John W. Lavender, 77, of 174 Broadway, Darien, is charged with attempted assault in the second degree. Lavender allegedly struck his girlfriend on the hand with a cane during a domestic dispute. The alleged incident occurred at about 9:14 p.m. Monday.

Michael P. McDonald, 44, of 39 Kingsbury Ave., Batavia, is charged with a felony DWI. McDonald was stopped after police received a report of a driver seen drinking a beer.  Officer Wayne Fenton made the traffic stop and upon further investigation determined McDonald was allegedly drinking and driving. The DWI is a felony because McDonald reportedly has a DWI conviction within the prior 10 years. He was jailed without bail.

Five people were injured -- including all members of a family of four from Bear, Delaware -- in a two-vehicle accident on Route 20 in the Town of Bethany at 9:04 p.m. on Monday.

The accident was allegedly caused by a driver pulling onto Route 20 who failed to yield the right-of-way.

Taken to Strong Memorial Hospital was: Quratul-Ain Abbasi, 29; Mansoor H. Khan, 40; Azan M. Kahn, 4; and Mira Kahn, 6.

Abbasi, the driver of the second vehicle, suffered an abdomenal injury, as did 6-year-old Mira. Both Mansoor Kahn and 4-year-old Azan sustained facial injuries.

The driver of the first vehicle was identified as Steven W. Clouse II, 19, of 12479 Allen Road, Chaffee. He was cited for alleged failure to yield right-of-way.

Clouse was reportedly pulling onto Route 20 from West Bethany Road. After stopping, he reportedly proceeded onto Route 20 when his 2000 Buick sedan was struck by Abbasi's car, a 1999 Chevy SUV.

The SUV then traveled off the southeast corner of the intersection, struck a street sign and a telephone box. The SUV then overturned and came to rest off the roadway on the southeast corner of the intersection.

The accident was investigated by Deputy Kevin McCarthy.

New Today -- The Color Salon, 35 Center St., Batavia, NY: Susan Francis, the owner and stylist at The Color Salon reminds women, "your hair is your greatest accessory." Francis has more than 20 years experience at helping women get the best hair color. We have a $50 gift certificate for $25.

Main St. Pizza Company, 206 E. Main St., Batavia, NY: Pizza, wings, subs and even hamburgers and hot dogs, Main St. Pizza makes everything deliciously. We have a $15 gift certificate for $7.50.

Alex's Place, 8322 Park Road, Batavia, NY: People come from all over the region for a fine dining experience at Alex's. It's best known for its ribs, of course, but Alex's seafood is also a favorite of the restaurant's diners. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

Settler's Restaurant, 353 W. Main St., Batavia, NY: Settler's has a 25-year history of serving great, affordable breakfasts, lunches and dinners to Batavians. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Matty's Pizzeria, 4152 W. Main St., Batavia, NY: Matty's is another Batavia favorite for pizza and wings. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Adam Miller Toy & Bicycles, 8 Center St., Batavia, NY: Feel like a kid in a toy store again, or treat your kids to the greatest toy store they will ever see. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

Delavan's Restaurant and Tavern, 107 Evans St., Batavia, NY: To me, Delavan's is one of those restaurants where you want to eat frequently until you try everything on the menu. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Vintage and Vogue Inspirations, 36 Main St., Le Roy, NY: Just the kind of store to help make your home more warm and inviting. Handcrafted items, including quilts, candles and quality antiques. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

Kravings, Valu Plaza, W. Main Street, Batavia, NY: Recently opened, it offers soups, salads and sandwiches, fresh and flavorful; Monday through Saturday. We have $10 gift certificates for $5.

Jackson St. Grill, 9 Jackson St., Batavia, NY: If you think a great hamburger is a great treat, then you'll love Jackson St. Grill. We have a $10 gift certificate for $5.

The Enchanted Florist, 202 E. Main St., Batavia, NY: Brighten up your home or office with flowers! We have a $20 gift certificate for $8.50.

NOTE: If you've never bought Deal of the Day before, or are otherwise unfamiliar with the rules and process, click here.

SOLD OUT

Ok, so this PR Director of Care-A-Van Ministries  has got to confess, she was so excited when she heard "Gopher" from the Love Boat was going to be at GCC.

I use to love Gopher on the Love Boat Show. It was a true pleasure getting to hear "Gopher" , Fred Grandy speak at the Sixth Annual Wolcott J. Humphrey III Symposium on Leadership and Community LIfe.  The title of his message was "The Art of Change".  Talk about change in one life, to hear of his life from Hollywood Acting, to being a member of US Congress, to the former CEO of Goodwill to having his own radio show was unbelievable.

The theatre was packed this evening. After the presentation, there was a reception held in the Forum area. This reception gave the companies , agencies and students from GCC an opportunity to mingle and get to know one another.

Sitting at our table was the Dean of Elim Bible Institute, Harry Vellekoop and Pastor Phil from the World Life Christian Fellowship of Henrietta.   It was just amazing how even getting to network with these gentlemen was a blessing. Paul Ohlson, Founder of Care-A-Van  enjoyed sharing of the minstry with them and offering to partner with them in any way that we could to help them with their missions of meeting the needs of others.

We at Care-A-Van know that times are changing and the needs within the community are changing. We are forever grateful for the partnering of agencies, churches and individuals that help with the misssion of serving those in need.

A special thank you to all who planned this wonderful event for the community.

Thank you for your support of The Batavian. It's gratifying to both Billie and I (and Pachuco) to get all the positive feedback we get from readers.  We are continually amazed at how many people start raving about The Batavian when they meet one of us for the first time.

But, of course, without local businesses supporting The Batavian, we couldn't do this. 

If you enjoy The Batavian, if you visit the site regularly and consider it an important part of how you stay involved and informed about your community, please patronize The Batavian's sponsors -- and let them know it.

Here is the current list of sponsors:

Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle
Affordable Floor Covering
Alex's Place
Amelia's Antiques and Collectibles
Anglican Community Church
Barrett's Batavia Marine and Sporting Supplies
Batavia Cycle Center
Batavia Downs Casino
Batavia Muckdogs
Blue Pearl Yoga
Bonarigo & McCutcheon
Carlson's Studio
Castilone Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep
Cedar St. Sales and Rentals
Center of Attention Auto Spa
Center Street Smokehouse
Charles Men's Shop
Clor's Meat Market
The Color Salon
D&R Depot Restaurant
D'n'R Fireplaces and Stoves
Delavan's Restaurant and Tavern
Diegelman Plumbing
The Enchanted Florist
Fastec Automotive
Genesee County Red Cross
Genesee Feeds
Great Kutz
Herbly Wonderful
Holland Land Office Museum
Jackson St. Grill/Belladessa's
Kravings Kafe
The Insurance Center
Lewis and Lewis
Main St. Pizza Company
The Mane Attraction
The Manor House
Matteo & Mullen, CPA
Matty's Pizzeria
Max Pies
O'Lacy's Irish Pub
Oliver's Candies
Optique
Pauly's Pizza
Pellegrino Auto Sales
Picasso's Pizza
Present Tense Books
Pudgie's Lawn and Garden Center
Reeb Family Moving
Roxy's Music Store
Settler's Family Restaurant
South Main Country Store
Southside Deli
Sport of Kings
Suzanne Interiors
T.F. Brown's
Total Image Hair Salon
T-Shirts Etc.
Valle Jewelers
Vintage & Vogue Inspirations

With Autumn offically arriving at 5:18 p.m. tomorrow, I'd like to share these late summer photos taken last week.

Purple asters and goldenrod are two of the more prolific wildflowers in the area.

Note the bumble bee at the top left of the goldenrod.

Asters close up.

Virginia Creeper with a headstart on the autumn foliage.

"Creeper" enveloping willow and cottonwood trunks.

Windmill marsh as seen from observation tower on Albion Road, Oakfield.

Backwater south of Windmill Marsh.

Le Roy residents are being given a chance to tell the Village Board what to do about the community swimming pool, which has been closed all summer.

The board will conduct a survey via the Le Roy PennySaver.

Mayor Ged Brady, in his "Mayor's Notes" column, wrote the board has decided to forgo a $6,700 professional survey in favor of the less expensive ($250) clip-and-mail-in questionnaire in the local shopper.

The options for Le Roy include repairs, filling in the hole, building a spray part or constructing a whole new facility at a cost of more than $3 million.

Basic repairs would cost $150,000, but full-scale maintenance's work would approach $400,000, according to the mayor.

An indoor pool would require a partnership with the school district, but give the town and village a place for year-round swimming.

Brady said a government grant could be sought for a new facility, and possibly for other options, but the main concern for taxpayers, he said, would be year-to-year maintenance expense.

"For the first option -- 'fill it in' -- the only substantial cost would be for bulldozing, hauling and filling, which would be reduced by Village and Town working together, sharing equipment and manpower," Grady wrote. "The ongoing costs would be practically nil."

A spray park would cost about $25,000 per year, and a swimming pool open to the public during the summer would cost local taxpayers about $60,000 per year. A year-round pool, including staffing, would cost more than $250,000 per year.

The mayor wrote that each 5-cent increase per $1,000 in assessed value on property taxes would raise about $30,000.

In 2007, there were more than 1,500 visits to the pool.

A motorcyclist who apparently lost control of his bike on Swamp Road in Byron last Wednesday has died as a result of injuries sustained in the accident.

Thomas Legler, 49, of North Byron Road, Elba, died at Strong Memorial Hospital.

Legler was reportedly wearing a helmet, but it was not a Department of Transportation-approved safety helmet.

Deputies investigating the accident concluded that speed was a factor, but there is no evidence Legler was drinking prior to the accident.

New Today: Clor's Meat Market, 4169 W. Main Street Road, Batavia, NY: Clor's features the finest and freshest selection of meat in town, from strip steaks to a variety of sausages. Clor's also serves launch and dinners from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. We have $15 gift cards for $7.50.

Kravings, Valu Plaza, W. Main Street, Batavia, NY: Recently opened, it offers soups, salads and sandwiches, fresh and flavorful; Monday through Saturday. We have $10 gift certificates for $5.

Jackson St. Grill, 9 Jackson St., Batavia, NY: If you think a great hamburger is a great treat, then you'll love Jackson St. Grill. We have a $10 gift certificate for $5.

Picasso's Pizza, 419 W. Main St., Batavia, NY: A great variety of pizza, subs and salads -- and try the wings, too. We have three $5 booklets of $1 gift certificates ($15 value) for $7.50. The gift certificates can be used collectively or individually.

Alex's Place, 8322 Park Road, Batavia, NY: People come from all over the region for a fine dining experience at Alex's. It's best known for its ribs, of course, but Alex's seafood is also a favorite of the restaurant's diners. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

Settler's Restaurant, 353 W. Main St., Batavia, NY: Settler's has a 25-year history of serving great, affordable breakfasts, lunches and dinners to Batavians. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

NOTE: If you've never bought Deal of the Day before, or are otherwise unfamiliar with the rules and process, click here.

SOLD OUT

Genesee County native Karen Seward, the daughter of Charles and Carol Houseknecht, had an important task pop up this week: Preparing Hudson Valley Community College for a presidential visit.

"The White House was really clear they didn't want us to spend extra resources on the President but to spend those on the students," said Seward (Executive Manager of Physical Plant at HVCC).

But there were some requests like barricades for security, floor plans and additional electrical power. The college is fulfilling these, while also putting its best foot forward.

"I think we're being realistic, don't get me wrong we're really scrubbing and re-painting areas and touching up, but we're not polishing the floors," said Seward.

Seward is a graduate of Oakfield-Alabama High School.

Tom Agosti had quite a Friday.

The Batavia Downs driver was thrown and dragged after the horse he was training broke his bit.

Agosti was taken to Erie County Medical Center for examination.

He returned to the Downs in time for the evening races.

And he he drove home FOUR winners that night.

Agosti suffered some minor scrapes and some back discomfort, but is fine according to Todd Haight, Downs spokesman.

The horse, according to Haight, is fine, too.

Anthony J. Rivera, 25, of 208 Vermont St., #2, Buffalo, and Ilena Carrillo, 27, of the same address, and Damian Rivera-Melendez, 20, of 353 Plymouth Ave., Buffalo, are each charged with a felony count of gang assault in the 2nd degree. The trio allegedly hit a man several times, causing serious injury, following a dispute over cutting in line at Darien Lake Theme Park. The victim was not identified by the Sheriff's Office. The three suspects were jailed on $15,000 bail each.

Janette Sonia Vazquez, 24, of 854 Prospect Ave., Apt. 4, Buffalo is charged with harassment. Vazquez reportedly threatened to stab an employee of Darien Lake Theme Park.

Jody B. Gillet, 48, of 8 Pine Hollow Drive, Batavia, is charged with assault. Gillet allegedly stabbed another person several times. The alleged incident took place at Country Meadows trailer park on Sept. 5. The alleged victim was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital and has since been released. Gillet as jailed on $5,000 bail. The incident was investigated by Deputy Bradley D. Mazur and Investigator Timothy Weis.

Rebecca J. Sando, 44, of 5678 Walkers Corner Road, Elba, is charged with criminal contempt. Sando allegedly approached a woman she was barred from going near.

Sarah J. Emerson, 25, of 15 Ross St., Batavia, is charged with harassment and criminal contempt. Emerson allegedly poured a can of beer on her husband and then allegedly pushed him on his chest and face. Emerson allegedly violated an order of protection. Emerson was jailed on $1,500 bail.

Shandell M. Lissow, 21, of Brookville Road, Alexander, is charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Lissow allegedly borrowed a car from a friend and then failed to return it as agreed.

Stephen P. Medwid, 52, of 9364 Alexander Road, Alexander, is charged with DWI, DWI with a BAC of .08, failure to take breath test and failure to yield. Medwid was arrested following at traffic stop Friday at 9:29 p.m.

This is why thebatavian is working.

A driver who reportedly rear-ended another car on Route 19 in Le Roy at 10:14 p.m. on Saturday was cited for DWI.

The driver of the other vehicle was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital with a back injury.

Michael S. Dranichak, 47, of 8692 Lake Road, Le Roy, was stopped in the northbound lane of Route 19, just north of West Bergen Road, when his 1993 Ford SUV was struck from behind by a car reportedly driven by Samual Avila-Rijo, 37, of 830 Affinity Road, Rochester.

Avila-Rijo was reportedly driving a 1998 Kia. He was reportedly uninjured in the accident.

There were no passengers in either vehicle.

Deputy Bradly D. Mazur investigated the accident.

A driver on Bank Street Road in Batavia who tried to avoid striking a cat in the roadway Saturday wound up running into a tree instead.

The driver, Justin T. Barrett, 18, of 6855 Pauline St., Byron, was treated at the scene for a minor shoulder injury.

Barrett was headed northbound on Bank Street Road at 6:10 p.m. when he reportedly swerved to avoid the cat. He said he lost control of his 2004 Ford four-door sedan in the gravel shoulder after his car struck a mailbox at 7834 Bank Street Road. The car continued northbound on the shoulder, turning sideways, until it struck a tree.

There were no passengers in the car.

Deputy Bradley D. Mazur handled the investigation.

Traffic tickets were issued to both drivers involved in a two-car, minor-injury accident on Route 5 in Le Roy on Saturday at 3:16 p.m.

One driver is accused of failing to yield right-of-way while the other driver was cited for not properly restraining his children in child-safety seats.

The children, ages 2 and 5, were uninjured.

The accident blocked Route 5 in both directions for nearly a half-hour.

Timothy J. Beaumont, 44, of 103 W. Main St., Le Roy, reportedly drove his 2008 Toyota pick-up from a driveway onto Route 5 just west of the intersection with East Bethany-Le Roy Road.

Jason D. Burk, 36, of 9 North St., Apt. 1, Le Roy, was driving a 1995 Mitsubishi two-door sedan westbound on Route 5 when the car struck Beaumont's pick-up.

Burk reportedly suffered a minor burn on his elbow and was treated at the scene. Also treated at the scene for a minor burn on her face was Laurie J. Brady, 40.

Beaumont had no passengers.

The accident was investigated by Deputy Bradley D. Mazur.

Care-A-Van Band opens up for Worship

The Fellowship of the Cross, a home church of Elba joined Care-A-Van ministries for street church today in Batavia. Pastor Mike Welch and members of his congregation came out to provide music and the message.

It was an awesome fall day on the streets today.  Pastor Mike gave an awesome message of how much Jesus loves each one of us.

Care-A-Van would like to thank Pastor Mike and the members of his congregatioin for sharing of their time and talents this past week for the cookout and street church.  A special thanks also to all the individuals who have donated of their time for the Care-A-Van Band this past summer.

City Fire has been dispatched to 37 Chase Park for an automatic fire alarm activation.

Alexander continues to impress early in the 2009 football season.  Today, the team pushed its record to 2-1 with a dominating 42-17 when over Oakfield-Alabama.

It didn't take long for Alexander to get on the board today. On the third play of the game, Jay Schafer swept left while the Oakfield defense rushed right, giving Schafer open space all the way to the end zone.

The Hornets never closed the deficit.

On its first series, Oakfield was forced to punt, but it was blocked by Alexander's Troy Shelunt.

A few plays later, Lucas Czechowski scored on a pass and Shelunt crossed the goal line on a two-point conversion.

On the first play from scrimage in the second quarter, Alexander pushed the score to 21-0 with a pass to Stephen George.

During the second quarter, Oakfield got on the board with a field goal.

After the score, Oakfield attempted an on-side kick, but Alexander recovered on its own 40-yard line. Schafer carried it into the end zone on the next play.

When Oakfield got the ball back, Matt Smith fumbled, allowing the Trojans to mount another scoring drive.

On the subsequent kickoff, Oakfield's Matt Smith returned the kick for a TD, making the score 36-10.

On the next series, Oakfield forced Alexander to punt, but Brandon Topocrczky stripped the ball from the Oakfield returner and Alexander recovered the ball.

In the fourth quarter, Oakfield managed another TD on a rush by Matt Osmancickli, putting the score at 36-17.

Oakfield started to move the ball on the next series, but a fumble gave Alexander the ball back on its own 2-yard line. Alexander drove back down the field until Schafer scored again, making the score 42-17.

After the game, Schafer said, "It felt good to win because we haven't beaten them in a long time. We'll be taking it to Holley next week because they run the same type offense."

Oakfield's coach, Brian Palone told his team after the game "Don't get down.  Stay positive. We need to get better - and we will."

Alexander's coach said his team will work on "finishing the game."  He said they played well in the first three quarters.