The Sheriff's Office is looking for help in identifying a larceny suspect who may have ties to Genesee County. Further details about the alleged crimes and suspects are not available for release.

The alleged crimes occurred in another jurisdiction.

Anybody with information to share should contact Deputy Chris Parker at 585-345-3000, ext. 3249.

The Local Drug Enforcement Task Force has  arrested an Elba resident who was stopped by a Sheriff's patrol in November and allegedly found in possession of a quantity of crack cocaine with the intention to sell.

Taken into custody Tuesday was Mark C. Gregori, 49, of Oak Orchard Road, Elba.

He is charged with one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd.

Gregori was jailed on $10,000 bail.

A Batavia resident was arrested on a drug-trafficking warrant following a traffic stop on Washington Avenue on Tuesday by members of the Local Drug Enforcement Task Force.

He is accused of selling cocaine in and around the City of Batavia.

Charged with four felonies in a sealed indictment is Jeffery A. Hewitt, 32, of State Street.

He is accused of selling drugs to an agent of the task force.

Hewitt is charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd, and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd.

Hewitt was jailed without bail pending arraignment in Genesee County Court.

Updated 9:19 p.m.

A Le Roy resident who appears to have headed a Genesee County-based methamphetamine ring entered a guilty plea in federal court today to a drug dealing charge.

The charge -- conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine -- carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $4 million fine.

Donald G. Vanelli II, 47, of 8394 Lake St., Le Roy, was arrested in July following a months-long investigation by local, state and federal authorities into meth sales and distribution in Genesee and Monroe counties. Three other Genesee County residents along with a Monroe County resident were also arrested and accused of dealing meth.

The investigation revealed, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, that Vanelli was responsible for procuring from suppliers and distributing between 5 and 15 kilograms of methamphetamine from 2004 through July 2010.

A kilo equals 2.2 pounds. The estimated street value of a pound of meth is between $15,000 and $25,000.

The contents of  an affidavit released by authorities after his arrest gives the appearance that Vanelli was the kingpin of the meth distribution ring, with other alleged dealers coming to him for their supplies, and Vanelli working with a Monroe County source to allegedly acquire meth from unnamed sources.

During the investigation, law enforcement authorities seized approximately 75 grams of methamphetamine, three firearms, and more than $6,000 in cash.

As part of the plea agreement, the defendant agreed to forfeit to the government a 9mm rifle, a 9mm magazine and 78 rounds of 9mm ammunition that were seized from his Le Roy residence.

Sentencing is set for 3:15 p.m., May 10, in Rochester Federal Court.

The charges against the four other defendants in case are still pending.

Vanelli's co-defendants are Donna L. Boon (aka Donna Mcauly), 44, of 3658 Batavia-Oakfield Townline Road; Andrew W. Chapman, 40, of 5 Cedar St., Batavia; Kerry A. Ball, 51, of 7202 Meadville Road, Basom; and, David H. Cohen, 49, of 918 Goodman St., Rochester.

Here's a news release from Genesee Community College:

Hailed as "...one of the most effective and expressive environmental films of recent years" by Variety magazine, the documentary film "GASLAND," will be presented by the Genesee Community College Earth Club at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 27 and at 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 28.

"GASLAND" is a 2010 documentary film written and directed by Josh Fox. It focuses on communities in the United States impacted by natural gas drilling and, specifically, a stimulation method known as "hydraulic fracturing."

The film will be shown in T102 and is free and open to the public.

Hydraulic fracturing (also called "frac jobs" or "fracking") is a process that results in the creation of fractures in rocks. The most important industrial use is in stimulating oil and gas wells, where hydraulic fracturing has been used for several years.

The fracturing is done from a wellbore drilled into reservoir rock formations to increase the rate and ultimate recovery of oil and natural gas.

Hydraulic fractures may be natural or man-made and are extended by internal fluid pressure which opens the fracture and causes it to extend through the rock. Natural hydraulic fractures include volcanic dikes, sills and fracturing by ice as in frost weathering.

Man-made fluid-driven fractures are formed at depth in a borehole and extend into targeted formations. The fracture width is typically maintained after the injection by introducing a proppant into the injected fluid. Proppant is a material, such as grains of sand, ceramic, or other particulates that prevent the fractures from closing when the injection is stopped.

Considerable controversy surrounds the current implementation of hydraulic fracturing technology in the United States. Environmental safety and health concerns have emerged and are being debated at the state and national levels.

"GASLAND" follows filmmaker Josh Fox when he is asked to lease his land for drilling, as he embarks on a cross-country odyssey uncovering a trail of secrets, lies and contamination.

He encounters a Pennsylvania town and reports that residents are able to light their drinking water on fire. This is just one of the many absurd and astonishing revelations of this documentary.

For more information please visit www.gaslandthemovie.com <http://www.gaslandthemovie.com>.

"New York State recently passed a temporary moratorium on the hydro-fracking process while the EPA completes its study, so this is very important and contemporary topic to our community," said Donna Rae Sutherland, advisor to the GCC Earth Club.

"The Earth Club students wanted to show the movie at two different times and days to ensure any local resident or community college student had a chance to watch the film, which is currently impacting Pennsylvania communities just over the state line and promises to be a topic of significant debate in the Southern Tier."

For further information please contact Sutherland at 343-0055, ext. 6616, or e-mail <http://dsutherland@genesee.edu>.

Byron-Bergen Elementary School’s Playground Committee is close to receiving funding in Pepsi’s Refresh Contest.

It's a monthly online competition in which nonprofit groups compete against each other for grants ranging from $5,000 to $100,000.

Currently, the Playground Committee is ranked ninth in the online competition. The top 10 ideas receive funding. Voting ends Jan. 31.

To learn more about this local project, or to vote on the Pepsi grant, visit http://refr.es/bb. Voting can be done through the website or by texting 105424 to Pepsi (73774).

“We need to develop healthy activities for children,” said Andrea Stasko, a member of the Health and Wellness Committee. “Our current playground is not large enough to accommodate the number of students for its usage, and it does not fulfill the physical fitness components that could benefit our students.”

The playground committee has been working for more than a year to raise funds to update and enlarge the school's old, much used playground. The new playground will be handicapped accessible so students with varying needs are not sitting on the sidewalk watching others play.

The committee hopes to win a $50,000 grant for the project. Of that, $40,000 would be used for equipment, $6,500 would be spent on resurfacing, and the remaining $3,500 would pay for concrete and excavation work.

Plans call for the playground to have play space and activities for the newest population of students, 3- and 4-year-olds who come from Pre-K. It will have lots of activites to exercise students' bodies in many different ways.

To improve students' physical and social development, they need to be able to climb, crawl, swing, slide, jump, balance, hang, push, pull, bounce, stomp, spin, run and play.

The small, rural school district is the center of the community and many families use the playground as a source for exercise, play and a meeting place to gather and socialize, according to Stasko.

Justin Amend, who admitted to public lewdness for engaging in a sexual act in Farrall Park with Suzanne Corona, appeared in City Court this morning.

The 29-year-old former Oakfield resident had been a fugitive from justice after he failed to appear for sentencing in November. He turned himself in this week.

Upon appearing before Judge Robert Balbick this morning, Amend's attorney, Tom Williams, requested permission to apply to the Sheriff's Office for a weekend work-release program. 

Spots are limited in the program and there is no guarantee Amend will be accepted.

Balbick also said given Amend's decision to move out of the area, any prior sentencing agreement no longer applies.

"At this point he stands before me having entered a guilty plea to public lewdness, a Class B misdemeanor," Balbick told Williams. "I have complete authority to sentence him within full perimeters of the law."

Amend could face up to 90 days in jail.

Sentencing is scheduled for next Wednesday.

There were no injuries following a two-car accident on the Thruway in Pembroke this morning, near mile marker 403 in the westbound lane.

One car caught on fire following the accident, according to State Police.

One westbound lane was blocked for about an hour.

Photo submitted by reader Kevin Switzer.

Ajuna Mona Pruitt, 19, of Dawnhaven Drive, Rochester, is charged with reckless endangerment and criminal trespass, 2nd. Pruitt is accused of entering a room at College Village without permission and then, while in the parking lot, striking another woman with her car. The alleged incident occurred at 6:30 p.m., Monday.

Ajuna M. Pruitt, 19, of Dawnhaven Drive, Rochester, along with Ebony S. Barnes, 18, of Chaplain Street, Rochester and Shibritney M. Colbert, 19, of Shelter Street, Rochester, are charged with harassment, 2nd. The trio are accused of going to an apartment at College Village at 10:39 p.m., Tuesday, and banging and kicking on a door in an attempt to get the resident to come out and fight.

Danielle Marie Kotmel, 30, of East Main Street, Corfu, is charged with petit larceny. Kotmel is accused of stealing a red Dell laptop computer. The alleged theft is believed to have occurred in December but was not discovered until an audit was completed in January.

Robert G. Woodhouse Jr., 50, of Creek Road, Bethany, is charged with criminal trespass, 2nd, and criminal mischief, 4th. Woodhouse is accused of entering a residence and remaining unlawfully. He's also accused of damaging a door.

Richard John Downs, 48, of Oak Orchard Road, Elba, was arrested on a probation warrant out of Town of Elba Court.

Steven Michael Keaton, 38, of Gilbert Street, Le Roy, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Keaton is accused of contacting a woman whom he was ordered not to contact.

Special Olympics athletes representing Genesee ARC participated in a snowshoe competition Saturday (Jan. 22) at Bristol Mountain Ski Resort.

Missy Cook, Laura Mroz, Casarah Dieck, Erik Goodrich, Carl Jeerings, James Grudzien, Juan Baez and Jason Stimson took part in individual and relay events bringing home nine gold, eight silver and four bronze medals.

Special Olympics provide year-round competition for athletes with disabilities. Two snowshoe team members, Erik and Casarah, have been selected to compete in the State Winter Games Feb. 4 – 5 in Syracuse.

In response to a reader request, we asked for information on whether GCEDC staff members are eligible to participate in the NYS state retirement system.

Here is the full text of GCEDC's response:

Request: Can I get a list of GCEDC employees who participate in the NYS retirement system and what GCEDC’s annual contribution to the pension program is, please?

Response: Membership in the New York State Retirement System is mandatory for all full-time employees of Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC). Currently there are six employees who are enrolled in the New York State Retirement System including the President and CEO, Sr. VP of Operations, the CFO, VP of Business Development, the Marketing and Communications Manager, and the Office Manager. Contributions to the New York State Retirement System are set by the state. In 2010, the GCEDC received an invoice to pay $41,663.

Out of the Box, an international contest hosted by Community Tool Box, is still in full swing and voters have until Jan. 31 to vote for Genesee County Drug Free Communities (DFC) Coalition.

The coalition is one of 10 finalists from among 309 applicants from 42 countries. If it wins first place, it will be awarded $5,000 and a free customized WorkStation; $2,000 and the same WorkStation will be awarded to the second-place winner.

Community Tool Box is a community-building resource that serves groups all around the world.

Christina Holt, associate director for Community Tool Box Services, recently e-mailed all finalists reminding them of the need to get the word out. She cited The Batavian article, “GC Drug Free Communities a Top 10 finalist for international honor,” as an example of how to do this.

DFC is made up of people, agencies, organizations, churches and schools throughout Genesee County. The people engaged in DFC come from various community sectors – including parents, law enforcement, schools, faith-based groups, business and media – and work to foster a safe, healthy and drug-free community for youth and families.

People can read more about the DFC and vote via the following link:

<http://ctb.ku.edu/en/out_of_the_box/finalists/finalist4.aspx>

Here's a news release from Congressman Chris Lee's office:

Congressman Chris Lee voted today to cut federal spending back to at least 2008 budget levels to help return fiscal responsibility to Washington.

Lee voted for H. Res. 38, which instructs the House Budget Committee to implement spending levels set for 2008 for the remainder of the 2011 fiscal year.

“The majority of the Western New Yorkers I’ve spoken with want Washington to get its fiscal house in order, and I’ve heard their calls loud and clear,” Lee said. “Today’s vote sends a message that the House will not continue the incredible spending binge that we’ve seen over the last few years.

"Every second that passes, Congress adds thousands of dollars onto an already record-high $14 trillion debt, and that needs to change.”

Non-defense discretionary spending – including the failed $787 billion “stimulus” bill – has increased 84 percent from 2008 through last year, while the national debt has soared from nearly $11 trillion in 2008 to more than $14 trillion today.

“Washington needs to get serious about cutting spending so future generations are not buried under a mountain of debt,” Lee said. “Cutting overall spending to 2008 levels is an important start to getting Washington to live within its means, just as Western New York families have always done.”

A tractor-trailer rollover accident is reported at Route 19 and Creamery Road in Bergen. A sedan is also involved. Unknown injuries. There's a strong smell of gasoline. The trailer is on its side. Its contents are unknown.

Bergen fire and ambulance and Mercy EMS are responding.

UPDATE 3:49 p.m.: There is one minor injury and no hazard materials are present. Fire police are called to assist with traffic.

UPDATE 3:51 p.m.: Mercy EMS is put back in service.

UPDATE 4 p.m.: The tractor-trailer is loaded with cabbage. A tow-truck company is en route.

Here's an updated reminder from the Batavia Police Benevolent Association:

The Batavia Police Benevolent Association is currently conducting a fund-raising event through the U.S. Post Office.

The association recently sent out mailings to the business community in an effort to help raise money, which it uses to support various groups within the Batavia area.

We will be conducting a residential mailing later this winter, which will include a list of all businesses which have supported our efforts. We encourage all to help us continue our efforts in serving the community.

We will not be making any solicitations by phone or in person.

Should anyone have questions regarding this event, please contact one of our members, mail us at:

Batavia P.B.A.

P.O. Box 299

Batavia, NY14021

Or call Det. Kevin Czora at 345-6311.

Here's a news release sent today from the Genesee County Economic Development Center:

The employment scene in Genesee County for year 2010, despite the Great Recession being in full swing, had positive results with regards to employment and job creation and retention across the county.

According to the latest figures just released from the New York State Department of Labor, Genesee County showed a net increase of 300 private sector jobs in 2010. The growth rate of private sector job creation within the county reflected a 1.8-percent increase for the year.

This type of growth is encouraging as most communities across the state and country have been shedding jobs or are fighting to maintain the status quo during 2010.

“Genesee County continues to succeed and grow even during difficult economic times," said Steve Hyde, president of the Genesee County Economic Development Center.  "This growth has been enabled by our private sector companies being resilient and successful during these tough economic times."

The GCEDC board of directors drove a focus on growth and ensuring we are a “business-friendly” community by way of our economic development strategic plan written in 2003.

Since 2005, GCEDC has participated in 177 economic development projects with area companies. This has fostered capital investment commitments which exceed $430 million and job creation commitments of nearly 1,400 jobs.

“It is encouraging to see that public/private partnerships like the GCEDC has with our business community is contributing to their sustainability and growth, especially in uncertain economic times like we have today," Hyde said. "I’m hopeful for continued growth and success in our local and regional economies in 2011."

Councilman Bill Cox called the proposed 2011/12 city budget a work of art.

Council members Patti Pacino, Kathy Briggs and Frank Ferrando all congratulated the city manager and his staff for presenting a budget proposal that retains current city services and protects cash reserves at a time when pension costs are skyrocketing and sales-tax revenue is down.

The council then approved a resolution adopting a revenue plan totalling $5,578,355 with a 1.39-percent property-tax increase, down from the original proposal of a 1.59-percent increase.

The new increase is less than $12 per year for a home assessed at $80,000.

"I'm afraid if we reduced (the tax increase) it would come at the expense of our reserves," said Cox. "I think we need to continue to build our reserves and this is just a modest increase."

Councilman Bob Bialkowski also spoke in favor of protecting reserves, especially in a time when major cities and the state of New York itself are facing severe financial distress.

Members Rosemary Christian and Sam Barone said they would like to see a zero-percent increase, but Council President Marianne Clattenburg said that anybody who wants to see zero should suggest how they would reduce spending without threatening the reserves or eliminating staff or services.

"If we go to zero, what we're talking about are staff cuts and cuts in services," Clattenburg said. "We're talking about the possibility of getting rid of a police officer -- I mean, we're talking about cutting into the bones of what the infrastructure of the city is."

The proposed budget also calls for water-rate hikes that will add about $13 a year to the typical residential bill.

Before the vote on the revenue resolution, Cox called on the council to give City Manager Jason Molino a round of applause for his work on the budget, and all the council members joined in.

The city council set the public hearing on the proposed budget  for 7 p.m., Feb. 14.

In an emergency resolution, the city council voted Monday night to transfer $55,000 from its contingency fund to deal with two unexpected expenses.

City Manager Jason Molino said that for the entire winter last season, the city had only 61 days where the roads needed salt. So far this year, the city has seen 61 salt days. That has depleted the salt supply and Molino recommended the council transfer $30,000 into the snow-removal fund to buy 750 tons of salt.

Also, the roof on the city's fire hall needs repaired. And it needs to be done before all the snow melts and causes bigger problems.

It will cost the city at least $22,000 to put a protective membrane over the roof. The council transferred $25,000 to the fire department. The extra $3,000 will cover any unexpected cost overruns and replacement of some ceiling tiles inside the building.

Currently, city staff is making regular trips to the roof for snow removal in order to minimize any potential damage to the building.

The replacement membrane should last 20 years.

There was about $200,000 in the contingency fund.