The 400 Towers resident who admitted to baking his cat to death will serve the next five years on probation, Interim Judge Michael Pietruszka ruled in Genesee County Court today.

The defense attorney for Darren Annovi, Lisa Kromer, argued that jail was not an appropriate sentence for Annovi because he has had persistent mental illness and has suffered from mental health issues since childhood.

Annovi has limited intelligence and did not intend to harm his cat, she said, even though he knew it would die in the hot oven, he apparently thought it would painlessly go to sleep and pass away.

During the term of Annovi's probation he will not be allowed to own any pets.

Wendy Castleman with Volunteers for Animals was hoping for more. 

“I think the concern I would have is the signal it sends to the public," she said. "This is a person who killed an animal in a cruel way and received probation. So does that make it OK for other people?”

Via our news partner, WBTA.

Press release:

 “I’m not sure if the governor is still half asleep on tryptophan from Thanksgiving, but it is unthinkable that he can morally and logically kill legislation that was passed 136 to 8 in the Assembly and 59 to 3 in the Senate. 

“Disrespectful and heartless doesn’t begin to describe Cuomo’s actions toward our tens of thousands of tireless volunteers in charities, churches and fire departments, who donate their time to improving their community and now have their hands tied when it comes to fundraising. Gov. Cuomo’s veto message claims the bill may be unconstitutional but our counsel here at the Assembly already ensured that the legislation was constitutional when it was drafted.”

“The Town of Stafford Fire Department has conducted their car raffle for roughly 70 years and now they are faced with a 300-percent budget increase without their fundraiser. This surely amounts to a tax hike for town residents who are already struggling under the nation’s highest taxes. Upstate fire departments are primarily volunteer and rely on these annual raffles for revenue and to fuel operation costs. Whereas downstate many firefighters are paid so this legislation isn’t as important to them. The veto further exemplifies the Upstate and Downstate divide and why ‘Two New Yorks’ should be put on the ballot.” 

“Actions like this are one of the reasons people are fleeing New York in droves. For a governor who cowardly avoids the Legislature to enact his policy agenda and perpetuates our state’s highest taxes in the nation, you’d think the least he could do was sign a non-controversial bill that helps charities raise money.”

Press release:

The Board of Directors of the Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) will consider approving applications for assistance from TJ Sheehan and Empire Pipeline at the agency’s Dec. 1 meeting.

TJ Sheehan, a Massachusetts-based wholesaler, is proposing to convert a former 37,500-square-foot Cargill facility in Alexander to a refrigerated beverage distribution center. 

Empire Pipeline owns and operates a compressor station and pipeline in the Town of Oakfield and is seeking a new 15-year fixed PILOT. All taxing jurisdictions have consented to the new PILOT structure. The project payments will enable water infrastructure installation as part of the Genesee County Phase II improvements, some of which will support the Western New York Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park (WNY STAMP) project in the Town of Alabama.

Finally, the board will consider accepting an application and setting a public hearing for assistance from Yancey’s Fancy in which the cheese-making company will invest $5.5 million to expand and renovate the original Kutter's Cheese facility on Main Street in Pembroke. Yancey Fancy anticipates the project will create up to 15 full-time jobs.

The GCEDC board meeting will be held on Thursday Dec. 1st at 4 p.m. at the MedTech Center, across from Genesee Community College, on the first floor at the Innovation Center, Suite 107. All board meetings are open to the public.

Jordan Paul Fleming, 28, of East Bethany Le Roy Road, Bethany, is charged with third-degree sexual abuse. Fleming is accused of subjecting another person to sexual contact without that person's consent.

Fawn Lynn Marie Kaczmarek, 28, of Liberty Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument. Kaczmarek was allegedly found in possession of a needle during an investigation by Deputy Matthew Clor.

The Genesee Chorale performs a Christmas concert called "The Rose" this Friday at Our Lady of Mercy, 44 Lake St., in Le Roy.

Showtime is 7 p.m

The performance, conducted by Ric Jones, will be repeated at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 at St. James Episcopal Church, Batavia.

Conductor Shade Zajac leads the Genesee Symphony Orchestra through a rehearsal Monday night at Batavia High School as the GSO prepares for its annual holiday concert at St. Mary's on Dec. 11.

The program includes: 

• Guests: Emily Helenbrook, soprano, and young artist competition winner Amelia Snyder, alto saxophone
• Ukrainian Bell Chorale, arrangement by Nancy Strelau
• Fanfare from La Perri, Dukas
• Concerto for Saxophone and Strings, Glazonov
• Christ at the Movies, arranged by Krogstag
• Emily Helenbrook singing several selections
• Canadian Brass, arrangement by Custer
• Sleigh Ride, Leroy Anderson
• Christmas Festival, Anderson

To purchase tickets, click here.

The Batavia High School Drama Club presents three performances this weekend of William Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing," as dramatized by Trish Black Melchan.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, and at 2 p.m., Sunday, on the stage of the school's auditorium.

Tickets are $8 per adult and $6 for students and seniors.

The Cast:

When the Genesee County Legislature's Ways and Means Committee meets next week, it will be asked to support a county budget that will pull $500,000 from reserves to help balance the budget and raise property taxes to $10.25 per thousand of assessed value.

It won't return a first assistant DA position to the District Attorney's Office, a decision made on an 8-1 vote by the Legislature that prompted Chairman Ray Cianfrini to call his fellow members, "hypocrites."

While other budget matters were discussed during Monday's meeting, the proposal to provide District Attorney Lawrence Friedman with a first assistant -- a position that hasn't been filled in the department for six years -- dominated the conversation.

Friedman tried to make the case for the position, which he intended to fill with Melissa Cianfrini, Ray Cianfrini's daughter-in-law.

Both Friedman and Ray Cianfrini questioned whether the Legislature's reluctance to fill the position, or, more, it's seeming unwillingness to set the salary at what they believe the position is worth, is driven by gender bias.

Friedman exited the meeting quickly after the overwhelming vote against the position and Cianfrini (who cast the one vote in favor of the job) was out the door of the Old Courthouse as soon as the meeting was adjourned.

The position is necessary, Friedman said, because there should be a second-in-command when he's not in the office, there should be somebody else in the office who can handle budget and human resource matters and there should be somebody trained in other aspects of the DA's job because traditionally the first assistant DA becomes the next DA if the position becomes vacant. Friedman was first assistant before he became DA and Robert Noonan was a first assistant before he became DA.

The lack of a first assistant puts the DA's office at a disadvantage, Friedman suggested, against the Public Defender's Office, which only recently acquired its first top assistant, and also has an investigator and a case worker that the DA's office doesn't have and Friedman has never sought.

The county attorney also has a top assistant, and 60 of the 62 district attorneys in the state, including all of the smaller counties, have first assistants, and those offices often also have investigators.

The first assistant also traditionally covered a couple of specialty law areas, such as civil forfeitures, which can generate revenue for the county, and cybercrime and child pornography -- specialties that have gone uncovered by the Genesee County DA's office since Dave Gann retired six years ago.

Legislator Bob Bausch, one of the Legislators who initially questioned the need for a first assistant in the DA's office, said he wondered if it was necessary in an office where all the ADAs are professionals and in the day and age of digital communications.

"Yes, in this day and age, I am accessible, even on vacation, by email and text messages and I’m not complaining about that, but I believe there should be somebody who is trained and has the experience necessary to serve in my absence," Friedman said.

Legislator Marianne Clattenburg questioned why after five years it was suddenly an urgent need in the DA's office to have a first assistant.

Friedman made the point that after Gann left, he was asked to cut spending in 2011 and again in 2012, so he didn't think it was appropriate then to ask to backfill the position.

"I waited five years and I realize it’s never going to be restored unless I push it," Freidman said to explain why he's asking for the position now.

Other members questioned whether the position was really necessary since the office was able to operate six years without it.

"I guess I wonder why we would be penalized because I’ve tried to comply and not pushed and not asked for more money all the time and I’ve waited and I’ve waited and I just feel it’s time," Friedman said. "You know, you could make us wait forever obviously, but I don’t think we ever should have gone without that position, but we did. In a sense, I feel, we were not forced to, but it was the right thing to do at the time. I hate to see us penalized for doing the right thing back then."

Included in Monday's discussion was the potential salary of the reconstituted position. In his initial request, Friedman asked for an increase in his salary budget of $30,000. County Manager Jay Gsell knocked that down to about $9,000, to bring the salary in line with recommendations of a management salary study completed four years ago.

Friedman argued that Melissa Cianfrini is underpaid relative to her 17 years experience as a litigator and that her salary is only where it should be now because of a grant received through the Department of Social Services to pay for prosecution of welfare fraud cases.

Traditionally, the county has paid a new top assistant what that person's predecessor made, which is how Friedman arrived at the $30,000 above Melissa Cianfrini's current salary.

That seemed to be the pay range Ray Cianfrini was pushing for because the next undersheriff, Greg Walker, will be paid the same $89,000 salary outgoing undersheriff William Sheron made. That is a salary that is about $3,000 more than recommended by the four-year-old management salary report.

Ray Cianfrini said it seemed only fair that if Walker was paid according to what the previous undersheriff made, which will represent a pay cut for Walker, then the new first assistant in the DA's office should be paid what the previous first assistant made. Or they should both be paid according to the recommended salary structure.

At a previous meeting, Cianfrini first raised the concern that the Legislature's potential unwillingness to raise the salary for the position was driven by gender bias.

Friedman brought that subject up again Monday evening.

"All I can say is I hope the potential of different treatment of our office is not based on the gender of the person who is going to be receiving the position," Friedman said.

Bausch was the first to speak up and reject that suggestion, noting that he has three daughters, one who is an attorney, and a wife who worked professionally until she retired.

"With members of the press here, I just want to make this point, because I don’t want to be hassled when I go home," Bausch said. "Don’t accuse me of saying this was an issue based on the sex of the employee, because I’ve got four women who are going to kill me.”

With the 8-1 vote against creating the position, the salary question was moot, and Cianfrini wasn't happy.

"Amazing, absolutely amazing," the chairman said. "It makes me think about whether there are other agendas involved here. Ok, let’s go on to the next … you’re all a bunch of hypocrites as far as I’m concerned.”

Some legislators took the barb in good humor, with Legislator Shelly Stein piping up to ask a question, "Hypocrite Stein, here."

Another topic covered Monday was what if any personnel cuts should be made in the planning department, or how the department might generate revenue to cover its expenses. Director Felipe Oltramari said when he first took over the department, it was short staffed and over the past year, with better staffing, they have been able to catch up on a lot of work.

A cut in staffing might mean the department would need to eliminate some of the technical assistance it provides to towns and villages, which helps ensure consistency and conformity in the application of zoning and code enforcement on projects.  

Stein, among others, suggested that down the road, municipalities might be charged a fee for such support.

It's either that or reduce the amount of sales tax revenue shared with the municipalities.

Bausch and Legislator Andrew Young continued their push for a five-year plan for county government. 

Revenue and expense woes are only going to get worse, so a plan is needed.

Young is worried about a treasurer's report that suggests the county will fall into insolvency within five years unless it stops dipping into its reserve funds to balance the budget.

Bausch believes the county will be forced to build a new jail within five years and the expert advice given to the county is that they will need $18 million in reserves when that project goes out to bond. Currently, the county is about $11 million short and Bausch doesn't see how the county closes that gap on its current course.

An open letter from the Elba Volunteer Fire Department:

On behalf of the Elba Fire Department and Elba Joint Fire District, we would like to thank all the fire departments in Genesee County and all the fire companies that came from other counties to help us with the fire on Thanksgiving Day. We also would like to thank all the businesses, organizations, and community people who brought food and beverages. There were a lot of firefighters, EMS, personnel and fire police as well as the Power Company and fuel company. Because of the great cooperation we got from all of these people, the fire went smoothly. With it being a holiday, we also say thank you to all the volunteers who gave up their time with family members and for the understanding family members who supported them. The cooperation and community spirit and support of the people of Elba and surrounding areas was phenomenal. Thank you again. 

If you have a history lover or a curiosity seeker on your holiday shopping list, the gift shop area of the Holland Land Office Museum (131 W. Main St., Batavia) is going to be your best friend this holiday season.

Genesee County is blessed with rich American history. The county’s location and people have made significant contributions to the history of our country. The Holland Land Office Museum has a great gift shop that features many local history books and local history items for sale. It’s refreshing to see such a nice array of offerings.

You can visit the gift shop area Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Take a look at some of our favorite items:

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City Council passed three measures relating to digital signs on Monday night that back its claim as a business-friendly governing body.

The board's unanimous votes modified recommendations by the City Planning & Development Committee, which had worked with the Genesee County Planning Board to revamp the city's sign code.

The first change reduces the amount of time that the message on an electronic digital sign could be changed -- from once every hour to once every 10 seconds. The second eliminates an annual $25 fee that would have been imposed upon a business owner to operate a digital sign, and the third "grandfathers" in digital signs that currently are located in zoning districts (such as Residential and/or Industrial) not authorized to have electronic message boards. 

"We're promoting small business, so I think we should leave it up to them (business owners)," said Council President Eugene Jankowski Jr., who instructed Council in the voting procedure. "Ten seconds ... keep it reasonable."

Prior to the discussion and vote, Council heard from Guy Clark, owner of Cedar Street Sales & Rentals, who has a digital sign but, under current rules, was unable to use it. Clark had previously addressed Council and the City Planning & Development Committee about the one-hour restriction.

Once again, Clark asked Council to permit the message to be changed every 10 seconds and to allow those with "nonconforming" signs to be phased into the code. He was supported by Batavian John Roach, who added that he thought the $25 annual fee was just another name for another tax.

"You (City Council) call it a fee, but it's a tax," Roach said. "I call it a money grab."

Council members agreed fairly quickly to approve the 10-second measure, and change the annual $25 fee to an initial fee of $25. They discussed for several minutes, however, the pros and cons of digital signs in residential/industrial zones.

Before the vote to grandfather the six property owners affected by the zoning requirement -- Cedar Street Rentals, United Memorial Medical Center, the two city high schools and two churches -- Councilman John Canale asked why digital signs weren't allowed in Industrial zones in the first place, noting that commercial ventures sometimes pop up in those areas.

City Manager Jason Molino said the rule of thumb is to keep digital signs in certain areas and away from people's homes as much as possible.

Following the vote, Council asked Molino and city planners to look into this issue and report back to the board.

Afterward, Clark said he was relieved by Council's actions.

"I think it's a very fair decision, and it certainly pleases us," he said. "And I was also concerned about an industrial center (that) opens up and a commercial business wants to go in there. So they left the door open a little bit for that down the road if someone did want to do that."

Clark said that along with messages that promote his business, he wants to put information such as time and temperature, and "put a funny little quote up there -- offer a free service for public, for not-for-profits. We'll put your message up there for you."

Another important change to the sign code is the elimination of county and city planning board reviews and special permits for those seeking area variances (example, changing the size of a sign), and enabling the applicant to go directly before the Zoning Board of Appeals. This modification would cut the approval process from 30 to 45 days to a day or two, Molino said.

Moving forward, Molino advised Council to schedule a public hearing on the sign code at its Dec. 12 business meeting for its first meeting of the new year (Jan. 9).

Press release:

Daemen College men's basketball player Jeff Redband (Batavia, N.Y./Batavia) has been named the East Coast Conference Rookie of the Week for games held Nov. 21-27. The official announcement was made via the league's weekly men's basketball report, which was released this afternoon from conference headquarters in Central Islip.

Redband, a 6-foot-7 redshirt-freshman forward, averaged 13.7 points, 3 rebounds and 1 block per game in three contests last week, while also shooting 51.7-percent from the field (15-for-29) and 55-percent from three-point range (11-for-20). Redband's efforts helped Daemen pick up a pair of wins to push out to a 5-1 record this season.

Redband opened the week by posting the first 20-point outing of his career in Daemen's 90-79 road win at Edinburg University last Wednesday (Nov. 23). The sharp-shooting forward canned five three-pointers in the first half, scoring 15 of his 20 points in the opening frame. He ended the game shooting 7-of-13 from the field and 6-of-10 from long distance, while adding five rebounds in what was the 300th win in the career of Daemen Head Coach Mike MacDonald.

Two days later, Redband started 4-for-4 from the field and 3-for-3 from three-point range as Daemen raced to a 19-point halftime lead over visiting Slippery Rock University. He ended up sharing game-high honors with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting (4-for-7 from three-point range) in the Wildcats' 12-point win (69-57). The victory moved Daemen to 5-0 for the first time since the 2012-13 season.

The Wildcats' winning streak was halted on Sunday with a 70-61 road loss at Mercyhurst University. Redband finished with five points, three rebounds and two blocks in a losing effort.

Redband's selection is the first weekly honor for a Daemen player this season. The Wildcats led the league in Rookie of the Week selections last season with six. Guard Jay Sarkis (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Athena), who is out for the entire 2016-17 season with an injury, was a four-time recipient, and Deion Hamilton (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Athena) earned the honor twice.

Redband and the Wildcats begin ECC play this week with a pair of road tilts. Daemen visits Long Island University Post on Wednesday (Nov. 30) and the University of the District of Columbia on Saturday (Dec. 3).

For breaking news and continuing coverage of the Daemen men's basketball team, follow @DaemenAthletics and @DaemenMBB on Twitter.

Photo courtesy Daemen Athletics.

UPDATE: I picked this up off of social media -- another former Batavia High School star having a good year so far at the college level is Jalen Smith, a guard at Hilbert College, who was the Alleghany Mountain Conference Player of the Week this week. "Jalen Smith led the hawks to a 1-1 record with averaging 27.5 points per game. He shot 57.7 percent from the field and 43 percent from the 3-point line. He led the hawks defense with four steal per game."

A nearly three-year in-depth look into the environment and its relationship with economic development has come to a close and the results should be beneficial to varying degrees across Genesee County.

That’s the perspective of Felipe Oltramari, Genesee County Planning Department director, concerning Smart Genesee/Green Genesee, an initiative that focused on the towns of Batavia, Alabama and Oakfield, and Village of Oakfield.

“It’s a scientific approach to looking at the natural environment – floodplains, wetlands – and its connectivity to development,” Oltramari said Monday. “This has enabled planners to view it as a system, and to come up with a ‘green’ road map for the county.  It’s another layer that helps us make decisions.”

The planning department worked with Sheila Hess of CC Environment & Planning of East Bethany, Barbara Johnston of LaBella Associates Inc. of Rochester and Matt Ingalls of Ingalls Planning & Design of Fairport, as well as town and village officials, to study each municipality’s environmental and economic strengths and weaknesses, and come up with recommendations to support future growth, policy and zoning procedures.

Some of the “strengths” that were identified included natural resources, location, new infrastructure, low taxes and low crime rate, while some of the “weaknesses” were New York State policies, regulations, laws and taxes; transportation issues; competing land uses; and an aging population.

More than half of the project’s cost – in real dollars and in-kind contributions – came from a $175,000 grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

The four communities along with the planning department, Genesee County Economic Development Center and New York Green Inc., a nonprofit organization that guides conservation and community development in Western New York, provided the remainder of the funding, Oltramari said.

Oltramari said the four communities involved in the NYSERDA project are the ones that will be affected the most by the development of the WNY Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park in the Town of Alabama – which is preparing for the arrival of the 1366 Technologies solar wafer plant and the promise of hundreds of jobs.

“Each of the communities now has a map calibrated specifically for them,” he said. “Additionally, the towns of Batavia and Alabama have incorporated some of the committee’s recommendations into their Comprehensive Plan updates.”

(Toward that end, the Town of Batavia Planning Board has scheduled a training on SG/GG as it relates to its Comprehensive Plan for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday (Nov. 29) at Town Hall).

He noted that the SG/GG maps are serving as models for other communities, with the Town of Bergen and Town of Le Roy using some of its suggestions as leaders update their Comprehensive Plans.

SG/GG recommendations in the area of zoning pointed to a “hybrid” approach – using codes that maintain and protect the area’s rural character and natural resources.

The NYSERDA grant also provided energy audits of the communities’ facilities and vehicles, Oltramari said.

The Town and Village of Oakfield held public hearings on the subject in November. The Town of Batavia has scheduled a public workshop for 5 p.m. Dec. 7 and a public hearing for 7 p.m. Dec. 21 – both at Town Hall – while the Town of Alabama has scheduled a public hearing for 7:15 p.m. Dec. 17 at its Town Hall.

“Public hearings need to be held and then it is up to the local municipalities to decide if they wish to adopt any of the recommendations into their zoning regulations,” Oltramari said.

• There will be horse and buggy rides again this year. Purchase tickets at Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle. 
• Home Depot is hosting "Santa's Workshop" at 109 Main St. (The Newberry Building). Stop into the Hillside Children's Center for a craft, cookies and cocoa. 
• T-Shirts Etc. will be hosting a T-shirt coloring contest. The cost is $3 each with all the proceeds going to Don Carroll Toys for Kids. 
• Amy's Fluffy Friends is offering professional Photos with your pets, family and kids, with all proceeds going to charity. 
• Catch a bus to visit the Holland Land Office Museum’s Wonderland of Trees. The bus departs from the Save-A-Lot parking lot. 
• Pollyanna and Dot along with The Hidden Door will be offering a Christmas themed activity for children. They are also offering 15 percent off all full-priced items. 
• Warm up at the YNGodess with an adult only tasting and in store specials. 
• Stop into Art Ah La Carte to make a Christmas Ornament. For $2, children can make an angel ornament. All proceeds will benefit Josh Harloff to help pay medical bills due to battling leukemia.
• The First Presbyterian Church at 300 E. Main St. will be putting together a nativity walk during Christmas in the City. Walk through and view a variety of scenes from around the world and close to home. 
• The Batavia Concert Band will be playing in the mall concourse from 6 to 6:45. 
• Game-On will be having an open play in their new gaming lounge called the Warp Zone. They will have different games set up for kids to play, along with refreshments. 
• GO ART! is hosting the "Celtic Christmas in the City" with the Tullamore Celtic Band, Irish dancers, carolers and refreshments. 
• Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle will be offering Buy 1, Get 1 FREE on bicycle tune –up gift cards! They will also be serving their famous chili. 
• Mane Attraction is offering hair Tinsel at Christmas in the City! $5/ strand... get your holiday hair on!
• Stop in to Charles Men's Shop during Christmas in the City and check out their amazing new styles and holiday specials! 
• Bahama Bay Salon and Spa will be having a basket raffle. Enter to win a basket valued at more than $200, with gift certificates, clothing and more. 
• The Spa at Artemis is offering a special discount for Christmas in the City. Their $80 "Touch of Artemis" package is marked down to $65! 

None of Notre Dame's hockey players will need to sit out the 2016-17 season, at least to start the year, state officials determined after hearing an appeal by school officials on a Section V ruling on eligibility requirements for two or three players.

Officials with NYSPHSAA kicked the appeal back to Section V to reconsider after finding irregularities with the initial ruling.

Wade Bianco, principal for Notre Dame, said he hopes to know by the end of the day today when the school and Section V officials will meet again.

He said he doesn't know what the impact would be on this season if Section V officials again reach an adverse decision based on new perimeters.  

"This their first time through this process and it's our first time through it all, so it's really something for the lawyers to work out," Bianco said.

Bianco said a top priority is protecting the students, the integrity of the coach and the school.

The names of the involved players have not been released, but in early November, Section V officials issued a decision after a hearing that at least two players were deemed ineligible for this season, citing possible violations of recruitment rules.

Officials with NYSPHSAA (New York State Public High school Athletic Association) were out of the office today and not available to provide more information.

It was only a few days ago, the table was filled with turkey and pumpkin pie. All of a sudden – BAM! – it’s the holiday season. The calendar says we are at December’s doorstep, so it’s time to get into the spirit of the season. Here are some holiday events happening this weekend that will certainly put you in a festive mood!

Batavia’s Christmas in the City – Genesee County’s largest holiday celebration takes place on Friday, Dec. 2nd at 5 p.m. in downtown Batavia. The entire downtown area gets in on the action with more than 18 different activities; horse and buggy rides, musical performances, contests, kids' activities, workshops, specials and so much more. The centerpiece of “Christmas in the City” is the festive parade at 7 p.m. that travels from Court Street to Summit Street.

Le Roy Winterfest – On Saturday, Dec. 3rd, the picturesque Village of Le Roy celebrates the season “small-town style” with its annual Winterfest. The daylong event is capped with the town’s annual tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. in the center of town. Throughout the day there are fun activities for shoppers, a holiday bazaar, children’s activities at several locations and more. Everyone gets excited for the arrival of Santa at 1 p.m. at the Moose Family Center. (Photo by Howard Owens.)

Village of Bergen Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony – Join a parade of carolers on Friday, Dec. 2nd at 6:30 p.m. who will walk from Hickory Park to Ward Park, where the tree lighting will take place at 7 p.m. The parade is guided by the Bergen Fire Department and Santa & Mrs. Claus. After the tree lighting there will be a musical performance, contests and more.

Shopping with the Spirits at Rolling Hills Asylum – Do a little holiday shopping on Saturday, Dec. 3rd, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at one of America’s most notoriously haunted locations, Rolling Hills Asylum, 11001 Bethany Center Road, East Bethany. Admission is free to shop for unique gifts, jewelry, mystic pine candles, art works, essential oils, Herkimer diamonds and gemstones, creepy dolls and more. There will also be some mini-tours of Rolling Hills Asylum for a small fee.

Create-A-Critter at Genesee County Park & Forest – Make your own “critter” as a holiday gift or to keep as your own. On Saturday, Dec. 3, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. let your imagination run wild and create a critter made out of objects found in the woods. This fun event takes place in the activity room at the Park’s Interpretive Nature Center, 11095 Bethany Center Road, East Bethany.

Visit www.VisitGeneseeNY.com to learn more...

Kayleigh Jean Allen, 24, of North Byron Road, Elba, is charged with felony DWI, felony driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and moving from lane unsafely. Allen was charged following an investigation into an accident reported at 2:36 a.m. Saturday on Route 98 in Alexander. The accident was investigated by Sgt. Jason Saile.

Maria Luisa Martinez, 21, of Chestnut Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Martinez is accused of stealing $70.18 in merchandise from Kohl's.

Batavia PD, with the assistance of Sheriff's deputies, is trying to apprehend a subject with possible mental health issues in the Clinton Street area. 

The person may be injured and may have a knife. 

The call began with a male and female dispute and the male threatening to hurt himself. 

The subject, in a white T-shirt, is now on foot and said to be running from police. 

Police are switching to encrypted communication.

A Mercy EMS ambulance is on standby in Aldi's parking lot.

 UPDATE 9:48 p.m.: Subject may have been located at Country Max on East Main Street. He may be injured. Ambulance dispatched.