Both Ryan Fitzpatrick and Matt Hasselback rushed for 17 yards on Sunday, so the Week 11 contest winner was randomly drawn from among the 25 people who picked either QB as the quarterbacks with the most rushing yards for the week.

The winner for Week 11 is Bob Bartz, who picked Fitzpatrick. Bob wins one small cheese pizza, one topping, one order of wings and a two-liter bottle of soda pop.   He has one week to pick up his prize.

Congresswoman Kathy Hochul will be in Genesee County on Saturday as part of "Small Business Saturday," a national effort to encourage consumers to shop locally this holiday season.

Small businesses are the backbone of any community and Hochul made supporting locally owned businesses part of her campaign platform.

On Saturday, Hochul will be at Adam Miller Toy and Bicycles on Center Street at 1:15 p.m. Hochul will also stop at Vintage and Vogue in Le Roy at 2:15 p.m.

Press release:

Major Christopher L. Cummings, Troop “A” commander, today announced that during the Thanksgiving Holiday, the New York State Police will continue with a specialized traffic enforcement campaign called OPERATION HANG UP, targeting motorists who use their cell phone and other electronic devices while driving in the Troop “A” area.

Cell phone use and texting while driving continue to proliferate despite widespread public concern and acknowledgement that the behaviors are dangerous. They support widespread increased enforcement.

Research by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety indicates that drivers who use hand-held devices (phones, Blackberries, etc.) are four times more likely to be involved in crashes that are serious enough to cause injuries. At average highway speeds, in three seconds you will travel the length of a football field. The State Police will be utilizing a new resource to enforce these types of violations.

A Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) vehicle will be deployed throughout this holiday weekend and the near future. This unmarked police vehicle is fully equipped with emergency lighting and other traffic enforcement resources. The primary mission of this vehicle is to easily blend in with traffic and to cite dangerous behaviors such as distracted driving. Major Cummings encourages all motorists to “Keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel.”

Thanksgiving signifies the start of the holiday travel season and traffic volumes are expected to be heavy during this holiday weekend. This increases the risk of highway crashes for everyone. Major Cummings noted that State Troopers in Western New York will be stepping up traffic enforcement during this holiday period to prevent needless highway tragedies.

Troopers throughout the Western New York region will be deployed in various enforcement capacities such as DWI saturations, roving patrols and stationary checkpoints. Troopers will be cognizant for drivers using cell phones as well as other electronic devices. Of course, speeders, impaired drivers, vehicle occupants who are not properly buckled up, and other traffic violators will also be cited, where appropriate.

Violators who are ticketed for distracted driving violations face a maximum fine of $100, along with a mandatory $60 surcharge and possibly points on their driver's record depending on the violation.

I've had a couple of conversations recently that reminded me how fortunate we are to live in Genesee County.

The first was with a gentlemen who came into Delavan's on Friday night. He's from Ohio but visits Batavia regularly for business. He's decided to buy a small home here rather than always packing for a hotel stay.

"I love Batavia," he said. "It's a great little city. The people are friendly, the crime rate is low, there's a lot beautiful old homes around and it's a nice area."

The other conversation was with Jeff Stephen, the dairy industry expert. Stephen had no idea I was from California when we started to talk, but he began to compare Batavia to the so-called Golden State. Batavia, he said, was a great place for a company to set up business compared to California. We have good schools, the cost of living is so much lower, it's less crowded and people in Western New York, unlike California, he said, really appreciate their jobs.

San Diego, my hometown, can call itself America's Finest City, but I think where I live right now has it beat hands down.

There's a lot of advantages to living in Genesee County that are easy to forget as we go about our day-to-day business. Every community has its problems, and it's easy as we struggle to solve them to let them become bigger in our minds than they actually are, or to forget about all of the good things around us.

All of us in Genesee County have a lot to be thankful for, from the place we live, to the neighbors who are always ready to help, to the friends we stand by and who stand by us, to the families we cherish.

On behalf of myself, Billie, Lisa Ace and our correspondents, we want to thank both our readers and our advertisers for making it possible for us to live and work in America's Finest Little City. We wish you and yours the very best. Happy Thanksgiving!

Project Wave -- which we now know is being pursued by PepsiCo -- will be the largest yogurt plant in North America, according to an industry expert with more than 15 years in the field.

Jeff Stephen, a consultant with Productive Partners, said in an interview today that what Pepsi is planning is impressive and will be a huge benefit to the community and the local dairy industry.

"Pepsi isn't the kind of company that is going to go anywhere," Stephen said. "They're not going to cut back because of any shortage of money. This is everything you could ask for in a local community. They are going to be successful. Not everything will go to plan, but they will succeed. This is a major global commitment."

Based on industry reports, Pepsi wants to get into the yogurt business. The multinational firm is planning a merger of sorts with Theo Muller Group, a German company that makes seven different yogurt products.

Stephen said companies for years have been trying to crack the U.S. yogurt market in the belief that American consumers don't buy as much yogurt as they should. Europeans consume five or six times as much yogurt as Americans, Stephen said.

The key to the U.S. yogurt market, Stephen said, is to make yogurt with more body and texture, a yogurt that can be consumed as a meal or a key ingredient in a meal. Growth in the U.S. yogurt market has been thwarted, Stephen said, because too much of the product available in the U.S. is what Stephen called "crappy dessert yogurt."

The key to the U.S. market is Greek yogurt, which has more flavor, is more filling and has greater nutritional value.

That's the kind of yogurt that will be the basis of Alpina's product line. Alpina was the first big signing for Genesee County Economic Development Center in the new ag park. Alpina is building an initially 10,000-square-foot facility that will employ 50 people.

Pepsi's plans begin with a 300,000-square-foot facility that will employ 180 people, with a build out by 2033 of 16 production lines and 600 employees.

There is no yogurt plant in North America that's close to that size, Stephen said.

When Stephen saw what was being planned for Project Wave, as first reported on The Batavian, he figured Pepsi, whose plans with Theo Muller had already been reported by the Wall Street Journal, was a likely prospect for the property. A project of that size would almost certainly be a plant for a large corporation moving into a new product line. 

The deal bringing Pepsi to Batavia hasn't been signed yet, but construction has begun on the facility and Pepsi is clearly eager to get its new product to market by 2013.

Stephen just hopes Pepsi is planning a yogurt line based on Greek yogurt and not "crappy dessert yogurt," which he doesn't think will help Pepsi or other yogurt makers expand the U.S. market.

Whatever Pepsi does, he doesn't see the Pepsi products competing directly with Alpina, which will be producing a slightly higher end yogurt and going after niche markets.

Pepsi's main competitors will be Dannon and Yoplait.

Dannon, based in White Planes, is a pure dairy company and between its two main brands, controls about 38 percent of the yogurt market. Yoplait, owned by General Mills, has another 6 percent. The rest of the market is shared by regional players and store brands, some of which, Stephen said, are very good.

Another potential local player in the yogurt market is O-AT-KA Milk Products, which is owned by Upstate Niagara Cooperative. 

The rumor is that a current expansion at O-AT-KA is for the local plant to start making yogurt ingredients.

It's unknown who the ingredients will be sold to, but Upstate purchased a 100-year-old, one-line yogurt plant in Watertown about a year ago.

Charitably, Stephen said, the Watertown plant is "historic," but it shows Upstate's intention to move into the yogurt business.

Whatever product Pepsi brings to market, Stephen said, will be thoroughly researched and well marketed.

"I have very high respect for Pepsi," Stephen said. "They are efficient in manufacturing and production and very good marketers. They are not the kind of company that gives up."

It's unknown whether Pepsi will purchase its dairy products through O-AT-KA or directly from farmers (those are discussions that probably haven't even taken place yet, Stephen said), but as for farmers, Stephen said they will be happy working with Pepsi.

Pepsi, he said, takes an approach that being easy to work with helps lower costs.

"I think the farmers will want to do business with them," he said.

As for milk supply, the market will probably be shaken up for awhile initially, but the big farmers have little trouble adding capacity (more cows) and there should be an ample milk supply in Western New York to meet the needs of Pepsi, Alpina and O-AT-KA, and any other players that enter the market at the ag park.

Perhaps the worst news for other dairy businesses, Stephen said, is that if Pepsi wants to hire an employee, they will hire that employee. They will spend what it takes, he said, to get the best employees, especially in key positions.

But it's a great pool of employees that is attracting Pepsi to Batavia, Stephen said.

For years, he's been telling dairy companies to stop manufacturing in places like Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia because the standard of living is so much better in smaller communities.

Employees can actually afford to buy a house in a place like Batavia. That isn't true in larger population centers. And, Stephen said, the schools are good, and that's attractive to a major employer.

"You have a pretty high quality of life," Stephen said. "It's a pretty attractive place to put people who are going to work for you for a long time."

Some members from local Brownie Girl Scout Troop 42001 went around to visit some local places today to give thanks before the upcoming holiday. First stop was at Community Action of Orleans and Genesee to present some donations of goods to help familes for Thanksgiving.

We presented to Lisa Wittmeyer, case manager (left), some donations from our troop shown above. Next to her are Noelia Ventura, Alyssa Ognibene, Portia Ranalli, Co-Leader Steve Ognibene and Brandi Lang-Smith.

Then our troop visited and donated Girl Scout Cookies to Justice for Children pictured below.

Accepting the cookies was Julie Walsh (pictured middle holding our letter).

Our last stop was M&T Bank to give our thanks to Bank Manager Mike Easton (left, below) and present him with a Certificate of Sponsorship for allowing us to use his bank for our cookie booth sales this year. 

Our troop did very well in cookie sales and together with individual sales we sold 1,000 boxes of cookies. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

(Photos submitted by Steve Ognibene)

The adoption fee for black cats and kittens will be 50-percent off on Black Friday, Nov. 25, at the Genesee County Animal Shelter. From 1 to 3 p.m. any feline that is at least 99 percent black can be adopted for $15 instead of the usual $30.

This special promotion is available thanks to Iams' Home 4 the Holidays program.

The regular, refundable spay/neuter fee of $35 still applies if you select an unaltered cat or kitten, although many of them are already fixed. All are current in their vaccines and have been tested for FeLV/FIV. Please bring a carrier to tote home your adorable new friend.

The shelter is located at 3841 W. Main St. Road in the Town of Batavia.

A 22-year-old Medina man accused of shoplifting Tuesday at Kmart allegedly resisted arrest and fled from a deputy, leading to a 17-minute manhunt that ended with his arrest on Batavia Downs property.

Jailed on $2,500 bail was Shawn Richard Wisniewski, of West Avenue Street, Medina.

Wisniewski was accused of trying to steal doe and buck urine.

Deputy Patrick Reeves responded to the store at 3:25 p.m. after the alleged attempted theft was reported and Reeves interviewed Wisniewski. When Reeves tried to arrest Wisiewski, Wisiewski allegedly resisted arrest and fled the store.

Assisting in the manhunt were Batavia PD and State Police.

Wisniewski was charged with petit larceny, escape, 3rd, resisting arrest and criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th.

No information available on what the alleged controlled substance may have been.

A driver pulling out of the Walmart parking lot at 4:03 p.m., Tuesday, on Veterans Memorial Drive apparently didn't see an oncoming car before pulling out in front of the other vehicle.

The two-car collision sent four people to UMMC for evaluation and treatment of minor injuries.

Cited for alleged failure to yield the right-of-way was Patricia A. Derleth, 72, of Clinton Street Road, Batavia.

Besides Derleth, injured in the crash were the driver and two passengers in the other vehicle: Kara L. Diltz, 18, of Kent Road, Kent, and Steven T. Peckenpaugh, 19, and Derquile R. Qualcen, 22.

The accident was investigated by Sgt. Greg Walker.

(Initial report)

The staff and volunteers at the Batavia Youth Center served a traditional Thanksgiving dinner Tuesday night to about two dozen youngsters who are participants in youth center programs. Most of the meal, turkey and fixings, was prepared by Gail Stevens.

An accident with injuries has been reported on West Main Road, Le Roy.

One person reportedly has a head injury.

At least two ambulances have been requested to the scene.

Traffic is being shut down at Gilbert and at Le Roy Bethany Townline Road.

Le Roy Fire Department, Le Roy Ambulance Service and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 8:46 p.m.: One patient is a sign-off. Mercy EMS put back in service.

Press release:

On Monday, members of the Le Roy Moose Lodge donated a dozen plush stuffed moose toys to United Memorial Medical Center’s Emergency Department. The Tommy Moose program is a national initiative started by the nonprofit Moose International. The toys are distributed to children in crisis by police officers, firefighters, emergency responders and hospitals. The friendly looking toys comfort and distract children in traumatic situations.

The toys donated to United Memorial were purchased by Moose members Judy Mills, Catherine Campbell, Shirley Schutt, Malinda Dykstra and an anonymous donor to the lodge. More information on the Tommy Moose program can be found at www.MooseIntl.org.

Pictured in the photo from right to left are Catherine Campbell, UMMC registrar, Bonnie Bezon, Emergency Room nurse manager, and Judy Mills.

Bernadette Smart sent in this photo of her son Brandon and his friend Jeryll Cherry at Tops Market on Monday where they were bell ringers for the Salvation Army. Bernadette said their video game character masks were a big hit with shoppers.

If you would like to volunteer to ring the bell for Salvation Army, contact Major Robert at 343-6284.

A two-car accident with injuries is reported on Veterans Memorial Drive in the area of Office Max and Walmart.

Town of Batavia Fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 4:10 p.m.: Three minor injuries reported. One person with chest pain from airbag deployment and two with facial injuries.

Press release:

Join in the holiday spirit at the first “Taste of the Holidays” on Friday, Dec. 2 and Saturday, Dec. 3 in the Holiday Tent at Jackson and Main streets.

Friday, Dec. 2 (5:30 - 9 p.m.):
5:30 p.m. - Lighting of the community Christmas tree and singing of carols. Tree is next to Bank of America on Main Street.

In the Holiday Tent (6 to 9 p.m.): More than 10 great area restaurants will be providing a tasting of their menu specialties. They will be handing out coupons and selling gift certificates for the holidays. For entertainment, the OHMS Band will be performing. The cost is $5 per person and children are free.

Community bonfire on Center Street (across from Adam Miller Toy)

Saturday, Dec. 3 (11 a.m. - 3 p.m.):
In the Holiday Tent: Free holiday activities for the children, i.e. decorating ornaments and other holiday crafts). Holiday gift items for sale by local organizations. Entertainment: Bart Dentino & Kevin Huber and the McMahon Irish School of Dance.

Horse & Wagon Rides on Center Street (12 - 3 p.m.): Rides cost $1 per person with proceeds going to the Donny Carroll Toys for Kids fund.

Hosted by the Batavia Business Improvement District.

For more information visit: www.downtownbataviany.com or Facebook: downtown Batavia Business Improvement District.

The Sheriff's Office is looking for the owner of a pair of compound bows and some accessories that go with the bows.

A Good Samaritan turned in the bows after finding the items on a roadway in Genesee County.

The bows were in carrying cases.

The items apparently fell from a moving vehicle.

Also found were three water containers and a gas can.

If anyone lost this type of property, contact Deputy Frank Bordonaro, 345-3000, ext. 3229.

UPDATE 8:34 a.m., Wednesday: The owner of the bows has recovered the lost items from the Sheriff's Office.

The driver of a minivan allegedly ran a red light this morning, according to Officer Dan Coffey, causing a three-car accident that sent all three drivers to UMMC by ambulance for treatment and evaluation.

Coffey was in his patrol vehicle, westbound on Ellicott Street, waiting to make a left-hand turn when he saw the van go through the intersection.

His view was obstructed at the point of impact, but the southbound van hit one northbound car, causing it to spin around and strike another northbound car not once, but twice.

Coffey said the driver of the minivan will likely be cited for an infraction, but had not yet completed his accident report.

None of the injuries are believed to be serious.

Alli's Cones & Dogs, 7063 Lewiston Road, Oakfield, NY: Full breakfast, lunch and dinner menu; all-you-can-eat salad bar; ice cream served year-round; eat-in or take-out. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Blue Pearl Yoga, 200 E. Main St., Batavia, NY: Exercise your soul as well as your body in a friendly and relaxing atmosphere. We have a gift certificate for five weeks of yoga, three classes for $15.

Bohn's Restaurant, 5256 Clinton St., Batavia, NY: Fine dining in an atmosphere of casual elegance. Lunch and dinner, steak, prime rib and seafood. Ask about Bohn's catering services and banquet facility. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

Clor's Meat Market, 4169 W. Main St. Road, Batavia, NY: For the best, most flavorful, juiciest chicken or hamburger in town, hands down, stop by Clor's. Oh, and the steaks are great, too. And the sausage. Clor's also serves lunch and dinners from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. We have a $10 gift certificate for $5.

Ficarella's Pizzeria, 21 Liberty St., Batavia, NY: Dine-in, drive-thru or delivery. Featuring fresh, hearth-baked pizza since 1985, plus wings, pasta and more. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10. (Good only at the Batavia location.)

Jagged Edges Salon, 4140 Veterans Memorial Drive, Batavia, NY: Jagged Edges Salon is a walk-in and appointment salon for men, women and children. It is a fun, welcoming salon that offers all hair care services including cuts, color, highlights, lowlights, perms, styling/updos, treatments, and facial waxing. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Kravings, Valu Plaza, 4152 W. Main St., Batavia, NY: Kravings offers soups, salads and sandwiches, fresh and flavorful; Monday through Saturday. We have a $10 gift certificate for $5.

Oliver's Candies, 211 W. Main St., Batavia, NY: Oliver's, a Batavia landmark, offers the finest chocolate and confections in the area. We have a $20 gift card for $10.

Present Tense Books and Gifts, 101 Washington Ave., Batavia, NY: Whether your taste runs to local authors, the finest in fiction or nonfiction or you're looking for a unique and special gift, this charming store in a cozy Victorian house on the edge of downtown is a great place to stop and shop. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

Pudgie's Lawn and Garden Center, 3646 W. Main St. Road, Batavia, NY: Fall is here and Pudgie’s has everything you need, from mums to mulch and fertilizer. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

Rancho Viejo, 12 Ellicott St., Batavia, NY: Traditional Mexican cuisine, from tacos and burritos to pollo norteno, Rancho Viejo brings a bit of "south of the border" to Batavia's restaurant scene. We have a $20 gift card for $10.

Salsa & Curry, 13 Jackson St., Batavia, NY: An authentic Mexican restaurant, offering all of your favorite dishes from enchiladas and burritos to tacos and fajitas, as well as daily Indian food specials. We have a $20 gift card for $10.

Settler's, 353 W. Main St., Batavia, NY: Settler's has a 25-year history of serving great, affordable breakfasts, lunches and dinners to Batavians. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Spirits, 78 Lake St., Le Roy, NY. Le Roy's favorite sports bar, where fun and good food are always on tap. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

T.F. Brown's, 214 E. Main St., Batavia, NY: T.F. Brown's is a great place for a good meal, good friends and to catch up on what's going on in the sports world. "If it happens in sports, it happens at Brown's." We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

The Mane Attraction Salon and Spa, 99 Main St., Batavia, NY: offers "Affordable Luxury" in downtown Batavia. We pride ourselves in the great customer service we give to the entire family. Men, women and children are all welcome either by appointment or walk-in. We offer all hair care services including cuts, color, highlights, lowlights, perms, styling/updos, facial, leg and back waxing, Shellac Polish System, manicures and pedicures. We are the only salon in Batavia that has an airplane chair for kids' cuts! Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. We have $20 gift certificates for $10.

Viking Valhalla Restaurant & Rose Garden Bowl, 21 Buffalo Road, Bergen, NY: Open for lunch Monday through Sunday, and dinner Friday and Saturday evenings. Dinner favorites are our succulent prime rib and Friday fish fries! We are always happy to help plan your special occasion -- wedding, shower, rehearsal dinner, stag party, graduation, company function, banquet, family or class reunion. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

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