There's a little interest brewing in the Genesee County Legislature about getting reimbursement for services provided by the county that are used by the City of Batavia and other jurisdictions.

One example, law enforcement use of the Monroe County crime lab.

The county pays $68,213 a year to Monroe County to process evidence from crime scenes. Police departments in Batavia, Le Roy and Corfu can all send evidence to the crime lab on the county's bill.

"Even if it's just $2,500, that's $2,500 we don't have today," said Legislator Robert Bausch during the Public Service Committee meeting Monday. "It's all these little charges that we don't get back that add up."

Bausch wants to see a list of "all these little charges" at a future Ways and Means meeting.  

Legislator Jay Grasso, serving his last meeting as chairman of the committee, agreed with Bausch.

"As the economy changes, maybe we can't do all the little things we used to do," Grasso said.

Legislator Ray Cianfrini first broached the issue of seeking reimbursement from the city for crime lab use.

Sheriff Gary Maha agreed to get more information on how costs might change if the use of the crime lab by other jurisdictions was taken out.

In other items from Monday's agenda:

• The committee approved purchase of a Caterpillar 140M-2 All-Wheel Drive Grader from Milton Caterpiller, 4610 E. Saile Drive, Batavia. Grasso noted the purchase was of an American-made product from a local dealership. The purchase will be paid for in five yearly installments of $40,048.33 from the Road Machinery Fund. The total purchase price is $200,241.65.
• The committee approved a resolution declaring an old railroad car surplus material. The tanker car is currently installed on rails at the Fire Training Center on Bank Street Road. Emergency Management Coordinator Tim Yaeger said the car is sitting in an area needed for a new law enforcement firing range and it makes no economic sense to move it. The car is 40,000 pounds of solid steal. It will be sold for scrap. The proceeds will be used to help pay for the firing range. The car, as best anybody knows, was donated by a railroad company more than 30 years ago for emergency training. Yaeger said the county has other resources now for similar training.

Not sure whether the following admonition heard on the scanner was pertaining to the most recent cop call in the city -- to check out a three-car property-damage accident on Ellicott Street by Pauly's Pizza -- or just some sound advice from someone who sounds like he's-been-there-done-that:

"Slow down, Speed Racer! ... I'm not gonna bail you out."

In rainy weather, the advice is "so much the better," n'est pas?

Residents in the area of Adams Street, Batavia, complained over the weekend about a fox that would not leave the area.

A Batavia police officer investigated and found a fox that appeared to be suffering from an injury or illness lying near the side of the road.

The Department of Environmental Conservation was contacted. The DEC advised, according to Batavia PD Chief Randy Baker, that the fox be destroyed.

The animal was killed and taken to DPW for disposal.

The nature of its injury or illness is unknown.

Somewhere eastbound on Route 262, heading toward Byron, is a green van being chased by a guy in a car and Sheriff's deputies. A tire reportedly went flat on the van but it's still continuing on. The occupant(s) are wanted for questioning in a suspicious condition complaint.

The caller came either to her house or business and found the van parked there. When approached, the occupant(s) fled and dispatch was called. The caller tried to block in the van, the vehicles collided, and the van took off.

The caller gave chase. At some point, the caller lost sight of the van, which was also being pursued by her son in another vehicle.

Didn't catch address of original complaint.

UPDATE 2:43 p.m.: The van is an Astro van, light blue, registered to a Batavia driver. It will have rear driver's side damage from the earlier collision. The flat tire shredded and is now completely off. It is was last seen heading at a high rate of speed toward Orleans County, north on Transit Road toward the mucklands.

UPDATE 2:51 p.m.: The van is still barreling along, now northbound, last seen on Oak Orchard Road. The complaint was taken from a resident of Old Ford Road in Elba.

UPDATE 2:54 p.m.: Orleans' deputies have the driver in custody at the junction of old Route 98 and new Route 98.

UPDATE 3:19 p.m.: An officer checking the van says it appears the driver had a passenger and he asks for clarification from the complainant, who recalls seeing only the driver.

Since 2005, Oakfield resident Jeff Kitanik has been paralyzed from the waist down, yet he has maintained an active life and continues to run his construction company, according to friends.

There's one thing that will help make his life better, those friends say: a standing wheelchair.

To that end, friends have organized a fundraiser for Kitanik from noon to 6 p.m., Saturday, at the Oakfield Fire Hall, 20 Albert St., Oakfield.

The event will feature a chance auction, craft and rummage sale, bake sale and face painting. There is a $5 admission, which includes 25 raffle tickets and door prize entry.

The wheelchair costs $18,000.

A representative of the Standing Chair Company of Saginaw, Mich., will attend Saturday's event.

Friend Rebecca Martin said the chair will provide Kitanik, who is father to five children, with several benefits.

"There are many medical benefits of standing," Martin said. "Among other things, it maintains bone density, assists in healing of pressure sores, increases blood flow and helps maintain good blood pressure. It also helps the digestive system work properly, which has been a major concern of Jeff's since the accident. It won't help decrease pain level, or at least we don't think it will, but it will increase his quality of life immensely."

The chair is manual, which makes it lighter and easier to get in tight places, such as a construction site, but it also assists in keeping his lungs healthy.

Kitanik, known to friends as "Tru-Cut," and his wife, were involved in a serious auto accident Sept. 30, 2005.

"Still, Jeff holds his head high," Martin said. "He continues to put family first and runs his own construction business. Anyone who knows Jeff would tell you he holds all of the positive attributes we all strive to achieve and uphold."

To make a donation for the auction or purchase tickets, contact Donna at 948-8253 or Heather at 409-4605.

Robert L. Williams, 21, of 112 State St., Batavia, is charged with assault, 3rd, and disorderly conduct. Williams was arrested on a warrant. He is accused of punching another person onOct. 22, which resulted in the alleged victim suffering a fractured nose. Williams was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Tanyka N. Blanding, 33, of 7 Madera Drive, Rochester, is charged with DWI and criminal possession of a weapon, 4th. Blanding was arrested by Le Roy Police in the early morning on Sunday. Blanding was stopped after the car she was driving allegedly almost collided with a police car on Lake Street. At the time of her stop, she was allegedly found in possession of brass knuckles. Blanding was jailed on $2,000 bail.

Dustin J. Good, 24, of 2937 Merle Road, Attica, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs, aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd, and possession of a hypodermic instrument. Good was stopped at 11:12 p.m., Friday, on North Lyon Street, Batavia, by Officer Matthew Fleming.

Kenneth M. Gray Jr., 24, of 77 Myrtle St., is charged with leaving the scene of a property damage accident, failure to keep right, operating in violation of restriction and inadequate tires. Gray is accused of hitting a street sign and a parked car on Hutchins Street near Ellicott Street. Gray was stopped some time later on South Main Street by Officer Darryle Streeter. Gray was arrested without incident. The investigation was handled by Officer Jason Ivison.

Jeffrey Matthew Kaczmarek, 42, of Alleghany Road, Alexander, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, felony aggravated unlicensed operation, 1st, driving left of pavement markings in no-passing zone and violation of conditional license. Kaczmarek was stopped at 11:23 p.m., Saturday, on Attica Road by Deputy Jason Saile.

Steven Michael John Kaczmarek, 25, of Gilhooly Road, Alexander, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Kaczmarek was arrested at 4:03 a.m., Friday, after deputies were called to an address on Gilhooly Road to investigate the report of a domestic incident. 

William Thomas Foley, 19, of Main Road, Stafford, and Kristian Nicole Elderbroom, 19, of Marlton Circle, Liverpool, are both charged with unlawfully dealing with a child, 1st. Foley and Elderbroom are accused of hosting an underage drinking party Nov. 13 at a location on Main Road in Stafford.

Ryan D. Wilson, 19, of Alexander Road, Attica, and Jay W. Schafer, 19, of Broadway Road, Darien, are charged with harassment, 2nd. Wilson and Schafer are accused of punching another person while at College Village at 2:42 a.m., Sunday.

Jesse Lee Harner, 25, of Country Route 41, Friendship, is charged with violation of a child-support order. Harner was turned over to the Sheriff's Office after being arrested by Cuba Police officers on a warrant out of family court.

Jered Michael Brown, 23, of North Baxter Street, Sutton, W. Va., is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and failure to keep right. Brown was stopped at 1:57 a.m., Friday, on Route 5 in Pembroke by Deputy Kevin McCarthy.

Mercedes Anne Marchese, 20, of Indian Falls Road, Corfu, is charged with false written statement. Marchese is accused of making a false written statement to the Sheriff's Office on Nov. 6.

Dajuandrick A. Gardner, 16, of Byron Holley Road, Byron, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing and endangering the welfare of a child. Gardner is accused of choking a 15-year-old boy in the Town of Bergen at 7:40 a.m., Oct. 3.

A car engine is reportedly fully engulfed in flames on Harloff Road near Area 51 in Batavia.

East Pembroke Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 9:03 a.m.: Car is fully involved. Town of Batavia Fire Department requested for mutual aid.

UPDATE 9:04 a.m.: Town of Batavia can stand down.

New York Times: Felons Finding It Easy to Get Gun Rights Reinstated

The Genesee Community College Men’s Soccer Team took the pitch against Herkimer County Community College for the second time this season on Sunday afternoon, this time to play for the NJCAA National Championship.

The Generals of Herkimer built a 1-0 lead in front of their home crowd about 15 minutes in, when Charlie Anderson lofted a shot over GCC goalkeeper Joe Agerskow (East Yorkshire, England) that crossed the goal line just in front of a hustling Barry Kinsella (Dublin, Ireland). The Cougars nearly tied the game two minutes later when Ryan Fredal (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) sent a header just under the cross bar that six-foot-five Herkimer goalkeeper Davion Bailey stretched out to save.

The Generals kept pressure on Genesee throughout the first half, but Agerskow came up with a couple of saves to keep the Cougars in it. In the 21st minute, Agerskow was able to get a hand on a point-blank shot that was ultimately steered aside by defender Josh Gray (Norwich, England), and put a halt to a low liner from inside the box with two minutes to play to keep the score 1-0 at the half.

Herkimer added goals in the 51st and 52nd minute to build a 3-0 lead with just over 37 minutes to play. Peter Keegan (Dublin, Ireland) nearly put GCC on the board in the 66th minute when he corralled a loose ball 10 yards outside of the goal crease and blasted a shot just inches wide of the far post. The Cougars were able to break through with just over 11 minutes left when Brady Smith (Brisbane, Australia) drilled a shot that found the upper 90 to beat Bailey and draw GCC within two.

The lead was too much to overcome, however, and Herkimer added a fourth goal late in the second half to seal the victory and earn the 4-1 win.

The loss was only the second on the year for GCC who finishes the season 16-2-2 and NJCAA National runner-up. Brady Smith, Jonny Bonner (Buncrana, Ireland) and Josh Gray were named to the NJCAA National All-Tournament team for GCC.

The win for Herkimer claims their 8th Men’s Soccer National Championship in college history and their second in four years.

On Friday and Saturday, the Alexander PTA presented its 25th annual production featurning fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders in the Music Theatre International production of "Seussical Jr. -- The Musical."

Under the direction of Kathy Weil (Music Director Suzanne Perry, Choreographer Bethany Anderson) the children welcomed theater-goers to a colorful, fast-paced adventure.

We met Horton the Elephant and the cohabitants of this Seussical fantasy!

The night required only one thing...

Your imagination! ... or in Seuss's words: "the thinks you can think"!

Other pictures from the event can be found here.

Six juveniles are reportedly fighting in front of 126 State St. in the City of Batavia. Police are responding.

Updated Sunday, 11:02 a.m.

Liz Valento, Pavilion, and Jeffrey Antolos, Notre Dame, were given a big welcome home tonight at Route 20 and Route 19, Pavilion, as they returned from the state cross-country championship.

Liz and Jeffrey won their respective races to claim state titles in Verona on Saturday.

Friends, family and volunteer firefighters turned out to greet them and the Pavilion Volunteer Fire Department escorted them down the remainder of Route 19 to Pavilion.

Prints of these three photos can be purchased by clicking here.

Andrew Fisher, left, Notre Dame; Liz Valento, Pavilion; Jeffery Antolos, Notre Dame; Ethan Richardson, Pavilion.

Photos and captions below submitted by Bare Antolos.

ND's Jeffrey Antolos entered the Vernon-Verona-Sherrill HS football stadium for the final 150 yards of the Class D State Championship race about a half step behind Eldred HS's Alex Campenalla. But as they sprinted to the finish, Jeffrey was able to pass and hold off his opponent to win the first-ever Individual State Championship for Notre Dame HS! Jeffrey's 1.5-second victory was the narrowest margin of the four Boys' State Championship races of the day.

After battling with many runners who pushed her to stay in the lead over the first two miles of the championship race, Liz was able to pull away and win by a 24-second margin to win Pavilion's first-ever individual state championship.

Rain and snow on Friday, combined with seven earlier races, turned many sections of the course into a muddy mess that challenged the girls to maintain their footing and keep up their speed to finish a memorable day in Verona.

More pictures and information after the jump (click on the headline above to see the others).

Notre Dame ninth-grader Anna Warner finishes at the Class D State Championship in 22:13 good for a 13th-place finish.

Notre Dame senior Andrew Fischer leads Pavilion's Ethan Richardson during the Class D State Championship race in Verona. Fischer finished 29th with a time of 19:07; Richardson finished 36th in 19:25.

Batavia's Colin Mulcahy competes in the Class B State Championship race. He finished 75th in 18:44.

Notre Dame junior Jeffrey Antolos and Pavilion senior Elizabeth Valento show they're number one after both became the first athletes at their respective high schools to ever win individual state championships.

A couple of years ago Jay Lazarony and his family were touring the Holland Land Office Museum and came across a display of quilts and learned about HLOM's quilt group. They came up with the idea of a quilt honoring veterans with ties to Genesee County.

Today at the museum, that quilt was dedicated.

There are currently 211 names on the quilt and 58 more will be added.

Names were included based on the requests of family members of veterans and patches were filled on a first-come-first-served basis, Lazarony said.

"We thought this was a good way to honor those who served and sacrificed," Lazarony said.

A car fire is reported on the westbound Thruway at mile marker 385.3. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 10:33 p.m.: Chief on scene, "nothing showing." Assignment held to Engine 24.

UPDATE 10:37 p.m.: A chief reports, "We have a car full of people. The car is not drivable. We'll need a trooper and a tow."

Veterans from throughout Genesee County gathered today at the future site of a new Genesee County War Memorial at the corner of Bank and Washington to bury the name plaques from the former war memorial.

The former memorial was outside of United Memorial Medical Center and was removed to make room for the hospital's new surgical wing.

War dead from Genesee County were honored with their names on the memorial.

The new memorial will also contain the names of military personnel who lost their lives in America's wars.

If you can't view the slide show, click here.

To purchase print copies of these photos, click here. 

Notice from the City of Batavia Fire Department:

The City of Batavia Fire Department will be conducting hydrant maintenance flow testing on Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 14 and 15 in the southwest  quadrant of the city.

This area includes Franklin, West Main, South Main, South Lyon, Orleans, Madison, Adams, River, Meadowcrest, Pearl, Walnut, Law, Chestnut, Jackson, Maple and Court streets.

Water in these areas may become discolored during the testing. If your water appears to be affected, run water in a bath tub or outside hose outlet until it clears. Refrain from doing any laundry until your water clears.

A resident of Woodstock Gardens was assaulted overnight and seriously injured after three people allegedly entered the apartment illegally.

Charged with the assault in the first degree was Christopher Preedom, 18, of 21 Holland Ave., Batavia.

Preedom was also charged with burglary, 1st, along with Kevin Andrews, 19, and Timothy Andrews, 21, both of 144 Bank St., Batavia.

The victim was treated at Strong Memorial Hospital.

Preedom, Kevin Andrews and Timothy Andrews were located by police within minutes of incident being reported.

All three were jailed without bail.

When a Pavilion resident of York Road returned home about 4 p.m., Friday, he found a light-colored minivan parked in his driveway and unknown man sitting in the driver's seat.

As he pulled into the driveway, the van took off.

The homeowner followed the van and called police.

Troopers and Sheriff's deputies from Genesee, Wyoming and Livingston counties converged on the area. The State Police also brought in their helicopter to assist in the pursuit.

The suspect vehicle was stopped on Route 246 in Covington. 

Arrested were Alexis Santiago, 34, of Columbus Avenue, Mt. Morris, and Roman E. Esparza, 22, of South Main Street, Batavia.

Santiago and Esparza were both charged with burglary, 2nd, and jailed on $100,000 bail each.

The two men may be suspects in a series of other burglaries in a three-county area.

As the suspects fled the York Road residence, the men tossed items from the window of the minivan that were allegedly stolen from the house they had just left. The York Road homeowner later identified the items as his. 

Once stopped, Santiago and Esparza were arrested without incident and the van was seized pending investigators receiving a search warrant for the van and its contents.

The case remains under investigation and, because the two men may be suspects in other burglaries, the Sheriff's Office is asking that anybody who might have information that could aid the investigation to call (585) 343-5000. For tips in Livingston or Wyoming counties, callers should contact their local Sheriff departments.

Photos: Top, Esparza; bottom, Santiago.

In honor of Veterans Day, Loyola Recovery Foundation held a recognition ceremony at their East Pembroke transitional housing facility.  

The Loyola Recovery Foundation is a Pittsford-based nonprofit organization governed by veterans, run by veterans and staffed by veterans and civilians providing specialty behavioral health, housing and employment services to veterans and their families.

The 15-bed site in East Pembroke opened Dec. 27, 2010. The site was in need of repairs beyond what was available in their budget so they applied for a $5,000 grant from the Home Depot Foundation's "Celebration of Service - Serving Those who Served us All" initiative. The grant was approved in September and was used to replace the roof on the garage, repair and paint the deck, replace the stairs and purchase a new dishwasher and gas stove.

General Jerry Icenhower and Home Depot Manager Dawn Johncox

The East Pembroke Volunteer Fire Department was also recognized for its support of the residents of the home, and to fire department members Matt Florian and Ray Schramm for help with the repairs. Also helping with the repairs were Dave Coughlin, a former resident himself, and local roofing contractor Anthony (TJ) Peca.

East Pembroke Assistant Dale Lewter and COO Chris Wilkins

Loyola's partnership with the New York Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) initiative was recognized in a commitment and signing ceremony.

From left, Major General (Ret.) Jerry Icenhower Loyola Recovery's president and CEO, Major General Dennis Lutz of the New York State National Guard and Chris Wilkins Loyola Foundations COO.

More about Loyola Recovery Foundation and its work with veterans can be found here.

A semi-trailer has been stopped on West Main Street Road in front of Hodgins Engraving after a citizen reported the truck was driving into oncoming traffic, forcing cars off the road.

It has no or obscured license plates.