A car and bus have reportedly collided in the area of 1534 Lewiston Road, Alabama.

Three people in the car are reportedly injured, but there are no reported injuries on the bus.

Alabama Fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 7:24 a.m.: Oakfield's ambulance on in-hall stand by for a possible response to the scene.

View Larger Map

A controlled trash burn reported earlier this evening may have gotten out of control, according to a caller to dispatch. The location is in the area of 12 Trumbull Parkway in the City of Batavia.

City firefighters are responding.

Apparently, there was nothing of consequence found at the site of the reported controlled burn. City firefighters are back in service.

Saturday afternoon we were on our way to East Shelby when we spotted upwards of two dozen egrets wading the Upper Stafford Marsh on the Oak Orchard Wildlife Management Area. I regretted not having a camera along, but vowed to have one the next morning.

It was 9 a.m. today when we pulled into the overlook on Albion Road and, fortunately, the egrets were still there. There are 17 great egrets in the above photo, with several more outside of the lens angle.

I've not seen such a gathering of the large wading birds before, not even in South Florida. Whether they were stalking small fish, frogs or reptiles, I couldn't say but something to their liking must have been plentiful in the shallow marsh.  

Normally, great blue herons are the largest wading birds in the marsh. While the blue heron is nearly identical in size to the great egret, on this day it was certainly in the minority.

Saturday, Sept. 17, was Kutter's annual Customer Appreciation Day.

Kutter's Cheese Factory Store began operations in 1923, when Leo Kutter emigrated to the United States from Germany. The factory moved to Corfu, site of this weekend's festivities, in 1947.  

Visitors were offered samples of Yancey's Fancy's 19 varieties of cheeses, available in 29 flavors.

Brian and Heather Bailey and Christine Adamczak, who bought Kutter's from Tony and Richard Kutter in 2009, were on hand to offer visitors wine and cheese samples. Musical entertainment was provided by Finesse (a female barbershop quartet), and there was a factory tour to explain the cheese-making process.

The company is looking to expand its operations in the next two years, and if the attendance at the festivities on Saturday were any indication, Genesee County is more than ready for the expansion.

Heather and Brian Bailey with the Kutter's classic car.

"Hot Stuff" -- Yancey's Fancy's own buffalo.

Finesse, a women's barbershop quartet, featuring (from left to right): tenor Sharie Vlack (Elba), lead Peggy Watkins (Attica), baritone Beth Allen (Elba), and bass Carolyn Schultz (Oakfield).

The group is a subset of the Crossroads of Harmony Chorus, which will be holding a reunion on Oct. 17 at the Genesee County Nursing Home. For more information, contact Finesse at allenkittyzoo@gmail.com.

More pictures from the event can be found here.

This information was provided by firefighter/paramedic Chuck Hammon, who is coordinator of the Child Passenger Safety Program for the City of Batavia Fire Department.

Today is the beginning of National Child Passenger Safety Week. This education and awareness program is designed to protect local youth by increasing the safety of children riding around in our community.

The City of Batavia Fire Department began participating in the program this summer after being approached by the city police department, which has been involved with Child Passenger Safety for a few years.

Fire Chief Jim Maxwell thought it was a great idea and is familiar with the program since it is provided to residents by many fire departments in Monroe County, where he used to work.

Locally, the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department and State Troopers also have programs but do not have the availability to provide daily inspection/instruction.

Three Firefighters (Mark Sacheli, Frank D’Angelo and Chuck Hammon) attended a National Child Passenger Safety Technician course offered in Geneseo. Upon completion of this course we restructured the program around the availability of firefighters/technicians and the two certified police officers: Dan Coffey and Thad Mart.

Detective Rich Schauf currently oversees the grant portion of the program and I have taken the position of program coordinator for the operational oversight. We hope to send four to eight more firefighters to the training course next spring to increase the size of the program.

So far this year, we have held two events. The first was a “soft” opening at National Night Out at Birchwood Village and the second event was a part of "Summer in the City."

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on October 1st, we will be holding our third car seat inspection event at the firehouse during the annual Open House.

The majority of our inspections/educational sessions are done by appointment at the firehouse. Since the fire department took the lead on the program, we have completed 31 inspections. We have issued/replaced 10 car seats, free of charge, to those parents.

Not every inspection results in a new car seat. This program is designed around educating parents and if the car seat supplied is recalled or defective, it is then replaced. We have a supply of car seats available at the firehouse but they are issued depending on supply and demand.

This program is funded by the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. An annual grant is awarded to each agency participating in this program, which includes supplies and car seats. The overall cost of the program is free as the inspections/educational sessions are done by the on-duty technicians.

The city fire department is located at 18 Evans St. Program coordinator Hammon's office phone number is 345-6375.

This information was submitted by Becky LeFevre.

A new music school is in full swing in Batavia, located at the Homestead Event Center (formerly the site of Roxy's Music) in the Genesee Country Mall. The Genesee Community School of Music is the result of collaboration between Winnicki Music Studio, Rose Caccamise of Roxy's Music, and local parents.

The school began its first session of classes at the end of August, offering general music for elementary students, chorus, and small group instrument lessons. The first six-week session culminates with a performance at the Batavia Nursing Home on Sept. 27.

The Genesee Community School of Music began primarily as a resource for homeschooled students and grew out of a need for quality and affordable music education. Budget cuts that effect public education have filtered down to the homeschooling community. Music opportunities -- such as instrument lessons -- that used to be available through public schools to students being educated at home have been largely eliminated.

Classes at the GCSM are lively and upbeat. Younger students learn about melody, pitch and rhythm through creative songs and games. Older students develop advanced skills through instrument lessons or in chorus, where they sing in parts and learn vocal technique and conducting.

The Genesee Community School of Music puts a huge emphasis on community.

"Every six weeks, the kids will perform in the community -- at the nursing home, the VA, etcetera, says Jodi Coburn, who has three students attending the music school. "We want them to not only learn about music and experience performing in front of a crowd, but to learn about the way music brings people together and to use music as a vehicle to interact with individuals that we wouldn't meet under everyday circumstances."

Just a month after it opened its doors, the GCSM is experiencing success.

"When you start up something like this, the concern is always (whether) you're going to be able to afford to keep the program running," said Becky LeFevre, whose kindergartener participates in the general music class. "We started this school through word of mouth, and just hoped and prayed that we'd end up with enough students to keep it running and to pay the instructors.

"So far, we've been blessed. This program is phenomenal, and I think people are realizing that and word is beginning to spread.

Word is spreading, not just about the GSCM, but about homeschooling in general. In recent years, the number of families who have chosen to educate their children at home is increasing. Yet the GSCM's long-term goal isn't just to serve the homeschooling community. As budget cuts continue to force music and the arts out of public schools, the GCSM hopes to fill the void.

In the future, they hope to begin a strings program, something many local schools are unable to offer. They also plan to schedule additional classes at times that will be convenient for students who attend traditional schools.

Teacher Diana Winnicki adds "Cooperative music education like this, that is valued in the community, ensures the continuation of the arts regardless of the economic condition of our state.

The second session of classes begins on Oct. 4, followed by a special five-week Christmas session with an emphasis on holiday music from around the world and the formation of a children's bell choir.

For questions about the GSCM, or if you are interested in teaching a course or registering for classes, contact Jodi at 813-4658 or GeneseeCSM-owner@yahoogroups.com.

Batavia Police are on scene at a reported fight involving five adults and several youths in the roadway at Lewis Place and State Street.

In a battle of 1-1 teams, Elba rolled over Pembroke 46-20 behind the six TDs of Zach Dubois. The Lancers jumped out to a 18-0 first-half lead, and even with the Dragons scoring twice in the third quarter, Elba added 21 points of their own to the scoreboard.

Dubois scored three times in the first half on short runs, but really broke loose in the second half, scoring on runs of 53, 48 and 57 yards. In all, Dubois carried the ball 22 times for 296 yards.

Overall, Elba had 420 yards of offense. Elba's Matt Ramsey had three catches for 73 yards. The Dragon's QB, Cody Bedard, was 17 of 34 for 175 yards and two TDs. Wyatt Chittenden for Pembroke, 18 carries, 75 yards, eight receptions for 135 yards, two TDs.

Elba's defensive stats: Andy Boyce, 15 tackles, one sack; Matt Ramsey, seven tackles, fumble recovery returned for a TD; Cody Naylor, 10 tackles, one sack; Brandon Naylor, six tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles.

Le Roy dropped to 1-2 with a loss to Avon, 34-20. Tommy McQuillen rushed for three touchdowns for Le Roy.

Batavia also dropped to 1-2 with a 20-17 loss to Livonia. T.T. Martinez racked up 171 rushing yards on 24 carries and a touchdown. Brett Scheurline was 9-for-20 for 109 yards.

Batavia visits Le Roy this Friday for a non-league game.

Alexander lost to Barker 16-7.

For our coverage at Notre Dame vs. Oakfield-Alabama, click here.

Photos by Destin Danser.

Charles Durkee provided photos from Saturday's training for the Byron and South Byron fire departments. Here's what he said about it:

On Saturday between the hours of 8 a.m. and noon, the Byron Fire Department hosted live fire training for their members and members of South Byron. The training was also held for members of the rescue squad as the firemen acted out burn injuries and frost injuries from the liquid propane. The training was very intense and and made the firemen realize that it's a lot harder to move in safely on a big ball of flames and try to shut down the system.

Press release:

The City of Batavia Fire Department will be flushing fire hydrants Wednesday, at approximately 9 a.m to  3 p.m, in the general area of Oak Street, Pickthorn Drive, Redfield Parkway, Burke Drive, Bogue Avenue, Gateway Drive, Noonan Drive, and Richmond Avenue.

Homes and businesses nearby will be affected. These flows may result in a temporary discoloration of water in that area.

As in the past, please do not attempt to wash any clothing if your water appears discolored. The rain and or makeup date for flushing is Thursday, at approximately noon to 5 p.m.

More than 200 people attended the Batavia Kiwanis Club's auction and gala to raise funds for the Child Advocacy Center at Batavia Downs.

There were certainly a lot of laughs and some great deals were struck at the auction, which brought in more than $15,000.

The few somber minutes of the evening where just before the live auction when a video about the Child Advocacy Center turned the talkative room quiet. Watch the video below. It will give you a good idea of what the CAC is all about.

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

A chimney fire is reported at 7392 Alleghany Road, Alabama.

An Alabama chief is on scene and may have discovered the fire.

Alabama fire units responding.

UPDATE 1:17 p.m.: Chief on scene believes he's got the fire knocked down. Alabama engines in route.

UPDATE 1:27 p.m.: Alabama fire back in service.

View Larger Map

There are possibly two people injured following an ATV accident in the area of 1780 Sumner Road, Darien.

Darien Fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 1:23 p.m.: Darien's ambulance is transporting one patient to Strong. The other person did not require transport to a hospital. Darien Fire back in service.

UPDATE 1:37 p.m.: Darien ambulance rerouting to UMMC.

View Larger Map

Coming off two disappointing seasons and starting the 2011 season 0-2, it would be easy to dismiss a game against Oakfield-Alabama as a bye week, but as any coach in the Genesee Region will tell you, there's no squad in the league that can be taken lightly.

There's no telling if the Fighting Irish took the Hornets a little less than serious coming into Friday night's league match-up, but O-A's young players certainly made a game of it.

The final score was 29-14, but the Hornets were never really out of it until the final minutes, and at the half looked like a team that could spoil Notre Dame's early season perfect record.

"They're very well coached," said Notre Dame's head Coach Rick Mancuso. "Brian (Palone) is doing a great job. That (Tommy) Manzella kid is a terrific quarterback. They're tough, there's no doubt about it. They spread you out all over, they throw the ball. I give them all the credit in the world. I thought they played very well tonight."

Palone said his team is young. They let the game get away from them when Nate Woods returned a punt 50 yards for a TD, making the score 15-14 following a two-point conversion.

"That changed the momentum," Palone said.

While Manzella showed he could still march his offense down the field -- he passed for 192 yards on the night on 27 completions -- the Hornets couldn't finish the deal in the red zone.

"Overall I fell like we were right in there," Palone said. "Our kids were fighting hard just like we ask them -- 'give 110 percent.' We’ve got a lot of sophomores out there. We’re just very young this year, so we’re going to make mistakes, but we’re just going to learn from our mistakes and improve."

The scoring started in the first quarter when Nick Taylor capped a Notre Dame drive with a 16-yard run.

But O-A's no-huddle offensive helped the Hornets get the momentum back and the defense was being pretty stingy, twice intercepting Tim McCulley.

Two O-A drives in the second quarter ended in TDs -- a three-yard run by Manzella and a two-yard pass by Manzella to Chris Nanni.

By the fourth quarter, Notre Dame's running game was nearly unstoppable. 

Taylor finished the game with 87 yards on the ground on 17 carries. Nick Conklin had 82 yards rushing on 11 carries.

ND's two fourth-quarter TDs were a five-yard run by Taylor and Woods hauling in a 25-yard pass from McCulley.

McCulley finished with 107 in the air on 16 completions.

Mancuso said his young team played two great quarters to start each of their previous games and then "sort of frittered it away" in second halfs, but Friday the team played better in the second half than the first.

"With a young group of kids like we've got, that's what you expect," Mancuso said. "I want to get us to the point where we're playing four full quarters of football."

As for O-A, which was shut out three times in 2010 on its way to a 0-7 season, following a 2-5 campaign in 2009, Coach Palone is disappointed in his team's 0-3 start, but he said he's seeing progress for the Hornets.

"I feel like this program is heading in the right direction," Palone said. "Every day and each and every game you can see that we’re improving. We’re hanging right in there with these teams now, where last year and the year before we weren’t right in there with the games. They were breaking the games wide open. This year, we're right there."

Prior to 1961, Batavia High's graduating classes held their commencement ceremony at Mancuso Theater, but in 1961, with a new high school built, school officials told the Class of ' 61 that its graduation would be at the new facility. 

There was talk of protest then, but it took the class a half century to actually pull it off.

As part of the class's 50th Reunion, class members walked from Batavia Middle School to the former Mancuso Theater, now City Church, and held a ceremonial commencement with current BHS Principal Christopher Dailey handing Jim Owen back his original diploma as a symbolic graduation. Dailey then delivered the same commencement speech delivered to the Class of 2011.

As I was leaving Le Roy yesterday, I saw this crop-duster flying over a field off Route 5.

In Le Roy for a bit yesterday afternoon, and I went down to Oatka Creek and saw an opportunity to snap this picture.

A suspect in one of the alleged burglaries over the summer in Batavia has been arrested, but police say the 55-year-old Batavia resident is not a suspect in other burglaries.

Paul C. Wapniewski was taken into custody following an investigation and indictment by the Grand Jury.

Wapniewski, a resident of 410 Ellicott St., Batavia, is accused of breaking into Delavan's Restaurant, 107 Evans St., on May 6.

Following arraignment in Genesee County Court, Wapniewski was released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

He was charged with burglary, 3rd, criminal mischief, 2nd, and petit larceny.

There have been at least 10 other burglaries of businesses in the city this summer, but police say Wapniewski is not a suspect in those crimes.