Jan DeBack has made a lot of memories at the Le Roy Village Green, many of which she shared with residents and coworkers at an ice cream social Jan. 18 to celebrate her retirement.

DeBack was the first activities director hired when the facility opened in June 1979.

“I was in here in May setting up the departments,” DeBack said on her last day.

Her retirement became official on Jan. 31.

She said it was time to step back.

“My mom is 92 and my husband is disabled, and we would like to do some things together while we still can,” said DeBack, who turned 66 in January. “The first thing I’m going to do is clean house – something I’ve neglected for more than 30 years.”

Some of the most enjoyable things she will remember are writing poetry with the residents, working on specific programs and writing music.

“I have met more than 4,000 residents during my 40 years here,” DeBack said. “It’s hard when you lose someone and it was getting harder.”

Saying goodbye to the residents was emotional, De Back said.

Administrator John Bartholomew thanked DeBack for her 40 years of service and for having run a wonderful activities program. She is also credited with starting a pet therapy program 20 years ago.

Brenda Houck has worked with DeBack as assistant activities director since 2013. Houck started in 2007 as an intern and was hired in 2008.

“Working side by side with Jan for the past 10 years, she became a great teacher, mentor and friend,” Houck said. "She has taught me a lot about this career and made it a joyful experience. I could not have asked for a better teacher, and she will be missed.”

Houck continues as acting activities director and has submitted her resume to assume the permanent position. No decision has been made yet, she said.

Top photo: John Bartholomew thanks Jan DeBack for 40 years of dedicated service at Le Roy Village Green Nursing Facility during her retirement party.

Jan DeBack, left, shares memories with Pat Green and Dottie Kurtz, residents of the Le Roy Village Green. DeBack just retired after 40 years as activities director.

Jan DeBack, activities director at the Le Roy Village Green for the last 40 years, said goodbye to all the residents at her retirement party. Here, she chats with Grace Cycon.

Nick Kabalan found this pooch in the area of Cedar Street and Ellicott Street, Batavia, this morning. He has the dog. If it's yours, call (585) 297-9642.

A snowmobile rollover accident is reported on Broadway Road, between Harlow and Countyline roads, in Darien.

The snowmobile reportedly rolled over on the driver but the driver is believed to be out from under the snowmobile now.

Darien fire and ambulance and Mercy EMS dispatched.

The location is slightly off the roadway. Somebody is waiting roadside to direct emergency responders to the location.

UPDATE 10:56 a.m.: No injuries. Darien fire and ambulance canceled.

Skip all the pre-game Super Bowl hype and test your skills on the bowling lanes. You might win some money and you'll be home in plenty of time to watch the Patriots battle the Rams.

That's the message that tournament director Mark Brown is sending out to Genesee Region bowlers as he promotes his "Super Sunday" handicap singles tournament at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia this weekend.

The event starts at noon with a four-game qualifying squad. The field will be cut to eight bowlers after that for a head-to-head final round.

The entry fee is $45 and the field will be limited to 35 bowlers. First place, based on a full field, is $400.

As of this posting, about 25 have signed up. To enter, call Mancuso Bowling Center at 343-1319.

Photo submitted by Melzie Case.

Here's a short video tour of the weather Thursday afternoon in Pembroke and Darien.

App users: Click here to view the video on thebatavian.com

Send closings to howard@thebatavian.com.

• Batavia City Schools
• St. Joe's Elementary School

Indian Falls at the Log Cabin Restaurant was a beautiful scene late this afternoon. Here is a short video and a photo.

App users: Click here to view the video on thebatavian.com.

Here are some photos from this afternoon taken along the Route 77 corridor of the western part of Genesee County, and on Route 5 and in Alabama and Oakfield.

Above, Darien Lakes State Park.

A home on Sumner Road, Darien. 

East Pembroke

On Route 77, south of Gabby Road.

On Route 77, south of Gabby Road.

Judge Road, Alabama.

Bliss Road, Oakfield.

Lewiston Road, Oakfield.

Tonawanda Creek, behind the County Courthouse in Batavia.

Press release:

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the Genesee County Highway Department and Emergency Management Services, has canceled the travel advisory for all of Genesee County as of 5 p.m., Jan. 31.

Motorists are encouraged to continue to drive with caution due to present blowing and drifting snow accumulation on roads and sub-zero wind chill temperatures.

Emergency Management Coordinator Tim Yaeger said the state of emergency has also been canceled.

We can confirm, there is a lot of blowing and drifting snow and low visbility at times on county grounds. Photos and video coming, hopefully later tonight.

A motor-vehicle accident is reported on Lewiston Road, Route 77, at Salt Works Road, Alabama.

A truck is jackknifed and the roadway is blocked. Traffic is being shutdown in both directions.

Alabama fire responding.

GO ART! is open for Jazz & Jam tonight (Jan. 31) as part of its Fifth Thursdays series.

The Genesee Jazz Collective will be performing from 7 to 7:45 p.m.

Then from 8 to 9 p.m. the Genesee Jazz Collective will host an open Jam Session.

Tavern 2.o.1 will be open and will be serving flights of jam sandwiches in honor of the Jam Session -- you get to choose from three fruit jams.

Come on in and break your cabin fever!

GO ART! is located at 201 E. Main St. in the historic Seymour Place building in Downtown Batavia.

A winter storm warning and wind chill advisory remain in effect for Genesee County until 7 p.m., with the wind chill advisory in effect until 7 a.m., Friday.

Up to three inches of lake effect snow is possible today before 7 p.m.

A travel advisory and state of emergency remain in effect for Genesee County.

Two truck drivers were cited today in connection with a 21-vehicle pile-up on the Thruway in Le Roy yesterday that hospitalized a state trooper.

Trooper Dominique Wilson sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the accident, which occurred at 2 p.m. in the eastbound lane of the Thruway near mile marker 382. Wilson remains hospitalized at Strong Memorial Hospital in stable condition.

Also injured were Michael L. Bushek, age 60, of Palmyra, and Edward F. Dejoy, age 55, of Hamburg. Both were treated and released at Strong.

Tractor-trailer drivers, Richard Magezi, 41, of Fort Worth, Texas, and Michael L. Lambert, 54, of Hartford, Conn., were ticketed for allegedly disobeying a traffic control device, speed not reasonable and prudent, following too closely, and driving across hazard markings.
 
The investigation revealed that 19 vehicles, including 16 passenger cars, one box truck and two tractor-trailers, were involved in the crash.

The preliminary investigation indicates that a tractor-trailer traveling eastbound lost control, jackknifed, and struck the rear of a Trooper Wilson’s troop car, pushing it out into the roadway where the patrol vehicle was then sideswiped by a second tractor-trailer.

There was a ban on tractor-trailer traffic on the Thruway at the time of the accident due to the winter storm passing through the area.

Le Roy fire, with Le Roy taking command, along Town of Batavia fire, and Bergen fire, and six ambulances from Genesee, Monroe and Livingston counties responded to the accident, which left the Thruway closed for several hours.

Top photo: submitted by a reader.

A car has struck a utility pole at Colby Road and Route 20, Darien.

There are no injuries but the pole and wires are down in the roadway.

Darien fire dispatched.

UPDATE 12:13 p.m.: Alexander fire police are going to shutdown traffic at Route 238.

UPDATE 12:22 p.m.: Truck traffic is being diverted onto Colby Road to Route 77. The pole will need to be replaced. It's supporting service to the house at that location.

UPDATE 12:37 p.m.: Roadway reopened. All Darien units back in service.

A one-vehicle rollover accident is reported on Bank Street Road near Cockram Road, Byron.

No word on injuries.

Byron fire and South Byron fire dispatched.

UPDATE 11:51 a.m.: Road conditions are not good, according to a first responder. Elba fire requeted to the scene to assist.

UPDATE 11:53 a.m.: The vehicle is off the road. All responding units from Byron and South Byron are parked at the side of the road. The road is not blocked. Elba can stand down. Mercy EMS on scene.

Press release: