Press release:

On April 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Genesee County law enforcement agencies and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public its sixth opportunity in three years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

The Genesee County Sheriff's Office will be manning a collection site at the Pembroke Town Highway Barns, located routes 5 and 77, East Pembroke.

There will be no collection site at the Sheriff's Office on Park Road.

Last September, Americans turned in 244 tons of prescription drugs at over 5,200 sites operated by the DEA and its thousands of state and local law enforcement partners. In its five previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners took in over 2 million pounds — over a thousand tons — of pills.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines — flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash — both pose potential safety and health hazards.

Four days after the first event, Congress passed the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow an “ultimate user” of controlled substance medications to dispose of them by delivering them to entities authorized by the Attorney General to accept them. The Act also allows the Attorney General to authorize long-term care facilities to dispose of their residents’ controlled substances in certain instances. DEA is drafting regulations to implement the Act. Until new regulations are in place, local law enforcement agencies and the DEA will continue to hold prescription drug take-back events every few months.

More controversy in Corfu today has put the owner of a sewer facility management company in the unusual position of defending his employee's free speech rights.

Kenneth G. Scherrieble, president of the Camden Group, received an unsigned letter that threatened to seek a termination of his company's contract with the Village of Corfu unless one of his employees stops speaking at public meetings.

Camden manages Corfu's wastewater treatment facility and former trustee Al Graham is a Camden manager.

"While Al Grahm (sic) attends board meetings and railroads village business and spews negativity about certain board members," the letter says, "I will consider this brash situation of a huge conflict of business between your company and I will look to generate interest to replace your company. I don't believe that is good business for you or your company!"

In response, Scherrieble fired off a letter today to the trustees that defends Graham's right to participate as a village resident in village discussions.

"I will not be threatened by anyone," Scherrieble writes. "If I lose the Village of Corfu contract because one of my employees exercised their CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT, then so be it. But that will be a truly sad day for the Village and for America."

In his letter, Scherrieble notes that Graham's son served in Iraq and Afghanistan and his own son is entering the Marines.

"Why do these young men put their lives at risk?" he writes. "Because they believe in the rights guaranteed to them as a Citizen of this Country. They believe that United States Constitution is a sacred document, and that the tenants within, those Rights given to all Citizens of this Country are worth laying their lives down for. "

There is a regular village board meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

A grass fire is reported off Route 490, westbound, near mile marker 2.7. Bergen firefighters are responding.

UPDATE 1:39 p.m.: A grass truck from Le Roy, mutual aid, is called.

UPDATE 1:43 p.m.: The fire is out. Le Roy's response is cancelled.

UPDATE 1:50 p.m.: Bergen is back in service.

Tiffany Vanderworth, curator with the Buffalo Zoo, leads a group of children at Jackson School this morning in a discussion about polar bears. Vanderworth covered the nature, habits and habitat of polar bears.

Crime Victims' Rights Week kicked off in Genesee County today with the raising of a ceremonial flag by a local law enforcement color guard at Genesee Community College, followed by a daylong seminar for students, police and others who work with crime victims on human trafficking.

Theresa Asmus delivered opening remarks. U.S. Attorney for WNY William Hochul was the morning's keynote speaker.

Russell L. Penepent, 50, of 218 State St., Batavia, is charged with disorderly conduct, harassment, 2nd, and resisting arrest. Penepent is accused of yelling obscenities at passing traffic while in the area of 19 Oak St., Batavia, and causing a disturbance. Penepent then allegedly fought with police when officers attempted to take him into custody. Penepent was jailed on $10,000 bail or $20,000 bond. The incident was handled by officers Eric Dibble, Kevin DeFelice, Marc Lawrence and Sgt. Chris Camp.

Jamie L. Ayala, 33, of 10 Wood St., Batavia, is charged with trespass. The alleged incident was reported April 16 at 412 E. Main St., Batavia, and Ayala turned herself in on a warrant Thursday. No further details released.

Robert L. Stanley, 53, of 26 Ganson Ave., lower, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Stanley is accused of violating a stay away order of protection at 7:24 p.m., Friday. Stanley was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Matthew A. Poole, 21, of 5 Warren St., Batavia, is charged with disorderly conduct. Poole was charged following an alleged incident reported at 2:16 a.m. Sunday at 262 East Ave. in Batavia.  No further details were released.

Jeremy R. Eaton, 36, of 129 State St., Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd, criminal mischief, 4th, and endangering the welfare of a child. Eaton turned himself in on a warrant related to an alleged incident at 12:40 a.m., Friday. Eaton was jailed on $1,000 bail. No further details were released.

Danny J. Torok Jr., 25, of 34 Maple St., upper, is charged with harassment ,2nd, criminal obstruction of breathing/blood circulation and endangering the welfare of child. Torok was arrested in connection with an alleged incident at 11:45 a.m. Friday at 34 Maple St., Batavia. Torok was jailed on $2,500 bail.

Jordan Matthew Brown, 20, of Ellicott Street, upper, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Brown is accused of shoplifting at Kmart on Friday.

Michael Foster Brandt, 22, of Montclair Avenue, Batavia, is charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs, tinted windows, no front plant and loud exhaust. Brandt was stopped at 4:01 p.m. on Feb. 2 by Deputy Kevin McCarthy. Further investigation revealed Brandt was allegedly under the influence of drugs at the time of the stop.

Michael Foster Brandt, 22, of Montclair Avenue, Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th, for allegedly kicking and damaging the car of another person at a location on Route 5, Stafford, at 4:24 p.m. Jan. 26.

Destiny Mikel London, 22, of Hanlon Road, Albion, is charged with two counts of felony aggravated DWI, driving while ability impaired by drugs, driving on a suspended registration, aggravated unlicensed operation and no insurance. London was stopped at 6:33 p.m., Friday, on Main Street, Oakfield, by Deputy Howard Carlson. She allegedly had two children in the vehicle at the time, ages 2 and 3.

Minnie Henry, 25, Pearl Street Road, Batavia, is charged with resisting arrest, DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and speeding. Henry's vehicle was stopped for allegedly driving 69 in a 66 mph zone on Hartshorn Road at 2:10 a.m. Saturday by Deputy Joseph Corona.

Jared Shaun McDonald, 19, of Lake Street Road, Pavilion, is charged with assault, 3rd. McDonald allegedly pushed another person causing a back injury at 3:57 a.m., Sunday. McDonald was jailed on $1,000 bail or $2,000 bond.

A 17-year-old from Darien Center, is charged with petit larceny. The youth is accused of shoplifting from Kmart.

Summer R. Prentice, 19, of Knowlesville Road, Alabama, is charged with obstructing governmental administration, 2nd, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and harassment, 2nd. Prentice was arrested and held on bail related to alleged events reported at 12:46 p.m., April 5, in the Town of Oakfield.

Stephanie A. Wixson, 36, of North Street, Batavia, is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation and driving while impaired by drugs. Wixson was stopped at 10:31 p.m. April 16 in the Town of Alexander by State Police. No further details released.

Press release:

Attention parents, guardians, fourth-grade teachers and art instructors, the Landmark Society of Genesee County is calling for entries to the 23d Annual Architectural Drawing Contest for fourth-graders.

All Genesee County schools and homeschoolers are invited to participate. Please also note that the contest has expanded to include artistic photography and mixed media of historic sites and/or architectural details such as friezes, columns, etc.

Please be creative! Do not feel you have to copy from the "Architectural Heritage of Genesee County" book. Judges are especially looking for unique pieces -- photographs, images manipulated on the computer, etc.

Please send all entries by Thursday, May 2nd to the Richmond Memorial Library circulation desk or to Elba Central School.

The entries will be hung as soon as they are received on Thursday, May 2nd. This year's contest and awards ceremony will be held at the Richmond library beginning at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 9th.

Reason Magazine: National poll results about distribution of wealth.

This horned grebe spent much of last weekend in our backyard after the Tonawanda spilled its banks. "Tamer" than other grebes, it allowed Claudia to take these photos without much alarm on its part. Still in its winter plumage in these pics, as it nears its breeding season the neck will turn rufous, the head and back will darken drastically and its russet "horns" will be more prominent.

Here its slightly tilting its head to accommodate a small fish down its gullet. Despite the murky floodwater, this grebe had no trouble finding prey beneath the surface. While its diet consists mostly of small fish, the horned grebe will also eat some crustaceans and aquatic insects. We watched as it would quickly dive and surface several seconds later, a process it would repeat several times throughout the day.

Excellent swimmers, young horned grebes can swim and dive immediately after hatching but most often they hitch a ride atop their parent's backs.

Horned grebes are rarely seen in flight, they migrate under cover of darkness and once on their wintering grounds they seldom leave the water. It spent all of last Saturday morning, afternoon and night in our flooded back yard. It was still there early last Sunday morning but with the floodwaters quickly receding, our visitor finally departed.

Batavia Players opened "On Broadway IV" tonight with a dinner theater production at Terry Hills.

The show offers selections from several Broadway musical hits, such as "The Heights," "Footloose," "Jersey Boys" and "Mamma Mia!"

The show continues this week at the 56 Theater, 56 Harvester Ave., Batavia, with performances at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday.

"On Broadway IV" is directed by Scott Laird and choreographed by Nikki Lanich.

The cast includes Brenda Andrews, Shellene Bailey, Alex Balbi, Aryn Bielski, Gabrielle Henry, Teressa Hirsch, Nash Johns, Kim Laird, Scott Laird, Nikki Lanich, Trevor Lee, Andrew Magin, Amy Martin, Paul Spiotta, Erin Stamp, Brianna Strassner, Anita Strollo, Serena Strollo-Dicenso, Amanda Melissa Taylor and Keara Zerillo.

As we announced previously, we have a special limited edition T-shirt coming out that was designed by Brian and Beth Kemp at T-Shirts Etc.

Existing members should have received an e-mail with a link where you can buy the shirt for $9 each. If you didn't get the e-mail, write to me at howard@thebatavian.com and I'll forward the link to you.

Readers who aren't members can purchase the T-shirt for $16 each. Use the PayPal buttons below or to order by check or credit card, download this form.

Join The Batavian Club before the end of the month and I'll send you the link to purchase shirts for just $9. The next three people to join will also receive a $20 gift card from Smokin' Eagle BBQ & Brew. Use the PayPal buttons below or click here to download the membership form.

Annual Single Membership - $50 per year
Includes membership card, bumper sticker, package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Annual membership, one payment of $60

Includes membership card, bumper sticker, package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Jennifer Spychalski, a freshman at Genesee Community College, is the winner of the college's "Fine Arts Student Show."

Her work, and that of other students enrolled in GCC's Fine Arts program, will be featured in an exhibit that will be open through Thursday.

According to a press release from Elisa Di Pietro, this exhibit "features two- and three-dimensional artwork" and "reflects the diverse coursework from drawing (to) painting, photography, 2D and 3D design and ceramics."

The exhibit is at GCC's Rosalie "Roz" Steiner Art Gallery at 1 College Road in Batavia.

For more information, contact Di Pietro at 356-2338.

Photo and information submitted by Elisa Di Pietro.

James Pontillo sent this picture of a sink hole that opened up at his property at 15 Oak St., Batavia. He said it opened at spot where he was standing and he fell in. The hole is now five-feet deep.

It may be an old city sewer line.

City DPW put up barricades for the night.

Jeff and Dave Pero see a business opportunity in Batavia -- picking up garbage.

The brothers took over management of rental properties owned by their grandfather after he died last year and when they started getting pricing for garbage collection under the new open-market system in Batavia, they thought it would expensive to hire a company to pick up trash at all of those properties.

They decided they would just take care of garbage collection at their own properties themselves, but that thought was quickly followed by another, "why don't we just do it for the whole city?"

Jeff and Dave won't be the first Peros to offer garbage collection in Batavia. Their great-grandfather had a trash company at one time.

They're buying a dump truck and will operate as Trash Away, picking up residential garbage. Customers who put out fewer than six 30-gallon bags per week or three standard trash cans per week will pay $18 bucks a month.

People who live alone and generate no more than one bag of trash per week will get a special price of $10 a month.

Trash Away will also pick up an unlimited amount of recycling.

When customers need bulk item pick-up or yard waste pick-up, Trash Away will offer the service by appointment and the price will be negotiated based on the size of the job.

The company will also offer attic, garage and basement clean-up for a fee.

For information call (585) 250-4065 or e-mail them at bataviatrashaway@gmail.com

Batavia High School lost to Frewsburg, out of Chautauqua County, 51-50, this afternoon in the final of Regional Mock Trials Tournament.

Both teams were 1-1 in the finals, presided over by Eugene F. Pigott Jr., associate judge of the New York State Court of Appeals.

Frewsburg will compete in the state championship rounds in Albany.

It's the first time in the 31-year history of the tournament that a team from neither Monroe County nor Erie County will represent WNY and the Southern Tier region, according to District Attorney Lawrence Friedman.

The morning's semifinal rounds were close, with all four teams going 1-1. Batavia and Frewsburg advanced with 117 points each. Pittsford Mendon and Clarence had 116 points each.

Judge Robert C. Noonan and Judge Eric R. Adams presided over the morning rounds.

The Batavia team for 2013: Katie Porter, Elena Chmielowiec, Trey Abdella
McKenzie Stevens, Becca Canale, Eric DiLaura, Cara Ranalli, Katie Kesler, Kaitlin Logsdon, Matt Gabriel, Bryce Rogers, Danielle Quinn, Beth Bennion, Brandon Smart, Samir Jane, Dylan Beckman, Chelsea Jensen, Adam Weaver and Alex Mott.

The Frewsburg team: Sarah Moller, Samantha Mann, Tera Anderson, Alanna Blanchard, Jesse Ernewein, Anthony Mole and Morgan Knight.

Author and journalist Tom Rivers was at Present Tense books and gifts on Washington Avenue, Batavia, today to sign copies of his newest book, "All Ears."

The book is a collection of some of Rivers' best pieces about community life during his 15 years at the Batavia Daily News.

Rivers is now editor of OrleansHub, an online news source serving Orleans County.

"All Ears" is available at Present Tense.

Pictured with Rivers, his 7-year-old daughter, Lucy.

Photo: Looking from Albion Road toward Bliss Road, Oakfield.

Today, parts of the county had a mixture of snow and hail, a bit of wind and cold -- under 40 degrees.

Tomorrow will be sunny with a high of 48.

Samantha Pangrazio pulls a bag of garbage from under a tree off Albion Road, in Oakfield.

Pangrazio, along with Jacqualine Chamberlain (pictured) and Debbie Martin, were on Albion Road this morning picking up trash and litter as part of a community Earth Day clean up. More than a dozen other volunteers participated.

This is the fourth year for the event, which Pangrazio started her sophomore year in high school.

"As a kid I grew up out in the middle of nowhere and I saw how people always threw garbage around and it really bothered me," Pangrazio said. "My mom would take us out and we would clean up the garbage. I thought it was something other people don't really think about, so I wanted to raise awareness about how gross some people can be."

This year's sponsors were: Genesee County Roofing, Lamb Farms, Loraine's Day Care, Caryville Inn, Alli's Cones & Dogs, Santino's Pizza and Becky's Treasures and Crafts.

A car has gone off the roadway on I-490 near mile marker 4.5 in the eastbound lane.

One caller reports no injuries and another caller told a dispatcher "there must be injuries."

Bergen fire and Bergen's ambulance responding.

UPDATE 6:04 p.m.: Bergen transporting a patient to Strong.

A fully involved truck fire next to a building is reported at 2369 Killian Road. East Pembroke Fire Department is responding. The location is on the corner of Killian and Pratt roads. The engine compartment is engulfed in flames, according to a person on scene.