A 68-year-old man was injured Sunday evening after he was struck by a car while he walked through the crosswalk on Park Road at Batavia Downs.

Douglas Aiken, of Morrow Road, Pavilion, was taken by a Mercy EMS ambulance to the Genesee County Airport and then transported by Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital.

Aiken was alert and conscious at the time of transport, according to Sgt. Greg Walker, Sheriff's Office. Walker said Morrow complained of head and shoulder pain. His injuries were not believed to be life threatening. He was taken to Strong as a precaution given the nature of the accident.

The driver, David L. Reeb, 60, of Corfu, had slowed while approaching the crosswalk, but did not stop, Walker said.

Reeb was cited for alleged failure to yield to a pedestrian.

A 10-year-old passenger in Reeb's station wagon was not injured, nor was Reeb.

Walker said the accident was the first car-pedestrian accident he can remember at the crosswalk outside Batavia Downs since the Downs reopened.

(Initial report)

A motor-vehicle accident with serious injuries is reported on Veterans Memorial Drive in front of Batavia Downs. Veterans Memorial Drive is being shut down, and so is the opposite end of that street, which becomes Park Avenue.

Staging area is in the parking lot of Kmart. Town of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

Mercy medic on scene requests Mercy Flight to stand by in the hangar.

UPDATE 7:22 p.m.: Mercy medics are transporting a patients(s) to the hangar now. The parent of a victim is said to have arrived in the parking lot at Kmart.

UPDATE 7:26 p.m.: Officers are reopening Park Avenue.

UPDATE 7:34 p.m.: This was a car vs. pedestrian accident involving one victim, the pedestrian. The person is being transported via Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital. The patient is said to be alert, complaining of shoulder and head pain.

Mercy Flight is being dispatched the Oakfield Fire Hall for a possible stroke victim.

The call started as elderly woman on South Pearl Street who fell several feet off a ladder and struck her head. When medics arrived, they diagnosed a possible stroke.

UPDATE: The woman was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital via Mercy Flight.

A 29-year-old Batavia man is in the intensive care unit at Strong Memorial Hospital following a head-on collision in Orleans County on Saturday afternoon.

Paul J. Smith was southbound on Oak Orchard Road when his car crossed into oncoming traffic. According to the D&C, Smith told investigators that he fell asleep at the wheel.

The driver of the sedan Smith's car hit was Barbara J. Lamka, 44, of Albion. She was extricated from her vehicle and taken to Strong by Mercy Flight, where she's listed in satisfactory condition.

A person contacted dispatch saying he jumped from the second floor of a residence on Tracy Avenue and suffered an ankle injury.

There was reportedly a party at the residence at the time.

Law enforcement on scene and the person has been located. Mercy EMS dispatched.

The ambulance dispatched to Summit Street for better access to the patient's location.

UPDATE 4:24 a.m.: Patient being transported to UMMC.

Five people were jailed Friday, charged with grand larceny and accused of shoplifting from Kmart during a busy Black Friday morning.

The five suspects are all from Buffalo and were reportedly in a rented car when they went to the store at 8363 Lewiston Road.

The suspects were allegedly removing two HD TVs, two mobile phones, video games and numerous cosmetics when confronted by Kmart security.

The suspects fled, leaving behind much of their allegedly ill-gotten booty and headed toward Walmart.

One suspect was found in the Office Max parking lot.

The suspects reportedly tried discarding some of the allegedly stolen merchandise as they fled.

Arrested, charged with grand larceny, 4th, and jailed on $2,500 bail each were:

• Amanda P. Stephens, 25, of Schreck Avenue
• Brittanie S. Wofford, 24, of Hiddell Street
• Crystal M. Snow, 45, of Wohlers Street
• Jazzmen S. Welch, 21, of Goemble Avenue

Also charged, but released under supervision of Genesee Justice, was Emma M. Mills, 36, of Clay Street, Buffalo.

The case was investigated by Deputy Christopher A. Parker, with assistance from Deputy Daniel VanValkenburg, Investigator William Ferrando and State troopers J. Bryman and J. Jackson.

When Rep. Kathy Hochul stopped into Adam Miller Toy and Bicycles this afternoon, a constituent asked her what could be done to create more jobs. "Shop in local stores so they can expand and hire more people," Hochul said.

That was the theme of Hochul's visit to Batavia and Le Roy on Saturday.

While Saturday was dubbed as a "shop local" day by a group of national conglomerates, Hochul said it didn't really matter who was behind the push. The important thing was that this holiday season it's important for consumers to remember to spend at least some of their gift-giving dollars in locally owned stores, which provides more benefit to local communities than big box retailers.

Hochul stopped in at Adam Miller, Charles Men's Shop and the Enchanted Florist in Batavia, and then went out to Le Roy where she did some Christmas shopping at Vintage and Vogue and then visted the Jello Museum, where she also found a couple of gifts.

Ace ag reporter Tom Rivers was at Coffee Culture this morning with his son Ruben signing copies of his book "Farm Hands." The book is based on a series of articles Rivers wrote for the Batavia Daily News about his efforts to get out and work the fields, experiencing firsthand what it's like to be a farm hand. Rivers said so far the book has sold 5,500 copies. If you don't have your copy yet, it's available at Present Tense books and the Holland Land Office Museum.

There was a minor accident in the city -- reportedly no injuries -- at Main Street and Dellinger Avenue just before 4:30 p.m. One lane of traffic was blocked for about 20 minutes. No further information available.

A car-into-pole, rollover accident is reported in the Village of Oakfield at Maple Avenue and Albert Street. "The subject is out of the vehicle." Oakfield Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 2:52 p.m.: Mercy medics are told to stand down respond nonemergency. Deputies are en route to the scene.

UPDATE 3:09 p.m.: Medics are transporting the 25-year-old male driver to UMMC. He is said to have some chest discomfort and left shoulder pain. His car landed on its roof and a flatbed tow-truck is coming to haul it away. The pole was not damaged but the guide wire is a little tweaked.

Photo taken this morning.

Betty Sommer, a resident of Williamsville, worked in Batavia for five years, driving passed a former drive-thru bank location on East Main Street near Clinton Street thinking every day, "that would make a great coffee location."

"Finally," she said, "I decided to do it."

Sommer opened Kick-Ass Coffee nearly two weeks ago, on the same day sewer line construction began on East Main, cutting down on her visibility, but she said new customers have been finding her shop. It is a kiosk in East Town Plaza, standing alone, across the parking lot from Aldi's.

The coffee, she said, is fresh brewed from Latin American beans roasted in Buffalo and all of the ingredients in her breakfast sandwiches and subs are fresh. She bakes her own biscuits and muffins.

"Everything tastes just like you made it yourself at home," Sommer said.

An 18-year-old Holley resident was seriously injured early Saturday morning when the unlit, slow-moving golf cart he was riding in on Route 237 in Byron was struck by a car.

The driver of the cart, Cortney L. Greene, 18, of North Byron Road, Byron, faces possible alcohol-related charges.

Taken by Mercy Flight to Strong, where he's listed in guarded condition, was Zachary J. Rusin, 18, of Route 237, Holley. 

Rusin suffered head trauma and internal injuries.

Greene also suffered a head injury and was taken by Mercy EMS to Strong, where she's listed in stable condition.

The driver of the automobile, Emmaleigh R. Odom, 19, of Starr Road, Pavilion, was not injured.

Odom was reportedly driving a 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo northbound on Route 237 at 12:07 a.m. Her car crested a hill and struck the rear of the unlit golf cart.

Both Greene and Rusin were ejected from the cart, which then crossed both lanes of Route 237 and struck a parked car.

The accident is being investigated by Deputy Howard Carlson, Deputy John Weis and Investigator Timothy Weis.

The Sheriff's Office was assisted at the scene by Mercy EMS, Mercy Flight and the Byron and South Byron volunteer fire departments.

(Initial report)

A serious injury accident is reported on Route 237 in Byron at Warboys Road. Byron and South Byron fire departments are called along with Mercy medics. Mercy Flight 5 out of Batavia is called and is to land behind the Byron Fire Hall.

One patient is critically injured, according to a responder on scene, and another requires a basic-life support Mercy response. Traffic is to be shut down near the accident scene.

UPDATE 12:21 a.m.: "Have everybody ready. We're gonna hot load 'em," says an emergency responder. The critically injured person has a serious head injury.

UPDATE 12:29 a.m.: "Wind is negligible on the ground," reports a responder at the scene. Mercy Flight then landed.

UPDATE 12:37 a.m.: Mercy medics are en route with one patient to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

UPDATE 12:41 a.m.: A responder asks for information about a vehicle on scene, saying "I might have a parent down here." The reply: "Go to our talk-around channel." (Readers FYI: We do not report license plate codes, nor drivers' license codes off the scanner in accident situations.)

UPDATE 12:53 p.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne and also headed to Strong.

UPDATE 1:01 a.m.: South Byron Fire Department is back in service.

Oscar Donaldo Ramirez-Castanon, 33, of Lewiston Road, Batavia, is charged with forcible touching. Ramirez-Castanon is accused of grabbing the breasts of a woman and trying to kiss her against her will. Ramirez-Castanon is currently jailed on a rape, 1st, charge.

Lori E. Connolly, 54, of 8819 Batavia Stafford Townline Road, Batavia, is charged with DWI and unsafe lane change. Connolly was stopped at 7:42 p.m., Monday, on East Main Street, Batavia, by Officer Kevin DeFelice.

Rachel Emma Pitz, 19, of Market Street, Attica, is charged with petit larceny. Pitz is accused of stealing $67.49 worth of merchandise from Kmart. 

Ashley Marie Budziszewski, 25, of Broadway Street, Oakfield, is charged with petit larceny. Budziszewski is accused of stealing $40.45 worth of merchandise from Kmart. 

Stephen Theron Ferry, 20, of Knowlesville Road, Oakfield, is charged with trespass. Ferry is accused of trespassing on Allen Foods property.

Jason Lee Cramer, 27, of Central Avenue, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Cramer is accused of shoplifting from Kmart.

Lamar Ateef Randall, 26, East Park Street, Albion, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Randall was taken into custody on a warrant issued by Batavia City Court. Upon a search during his arrest, Randall was allegedly found in possession of marijuana.

Rather than mob a mall, golf enthusiasts mobbed local golf courses the day after Thanksgiving to take advantage of unseasonably warm weather.

Lisa Fickel, director of marketing for Terry Hills, said the course buzzed like a spring day this morning with golf carts zipping all over the place.

Above, Tim Braunscheidel watches his shot fly down the first fairway at Terry Hills. Braunscheidel was out for a round of golf with his father, Dave and their friends Scott Gibson and Dan Grefreth.

Nobody mobbed local stores today. There were no big sales. It was pretty much business as usual, and the shop owners we spoke with said business was pretty good.

"Black Friday is really about the big box stores," said Erica Caldwell, owner of Present Tense Books. "Our big weekend was our holiday open house last weekend."

The Christmas shopping season is still important to Present Tense, Caldwell said. There will be a lot of presents bought in the store, but no one-day big event will drive sales.

It's the same at Valle Jewelers where Mary Valle said so far they've sold one Christmas present. The rest of the sales -- and sales have been good of late, she said -- have been for birthdays, weddings and anniversaries.

Neither Caldwell nor Valle have big expectations for the nationally promoted "shop local" effort scheduled for Saturday.

"I'm curious to see if it has an impact," Valle said.

When you are ready to shop local this holiday season, check out the list of sponsors of The Batavian in the left rail (or just look at the ads on the page). There's a ton of great gifts to be found at local shops and a gift certificate from a local restaurant makes a great stocking stuffer.

By the time I made it out the shopping center on Veterans Memorial Drive, the Black Friday crowds had subsided, but the mall's developer, Cor Development Group, had brought in a horse-drawn wagon for customers. Santa was supposed to show up later in the afternoon and the company is planning a fireworks show for this evening.

Both Ryan Fitzpatrick and Matt Hasselback rushed for 17 yards on Sunday, so the Week 11 contest winner was randomly drawn from among the 25 people who picked either QB as the quarterbacks with the most rushing yards for the week.

The winner for Week 11 is Bob Bartz, who picked Fitzpatrick. Bob wins one small cheese pizza, one topping, one order of wings and a two-liter bottle of soda pop.   He has one week to pick up his prize.