For the Week 1 contest, 17 people correctly picked Darren McFadden of the Oakland Raiders as the week's leader in rushing yards. After a random drawing from among those 17 people, Mark Potwora wins the sheet pizza.

Adam Miller Toy & Bicycles, 8 Center St., Batavia, NY: Feel like a kid in a toy store again, or treat your kids to the greatest toy store they will ever see. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

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.

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.

Cookies & Milk, 28 City Center, Batavia, NY: Cookies & Milk offers a wide selection of delicious cookies, cakes and pies. Now offering a full lunch menu that includes soups, salads and sandwiches. Stop by for something sweet! We have a $10 gift certificate for $5.

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.

Cruiser's Creamery, 140 W. Main Road, Le Roy, NY: For the best homemade ice cream, gelato and Italian ice, cruise down to Cruiser's Creamery. It's worth the drive! We offer soft serve, sundaes, razzles, milkshakes and more! Try an old-fashioned Banana Barrel! Our waffle cones and bowls made fresh daily. Hours are 3 to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 1 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sunday. Drive-thru and patio seating. We have a $10 gift certificate available for $5.

Delavan's, 107 Evans St., Batavia, NY: To me, Delavan's is one of those restaurants where you want to eat frequently until you try everything on the menu. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

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.

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

South Main Country Gifts, 3356 S. Main St. Road, Batavia, NY: Handcrafted items, gifts with a regional flair, candles, jams, soups, home furnishings & more -- South Main has a wide selection to please most any interest. Decorate your home or office for the season. 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.

Stafford Trading Post, 6173 Main Road, Stafford, NY: Lunch or dinner, Stafford Trading Post offers a variety of fresh, homemade meals, as well as snacks and drinks. Now in a new, expanded location. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50. Gift certificates valid on menu items only. Not applicable to in-store purchases.

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.

SOLD OUT

Note: if you've never purchased Deal of the Day before, or are otherwise unfamiliar with the rules and process, click here.

A NYS audit of the Corfu Fire District released today (pdf) says that fire district board members have not completed proper annual audits and that such audits would have found unauthorized personal use of district credit cards.

The fire district collects taxes to help fund the Corfu Fire Department, but is a separate entity from the fire department.

Its annual budget is more than $112,000.

The NYS Office of the Comptroller examined the district's financial records for 2008 through 2011.

Among the findings was that allegedly the district treasurer and a former fire chief made personal purchases with district credit cards totalling $2,045.

The report states that the treasurer confirmed $601 in purchases made in June and July of 2009 were for personal items.

The former chief allegedly made purchases reportedly for $779 from July through December 2008. His January 2008 bill also included a balance due of $665, according to the report.

Neither the former chief nor the treasurer are named in the report, but the report states these charges were reimbursed to the district, though it's unclear when the reimbursements took place.

According to the comptroller's office, district credit card balances included $1,600 in interest and late fees.

The district paid $380 in fees and interest, but only authorized $142 of these payments, according to the report.

"If the board had properly reviewed the actual credit card monthly billing statement," the report reads, "it would have seen that the amount on the abstract was greater than the amount due for legitimate district purchases."

The report, issued to the district on Sept. 2, offers four recommendations, including that the board: formerly adopt a credit card policy; audit every claim before approving payment; require annual financial reports issued to the comptroller's office; and that the treasurer make payments directly to vendors as authorized by the board.

In a response letter, Board Chairman Robert Ammon says that the district will adopt a former credit card policy and that it adopted internal financial controls in 2009. He also says the district has sought and received assistance from the controller's office on filing proper reports, and that the board will document concerns and require further back up for any questionable expenditures.

The response letter states that reports were not filed with the state previously because of technical difficulties involved in meeting new requirements by the state.

The letter does not directly address the issue of unauthorized use of district credit cards for personal purchases.

A car was reportedly egged within the past hour to 90 minutes on Allen Street, Batavia.

City PD responding to take a criminal mischief complaint.

UPDATE: City PD received a report earlier on Jackson Street of a similar incident.

UPDATE: A reader on Cherry Street also reports having his car egged, but he didn't call police.

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An alleged drunken driver reportedly started a four-car accident at 2:04 p.m., Saturday, on Route 77 near Route 5 in Pembroke after she rear-ended a car in front of her.

The driver's car then continued forward -- after the first car it hit was pushed out of the way -- and struck a third car in the rear, which hit the car in front of it.

Charged with DWI was Heidi J. Berkes, 27, of North Madison Street, Rome.

Berkes was driving a 2005 Ford SUV when she came upon two cars stopped at the intersection of Route 77 and Route 5 and third car immediately in front of her slowing.

She reportedly struck a car driven by Justin C. Mahar, 19, of Rebecca Street, North Syracuse. Mahar's car was pushed off the road and then Berkes' SUV struck a car driven by Matthew F. Endres, 19, of Carrie Marie Lane, Hllton, which then struck a car driven by Michele Lillie, 39, of Buffalo Road, Erie.

Injured in the accident were Cory Delahunt, 26, a passenger in Berkes' SUV, Endres and Lillie. 

Berkes and Mahar were not injured, and the seven other passengers in the four vehicles were not injured.

Mahar was cited for alleged unlicensed operation.

The accident was investigated by Sgt. Greg Walker.

Press release from the Batavia PD:

The Batavia Police Department is investigating an incident of attempted fraud. A Tracy Avenue resident has reported being contacted by telephone by a male subject who identified himself as a lottery official. The local resident was informed that he or she had won a lottery and needed to forward an amount of cash in order to collect the winnings.

The male caller provided some legitimate lottery information, however, identified himself by different names during separate conversations.

The resident did not forward cash as requested and has been advised to cease any contact with the suspect.

Residents need to be on guard for this and similar incidents of fraud that are continuing and ongoing.

A vehicle has struck a bicyclist at the intersection of Main and Jackson streets in Downtown Batavia. Mercy EMS is called to respond in non-emergency mode.

UPDATE 2:47 p.m.: The bicyclist is able to walk. Fire department response is cancelled, although they had arrived on scene.

UPDATE 2:58 p.m.: Mercy medics are back in service. Patient refused treatment.

Linda Jean Desnatis, 42, Main Street, Batavia, is charged with two counts of DWI with a child passenger under age 16, DWI, driving with a BAC of .10 or greater and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Following a complaint of a possible drunken driver, Desnatis's car was stopped at 7:45 p.m., Saturday, on West Main Street Road, Batavia, by Deputy Joseph Graff.

Francis T. Lacko, 29, of Johnstown, Pa., is accused of being a fugitive from justice. Lacko was arrested in Le Roy on Friday. Lacko was stopped in the Village of Le Roy after police received reports of a suspicious person going door-to-door selling magazines without a permit. Upon investigation, police found outstanding warrants for Lacko from three different states, including Pennsylvania. Among the charges faced by Lacko is fraud. Lacko was jailed without bail.

Paul Konieczny, 47, of 144 Harvester Ave., Batavia, is charged with DWI and three counts of failure to keep right. Konieczny was involved in a motor-vehicle accident at 9:20 p.m., Friday. He is accused of striking a street sign and two parked cars. The vehicles reportedly sustained significant damage. Konieczny reportedly suffered cuts on his face and was transported to UMMC by Mercy EMS.

Thomas Tyrone Gantt, 54, of Mount Hope Avenue, Rochester, was arrested at 8:04 p.m., Friday, on Clinton Street Road, Batavia, on a bench warrant out of Town of Gates Court. Gantt is accused of petit larceny.

Kerry Michael Simpson, 49, of Getman Road, Alden, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, driving left of pavement markings in a no-passing zone and speeding. Simpson was stopped at 1:33 a.m., Saturday, on Erie Street, Darien, by Deputy Jason Saile.

Thomas Z. Wilson, 19, Michael A. Albini, 19, and Patrick W. Moran, 18, all of 113 S. Swan St., Batavia, are all charged with criminal nuisance and unlawful possession of alcohol under age 21. Wilson, Albini and Moran were arrested after allegedly hosting an underage drinking party at 12:22 a.m., Saturday.

Edward M. Davis Jr., 46, of 23 Oak St., lower, Batavia, is charged with criminal trespass. Davis is accused of remaining unlawfully in the apartment of a female acquaintance.

Latoya D. Jackson, 25, of 112 State St., lower, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Jackson is accused of shoplifting $12.50 in merchandise from the Dollar Store on East Main Street.

A 17-year-old resident of State Street is charged with disorderly conduct. The youth is accused of shouting obscenities while attending a football game at Vendetta Stadium at 9:45 p.m., Friday.

Press release:

Students in Genesee Community College's new Veterinary Technology program began the fall semester with a new opportunity at the Genesee County Animal Shelter. The new cooperative agreement is already being tagged as a beneficial opportunity for all involved, especially our four-legged, furry friends.

Under the extensive oversight of GCC's vet tech program, second-year students are gaining hands-on experience by working with the staff and volunteers who run the Genesee County Animal Shelter located on West Main Street in the Town of Batavia.

Under the new agreement, GCC vet tech students aid in most facets of the shelter's daily operation including basic animal care such as feeding, cleaning, and kennel duty, as well as reception, client education, transport and record keeping. They work closely with the on-duty licensed veterinary technologist or veterinarian with direct animal care in checking vital signs, collecting and processing of blood and fecal samples, ear cleaning, administering medications, and diagnostic testing.

The students are enrolled in higher level courses, specifically, VET 234 Clinical Laboratory Techniques, VET 245 and VET 246 which covers small and large animal pathology and nursing, respectively.

"I'm ecstatic -- it is a great collaboration in a lot of different ways," Wendy Castleman, president of the Volunteers for Animals (VFA), which provides extensive support to Genesee County Animal Shelter. "There is already a very positive impact and a huge benefit to the animal and the shelter's operation as students help with the care, cleanliness, checking and testing of the animals."

The multifaceted benefit also includes the animal shelter now having access to an on-site veterinarian. GCC's full-time instructor Dr. Carolyn (Carrie) Caccamise is involved with the Animal Shelter as she oversees the teaching and learning experience of GCC students.

Genesee Community College's Veterinary Technology program trains students to aid animals and society by providing excellent care and service for animals by alleviating animal suffering and by promoting public health. Genesee students do not perform animal experiments of any kind, and the program will be visited on site by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) for accreditation review.

It is also overseen by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), which ensures each and every procedure is documented, follows appropriate animal protocol and that the facilities are inspected a minimum of two times a year. The program is also registered by the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets and comes under the direct jurisdiction of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA/APHIS). These governing agencies also conduct yearly inspections of facilities, review all protocols used for student learning, as well as the housing requirements for each individual species.

All animals cared for GCC students are supervised by a NYS licensed veterinarian and licensed veterinary technician, each with more than 20 years of veterinary clinical experience.

Lastly, part of the curriculum of Genesee's Veterinary Technology program includes studying the federally enacted Animal Welfare Act, wherein these rules and regulations offer the minimum standard of care. The two-year Vet Tech program at Genesee gives graduates the opportunity to become licensed veterinary technicians versed in high standards of animal care and dignity suitable for employment in many occupations that maintain the health and welfare of animals.

"GCC's program and its new agreement with Genesee County Animal Shelter aims to give our students a dynamic learning opportunity, but in doing so we are also sharing our resources with the local community and helping strengthen the extraordinary services provided by the Animal Shelter," said Kathryn Seweryniak, LVT, MS, director of the Veterinary Technology program. "Our program and this new cooperative agreement enable all of us to better help the animals in our community."

The Genesee County Animal Shelter offers an invaluable service to the community with more than 450 cats adopted last year and more than 220 dogs adopted. It is located at 3841 W. Main St. Road in Batavia and is open to the public Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and Wednesdays from 1 to 3 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

The shelter can be reached at 343-6410. The website for Volunteers for Animals is www.vol4animals.org and it's updated regularly and features photos and profiles of both cats, dogs, kittens and puppies that are available for adoption.

For information contact GCC's Veterinary Technology Program Director Kathryn Seweryniak at 343-0055, ext. 6187, or at keseweryniak@genesee.edu.

In a service that recalled in detail the tragedy, fears and horror of Sept. 11, 2001, Pastor Marty Macdonald's Sunday morning message was really about hope.

"We have the power to hope," he said, "in something greater than ourselves."

Sept. 11, Macdonald said, wasn't something that God "allowed" to happen, nor was it, as some have said, God's revenge on a nation gone astray.

"God didn't have anything to do with it," Macdonald said. "It was the work of the enemy."

The Sunday service at City Church opened with the usual praise worship, but then shifted gears to vignettes related to 9/11 -- first, community residents recalling what that day was like, then a scene of a daughter at breakfast with her mother, unable to comprehend why 9/11 is important, so her mother opens her computer to show her newsreels from that tragic day.

On the projection screens, scenes of 9/11 played out as they did in 2001, followed by the Oval Office speech from President George W. Bush.

After the videotapes from Sept. 11, 2001, three church members portrayed different people effected by 9/11: the daughter who lost her father; the firefighter who contracted cancer from working in the rubble of the Twin Towers; and the wife of Todd Beamer, the passenger on Flight 93 who famously uttered "Let's Roll" before passengers attempted to retake the hijacked airplane.

Macdonald said that at a time when people are losing confidence in our government, it's important to remember where to place our hope.

"When you place your confidence in human beings, you will always be disappointed," Macdonald said. "But when you place your hope in a living God, you will never be disappointed."

Our world changed on Sept. 11, 2001, said Pastor Allen Werk. Things that we disagreed about on Monday, seemed unimportant on Tuesday. Things that annoyed us one day could be seen as a sign of God's grace the next day. As a nation, we came to see how important God is to our lives.

"We saw what life really meant and how fragile life could be," Werk said.

Werk delivered his sermon as part of a special 9/11 service at St. Paul Lutheran Church, which mixed patriot songs and prayer and a chance to honor first responders and military veterans (top picture).

"What we witnessed on that day of terror on our shores, when we saw people dying right in front of us, we recognized that we needed somebody who was bigger than us, more powerful than even the most powerful nation on Earth, who was on our side," Werk said.

Volunteers from at least four fire companies -- I saw Le Roy, Batavia, Stafford and South Byron while I was there -- were on hand Sunday at The Home Depot to raise a flag in honor of the 9/11 victims and give community members a chance to meet with local volunteers and learn about fire safety. Children could tour the firetrucks and receive hats and coloring books.

The following people were arrested by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department during the Uproar Festival concert at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on Saturday:

James R. Larson, 24, of Revere Place, Buffalo, is charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after allegedly causing a disturbance after being ejected from the venue. Larson allegedly resisted arrest by fighting with deputies.  Larson was jailed on $500 bail.

Daniel W. Krulikoski, 28, of Miller Crescent Simcoe, Ontario, Canada, is charged with trespass after allegedly entering a food stand without permission.  Krulikoski was released on $100 bail.

Michael J. Carlo, 31, of Pennington Court, Amherst, is charged with disorderly conduct after allegedly causing a disturbance in the venue parking lot by attempting to fight with other exiting patrons.

Philip A. Azzaretto, 41, of Exchange Street, Alden, is charged with harassment, 2nd, after allegedly striking another subject in the face while at the concert.

Keith A. Hinckley, 20, of West Avenue, Ext., Medina, is charged with disorderly conduct and possession of alcohol under 21 after allegedly yelling obscenities in the parking lot, causing a disturbance and found to possess an alcoholic beverage.

The following people received citations for alleged possession of alcohol under age 21:

Shelby R. Eck, 17, of County Route 31, Scio
Cecellia M. Wilson, 19, of Loring Avenue, Wellsville
Dustin M. Ford, 19, of Allen Street, Allentown
Danielle J. Armfield, 19, of Baker Street, Andover
Lindsay L. Harris, 17, of Riverside Drive, Wellsville
Rebecca A. Oliver, 17, of River Road, Phoenix
Geoff C. Hall, 20, of Drager Avenue, Syracuse
Tara M. Morabito, 16, of E. Main Street, Hamburg
Gary J. Dellaneve, 17, of Davis Road, West Falls
Julia J. Golaszewski, 20, of Center Street, East Aurora
Steven D. Jackson, 18, of Dutch Street, Wolcott
Rebecca M. Rotunno, 17, of Claremont Avenue, Tonawanda
Emily A. Dziuba, 17, of Blakeley Road, East Aurora
Joseph J. Crane, 19, of Shelby Basom Road, Medina
Brandon T. Fuller, 17, of Prospect Avenue, Medina
Gerald R. Soule Jr., 20, of East Main Street Road, Batavia
Raymond D. Wilson III, 18, of Herrick Street, Oswego
Amber L. Bonito, 20, of Drake Settlement Road, Burt
Seth P. Esskuchen, 20, of Autumn Street, Williamsville
Seth R. Reardon, 19, of Columbia Avenue, Depew
Jonathan D. Hitchcock, 20, of Otego

Kristi Queal sent in this picture from Sunday, 9/11, of her son, Deacon, who even at 2 knows how to salute a United States flag.

Corfu and Darien fire departments are responding to a fire alarm at the Presbyterian Church of Corfu, located at 63 Allegany Road.

The alarm is indicating a problem in the basement, bathroom and pantry.

UPDATE 7:48 a.m.: Darien is told to stand down. The Corfu unit is held to one unit.

UPDATE 7:50 a.m.: The chief says "It was just burnt turkey. Corfu returning, in service."

Batavia residents found a number of ways to remember Sept. 11 on Sunday.

Above, Ken Mistler hung his giant U.S. flag from the former Carr's building.

Frank Bellucci set up this display outside his Ellicott Street home. The centerpiece, a model of the Twin Towers, was built a few yeas ago for a competition by his son, Frankie, now 13.

Somebody set up these signs on West Main Street near Oak Street.

Still to come from Sunday, coverage of 9/11 services at St. Paul's Lutheran Church and City Church.

On the drive back from the steam show Saturday, I took a route down Beaver Road and then Upton. Here's a couple of the pictures I took.

The East Pembroke Volunteer Fire Department held a memorial service this morning to honor all those who perished in the events that took place on September 11, 2001. Members from the department came out early this morning to decorate the trucks, and stayed there throughout the day to have a total of six moments of silence; one at the exact time when each plane hit, and one at the time of each tower's collapse and to mark the carnage at the Pentagon. Each moment of silence began with blowing the air horn on one of the fire engines, followed by one minute of silence to honor the victims and heros of that event. 

Pictured above: Firefighters observe a moment of silence for those who lost their lives when the first tower collapsed at 8:46 a.m. Below: A memorial set up in front of antique truck, "Old Betsy."

Pictured above is Firefighter William Torres, who joined the East Pembroke Fire Department in March of this year after moving up here for a job with the Loyola Recovery Foundation. Torres worked for the New York City Fire Department for 21 years, and was on duty on September 11, 2001. He was stationed in the Bronx that day, but once the first plane hit the Trade Center at 8:46 a.m., he was immediately called in to help with the rescue efforts.

He recalls bringing a patient out of the south tower just before it fell, "We were a couple of blocks away, headed for our ambulance when the first tower collapsed. When I saw the cloud of dust, my partner and I just started running as fast as we could while pushing our patient on the stretcher." It's obvious that he was greatly affected by the events that unfolded that day, but he says they made him a stronger person.