For 35 years Bob Zehler has enjoyed his work and his coworkers, but the time has come to hang up his badge, he said.

"I'm not quite ready, but now is the time to get out while I still like the place," Zahler said.

Today, in the basement of the jail, coworkers, colleagues and friends gathered for lunch and cake to celebrate Zahler's career.

Many years ago, the Sheriff's Office switched from hiring deputies to work in the jail to hiring corrections officers. Zahler, a supervisor, is the last deputy sheriff to work in the jail.

As for retirement, the Bethany native said he'll spend more time with his 87-year-old mother, complete remodeling his home -- a project he started 20 years ago -- and take care of some neglected work around the family farm.

With Zahler, left in the photo, is the current director of the jail, Ed Minardo.

A brown out, or partial power outage, is reported in Northwest Genesee County. The cause is unknown at this point but we are seeking more information. National Grid was notified by the Emergency Dispatch Center about 20 minutes ago, and now a power company rep(s) is heading into the area to check it out.

Most of the Village of Oakfield is affected, a "good portion" of the Town of Oakfield, and half of south Alabama.

This has prompted numerous calls about the power outage and, in some cases, smoke alarms and CO detectors have gone off and there have been reports of the smell of smoke at some locations.

Fire crews in both communities are responding.

UPDATE 8:17 p.m.: We just received this e-mail from Stephen F. Brady,  media relations manager for National Grid:

"The cause isn't known yet, but we have a crew at the substation and they're working to restore and close in the breakers. I was told 30-45 minutes to restoration. Number of customers affected is around 500. Our Web page is likely showing more than that, but that too is being corrected. It could be morning before the exact cause (is known)."

UPDATE 9:24 p.m.: According to National Grid's Web site, power has been restored.

Safety is every hunter's responsibility, Capt. Christopher Cummings, commander of Troop A, Batavia, told the press today, asking that the media help spread the message of hunter safety at the start of a new hunting season.

Since the 1960s, the number of hunting-related accidents in New York has decreased steadily, but that's no reason not to be as careful this year as any other year. That was the message of today's press conference.

"The important thing is that every individual hunter must realize that they have to make safety priority one when they go out into the field," Cummings said. "Every individual hunter is responsible for the integrity and reputation of hunting. They need to take the responsibility on themselves that they do carry that weight when they enter the woods with a firearm.

"It should be simple for the safety of hunters," Cummings added. "It should be simple. Every hunting incident that we investigate is preventable."

Capt. Frank Lauricella, Department of Environmental Conservation, offered several safety tips for hunters:

• Always assume a firearm is loaded;
• Make sure the muzzle is always pointed in a safe direction;
• Keep the safety on and your finger off the trigger until you're ready to fire;
• Wear hunter orange.

It's been proven, he said, that hunters wearing orange are seven times safer than those who do not.

He said it's also important to see your target clearly and what's beyond your target.

"It's very important to remember that once you discharge you cannot call back that projectile," Lauricella said.

We tend to think of playgrounds as just places for children, right?

Well, there's something starting in New York City and Buffalo to change that -- the cities are building playgrounds designed to attract adults in a social environment focused on physical fitness.

As a writer for Buffalo Rising put it, "The concept is so simple that I can't believe that it hasn't surfaced all across America."

There are no known plans to build an adult playground in Batavia, but one local woman has discovered an existing playground that goes a long way in filling the void, and she thinks other adults should join her in putting it to good use.

Batavia resident Nancy Gilmartin-Marchitte said she's been using the playground at the former Robert Morris School for several months for her own exercise routine and having a blast.

She and her husband like to run on the track at Woodward Field, and one day she spotted the rings at the playground and, with her love of gymnastics, she thought it would be fun to try them out.

From that initial experiment, she discovered the playground offered her several different fun and useful exercises.

"After coming here and doing my routines, I came to realize there are adult playgrounds all over now," said the 36-year-old Gilmartin-Marchitte.

In June 2011, Robert Morris opened the new playground paid for by a grant won from Pepsi.

Now, Robert Morris is no longer a school, and though the playground is still owned by the school district, it is open to the community, Business Administrator Scott Rozanski confirmed today.

"We made the decision to leave the playground for community use," Rozanski said.

While adult use hasn't yet been contemplated by district officials, he sees no reason adults couldn't exercise there so long as they didn't prevent children from playing and helped keep the equipment in good working order.

"I would expect an adult to use wisdom and not do anything that would damage the equipment," Rozanski said.

Gilmartin-Marchitte said she's worked up a whole routine for herself that, by making it a rigorous workout, not only exercises her arms, legs and torso, it also provides cardiovascular benefits.

Her routine includes, among other things, chin-ups, exercises on the rings (her favorite), balance walks, using the swing for her abs and the parallel bars.

"Going to the playground a few times a week and exercising on the rings and chin-up bar is not only a good exercise, but brings out the little girl in me," Gilmartin-Marchitte said.

A pet sitter has been arrested by the Sheriff's Office and accused of stealing antiques from a residence in Batavia and selling them to a collectibles store in Cheektowaga.

Jodi Coe, 36, of Batavia-Oakfield Townline Road, Oakfield, is charged with burglary, 2nd, and grand larceny, 3rd.

Investigator William Ferrando arrested Coe for allegedly stealing antique items from a home where she was taking care of pets in September.

Some of the items allegedly stolen have been recovered.

Coe was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court and released on her own recognizance.

A working car fire is reported, with flames showing underneath it, on the westbound 490. Le Roy and Bergen fire crews are responding. It's at mile marker 2.

UPDATE 5:15 p.m.: Foam will be used to douse the fire. Bergen is continuing to the scene. Le Roy is put back in service.

UPDATE 5:16 p.m.: The fire is out.

Press release:

The Le Roy Main Street Committee will sponsor a presentation by architect Rick Hauser on a proposal to purchase the Wiss Hotel from the village. The plans include several commercial facilities and five residential apartments at the site.

The presentation will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, at the Village Hall. The public is invited. The Village Hall is located at 3 W. Main St.

Press release:

The Genesee County Legislature is accepting applications for the position of Genesee County Community Services/Mental Health Board Member. Of special interest is an open position for a Clergy Member.

Applications for board members are available on the Genesee County Web site by visiting www.co.genesee.ny.us under the Legislature Department. You may also contact your legislator or the Genesee County Legislature Office for additional details.

The Web site contains an Advisory Board Booklet listing all our board opportunities. You are encouraged to visit the Web site and let us know of your interests, 344-2550, ext. 2202.

A motor-vehicle accident has been reported in front of the East Pembroke Fire Hall, 2623 E. Main Road, East Pembroke.

At the same time, the fire station's fire alarm has gone off.

The car has apparently gone through the door of the fire hall and struck a fire truck.

There is a report of one injury.

East Pembroke fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 3:53 p.m.: The vehicle struck a center post on the building causing structural damage. Code enforcement requested to the scene.

UPDATE 3:56 p.m.: Both engines and the tanker are blocked in the building. The chief orders that as soon as the patient is extricated -- and the patient has been extricated -- that some pictures be taken and the trucks moved to another location as soon as possible.

UPDATE 4:02 p.m.: The fire chiefs will be notified in Oakfield, Indian Falls, Pembroke and Town of Batavia and crews will be assembled as they deem necessary to stand by in their quarters. One engine from the East Pembroke hall is out and available in case of fire, but that's it. Any other equipment needed to fight a fire would need to come from elsewhere.

UPDATE 4:15 p.m.: All the trucks from the East Pembroke Fire Station have been safely removed from the damaged building. But crews in other halls will remain on standby duty for the time being.

UPDATE 5:24 p.m.: The driver was eastbound on Route 5 and either fell asleep or blacked out due to a medical condition, according to Trooper Mark Catanzaro. Her car entered the west driveway, went airborne after cutting between a utility pole and the fire department sign and over an embankment, striking the post between two doors. No fire engines were damaged. The trucks are being relocated, according to Chief Don Newton, to Ron and Newt's. East Pembroke fire will be able to respond to calls from that location, but neighboring districts will also be called on mutual aid for most emergency calls. The trucks will be returned to the hall after repairs are completed, which will take one or two weeks.

Kenneth W. Cook III, 19, of 108 Oak St., Batavia, is charged with sexual misconduct and endangering the welfare of a child. Cook is accused of having sexual relations with a girl under the age of 17.

Timothy J. Petrie, 41, of Pavilion, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Petrie was arrested by State Police in relation to an incident reported Aug. 19. No further details released.

Press release:

Batavia and Le Roy Rotary Clubs are collecting relief items for the areas of New York and New Jersey devastated by Superstorm Sandy.

The Batavia club is subsidizing transportation of items to the hard-hit areas on Saturday. A team of Le Roy Rotarians led by President Samantha Vagg will take the items to an area established by Rotary clubs in the devastated area.

Donations are being coordinated through the Rotary districts in that region.

In addition, the Batavia club is donating $1,500 for relief efforts. If others wish to donate, they can -- either needed items or money. The check will be given to Samantha to take with her when the relief items are delivered on Saturday, Nov. 17.

Checks may be made out to the following:

The Walter D. Head Foundation of Rotary District 7490

c/o Calisto Bertin

Bertin Engineering

66 Glen Ave., Glen Rock, NJ 07452

This is a 501(c)3 foundation and is coordinating the cash donations to the devastated districts. Our donation will be divided among the six Rotary districts that were hardest hit in New York and New Jersey.

Press release:

With the Thruway Authority canceling two consecutive meetings at the last moment over the past week, and authority leadership expressing opposition to a proposed 45-percent toll hike on commercial trucks, Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,I,C-Batavia) is crediting job creators and business advocates for making their voices heard on the issue.

Hawley, who joined fellow lawmakers and pro-business groups like Unshackle Upstate in sounding the alarm on the proposed hikes beginning in June, applauded those who contacted the Thruway Authority to oppose the job-killing toll increase.

“Thanks to the constant pressure from local families, businesses, lawmakers and advocacy groups, the Thruway Authority has put their toll hike plan in reverse,” Hawley said. “The comments made by Thruway Authority Executive Director Thomas Madison and other high-ranking board members indicate that our message is being heard and common sense is prevailing.

"Such a drastic toll increase on commercial trucks would force businesses to either take their jobs out of New York or pass a cost increase onto consumers. We must continue to stand against this toll hike until the plan is officially discarded and our job creators are protected.”

Daybreak at Pcionek's woods

Claudia spotted this whitetail along the edge of an Oakfield woodlot...with the rut kicking into high gear the bucks have been on the move.

Reflective pool in an Elba woodland

Vestige of October's foliage

This ringneck pheasant was sauntering along the side of the road and stopped long enough for Claudia to take its picture before hightailing it into dense cover.

A hardwoods and spent milkweed pods separated by a foggy shroud

Clouds reflected on a small stream

Redtail hawk surveying its domain

We came across this historic marker on West Barre Road.

Sunset viewed from Mudrzynski's hill in Oakfield

A semi-trailer reportedly has a brake fire at the Yellow Goose at the intersection of routes 63 and 20, Texaco Town.

Flames reportedly showing.

Pavilion fire dispatched.

Town of Batavia Fire Department is on scene of a motor-vehicle accident involving a diesel fuel leak at the intersection of Clinton Street Road and Seven Springs Road.

Stafford fire requested to the scene to assist with clean up.

DEC being notified.

No injuries reported in the accident.

An Alexander resident is being accused of selling oxycodone pills to an undercover agent of the Local Drug Enforcement Task Force.

Shawn Lardner, 42, of Alexander Road, Alexander, is charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd.

Lardner was arrested Wednesday at his home on a sealed grand jury indictment.

The 42-year-old man was ordered held without bail.

A 37-year-old Rochester man has been arrested by State Police in connection with an alleged road rage incident in Bergen on Friday.

Duane L. Paquine is charged with criminal tampering and harassment.

Paquine is accused of pushing down a 70-year-old man in the parking lot of Bergen Town Hall and of removing the distributor cap and a spark plug wire from the engine of the man's car.

The alleged incident began some time around 3:30 p.m.

According to Trooper Jeffrey Bebak, public information officer for the State Police, Troop A, the victim was driving when a white pickup truck started tailgating his vehicle. The man said he sped up to try and get away from the truck, but so did the white truck.

The man went to the Bergen Town Hall and so did a white truck and a maroon truck that had allegedly been part of the situation on the roadway.

The driver of the maroon truck, identified as Paquine, got out of his vehicle (while the driver of the white truck stayed in his) and told the man, "You can't speed like that on my road," according to Bebak.

Paquine then allegedly pushed the 70-year-old man down. The man stood up and entered the Town Hall to call police.

While the man was in the building Paquine allegedly removed the distributor cap and wire.

Paquine was released on an appearance ticket.