsequently asked for the correction.

Marlek E. Holmes, a convicted sex offender, is indicted for the crime of failure to register a change of address, a Class D felony. Holmes is accused of moving to 9 Gibson St. in the Town of Oakfield in March and failing to register his change of address with the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services within 10 days as required by law. In Special Information filed in the indictment by District Attorney Lawrence Friedman, Holmes is accused of previously having been convicted of: (1) failing to report a change of address, a Class E felony, and (2) as a Level 3/Sexual Predator, failing to verify his address every 90 days, also a Class E felony, as required by law. The convictions were handed down on Dec. 5, 2011, in Genesee County Court.

Craig None McKenzie Jr., 19, of Batavia Stafford Townline Road, is charged with petit larceny. He was arrested at 9:15 p.m. on Sept. 27 after he was allegedly caught stealing from a department store on Veterans Memorial Drive. He was released on an appearance ticket returnable to the Town of Batavia Court on Oct. 27. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Michael Lute.

Rahmel Hakeem Thompson, 18, of Batavia Stafford Townline Road, is charged with petit larceny. He was arrested at 9:15 p.m. on Sept. 27 after he was allegedly caught stealing from a department store on Veterans Memorial Drive. He was released on an appearance ticket returnable to the Town of Batavia Court on Oct. 27. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Michael Lute.

Press release:

As high school students from the GLOW (Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, Wyoming) region converge on GCC on Thursday, Oct. 20, for the fifth annual Harvest Festival and Farmer's Market, the general public is also welcome to the yearly event for a cornucopia of delicious delights.

Students explore the many local career opportunities available in agribusiness in the Conable Technology Building, while locally produced products from maple syrup to freshly grown fruits and vegetables will once again be available to purchase from 9:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.in the William W. Stuart Forum. The Harvest Festival is free and open to the public at the GCC Batavia campus.

Agribusiness professionals from the GLOW area begin the day with 20-minute, mini presentations running concurrently from 9 – 11 a.m. and 12 – 12:45 p.m. The presentations focus on food processing, technology and the many career opportunities from the following presenters:

• Gina Lee, Finger Lakes Community College Wine Technology Program

• Todd Hofheins, Maple Moon, Attica

• Jeremy Liles, Oliver's Chocolates, Batavia

• Holly Partridge, Farm to Table, Genesee Valley Education Partnership, Batavia Campus

• Peter Metzler, Porter Farms CSA, Elba

Finger Lakes Community College, Cornell University and SUNY Alfred State will also be on hand to offer guidance for completing a degree in an agribusiness-related field.

Children and animal enthusiasts will once again be delighted by a small petting zoo, hosted by the GCC Veterinary Technology Club and located on the east lawn of the campus from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

All attendees are also invited to participate in a collective Campus "Crunch" at 12:45 p.m. in the Forum. Across the state, a number of private and public colleges and universities participate in the "New York Campus Crunch." Together, they will bite into an apple simultaneously to affirm their commitment to food that is healthy for people and the planet and celebrating New York's being the second-largest apple-producing state in the United States. GCC will conduct its "crunch" at the Harvest Festival and a free delicious apple will be provided for those that wish to take part.

"With so much going on, Harvest Fest has something for everyone," said Festival co-coordinator and GCC Accelerated College Enrollment (ACE) Programs assistant Lindsay Carney.

"In addition to local artisan food, drink and products, visitors can learn about careers in agribusiness, which include marketing, social media, accounting and technology. Much more than traditional farming field positions. Of course, at this time of year, we again excited to welcome another great group of vendors who will offer some of the very best local products," Carney said.

Vendors who plan to attend include:

• Harrington's, Batavia – vegetables and fruits

• Harper Hill Farms, Darien – goat milk soaps

• Hill 'n' Hollow, Pavilion – chutneys and vinegars

• Maple Moon Farms, Attica – maple syrup

• Once Again Nut Butter, Nunda – butters and honey

• Mama Bucks, Dansville – brittles

New to the Harvest Fest this year will be exhibits by Genesee County Park, BCA Ag Technologies, CY Farms, Provitello and USDA-NRCS. They will join a host of other local businesses that will have displays students can explore in the Forum, including Cornell Cooperative Extension, Genesee County Soil and Water, Oxbo International, Perry's Ice Cream and Upstate Niagara Milk Cooperative.

Submitted photo and press release:

To help in the fight against hunger this Hunger Action Month, National Grid announced $12,500 in donations to 10 food banks and hunger relief organizations throughout the eight counties of Western New York.

Recipient organizations included: Food Bank of Western New York, Friends of the Night People (Buffalo), Buffalo City Mission, St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy (Buffalo), Heart Love and Soul Food Pantry (Niagara Falls), North Tonawanda Inter-Church Food Pantry, Rural Ministries “Friendly Kitchen” (Dunkirk), Community Action (Salamanca), United Way of Orleans/Albion Christ Community Kitchen (Albion) and United Way of Genesee County.

“There are too many in our local community who worry where their next meal will come from,” said Kenneth Kujawa, regional manager for National Grid. “While the fight against hunger is year round, September’s Hunger Action Month provides an opportunity to bring the issue top of mind and encourage donations and assistance to help food banks and pantries prior to the holiday season. Every little bit helps and National Grid is proud to play a role in local hunger relief efforts.”

Last year, National Grid launched a companywide campaign to support Hunger Action Month. Regionally, a total of 343 pounds of food, enough to feed 285 families, was collected and donated to the Food Bank of Western New York.

Press release:

The Genesee County Democratic Committee has opened its new headquarters at 43 Main St. in the Village of Le Roy.

On Saturday, Oct.1, the headquarters will be open for the Fall for Le Roy event and an official open house will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4.

The public is invited to stop by and learn about local candidates, register to vote and enjoy light refreshments.

The office will be operated entirely by volunteers and will operate phone banking and canvassing events. Literature and yard signs for various campaigns will be available as well.

They welcome anyone who is interested in helping or learning about their local government to contact them through their website at GeneseeDemocrats.net

Mark your calendars for the Dig Pink Game on Oct. 6 when Oakfield-Alabama and Elba high school volleyball players compete again Wheatland-Chili to benefit The Side-Out Foundation.

The JV matchup starts at 5 p.m. and the varsity game begins at 6:30. They will take place inside the Oakfield-Alabama Elementary School Gymnasium, located at 7001 Lewiston Road in Oakfield.

There will be 50/50 raffles, refreshments, raffles items and a serving contest.

This is the sixth year of the Dig Pink Game and to date more than $7,000 has been raised locally for the nonprofit foundation, whose mission is to enhance breast cancer research and awareness.

A 400 Towers resident admitted in County Court yesterday that he placed a live cat in his apartment's oven and baked it to death.

If the case had gone to trial 42-year-old Darren Annovi could have faced a maximum sentence of two years in county jail, but with the plea deal his sentence will be capped at five years probation and six months in jail.

He will be sentenced Nov. 29.

District Attorney Lawrence Friedman said he believed there was strong evidence against Annovi and that is presumably why he agreed to plead guilty, but he wouldn't discuss any possible statements Annovi may have made and didn't know why Annovi killed the cat.

"I don't think there is any rational explanation for why (he did it)," Friedman said.

Wendy Castleman, with Volunteers for Animals, who assisted in the investigation by paying for the cat's autopsy, said outside of court that she thought Annovi should be barred from ever owning pets again.

Friedman said he recommended to her that she contact the probation department prior to Annovi's sentencing and suggest that as a sentencing option, but that any such prohibition of pet ownership could not extend beyond the term of Annovi's probation.

Typically, county jail sentences can't be longer than a year; otherwise. inmates are sent to a state prison, but the Ag and Market Law this case was prosecuted under allows for a two-year maximum county sentence.

Annovi is out on bail of $5,000 bail.

Our news partner, WBTA, provided information for this story.

A Bergen resident has been arrested on suspicion of operating an unlawful marijuana growing operation out of his home, according to the Sheriff's Office.

David M. Campuzano, 24, of South Lake Road, was jailed on $15,000 bail or $30,000 bond following his arrest and arraignment.

He is charged with criminal possession in the second degree, a Class D felony, unlicensed growing of cannabis, a Class A misdemeanor, and violation of a restricted driver's license.

Campuzano was arrested by members of the Local Drug Task Force following the execution of a search warrant on his home and car.

He was allegedly found in possession of a pound of marijuana, equipment used to grow marijuana and paraphernalia. He is also suspected of driving outside of restrictions on his license. 

The District Attorney's Office and uniformed deputies assisted in the investigation and arrest.

I didn't get a chance to post this before I left, but I'm in Chicago through Saturday.

I'll miss the Wine Walk, but we've got coverage lined up of various things while I'm gone. 

I'm attending a two-day conference for programmers working for news organizations and then I'll be at the annual conference for Local Independent Online News Publishers. I'll be speaking at that conference on Saturday.

The identity of the victim in a Sept. 22 motorcycle accident on the westbound Thruway during rush hour was just released by State Police.

Judith A. Drook, 76, of Marion, Ind., succumbed to injuries sustained in the accident after she was transported by Mercy Flight to Erie County Medical Center.

The driver of the motorcycle is identified as Lance C. Warner, 74, of Sandusky, Ohio. He was transported to ECMC by Mercy Medics in an ambulance.

The investigator said this morning the accident is still under investigation. He said Warner applied the brakes, then lost control of the motorcycle for unknown reasons.

The accident occurred around 5 p.m. Thursday in the area of mile marker 394.9 and traffic on the Thruway was shut down to land the helicopter. East Pembroke Fire Department responded along with Mercy EMS. Town of Batavia Fire Department set up the landing zone.