Press release:

Join in the holiday spirit at the second annual “Taste of the Holidays” on Friday, Dec. 7, and Saturday, Dec. 8, in the Holiday Tent in Jackson Street parking lot in festive Downtown Batavia.

New this year will be The Scavenger Hunt: The Twelve Days of Christmas. This should encourage more people to go into the stores, identify the day, and then look around for holiday gifts. Another reason for coming downtown will be to see all the festive window displays.

The B.I.D. Taste of the Holidays Committee has put a lot of effort into this event and wants you to join in the celebration.

Friday, Dec. 7 (5-9 p.m.):

• Lighting of the community Christmas tree and singing of carols. (Tree next to Bank of America on Main Street.)
• Holiday Tent: several area restaurants will provide samples from their menu. Admission: $1/person.
• Holiday Scavenger Hunt: Twelve Days of Christmas – in downtown stores with a grand prize of a $100 gift certificate.
• Horse and carriage rides (6-9 p.m. -- Center Street parking lot across from Adam Miller Toy & Bicycles) Rides: $1 -- proceeds donated to: Don Carroll “Toys For Kids."

Saturday, Dec. 8 (11 a.m. - 3 p.m.):

• Holiday Tent: Free children’s holiday activities (decorating ornaments, coloring, making Christmas cards and puppets, etc.)
• Holiday Scavenger Hunt: Twelve Days of Christmas – downtown stores.
• Entertainment: Bart Dentino & Kevin Huber (12-3 p.m.) and the McMahon Irish School of Dance.
• Horse & Wagon Rides (12-3 p.m. - Center Street): Rides $1 (for “Toys for Kids”)

Hosted by: Batavia Business Improvement District
For more information visit:  www.downtownbataviany.com

(Don't confuse this event with Christmas in the City, which is inside City Centre on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.)

An accident blocking both westbound lanes of the Thruway has been reported in the area of mile marker 390.2.

No word on injuries.

Town of Batavia Fire Department dispatched.

UPDATE 2:44 p.m.: The location is right by the toll booth overpass, just east of Route 98. Three cars are involved. It may be that only one lane is blocked.

UPDATE 2:50 p.m.: Mercy medics on scene report no injuries. Town of Batavia fire will help troopers with traffic control.

A three-car accident with minor to no injuries is reported on the Thruway near mile marker 396 and in the westbound lane.

East Pembroke fire dispatched. It's the second call in the district for East Pembroke.

Mercy EMS dispatched as a precaution.

UPDATE 1:58 p.m.: The "car that caused it all took off" reports a chief on scene. Two cars involved on scene. No injuries. Town of Batavia Fire Department requested to the Thruway to check the west bound lane. Dispatch is receiving reports of several accidents in the westbound lanes of the Thruway. An East Pembroke chief has been told of another three-car accident "back there" in the median. All available manpower requested to the Thruway.

UPDATED 2:02 p.m.: Confirmed two-car accident at mile marker 294.8.

UPDATE 2:04 p.m.: No injuries in the accident at 294.8. Town of Batavia fire is going back in service.

UPDATE 2:13 p.m.: East Pembroke assignment to the Thruway back in service.

A trailer reportedly came off a truck in the area of North Pembroke Road and Beckwith Road, Batavia, taking down a utility pole and transformer.

East Pembroke fire responding.

No injuries reported at this time.

National Grid has been notified. No ETA at this time.

UPDATE 1:32 p.m.: Road being shut down at Beckwith and Phelps.

UPDATE 1:37 p.m.: Chief asks dispatch to notify National Grid, "we can't get near that trailer." 

UPDATE 1:53 p.m.: National Grid has a 20-minute ETA.

UPDATE 1:56 p.m.: National Grid reports 60 customers without power.

UPDATE 2:08 p.m.: National Grid is on scene.

UPDATE 2:37 p.m.: East Pembroke back in service.

UPDATE: Photo submitted by a reader.

A bit of snow started mid-morning giving Batavia a little dusting over grass, on tree limbs and the hoods of cars. The light snow fall is expected to continue through the afternoon with an accumulation by 5:30 p.m. of about an inch. The forecast for tomorrow is partly cloudy with a high of 39 degrees.

There are two motor-vehicle accidents on the Thruway in the area of mile marker 401. There are no injuries reported for the one in the eastbound lane, which involves a red Jaguar. The one in the westbound lane resulted in a minor injury. Mercy medics are responding along with Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments.

UPDATE 10:50 a.m.: A second ambulance is requested and assistance for traffic control. The Jag has major front-end damage and is on the bridge over Route 77, which is said to be extremely slick and cars are traveling on it too fast. A third car has slid on the bridge.

UPDATE 10:57 a.m.: The state DOT has salt and maintenance trucks headed to the bridge.

UPDATE 11:14 a.m.: Two patients are being taken to UMMC.

UPDATE 11:22 a.m.: The patients headed to UMMC have minor injuries. One is a 49-year-old female, the other is an 18-year-old male.

UPDATE 11:25 a.m.: Indian Falls is leaving the scene and so is the State Trooper.

UPDATE 11:27 a.m.: Pembroke command calls for an ambulance at the top of the ramp of the Pembroke exit off the Thruway for an accident in which a person has neck and back pain.

UPDATE 11:55 a.m.: The person with neck and back pain is a 42-year-old male who is being taken to UMMC.

UPDATE 11:56 a.m.: The Pembroke assignment is back in service.

The Sheriff's Office has announced two arrests in connection with an incident Nov. 10 that led deputies and troopers responding to a house on Asbury Road, Le Roy, with lights and sirens after dispatchers were told a shot had been fired.

Steven A. Myers, 46, of Asbury Road, Le Roy, is charged with criminal mischief, 3rd, for allegedly shooting the phone of 17-year-old Brandon N. Benz, of Clinton Street Road, Batavia.

Myers reportedly came home and discovered Benz at the Asbury Road residence. He is accused of shooting a phone belonging to Benz.

Benz has been charged with sexual abuse, 2nd, and endangering the welfare of a child, both misdemeanors.

Nobody was injured in the incident.

The case was investigated by Deputy Bradley Mazur, Deputy Brian Thompson, Trooper Paula Caton and Investigator Roger Stone.

A business owner at 13 Mill St. called Batavia police after spotting four teens tipping over barrels on his property at 11 Mill St. Some property may have been stolen. The four white males are wearing blue coats and took off running toward the bridge on Walnut Street. Patrols are now searching the Walnut Street area.

Le Roy Fire and Le Roy Ambulance are being dispatched to mile marker 379.9 westbound on the Thruway near Le Roy for a car/deer accident. One subject has minor injuries due to glass in the face. State Police are also on location.

A minor injury accident at 64 S. Main St., the Yellow Goose in Elba, Mercy Medic 3 and Elba Fire Department are responding. Fire police are now requested.    

Update 11:15 a.m.: Elba assignment back in service and Mercy Medic 3 out at Strong Hospital in Rochester.

When you do your holiday shopping at a locally owned store, not only will you find unique and special gifts, more of your dollars will stay in the local community and do the most good.

Local shop owners are the people who do the most to support your community, from volunteering for local organizations to donating to local charities. Strong communities have strong local business communities, and the more we support our local businesses, the more our local economy will grow.

I stopped in on three local businesses today just to get three pictures of local people in local shops as a reminder to shop locally this holiday season.

Above are Mary Valle and Carrie Lawrence of Valle Jewelers.

John Roche, Adam Miller Toy and Bicycles

Don Brown of Charles Men's Shop

Photo and info submitted by Rachel Chudoba:

Civilians of the NYS Police Headquarters in Batavia raised money in awareness of October as "Domestic Violence Awareness Month." They worked all year raising money from Dress Down Day, selling purple ribbons, drawings and luncheons.

They raised $500 to donate to Path Stone Corporation's Domestic Violence Services program. A brunch was served and check was presented to Path Stone.

Pictured from left are: Tina Zack, Teresa Ferris, Kelly Peruzzini, Margie from Path Stone, Dianna Bogue and Rachel Chudoba.

A structure fire is reported at the Plum Creek Driving Range, 5141 Batavia Elba Townline Road, Batavia.

Elba fire was initially dispatched and it's now gone to a second alarm, with East Pembroke, Byron, Bergen, Alexander and the city's Fast Team among units dispatched.

UPDATE 3:58 p.m.: Elba crews had the fire out by the time most of second-alarm companies were arriving on scene. The blaze started with a Gator-type vehicle in a work shed. Also responding were Town of Batavia, Oakfield and Bethany.

UPDATE 4:20 p.m.: Elba and all other units back in service.

A two-car accident with minor injuries is reported at Sumner and County Line roads. Darien Fire Department and medics are responding.

UPDATE 1:13 p.m.: One car is blocking westbound traffic.

UPDATE 1:39 p.m.: Two people, including a small child, are being transported to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital.

Leaha Rae Anne Wimmer, 20, of an undisclosed address in Darien, is charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument, 2nd. Wimmer is accused of using a forged/stolen check. She was jailed on $10,000 bail.

Brandon Nicholas Benz, 17, of Clinton Street Road, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Benz is accused of pushing and shoving another person.

Joseph Anthony Mogavero, 19, of State Street Road, Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and possession/consumption of alcohol under age 21. Mogavero was arrested Saturday after Deputy Patrick Reeves was dispatched to Route 238 in Alexander for investigation of a suspicious vehicle off the roadway. Also charged with possession/consumption of alcohol under age 21 were Sean Patrick Francis Bodkin, 20, of Affinity Lane, Cheektowaga, Matthew Robert Blevins, 20, of Vernon Avenue, Batavia, and Nathan Alexander Demare, 19, of Brigham Road, Ferdonia.

Lucas George Yauchzee, 23, of West Bergen Road, Bergen, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, and criminal possession of marijuana. Yauchzee's arrest comes after an investigation that began Dec. 26 when law enforcement responded to a report of a domestic incident at his apartment. Yauchzee is accused of possessing marijuana and hydrocodone.

A car struck a deer at 6372 Main Road in Stafford. A 26-year-old female sustained a head injury. Stafford Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 7:20 p.m.: An officer on scene says the deer's head smashed through the van's window and pushed the female driver into the rear of the vehicle, injuring her head.

UPDATE 7:43 p.m.: The woman is being taken to UMMC. She was a passenger in the back seat and the deer smashed through the side window. She is complaining of hip and back pain. Stafford firefighters are back in service.

From Kathy Hochul:

This Thanksgiving Day, as we count our blessings, let us also be mindful of those brave men and women away from their families, serving overseas to protect our freedom and defend others around the world. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. I wish Western New York and the nation a safe, peaceful, and happy Thanksgiving.

Attention holiday shoppers, tomorrow from 1 to 3 p.m. there's a Black Cat Friday Special offered at the Genesee County Animal Shelter. You get 50-percent off of the cost of adoption, which is regularly $30.

The cat or kitten must be at least 50-percent black to qualify.

The black cat, le chat noir, the elegant Bombay, the parlor panther -- these are symbols of good luck in Great Britain, Ireland and Japan. The Egyptian goddess Bast (or Bastet) was known at the Cat Goddess. Sailors often put a black cat on board ship for luck on the treacherous high seas.

In Western and European cultures, the black cat gets a bad rap and it's the slowest to be adopted. Pshaw! Have a heart, forget that poppycock, and come on down! The shelter is located at 3841 W. Main St. Road in the Town of Batavia.

A $35 deposit will still be required for any animal not spayed or neutered, and this is reimbursable with proof of sterilization. All the felines are current with their vaccines, tested for FeLV/FIV and many are already spayed and neutered.

Bring a carrier for your new friend to go home in.

Billie and I along with Lisa Ace would like to wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving.

Every year we remain thankful for the support of our readers and sponsors. We truly enjoy living in Genesee County and providing news coverage for our community. We've made a lot of friends here and without the support of our friends and neighbors we could not continue doing what we do. Thank you.