I left the house early this morning with the hope that despite the cloud cover, we would have some good light.  Last night, the forecast -- I didn't recheck this morning -- was a break in the clouds at 8 a.m. That never happened, and instead by 9, we had the first flurries of snow.

Still, I managed to find some interesting things to photograph.

Above, a dog (if I remember correctly, her name is Diana), an old truck and a barn on Starr Road in Pavilion.

My first stop was an old, apparently abandoned, graveyard on Covell Road, Pavilion.

Also from the graveyard on Covell Road.

Just as it started to snow pretty good, I arrived at a grave site off Route 63 in Bethany that somebody had recently told me about.

As long as I was on Route 63 in Bethany, I thought I'd get a picture of one of my favorite barns. I liked how the snow was just beginning to outline the shingles.

A rollover car accident is reported at Batavia-Oakfield Townline Road and Macomber Road.

The vehicle landed upside down in icy water. The driver is out but cold and being cared for. Oakfield fire and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE (by Howard): The Sheriff's Office just released the accident report on this incident. John J. Smalley, 48, of South Main Street, Oakfield, was driving his 1997 Chevy SUV westbound on Batavia-Oakfield Townline Road. Deputy Chris Parker reports that Smalley was driving too fast for conditions and lost control of his vehicle. Smalley was cited. Smalley reportedly complained of back pain, possibly related to a previous injury, and was transported to UMMC.

A motor-vehicle accident is reported on Byron Road, on the curve at Byron-Holley and Tower Hill roads. There are injuries and an ambulance is called.

Byron Fire Department is responding.

A motor-vehicle accident is reported in the area of Transit Road and Route 262. A car that was headed toward Byron is in the ditch.

Elba fire personnel are on location.

A trailer fire is reported in the area of Oak Orchard and Hundredmark roads. Elba Fire Department is called -- all manpower and equipment to the scene. Medics are also responding

UPDATE 12:25 p.m.: Injuries are minor.

A three-car accident has been reported on Lewiston Road on the I-90 overpass.

Only minor injuries are reported.

Town of Batavia Fire and Mercy EMS responding to the scene.

A lake effect snow statement was issued for Genesee County this morning and into the early afternoon.

From 1-3 inches of snow are expected, with the heaviest snow coming in the western parts of the county.

A Trooper reports that an accident occurred right in front of her on Indian Falls Road in Pembroke.

It doesn't sound like there are injuries, but she does report, "cars are sliding all over the place out here," and she requests assistance with traffic control.

DOT requested to the scene.

Coming back from Victor this afternoon, I took the 5&20 into Genesee County, and then, well after sunset, I hit some back roads in Le Roy. I came across this barn on Asbury Road.

A two-vehicle accident occurred at 4155 W. Main St. Road in the Town of Batavia.

Three people are complaining of neck injuries. The vehicles are now in the parking lot of Rite Aid.

An engine from the Town of Batavia Fire Department is at the scene and Mercy EMS. A Mercy BLS unit is also called to respond.

Here are the 15 most viewed stories for 2010:

• Notorious woman allegedly trashes buffet at South Beach, by Billie Owens
• Sex in the City: Batavia 'adultery' case getting wider media attention
• Suzanne Corona has yet to agree to carry 'I Stole At South Beach' signs
• Disturbed concert at Darien Lake: 13 arrests, 8 citations issued
• Police Beat: Allegedly no tire for 11 miles, no license since 1977, driver accused of DWI
• Brad Paisley concert results in eight arrests, 32 citations
• Three young people, including former Oakfield-Alabama football star, killed in accident
• County nursing home isn't up for sale, but the option is part of a proposed study
• Pontillo v. Pontillo opens window on finances of legendary family business
• Jury in Wendt case finds him guilty on all 11 counts
• Batavia man with lengthy criminal past sent to prison for five years
• Fire at house on East Main Street in Batavia, by Billie Owens
• The 25 highest paid public employees in Genesee County
• Photo Essay: An alleged DWI arrest
• Police Beat: Teen charged with sexual misconduct for relations with younger teen

As for traffic, the final numbers aren't in yet, of course, but we'll finish 2010 with 4,350,000 page views and more than 2,500,000 visits to the site.

With about two minutes left and the Batavia Blue Devils down by five points, the instructions from Coach Buddy Brasky were clear -- whatever you do, don't foul number three.

You don't want to put the ball in the hands of the other team's best player in the closing minutes of a tight came.

Then Batavia's senior guard Ryan Pyatt did exactly what would get him pulled from the game. He fouled Jamell Johnson, number three for Charles Finney.

Earlier in the game, Finney's senior forward scored the 1,000th point of his career. That's how good he is.

It was clear at this stage of Thursday's game, giving points to Finney could possibly sink the home team's hopes of winning the 29th Annual Batavia Lions Club Boys Basketball Tournament. Up to this moment, Batavia never had even had as much as a single-digit lead.

But then Johnson, who had 24 points on the night, gave Batavia a gift. He missed his free throw.

Andrew Hoy, Batavia's all-time leading scorer, on the other hand, would be fouled four times in the final two minutes.

He didn't miss his shots. Not one of them.

In all, during those closing minutes, Hoy sunk 10 straight free throws (two came on a technical foul by Finney's Justin Allison), plus put up two points on a critical jump shot, to lead Batavia to a 53-50 victory.

"I just kept telling myself, have confidence," Hoy said after the game. "I kept reminding myself, I’ve made a million free throws. This is nothing different.

"When you're at the free throw line, you’ve got to make those," the senior guard added. "They call them free for a reason."

Allison's technical foul -- he mouthed off to Batavia's sophomore forward Justin Washington and then to a ref -- is what changed the momentum in the game, both Brasky and Hoy said.

At that point, with 2:30 left, Finney had an eight-point lead and were hitting their shots.

After that, Finney would score two more points (despite having players go to the free throw line three times) and Batavia would score 13, with 12 coming from Hoy, who had 22 points on the night.

"I kept stressing to my kids, the game’s not over," Brasky said. "That’s why we play 32 minutes. You don’t get too high when you go on a run, you don’t get too low when they go on a run. You play 32 minutes and we did.

"We took advantage of the technical and I give our kids a lot of credit for that," Brasky added.

Batavia moves to 7-1 and Finney is 8-2.

Batavia's other top scorers: Justin Washington, 12 (and 13 rebounds), Ryan Funke, 6, and Ryan Pyatt with 6. Spencer Stressing had 3 and Dylan Hodownes and Tommy Prospero each added two.

For Finney, Dan Drummond had 12 points and 12 rebounds.

In the consolation game, Notre Dame beat Dansville 70-45. Vinnie Zambito scored 22 points with seven assists for Notre Dame, now 5-1. Zach Hotze scored 13, Doane McCulley, 11, Mike Pratt, 9, Tom Whelehan, 6. Pratt's 9 came on three, three-point goals.

The Batavia Blue Devils with their championship trophy. Photo courtesy Bev Hoy.

More pictures after the jump (to purchase pictures, click here):

The All-Tournment Team, from left: Dan Drummond, Charles Finney; Vinnie Zambito, Notre Dame; Justin Washington, Batavia; Andrew Hoy, Batavia; Jamell Johnson, Charles Finney. Photo courtesy Bev Hoy.

Washington's shot here, thrown at the basket underhand, was all net.

Starting New Year's Day, if you see an emergency vehicle with lights flashing, proceed with caution.

Of course, that's always been true -- if you have any thought of your own safety or the safety of emergency personnel -- but now, failure to do so could lead to a hefty fine.

Sheriff Gary Maha issued a press release today drawing attention to a new law that makes it mandatory for drivers to move over to the traffic lane furthermost from a stopped emergency vehicle that has flashing lights.

On single-lane roads, drivers are required to slow down and provide plenty of distance when passing stopped emergency vehicles.

While not specifying the amount of the fine, Maha said it is substantial and drivers will also get points on their record.

The law, called the "Move Over Act," was passed by the state Legislature in response to a pair of fatal accidents involving law enforcement officers. 

One accident took the life of Trooper Robert Ambrose and the other of Onondaga County Sheriff's Deputy Glenn Searles. 

Ambrose was killed when his patrol unit was rear-ended on the Thruway in Yonkers. Upon impact, his car burst into flames. The driver who struck his car was drunk and traveling at 80 mph. 

Searles was killed while assisting a stranded motorist. Another driver lost control of his car, pinning Searles against his patrol vehicle.

Maha: "Every driver has a vested interest in cooperatively keeping county roads safe. The men and women of the Genesee County Sheriff's Office remain determined to impartially and respectfully enforce the law to protect life and property of all citizens."

A car has struck a pole and the driver is still inside on Route 5, east of Route 77.

Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding along with Mercy EMS.

UPDATE 6:38 p.m.: No injuries, according to a Sheriff's Deputy who is at the scene. All responding units told to go back in service.

This CBS video says there's a renaissance overtaking Detroit, driven by a combination of big businesses relocating to the city and local entrepreneurs taking advantage of lower costs in the city.

While I know there will be those who will say New York is not Michigan, and rail against the high taxes and overregulation, but every place has its negatives. 

So my question is, if Detroit can have a renaissance, why can't Batavia?

When it comes to ringing in the new year, there will be no shortage of good food and fun times in Batavia.

From special menus to live music, Batavia's restaurants and taverns are inviting residents to join friends, family and neighbors in saying goodbye to 2010 and hello to 2011.

The festivities start early at O'Lacy's on School Street, where everybody's favorite Irish pub will celebrate the flip of the calendar on Dublin time.

O'Lacy's will have an Irish band playing from 5 to 8 p.m., with a break at 7 p.m. -- that's midnight in Dublin -- to toast in the New Year. The pub closes promptly at 9 p.m.

But no worries, the party can continue all night in Batavia. Just around the corner and within a block are Center Street Smoke House and T.F. Brown's.

At Center Street, you can put your glad rags on and bop in your suede shoes to the rockabilly twang of Kickstart Rumble from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. There will be free pizza at 1 a.m.

At T.F. Brown's, the rock band In Plain View plays from 10:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. On the special dinner menu are twin center-cut pork chops in a honey glaze and a surf-and-turf for two that features two 16-oz. sirloin steaks, shrimp, mashed potatoes and a side salad.

There will also be live music at South Beach from 6 to 9 p.m. with John Canale and a three-piece jazz band. For dinner, there will be a buffet, with the kitchen open until 11 p.m., and the bar will be open as late as there are customers to serve.

Delavan's will also keep the bar open as late as there are people buying drinks. The kitchen closes at 9 p.m. and on the special New Year's Eve menu are chicken Oscar, seafood-stuffed haddock and lobster ravioli.

Larry's Steakhouse will feature oysters Rockefeller and the featured steak is a 22-oz. cowboy-cut, bone-in ribeye served with a garlic peppercorn crust. The surf-and-turf is prime rib and lobster tail.

Alex's Place will serve dinner until 11 p.m. and stay open until at least midnight. The featured items are braised lamb shanks and crusted sea bass. Of course, ribs, steaks and prime rib as well as a selection of seafood are always on the menu.

Outside of Batavia, if you were thinking Red Osier, well, let's hope you already have your reservations. The legendary restaurant is booked through 9:30 p.m.

In Le Roy, D&R Depot's kitchen is open until 9 p.m. and will feature a Chateaubriand for two, carved table side.

Of course, if you're out drinking, you shouldn't drive. 

Deputy Chief Gordon Dibble offered good advice: "Plan ahead."  If you don't have a designated driver, at least have the number of a friend who can pick you up if you drink more than planned. 

There are three local cab services: Batavia Cab Co. 343-5130; Mike's Taxi Service 343-3309; and Checker Cab of Batavia 300-9376.

If you really want to plan ahead, Mancuso Limousine can still accommodate three more reservations (at the time of writing). If somebody finds themselves stuck at a bar or restaurant after midnight, there is a chance Mancuso could provide a ride (for a fee, of course). Mancuso can be reached at 343-1947.

The parents, students, teachers, friends, administrators and neighbors of Robert Morris Elementary School in Batavia need your vote now more than ever in order to win a $50,000 grant from Pepsi.

They want to build a new playground. They are in 14th place and need to get into the Top 10 by Jan. 2 in order to win.

You can text a vote to Pepsi (73774) and in the message put 104607.

Jennifer M. Riggi is indicted on a charge of Grand Larceny, 3rd. Riggi is accused of stealing $6,227.74 between April 15 and Aug. 10 from a location in the Town of Le Roy. (Initial Report)

Kevin A. Hutzler is indicted on charges of DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Hutzler is accused of driving drunk Sept. 3 on Colby Road, Darien.

Bernard A. Buckenmeyer Jr., is indicted on charges of DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Buckenmeyer is accused of driving drunk Sept. 5 on Hunn Road, Alexander.