Volunteers from RSVP and Americorps were at the Batavia Senior Center today to make blankets to donate to the Agri-Business Child Development Center. Volunteers were also asked to make greeting cards for military personnel.

Above from left, Darian Ely, of RSVP, Loren Penman and Kellie Fairchild work together to make a blanket.

About 70 people were on hand at the YWCA on North Street today to honor Martin Luther King Jr. and give tribute to his legacy.

Alex Nesbeth, below, read King's "I Have a Dream" speech. Above, Grace Marthrel sings a gospel song with Raymond Doward on piano. After the jump, another picture of Marthrel and Doward as well as one of Marthrel singing with her daughter, Lashonna Mims.

Marthrel gave an outstanding gospel performance. She said she sings regularly at the Prayer Room Church of Christ on North Lyon.

It's been a beautiful day, even if a bit cold -- my truck's thermostat read 8 degrees this morning. Too much work to do today to get out and shoot a lot of pictures, but still taking advantage of the nice sky.

Above the white barn of Partridge Farm on Ellicott Street Road and below, the cement plant of Bonsal American on Cedar Street.

Weather through tonight, cloudy, with a chance of snow overnight. Tomorrow, warming considerably (into the 30s) with an 80-percent chance of rain, and then back to snow on Thursday.

A two-car accident is tying up traffic a bit in the area of 375 W. Main St., Batavia.

It is believed there are no injuries, though there are unknown type fluids leaking from at least one car.

City Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley has announced that he will become the prime sponsor of a proposed bill to prevent the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) from increasing restrictions on landowners that burn refuse on their property.

The legislation was originally introduced in January of 2010. At the end of last year’s legislative session, the bill was being held in the Committee on Environmental Conservation for further consideration.

The DEC began their efforts to eliminate trash burning with a ruling in October of 2009 that Hawley says irrationally tightened guidelines on who is allowed to burn refuse and what sort of materials are allowed to be burned.

The proposed bill focuses on landowners in small, rural communities that rely on this safe and time trusted method of disposal, according to Hawley.

“In Western New York, there are a number of small, rural communities that don’t have the waste-management structures in place to dispose of certain waste materials,” the Assembyman said. “That is why members of my district have burned refuse on their open land for generations and why this legislation is so vital.

"The DEC has continually displayed a lack of understanding when it comes to our rural way of life, and they cannot be allowed to overstep their bounds by banning this widely accepted practice.”

Here's a news release from Congressman Chris Lee's office.

Congressman Chris Lee was chosen to serve as a co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Dairy Farmers Caucus for the 112th Congress

Lee served as vice-chair during the 111th Congress until its adjournment last year. He will lead the caucus with fellow co-chairs Reps. Joe Courtney (D-CT), Peter Welch (D-VT), Timothy Walz (D-MN), Devin Nunes (R-CA) and Thomas Petri (R-WI).

The bipartisan caucus works to aid dairy farmers across the United States, and last Congress worked closely with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on important issues affecting Western New York’s dairy farmers.

“Western New York has some of the finest family farms in the country, and since coming to Congress in 2009 I’ve been focused on ensuring our region’s agricultural producers have the resources they need to survive,” Lee said.

“Dairy farmers in particular have been hard-hit during the tough economic times, but they are a resilient group of families closely tied to the land they farm and the industry they love. I look forward to working with the other co-chairs and members of the Caucus who share my commitment to strengthening family farms for this and future generations.”

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Lee’s congressional district is the 22nd highest dairy producing district in the nation, with a market value nearing $500 million.

New York State as a whole produces about 12.5 billion pounds of milk each year. For more information on Congressman Lee’s commitment to Western New York’s dairy farmers, visit www.chrislee.house.gov/familyfarms <http://www.chrislee.house.gov/familyfarms>.

A two-car rollover accident with injuries and entrapment is reported in Alexander on Broadway Road near Brookville Road.

One vehicle is upside down, the other is near a creek. Mercy Flight Batavia is on standby.

Alexander Fire Department and Mercy EMS are responding.

UPDATE 5:04 p.m.: There are two patients. One man is in a truck which landed upside down. He is conscious and alert but his leg is trapped.

UPDATE 5:09 p.m.: Mercy Flight is cancelled.

UPDATE 5:14 p.m.: Fire chief on scene reports a stop sign was knocked down and the state Department of Transportation has been notified. Two flatbed tow trucks are being dispatched for the vehicles involved in the accident.

UPDATE 5:16 p.m.: The man whose leg was trapped in his upside-down truck is now out.

A man is reportedly rolling around on a snow bank -- without any pants on -- across from 8 S. Main St. in the City of Batavia.

Police are en route.

Area youngsters were able to get in a little hockey practice today on Harvester Avenue, where resident Kevin Hamilton built a small hockey rink. Hamilton, who coaches two youth hockey teams, said he constructed the rink out of a wood frame, a plastic sheet base and slowly builds up the ice over time, adding a little water over several days.

Organizers were pleased with the early turn out at the debut Bridal Show at Terry Hills today. Vendors from Genesee County were on hand to display for prospective brides, grooms and their parents what they offer to ensure the special day remains special.

The show continues until 4 p.m. For more information, click here.

Above, Steve Valle talks with customers about what Valle Jewelers has to offer.

More pictures after the jump:

Cathy Saile, The Enchanted Florist.

Dave Howe, Charles Men's Shop.

Jeremy Liles, Oliver's Candies.

Two children are said to have minor injuries following a car-into-pole accident at Route 33 and Warner Road.

Byron and South Byron fire departments and Mercy BLS are responding.

UPDATE 2:49 p.m.: Firefighter on scene says a National Grid pole is busted. A few minutes later, it was determined that the pole was for phone and cable only, not power.

UPDATE 3:45 p.m.: Adults signed waivers for treatment of the children, since their injuries were not serious and transport to a hospital was not needed. All Byron and South Byron units are back in service.

An original Broadway cast member of "RENT," Gwen Stewart, was back in Batavia this weekend, making a side trip while visiting friends in Buffalo, to catch the local performance of the hit musical. Stewart joined the WNY Arts Society cast on stage for one of the production numbers.

WNYAS's final performance of "RENT" is today at 2 at the Ross Street Performing Arts Center, Batavia Middle School, 96 Ross St., Batavia.

The Batavian still has a few specially discounted tickets available. Click here for more information.

A car is reportedly on fire on the Thruway near mile marker 397.4.

It appears the car is in an eastbound lane, though at least a couple of callers have said westbound.

East Pembroke Fire is responding.

UPDATE 6:37 p.m.: A chief on scene reports a fully involved car fire.

The Falleti Ice Arena was packed with both Notre Dame and Batavia fans who were hoping their team would come away victorious. It was the Notre Dame fans that got their wish as their team had a powerful third period and defeated host Batavia 6-2.

"We were pumped to get out there and play them," said Batavia forward Nate Palmer. "It's always a fun game, but unfortunately it didn't end the way we wanted it to."

Batavia Notre Dame got on the board first as Josh Johnson snuck the puck by Batavia goaltender Adam Kurek on a play set up by Dylan Versage. 

Batavia failed to produce a strong offense in the first period, but came out strong early in the second as Conor Holvey set up Tim Finnell to tie the game at 1-1.

Notre Dame responded shortly after by taking the 2-1 as Tyler Kessler stole the puck and beat Kurek for the goal.

Josh Marr capped off the second-period scoring as he broke down the right side of the ice and sniped the puck over the right shoulder of ND goaltender Tom Dehr.

The third period was all ND as they capitalized four times.

The Irish came out hard and Zach Blew lit the lamp off a set up from Josh Johnson and Dylan Versage.

Story continued after the jump: 

Batavia responded shortly after with a great scoring chance as Josh Marr fed Nate Palmer on a 2 on 1, but Palmer was unable to get good wood on the shot.

"We had some chances but couldn't capitalize on them," says Palmer.

Brett Perfit continued the scoring driving as he put the fourth goal on the board in a solo effort.

Notre Dame's Jordan Difilippo got into a small fight in front of Dehr with Batavia's Tim Finnell, which led to coincidental penalties. After an argument with the referee, Batavia was assessed a bench minor penalty, giving ND the powerplay.

Jack Nenni and Brett Perfit set up Tyler Kessler to take advantage of the powerplay and put ND up 5-2.

Nenni scored shortly after to cap off the scoring at the final 6-2. Tyler Kessler and Brennan Brown were credited with the assist.

"We were very happy with our team's effort," says Notre Dame forward Dylan Versage. "We wanted the win and were all gonna do what we needed to get the win. Everyone contributed and it paid off."

We've had pretty steady snowfall today, but nothing to the level that would warrant the National Weather Service to put out an alert or an advisory. Intermittent snow showers are expected to continue into the evening.

The weather seems to have contributed to a number of fender-benders this afternoon.

I went out to Le Roy today and on the route back, I came down Randall Road.

A car has hit a pole in the area of Ellicott Street Road and Transit Road.

There is airbag deployment, but no word yet on injuries.

Bethany Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 3:25: Correction, Mercy EMS not dispatched. Chief at scene says he should be all set.

 GAME HAS NOT YET BEGAN. PLEASE STAY TUNED! THANK YOU!

ND vs BHS hockey game

We have a limited number of ticket pairs available for this weekend's production of "RENT." The regular price is $30 a pair and we're offering reserved seat tickets for $15 a pair (plus a $1 service fee).

"RENT" is presented by WNY Arts Society at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 13-15 and at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 16 at the Ross Street Performing Arts Center at Batavia Middle School. This cutting-edge musical tells the story of a group of impoverished young artists struggling to survive in New York City.

Readers who take advantage of this special offer will redeem their PayPal receipt at the door to claim their tickets. This offer is valid for any of the four performances. The box office opens one hour before showtime and the house opens 30 minutes prior to showtime.

Ryan Rast, of South Street in Le Roy, stands next to a giant snowman he built in his front yard with his buddy Ben Long.