Harvester Avenue is being closed for the time being for a building to be torn down.

That could mean the house involved in a fire on Sunday or another house on the street that is boarded up, or ... 

Every year Care-A-Van Ministries has a celebration to share the love of Jesus on Halloween night. The famous Care-A-Van brownies are served along with hot cider, cold cider, hot chocolate, donut holes, candy and of course lots of prayer!

Tonight more than 900 brownies were served. Everyone had a great time stopping by and many took advantage of available tours of the vehicles. Thank you to all who volunteered and gave donations to help make this event possible.

It seemed like half the kids in Batavia were on Ellicott Avenue tonight for Halloween trick or treat. Most of the homes on the street had treats available. A couple of residents said they prepare for at least 500 children to visit each year.

I fyou can't view the slide show below, click here. 

To purchase photos from this event, click here.

Le Roy Fire Department is responding to a two-car accident on East Main in which at least one person reportedly lost consciousness.

UPDATE 7:42 a.m.: An ALS (advanced life support) and BLS (basic life support) ambulance requested to the scene. Traffic control requested. Chief: "We're going to have to pop a door."

On Saturday, three local law enforcement agencies collected prescription drugs that were no longer needed in order to sure safe destruction of the drugs.

Here's the results of the drop off:

• Batavia PD: 169 vehicles, and a total of 487.5 lbs;
• Le Roy PD:  46 vehicles, and a total of 144.8 lbs;
• Sheriff's Office, in Pembroke: 36 vehicles, and a total of 53.5 lbs.

Aaron J. Wood, 20, of Iroquois Road, Caledonia, is charged with petit larceny. Wood is accused of unwrapping and eating a $3 pizza while in the Tops Market in Le Roy. Wood allegedly tried to leave the store without paying for the pizza.

Joseph Dennis Vendetta, 30, of Tracy Avenue, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, tinted windows and driver's view obstructed. Vendetta was stopped at 2:21 a.m., Saturday, on Richmond Avenue by Deputy Patrick Reeves.

Billy Joe Budziszewski, 20, of Alleghany Road, Corfu, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, 3rd, and criminal mischief, 4th. Budziszewski is accused of getting into a dispute with his father Friday morning. During the dispute, Budziszewski allegedly became verbally abusive and punched the kitchen wall and front door, causing some damage during the argument. Budziszewski also allegedly had a pair of metal knuckles in his bedroom dresser.

Luis Geraldo Pacheco, 49, of Webster Avenue, Rochester, is charged with three counts of criminal contempt, 2nd. Pacheco is accused of violating a stay away order on three separate occasions.

Melvin Gaylord Draper, 30, of Webber Avenue, Oakfield, is charged with felony DWI, aggravated DWI (BAC of .18 or greater), aggravated unlicensed operation, 1st, and improper signal. Draper was stopped at 12:47 a.m., Saturday, on Bank Street Road, Batavia, by Sgt. Brian Frieday.

Gene Robert Schmidt, 44, of Dodgeson Road, Alexander, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 and failure to keep right. Schmidt was stopped at 1:33 a.m., Saturday, on Bowen Road, Alexander, by Deputy Jason Saile.

Trent H. Burgess, 39, of West Avenue Brockport, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 and speeding (89 mph in a 55 mph zone). Burgess was stopped at 12:26 a.m., Sunday, on Clinton Street Road, Stafford, by Deputy Howard Carlson.

Brian James Nelson, 24, of Grove Street, Painted Post, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, failure to keep right and driving left of pavement markings in a no-passing zone. Nelson was arrested following the investigation by Deputy Jason Saile into a one-car accident at 6:04 a.m., Sunday, on Route 77 in Darien. 

Daniel L. Cone, 51, of 6380 Clinton St. Road, Bergen, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, speed not reasonable and prudent, following too closely and moving unsafely from lane. Cone was stopped at 5:55 p.m., Saturday, on East Main Street, Batavia, by Officer Dan Coffey.

Lawrence D. Williams, 51, of 148 Hutchins St., Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. Williams was allegedly found in possession of a small quantity of cocaine following a traffic stop.

Scott G. Tooley, 26, of 199 S. Main St., Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Tooley is accused of leaving a young child at home without adequate supervision.

A driver was hospitalized Sunday morning after a one-car crash on the Lewiston Road bridge over the Thruway in Batavia.

The driver, Staci L. Casper, 24, of 7599 Lewiston Road, Oakfield, was taken by ambulance to UMMC with minor injuries.

A toddler in the car, Dominic R. Davies, was not injured.

Casper was southbound on Lewiston Road at 7:30 a.m., Sunday, when for an unknown reason she lost control of her 1995 Honda. Her car struck the east side guard rail.

No citations were issued.

The accident was investigated by Deputy Brian Thompson.

Icy conditions are being blamed for a two-car accident at 7 a.m., Friday, that sent one person to the hospital with minor injuries.

The accident occurred on the Route 98 bridge over the Thruway.

Matthew A. Button, 28, of 7703 Lewiston Road, Batavia, was northbound on Route 98 when his 2007 Toyota spun out of control, sliding into the southbound lane and striking a 2005 Jeep driven by William P. Shelhorse, 67, of 23 West Ave., Elba.

Button's car then slide over to the west side guard rail.

Shelhorse was taken by a Mercy EMS ambulance to UMMC.

Button was cited for alleged failure to slow for hazardous conditions.

The accident was investigated by Deputy Brian Thompson.

(Initial Report)

A Le Roy elementary school principal is among the three finalists vying to become superintendent of the Byron-Bergen Central School District.

The school district announced the three finalists -- from a field of eight candidates -- who will go through a series of meetings, tours and interviews at the school this week.

The finalists are Edmund "Casey" Kosiorek, elementary principal in Le Roy; David J. Glover, superintendent, Morristown Central School District; and, Michael J. Davis, elementary principal, Webster Central School District.

In all, 27 people applied for the job.

The school board anticipates making an appointment by mid-November.

The #3-ranked Genesee Community College Men's Soccer Team won the Region III title on Saturday, defeating Tompkins-Cortland Community College 3-1. In doing so, the Cougars also advance to the NJCAA National Tournament.

GCC started the game off at a high pace and was rewarded with its first goal after 13 minutes when Brady Smith (Brisbane, Australia) played a low ball across the box for Sean Brettel (Welwyn Garden City, London) to apply the finishing touch.

The Cougars increased their lead four minutes later when Dom Francis (Huddersfield, England) scored with the assist going to Josh Gray (Norwich, England). Tompkins-Cortland drew within one with an early second-half goal off of a corner kick. Genesee netted an insurance goal In the 71st minute when Brettel scored his second goal of the game, sealing the victory and the regional title for GCC.

Barry Kinsella (Dublin, Ireland) and Dom Francis were named to the All-Tournament Team. Sean Brettel was named Player of the Tournament.

David Miner and his sister, Jan, at David's photography exhibit at the NYSARC Convention in Albany.

David Miner signing his work following a recent trip to Letchworth State Park.

Albany -- David Miner was a featured artist last week (October 21) during the 62^nd Annual NYSARC Convention at the Crown Plaza Hotel. A resident of Batavia, David’s home is a Genesee ARC-operated residence on Ellicott Street Road.

According to family members, David has loved having a camera in his hands since he was very young. His father, Ken Miner, owned a small newspaper, the Country Post, and in the 1970s, David accompanied him all over Western New York and the Southern Tier as his dad covered local news in small towns.

His photo exhibit featured scenes from the many places he has visited with his oldest sister, Jan, over the years including New York City, Washington, D.C., the Great Smoky Mountains and Mount Rushmore. This past summer, they went to Yellowstone National Park.

David is an award-winning artist and has had his work featured in Exceptional Artworks traveling shows.

The NYSARC Convention exhibit helped showcase the many talented artists served by NYSARC’s 55 chapters throughout New York.

Pictured at the groundbreaking from left: Lester Mullen -- Stafford zoning and code enforcement officer, Dave Vicary -- Stafford Town Board, Scott Adams -- owner, Tim Adams -- owner, Steven Foster -- landscaper, Julie Scheverlein -- Stafford Court Clerk, and Andy McElheny.

For years, the parcel of land at 5782 Main Road, Stafford, wasn't being put to any sort of productive use.

It was just a weed-filled vacant lot.

Soon, however, it will be the new location of Adams' Welding & Fabrication and Scott Adams Trucking.

The longtime Genesee County business is moving from a location on Little Canada Road, Bethany. Owners Scott and Tim Adams are constructing a new 5,616-square-foot facility and truck terminal.

Adams' Welding & Fabrication serves the welding needs of local agriculture as well as homeowners and Scott Adams Trucking provides transportation for agriculture.

Finger Lakes Construction will build the new facility.

Friends and family also joined in. From left: Steven Foster, Debbie Kerr, Dave Vicary, Scott Adams, Tim Adams, Lester Mullen, Julie Scheverlein, Andy McElheny, Val Falco and Mary Adams.

Before heading to Rochester for the Elba/Byron-Bergen playoff game, I was able to take advantage of a beautiful morning sky and what's left of fall colors.

The photo above actually began with an idea yesterday. Not satisfied with the shots from yesterday (which I didn't publish), I went back this morning with a different idea of how to get the shot I originally imagined. That involved standing across the street and using a telephoto lens. The funny part was the group of youths who walked by clearly puzzled by what I might be photographing.

The back of the old fire house on Main Street.

This is on Clinton Street Road in Bergen, taken on my way to Rochester. I've driven by this tree many times thinking it could make a great shot in the right circumstances. This is almost it.

It was a great run for Elba/Byron-Bergen in 2011, but in Rochester on Sunday, a good season came to an end at the hands of the Livonia Bulldogs.

It was a close game, but the Bulldogs were just that much better.

"Livonia made the most out of their opportunities," Coach Mike Cintorino said. "We had some opportunities that we didn’t cash in on."

Final score: Livonia 26, Elba 18.

The Lancers fought hard and while opportunities may have been missed, no major mistakes assisted Livonia.

Livonia gained more yards (297 to 244) and held the ball longer (28:51 to 19:09), but Elba/BB was able to move the ball on many of its drives, yet on a couple of drives weren't able to put the ball in the end zone.

Zack DuBois scored two TDs, gaining 161 yards on 21 carries. Matt Ramsey made two catches for 32 yards. 

Cody Taylor also scored a touchdown.

For Livonia, QB Wyatt Struble completed nine passes for 120 yards. Derek Bishop scored two touchdowns and Dustin Ayers and Josh Wester each scored a TD.

The loss clearly upset the Elba/BB players and Cintorino said the emotional reaction demonstrates how hard the players worked and how close they had grown as a team.

"We didn’t want the season to end," Cintorino said. "There’s a lot of teams that break it down in terms of family. When we broke it down to family, it meant something. We worked hard together and we just didn’t want the season to end."

If you're unable to view the slide show below, click here.

To purchase photos from this game, click here.

Spearheaded by a capable trio in the backfield and a stalwart line on both sides of the ball, the Batavia Youth Football League Bills finished the 2011 season undefeated, besting the Packers in the title game. In photo above, Cody Dioguardi prepares to take a handoff from QB Connor Logsdon.

Connor Logsdon on a keeper.

That's Anthony Gallo blocking for his backfield mates.

Yeomen work in the trenches.

Coach Zickl firing up the troops - he and Head Coach Brent Dioguardi did a fine job with the Bills. 

Linebacker Jake Kasmarek sizing up the Packer offense.

Penetrate and pursue...it worked for the Bills the entire game.

An ATV rider is reportedly injured and on the ground at mile marker 376.1 on the westbound Thruway. The rider is conscious but injuries, if any, are not yet known. Le Roy Fire and Ambulance Service are responding. The caller told dispatch that there were two ATVs traveling and they somehow collided. The other driver "took off" -- possibly to get help. Mercy medics are on scene.

UPDATE 4:44 p.m.: Mercy Flight is on an in-air standby.

UPDATE 4:46 p.m.: Mercy Flight is cancelled.

UPDATE 5:06 p.m.: Le Roy Ambulance left a few minutes ago, headed to Strong Memorial Hospital with one patient. All other units back in service.

For each Elba/Byron-Bergen score, the Livonia Bulldogs have had an answer, though neither team has had much success with extra point tries. The score is 12-12 in this Section V Class B semifinal game.

UPDATE 3:54 p.m.: Elba/BB loses 26-18.

A house fire is reported at 23 Harvester Ave. in the City of Batavia. Everyone has been evacuated. A State Trooper on scene reports smoke and flames are showing. City Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 1:53 p.m.: Everyone who was inside has been accounted for. The second and fourth platoons are called in. The fire began in the back bedroom of the wood-framed house. City firefighters have a convenient water hydrant nearby.

UPDATE 2:04 p.m.: There is "heavy fire" inside the structure says the chief.

UPDATE 2:10 p.m.: A responder (but not the chief) asks dispatch if a police officer can come to the scene and he's told that two are already there. But they're handling traffic, he says, and he needs someone to talk with the family. The family has information that "this is arson." An officer is responding to speak with the family.

UPDATE 2:39 p.m.: National Grid is called to the scene. No ETA given. Firefighters are continuing to battle the blaze. The American Red Cross is being contacted and will need to provide assistance to two adults and six children who have been rendered homeless by the fire.

UPDATE 2:44 p.m.: The Red Cross estimates it will be at the scene in about a half hour.

UPDATE 2:52 p.m.: National Grid is on location.

UPDATE 3:43 p.m.: The home is a total loss, according to a statement made by city fire Chief James Maxwell to WTBA's Dan Fischer, who was at the scene. Although the investigation is continuing, the initial indication is that the fire was started in a rear bedroom by a child playing with a lighter, Maxwell told Fischer.

UPDATE 4:25 p.m.: City firefighters are back in service.

UPDATE 4:55 p.m.: Harvester Avenue is open to traffic now.

Photos by Dan Fischer, WBTA.

Walnut Street residents Jeremy and Cassie decided to rake up their fall leaves Saturday, and got some extra "help" from their sons Ethan, 7, and Matthew, 4, who found it was great fun to play in the big pile of leaves.