More than 100 people stopped by the prescription drug drop off location at Batavia PD today, filling up five large boxes with prescription medications that will be safely destroyed by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The annual program invites residents to drop by designation locations -- today at Batavia PD, Le Roy PD, and Pembroke Town Hall (where deputies collected medications).

There are also permanent, year-round drop-off boxes at Batavia PD, Le Roy PD, the Sheriff's Office on Park Road and the State Police Barracks on West Saile Drive.

Properly disposing of unneeded medications helps keep them out of the waste streams, waterways, or from being abused.

The children who were winners in the fire prevention poster contest sponsored by City of Batavia firefighters were invited to the station today for a pizza party and a tour of the fire hall.

For a list of winners, click here.

A two-vehicle accident with injuries is reported at the intersection of routes 19 and 63. Pavilion Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 1:15 p.m.: A first responder at the scene reports one patient, a pregnant female, who suffered a bump on the head and has lower back pain. Her vehicle was rear-ended.

UPDATE: The patient was transported to Wyoming County Community Hospital in Warsaw.

A motorcycle accident is reported at 3246 Galloway Road, Batavia. "It appears the motorcyclist spun out, lost control, went off the roadway." Town of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. The motorcyclist is down. The location is east of Downey Road. Law enforcement is on scene. Mercy Flight is called to the scene; weather being checked to determine availability.

UPDATE 12:15 p.m.: Mercy Flight will be able to go to the accident; then will only be able to fly eastward to Rochester due to weather.

UPDATE 12:24 p.m.: The helicopter will be landing in an uncut hay field adjacent to the scene.

UPDATE 12:27 p.m.: Mercy Flight has landed.

UPDATE 12:35 p.m.: Mercy Flight #5 is airborne and heading to Rochester.

UPDATE 12:48 p.m.: The Galloway Road assignment is back in service.

UPDATE 12:51 p.m.: The motorcyclist was a female whose bike hit a wet, slick spot in the pavement, sending the bike fishtailing out of control. She suffered a leg injury and possibly other non-life-threatening injuries. She will be further evaluated at Strong Memorial Hospital. The witness to the accident was her husband, who was following her in his truck.

The Genesee Symphony Orchestra performs tonight at Perry High School and again tomorrow at Genesee Community College.

Mia Fasanello, a winner of the Young Artist Competition, on oboe, is one of the featured performers in a show titled "Festivals, Techno, and Fate!"

The program includes "Academic Festival Overture" by Brahms, "The B-Sides," "Five Pieces for Orchestra and Electronica" by Bates, and "Symphony no. 5 in C Minor" by Beethoven.

During Friday's rehearsal, young music students were invited to sit next to orchestra musicians and experience the music from within the orchestra.

This evening's Perry performance starts at 7 p.m. and Sunday's GCC performance is at 4 p.m.

Tickets are available at the door or through GSO's website.

Photo: Andrew Young Jr., center, tries out one of the challenges at an Inventor's Fair at Alexander High School on Friday night as part of a rally to support Andrew's entry into Frito-Lay Dreamvention contest.

Andrew, 14, is one of five finalists in the nationwide contest. His invention is a toaster that shoots out the toast onto a plate. The winner of the contest will receive $250,000.

The fair Friday night featured various activity stations for students to try out their skills at various challenges and included a rally to encourage everybody to vote in the contest and support Andrew's quest to have his invention recognized at the best of the bunch.

To learn more about Andrew's invention, visit AndrewsInvention.com. To vote, click here (you can vote every day).

(The Batavian has added a link to the voting page on the left side of our home page, just above the login box on the left side of the page. You can vote every day.)

UMMC and the Cancer Services Program of Genesee & Orleans hosted their annual Pink Hatters Night Out at Batavia Downs on Thursday.

The event supports those battling cancer, admires survivors and honors those who have passed.  

The guest speaker was Dr. Jeffrey Goldstein, who is a gastroenterologist, followed by a presentation of the Pink Hat awards and guest speaker Michael Tenebruso, stage four colorectal cancer patient. 

There was also a survivor recognition and fashion show. 

Gail Fenton, co-owner of Fenton’s Produce, emceed the program.

Photos submitted by UMMC.

It was an emotional moment when Jodie Hebdon radioed dispatch to sign off, signaling his last shift as a deputy with the Genesee County Sheriff's Office after 35 years of service.

Hebdon spent the past 16 as resource officer at the BOCES campus on State Street in Batavia. And it's leaving that job that is particularly difficult he said.

"I'm going to miss these kids," Hebdon said. "You know, there are some kids here that have been through horrible lives, horrible living conditions. Trauma, PTSD, whatever you want to call it. The ability to at least interact with them and make something happen for them is good."

Hebdon started his law enforcement career in the Army and when he came home after a hitch in Germany, he enrolled at Genesee Community College. After a stint as a corrections officer, Hebdon was transferred to road patrol before being asked to apply for the resource officer position at BOCES.

The majority of the students at BOCES don't have issues, Hebdon said, but it's dealing with the at-risk kids and helping them is what made the job worthwhile.

"I was the one person they interviewed (for the job)," Hebdon said. "Why I gravitated to the job is I like helping at-risk kids. Today I had six girls at different times who came up to me who were victims of severe abuse, sex abuse, rape. They see me as a safe adult, a safe male. They have the ability to speak in a good way to a man without being extorted or taken advantage of. They gave me some long embraces. They don't want me to go."

When it was time for Hebdon to leave, his coworkers both within the ranks of the Sheriff's Office, other local law enforcement officers and staff at BOCES formed two lines outside the BOCES entrances and saluted and applauded Hebdon.

Then it was time to sign out.

"This is hard," Hebdon said, brushing back a tear before informing dispatchers he was saying goodbye.

A Chevy SUV has struck a deer on the Thruway in the eastbound lane near mile marker 377.1 in Le Roy.

Injuries are reported.

Le Roy fire dispatched. Mutual aid requested from Caledonia's ambulance.

UPDATE 6:05 a.m.: The patient conscious and alert with a shoulder injury.

Located in the Elba School system, this home is perfect for the people who want their piece of country. Surrounded by fields on a quiet road -- definitely one to take a ride for! Call Lynn Bezon at Reliant Real Estate today, 344-4663, to view this listing or click here for more information.

Ronald J. Barber is indicted for the crime of criminal mischief in the third degree, a Class E felony. It is alleged that on May 17 at a location of West Main Street Road in the Town of Le Roy that he intentionally damaged the property of another person and had no right to do so. Barber is accused of breaking tail lamps on several vehicles owned by a company in an amount exceeding $250.

Press release:

On Thursday, Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) praised the signing of legislation to extend property tax exemptions to eligible U.S. veterans to include school taxes. These exemptions would extend the veterans’ property tax exemption to include school taxes in New York State and will ease financial burdens faced by veterans as they transition back to civilian life.

“As Americans, we owe it all to the brave men and women who fought to defend our country,” Hawley said. “Extending tax exemptions to veterans is one small way we can positively impact their post-military lives. I applaud the signing of this legislation and I hope veterans across the state will benefit from these additional tax exemptions.”

At this time, state property tax laws provide partial property tax exemptions to qualified veterans of the U.S. military, but these exemptions didn’t include school taxes. In 2013 and 2016 the alternative veterans’ property tax exemption and Cold War property tax exemptions were revised to give school districts the option of allowing exemptions. With this signed legislation, all three veterans’ property tax exemptions would apply to school taxes.

Press release:

Genesee County STOP-DWI Coordinator Matt Landers announced today that the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Batavia Police Department and the Village of Le Roy Police Department will participate in a special enforcement effort to crackdown on impaired driving.

The statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown efforts start today and will end on Wednesday, Nov. 1^st. New York State Police, County Sheriff and municipal law enforcement agencies across the state will be out in force.

Halloween is meant to be scary, but not when it comes to driving. When it comes to impaired driving Halloween can turn the roads into a horror fest. While we spend time trick or treating and hosting parties with our loved ones, law enforcement officers across New York State will take to the roads in an effort to stop impaired driving, prevent injuries and save lives.

Research shows that high-visibility enforcement can reduce impaired driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent. Sobriety checkpoints play a key part in raising awareness about the problem. Tragically, Halloween impaired-driving fatalities are on the rise. There were 55 deaths on Halloween night in 2015, up from 17 in 2011—and steadily increasing each year in between. If you plan to go out with the ghouls and goblins to enjoy an adult beverage, make sure you plan a safe ride home before you leave the house. Even if you “only have a couple,” you are in no shape to drive.

The STOP-DWI Halloween Weekend Crackdown is one of many statewide enforcement initiatives promoted by the New York State STOP-DWI Association with additional funding from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and implemented by the STOP-DWI Foundation. Throughout the remainder of the year the Statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign will also target Thanksgiving and the national Holiday Season in December.

While STOP-DWI efforts across New York have led to significant reductions in the numbers of alcohol- and drug-related fatalities, still too many lives are being lost because of crashes caused by drunk or impaired drivers.

Highly visible, highly publicized efforts like the STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving. Let’s make memories, not nightmares! Have a safe and happy Halloween Weekend!

Press release:

City of Batavia firefighters are proud to announce the winners of their 5th Annual Fire Prevention Contest.

Information provided by Genesee Valley Wind Ensemble.

The Genesee Valley Wind Ensemble will perform an Autumn Concert beginning at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 19, in the Alexander Central Auditorium. It is located at 3314 Buffalo St. in Alexander.

Philip J. Briatico is the conductor.

These are the works to be featured:

• "Life Dances" -- William Himes -- featuring Guest ConductorJohn Maguda
• "Moorside March" -- Holst -- featuring Member Conductor Katherine Robinson
• Irish Tune from County Derry -- Percy Aldridge Grainger
• "Joy" -- Frank Tichelli
• "Emblem of Unity" -- J.J. Richards
• Highlights from "Fiddler on the Roof"
• A tribute to Stevie Wonder in concert
• "Climb to Glory" -- William Palange (Veterans Day)
• "March of the Trolls" -- Edvard Grieg, arr. Beck
• "Chester" -- William Schuman

Admission prices are:

• $10 -- Adult
• $8 -- Senior (55+) & Veteran
• $5 -- Student (with ID)
• Free -- Children 5 years old & under
• $25 -- Family Deal -- for immediate family and children as defined by mother and/or father and up to four (4) children.

The purpose of the GVWE is to serve and to provide the Greater Genesee Valley audience with new and familiar live music, to serve its membership with the opportunity to perform challenging wind ensemble literature and to create the opportunity for the conductor and musicians to grow their collective musical talents.

The Genesee Valley Wind Ensemble is based in Batavia.

This program is made possible, in part, by the Reach Grant program administered by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.

Contact: geneseevalleywindensemble@gmail.com

Press release:

The Genesee County Office of Emergency Management is pleased to announce the appointment of Christina Marinaccio as County Fire Instructor for Genesee County effective October 2017.

Marinaccio is an active member of the Le Roy Fire Department and the Genesee County Emergency Support Unit. She is currently employed as a City of Batavia firefighter.

Her responsibilities as County Fire Instructor include conducting fire training and instruction in fire prevention and control in accordance with the New York State Fire Training Program.

Press release:

The Batavia Police Department will be participating in the DEA’s 2017 National Prescription Drug Take-Back initiative on Saturday, Oct. 28.

The event will be held in the rear parking lot of the Batavia Police Department (10 W. Main St.) between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Citizens can turn in their unwanted, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs for safe disposal.

The National Prescription Drug Take-Back addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.

Studies show that many abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.

Two other disposal sites are in Genesee County, and these also have collection hours between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. tomorrow.

• Sheriff's deputies will staff collection at Pembroke Town Highway Barns, routes 5 & 77, East Pembroke
• Le Roy Police at Village Hall, 3 W. Main St., Village of Le Roy (near routes 5 & 19)

(For previously posted press release on how this initiative helps the Great Lakes and New York waterways, click here.)

Press release:

The fifth annual Traditional Martial Arts Association Tournament will be held Saturday, Nov. 4, at the Le Roy High School Gym, with eliminations starting at 10 a.m.

The Tournament will consist of Sparring (point fighting), Individual Kata (forms), Team Kata, Weapons Kata, and Self Defense.

Tournament organizers are Soke William Cavalier (Livonia Tatsu Do School), Hanshi Dick Borrell ( Borrell’s Karate Academy Batavia), and Renshi Fred Merica (Le Roy Karate & Self Defense Center/ Main Street Fitness). All three have been close associates and tournament/ clinic organizers for the past 40 years.

Ages of competitors will start as young as 4 years old with no age limit. We have had competitors in the past well into their 70s. Divisions are broken down by skill level and age.

Spectators are welcome at $5 each and students at $4 each. To see a flier go to www.fitness-martialarts.com and click the link at top of page “November 2017 TMAA Tournament- Download Flyer” or call 585-414-3181.

There will also be a breaking demonstration at noon. They break everything from boards, bricks, coconuts, and Louisville Sluggers with their shins.

Anyone interested to help be a scorekeeper please call 585-414-3181 for more information, minimum -- 15 years old, no experience needed.

Tournament sponsors are:

    Northwoods Sporting Club / Le Roy

    Cameron Construction/ Le Roy

    Ben’s Appliances/ Batavia 

    Le Roy Karate & Self Defense Center/ Le Roy 

    Borrell’s Karate Academy/ Batavia 

    Livonia Tatsu Do Karate/ Livonia