A truck versus bicycle accident is reported at 8220 Prole Road Extension. Stafford Fire Department and Mercy Medics are responding.

UPDATE 3:06 p.m.: Despite reports the bicyclist "flew through the air," the 20 40-year-old male suffered no loss of consciousness and he is alert, with some road rash injuries.

UPDATE 3:10 p.m.: A witness says the vehicle which struck the bicyclist is not a truck. It's a small red car, which left the scene, heading toward the city on Route 33. It is missing the passenger side mirror glass as a result of the impact.

UPDATE 3:16 p.m.: The right headlight may also be damaged.

UPDATE 3:21 p.m.: Stafford firefighters are back in service.

UPDATE 3:30 p.m.: The patient is being transported to UMMC for evaluation and treatment of abrasions on his elbow.

With this long stretch of summer-like weather, many people are jogging and walking in Batavia. Some are tripping over sidewalks that are uneven and bowed by ever expanding tree roots and others are not able to use them at all.

The sidewalk on the east side of Fairmont and Norris was one such case: It was cracked and buckled several inches, making it difficult to walk on for most people and impossible for Marguerite Badami to push her elderly, wheelchair-bound father across.

"My father is a longtime resident of the area and I take him for walks every day," Badami said. "I always have to push him in the street because there is just no way I can get his wheelchair over that huge bump on the sidewalk."

The city is responsible for repairs to sidewalks that are inoperable and uneven, those which present walking and tripping hazards. If they cannot be patched, then the concrete has to be removed, the roots ground down and new cement poured.

Peter Corbelli and his family live in the house adjacent to the same sidewalk. We interviewed him a few days before repairs began and he said couldn't understand why the city hadn't done anything about it.

"It was in bad shape when we moved here in 1998 and it just gets worse every year," Corbelli said.

We left a message with City Manager Jason Molino on Thursday about the sidewalk problem. On Friday, he said it was scheduled for repairs this fall and that they were taking care of it.

Later that day, residents of Fairmont and Norris informed us that city construction on the sidewalk finally began.

"The city spent $500,000 in the last five years on sidewalk fixes and we're making this a priority," Molino said. "We are attacking the areas that are used the most often, then working our way out. We are getting there slowly, but surely."

Although the city is making progress, this is an ongoing project. There are thousands of trees here and many of them are silver maples, which have aggressive root systems that can cause serious damage to sidewalks and power lines.

"Batavia spends $25,000 a year on tree removal and another $5,000 on planting different species of less invasive trees," Molino said.

Shane M. Bell is indicted for second-degree assault, a Class D felony. With intent to cause serious physical injury to another person, he is accused of causing such injury to such person or to a third person in the vicinity of the Harvester Bar on Aug. 25. It is located at 100 Harvester Ave. in the City of Batavia.

Shannon L. Bartz is indicted for third-degree grand larceny, a Class D felony. She is accused of stealing property having a value in excess of $3,000 between October 2012 and March 2013 at the Pizza Hut, located at 412 E. Main St. in the City of Batavia. In count two of the indictment, she is accused of falsifying business records in the first degree, a Class E felony. With the intent to defraud, she allegedly made, or caused to be made, false entries in the business records at Pizza Hut or she omitted true entries, in violation of duty. Her alleged intent to defraud included intent to commit another crime -- larceny or to conceal larceny.

Beth M. Overacker is indicted for aggravated driving while impaired by drugs, a Class E felony. On May 25 in the Town of Batavia, she is accused of driving a 2007 Chevrolet on R. Stephen Hawley Drive while her ability was allegedly impaired by drugs and while a child of age 15 or less was a passenger. In count two, she is accused of the same thing, while having a second child age 15 or less also in the car. In count three, she is accused of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree for knowingly and unlawfully possessing Alprazolam on May 25.

Wilfredo Camacho is indicted for aggravated driving while intoxicated, a Class E felony, while in the Town of Le Roy on Sept. 21, 2012. He is alleged to have driven a 1999 Ford on the Thruway while intoxicated and while a child age 15 or less was a passenger. In count two, he is alleged to have had a BAC of .08  while a child age 15 or less was a passenger.

The Grand Jury for the July 2013 Term issued a no bill for Amanda T. Sterzick after it considered evidence relating to a possible charge of second-degree assault for incidents which occurred Aug. 9 in the City of Batavia.

Press release from the state Department of Transportation:

A portion of Route 77 in Darien will close next week for railroad repairs. Motorists should allow extra time to take an alternate route.

The Norfolk Southern Railroad will be working on a grade crossing on Route 77 for approximately one week beginning Monday, Oct. 7. The road will be closed between Route 20 and Route 354. Access to all driveways will be maintained. Local traffic will be permitted up to the work site. Through traffic will be prohibited.

A detour will be posted directing traffic to utilize Route 238. This work is being performed under permit by Norfolk Southern Railroad.

For real-time travel information, visit www.511ny.org

Press release:

Due to the Federal Government partial shutdown, the Genesee County Soil & Water Conservation District has temporarily been relocated to the Genesee County Park on Bethany Center Road in Bethany.

We are open for business, but do not have access to our regular staff e-mail, so you can use this e-mail address to contact us <genco.soil_waterconservation@yahoo.com> or call 344-1122.

A caller to dispatch reports an emaciated dog is outside of a residence on Walnut Street. City police are responding to the complaint.

UPDATE 1:35 p.m.: The officer tells dispatch "I'm familiar with this dog. It's certainly not emaciated. I'm leaving a contact card and I'll be clear (leaving)."

Photo courtesy of Alecia Kaus.

An armed robbery just occurred at Tops Market in Le Roy, located at 128 W. Main St. A black male wearing glasses, tan pants and black windbreaker allegedly displayed a handgun at the service desk, took an unknown amount of cash, then fled on foot toward the Sunoco Gas Station. Police on scene say no one matching that description could be found by the gas station. Six units are responding.

UPDATE 10:59 a.m.: "He ran east to the back of the 'pod mall,' came around front, then ran westbound from the pod mall," clarifies an officer. Another says "we haven't seen him to this point, it's likely he got into a vehicle." They are going to deploy a State Police helicopter, if available.

UPDATE 11:02 a.m.: The helicopter is going airborne. The Tops incident is a county-wide alert.

UPDATE 11:15 a.m.:  The suspect is further described as a being in his 30s, wearing a black hoodie, black sunglasses, tan brown pants, and it is confirmed he did display a pistol to the cashier.

UPDATE 11:19 a.m.: The Le Roy schools were notified about the situation.

UPDATE 11:27 a.m.: Police have been informed of a possible suspect vehicle that was seen circling in the parking lot of the Napa Auto Parts store (7180 W. Main St.) around the time of the robbery. It's a white Mitsubishi Diamante-style mid-size sedan driven by a white male who had a black passenger. In another development, police say they've determined the last place the suspect fled on foot and will begin tracking from that juncture.

UPDATE 12:11 p.m.: Five minutes ago, the State Helicopter went back in service after scouring the area around Tops for the suspect without locating him. There is a K-9 Unit trying to track the suspect, although it sounds as if police believe he more likely got a ride.

UPDATE 12:23 p.m.: A white male and black male have been spotted by a caller to dispatch walking out of the woods off Route 19 and Lake Street near Bob Adams Automotive.

UPDATE 12:26 p.m.: The pair are said to be walking "westbound on the south branch of the railroad tracks."

UPDATE 12:28 p.m.: There's some confusion since the caller reported seeing them walking eastbound.

UPDATE 12:33 p.m.: Police caught up with the pair. Both men are white.

UPDATE 1:03 p.m.: State units are back in service. The investigation continues.

Press release:

The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council announces a call for artists to submit work in all media on the theme “Oh, The Weather Outside Is…” for exhibit Nov. 4 through Dec. 17.

Submitted artwork will be displayed in three GO ART! Galleries, including: GO ART! Bank of Castile Main Gallery, Seymour Place, 201 E. Main St., Batavia; Batavia Satellite Gallery, Genesee County Senior Center, 2 Bank St., Batavia; Medina Satellite Gallery, The Shirt Factory Café, 115 W. Center St., Medina. All galleries are equipped with the Walker Hanging System.

The exhibit invitation is open to all artists in all media. Both emerging and experienced artists are encouraged to submit for this unique exhibit. All artwork submitted must be winter-related or connected somehow to the theme, and two-dimensional work must be framed and ready for hanging. Three-dimensional work will only be displayed at GO ART!, Seymour Place, Batavia.

A maximum of five pieces may be submitted. Requested drop-off dates are Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 29 and 30 at locations in Genesee and Orleans counties.

For more information, or to request the guidelines and submission form, please contact GO ART! at 585-343-9313, info@GOart.org or visit <http://www.GOart.org> to download the form.

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) was recently named to the Farm Bureau’s 2013 Circle of Friends list, which recognizes members of the state legislature for their support of New York’s farming industry. The honor is based upon each legislator’s voting record on issues of agricultural importance, sponsorship of bills that New York Farm Bureau supports, and opposition to policies that the organization has deemed harmful to farming.

“Farming is both the engine that drives our economy and an integral part of our way of life in Western New York,” Hawley said. “Providing our family farms with the support they need to stay competitive and prosperous in our global economy has been a top priority of mine throughout my time in the Assembly, and I remain committed to strengthening our proud, agricultural heritage. I have worked with the Farm Bureau on many critical issues over the years and I look forward to partnering with them in the future.”

Hawley is a member of the Assembly Committee on Agriculture. He is a past president of the Farm Bureau and former owner and operator of Hawley Farms.

Press release:

United Memorial Medical Center honored the years of service of more than 100 employees at its annual recognition dinner on Oct. 2 at Terry Hills Restaurant in Batavia. Employees were recognized for their years of employment at five-year milestones.

Aida Nogueira and Laurentina Rosa, both Environmental Services technicians, achieved the 45-year milestone. Pamela Boshart-Lynch RN BSN, director of Education, Healthy Living and Cardiac Rehab Services was honored for 40 years of dedicated service along with Elizabeth Brian of the Emergency Department and Judy Yager, RN of the Ambulatory Surgery Unit. Celebrating 35 years were Ann Arent and Julie Kelsey from Medical Records, Mary Bibler and Marie Lawrence of the Laboratory Department, and Pamela Kader of Environmental Services.

Honored for 30 years of service included Linda Buckel RN and Nancy Johnson RN, Emergency Department; Mary Gerych RN, Intensive Care Unit; Kathleen Green RN and Lori Hebdon RN, Obstetrics; Cheryl LoVerdi, Finance manager; Ed Nogueira, Facilities Management; and Susan Reed, Radiology.

Achieving 25 years were Donna Clark, Central Supply; Alanna Dailey RN and Debra Langford, Nursery; Lori Donley, 2nd Floor Medical/Telemetry Unit; Vicki Downs and Deborah Johnson, Supply Chain Management; Donna Keough RN, Ambulatory Surgery Unit; Hope Knapp and Todd Wilkes RN, Surgery; Mary Lama RN BSN, 3rd Floor Medical/ Surgical Unit Clinical Care Coordinator; Rebecca Schrader, Intensive Care Unit; Joann Shaffer, Medical Records; Peggy Stevens, Environmental Services; Anna Sunderland, Food Services; and Donna Weibel, Risk Management.


Those celebrating 20 years of service include Bonnie Bezon RN, Nurse Manager of the Emergency Department; Sandra Boryczka, Laboratory; Chad Caccamise, Information Services; Louis Schrauger, Environmental Services; Susan Wlazlak, Human Resources; and Cindy Zarcone RN; 2nd Floor Medical/Telemetry Unit.

There were 32 employees who received recognition for five, 10 and 15 years of service. Each employee received dinner for themselves and a guest, flowers and a gift certificate. Employees with 25 years or more of service were honored individually by their manager and senior leader with a presentation highlighting their contributions.

From beginning to end, September was a great month to be outdoors. Apple trees already heavy-laden with fruit were showing deep hues of red.

This conjunction of a waxing crescent moon and Venus was visible in the early evening early in September.

Further downstream this woodland waterway entered a meadow, there the stream widened and was thick with submerged vegetation.....a favorite haunt of dragonflies that feed on aquatic insects and other tiny bugs. 

This is guy is called a Half-banded Toper....

Don't know how it was so-named but I really like the deep red color. 

The gossamer wings of a Jagged-edged Saddlebag

The markings along its abdomen are no doubt the "saddlebags."

This leopard frog lives in a damp, grassy section of the meadow, less than a stone's throw from where the stream exits the woods. He needs to lay low, as seen here, for this is also the hunting ground of a Great Blue heron.

Judging from its color phase, this leopard frog spends less time in the tall grass.

Smaller than a Concord grape and somewhat tart, wild grapes are edible and do make a great jam.

Poke berries, on the other hand, should be avoided.

Hawthorn guards the entrance to a woodland trail in Genesee County Park.

A wooly bear catepillar, a seasonal harbinger, checks out a leaf in the roadway of Genesee County Park.

Already deep red, these maple leaves, like the wooly bear, are an early indication that autumn is well under way.

Fall asters are prolific in our local outdoors -- and they really add color to the countryside.

A caller to dispatch is concerned about she said appears to be an emaciated dog that is "hanging out the back window" of a residence on Hutchins Street. City police are responding.

UPDATE 6:29 p.m.: The officer said he was unable to make contact with anyone at the residence and that he'll have an animal control officer follow up tommorrow.

A motorcyclist has had an accident, unknown circumstances, and is face down in the roadway unable to speak at 7712 Telephone Road in Pavilion. A Mercy Flight helicopter out of Buffalo is en route. Mercy medics and Pavilion Fire Department are responding.

UPDATE 5:53 p.m.: A Sheriff's deputy on scene reports the patient is conscious and alert but does not remember how the accident occurred. The location is just east of South Street Road on Route 20.

UPDATE 5:56 p.m.: They are going to shut down traffic on Route 20, westbound at Asbury Road, and eastbound at South Street Road. The helicopter has about a 10-minute ETA.

UPDATE 6:12 p.m.: Mercy Flight has landed on Route 20.

UPDATE 6:33 p.m.: Pavilion is back in service, except for command.

UPDATE 6:41 p.m.: The rider is described as a male about 30 years of age.

UPDATE 6:49 p.m.: All responders are back in service. The road is reopened. Did not hear the hospital destination of Mercy Flight.

UPDATE 6:57 p.m.: A deputy is asked to return to the scene to dispatch a deer, which the motorcyclist is said to have struck, causing the accident. The deer apparently left the scene and has just now been spotted.

Tickets can be purchased at:

• UMMC, 127 North St., Cashier’s Office Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.;
• Jerome Center Gift Shop, 16 Bank St., Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon;
• The Foundation Office, 123 North St., Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.;
• Or calling by (585) 344-5300.

A two-car accident with minor injuries is reported on Route 5 in front of Blondie's Sip & Dip, 670 E. Main St. It is blocking traffic. Mercy medics are on scene along with city fire. Law enforcement on scene says one subject is complaining of neck pain and shortness of breath.

UPDATE 11:24 a.m.: There were three people involved. Two were sign-offs and the third was taken to UMMC. Flatbed tows are called. The assignment is back in service.

A car vs. pedestrian accident is reported on Main Street in front of Larry's Steakhouse. The pedestrian is on the ground. City fire, police and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 9:57 a.m.: City fire is back in service. Mercy medics are transporting the patient to the hospital.

UPDATE 10:13 a.m.: The male pedestrian is being taken to Erie County Medical Center. He had a bike with him, but it has not been determined whether he was riding it at the time of the accident. Authorities will follow up.

Those elected to serve the public in Elba certainly did so this year when they took on a project to spruce up Veterans Memorial Park. The result is something everyone can appreciate.

"Village trustees did most of the improvements you see at Veterans Memorial Park over the spring and summer," said Elba Mayor Scott Schuler. "They painted the pavilions, planted flowers, took down the chain link fence and added columns and solar lights."

About $14,000 was spent, and the upgrades also included refurbishing planters, signs at the village limits and some benches, as well as planting flowers on Main Street and purchasing some new benches.

Most of the money came from the village auction of equipment no longer in use and the remainder from its park fund. (The auction raised $24,000 and surplus funds were put back into the general fund.)

The park on Route 98 contains three baseball fields, a basketball court, a tennis court, a volleyball net, playground equipment and multiple pavilions. The village hosts concerts there every week in August. This year they hosted their first Community Pig Roast, which will be an annual summer event at the park.

A pickup truck fire near 7360 Lewiston Road prompted response from the Oakfield Fire Department. The fire is now out but fire police are still needed for traffic control at Orchard and Main.

UPDATE 9:08 p.m.: The Oakfield assignment is back in service. The roads are reopened.

The smell of smoke is reported inside the Batavia Animal Hospital, located at 3699 W. Main Street Road. It's in the East Pembroke Fire District, which has a responder on scene calling for all available manpower to respond, mutual aid, from Town of Batavia Fire Department. There is the smell of wood burning in the building.

UPDATE 8:31 a.m.: Firefighters completed an investigation of the roof and found nothing. They are continuing to investigate.

UPDATE 8:43 a.m.: They are checking the attic now.

UPDATE 9:17 a.m.: Power is turned off and National Grid and the contractor which built the new facility are going to work to fix the problem, which was not specified. Town of Batavia is back in service.