HIgh Voltage is proud to introduce our new tattoo artist, Dan “The Man” Manhardt. Dan is originally from Pembroke, New York and currently resides in Corfu, New York. Dan always figured he would be good at tattooing since he had loved taking art classes, sketching and taking things apart. He started getting into tattooing after high school when he was 18 years old. He began researching tattooing and experimented on himself and few close friends at home for about a year. In January 2014 Dan moved to Jersey City, New Jersey to apprentice at Body and Soul Tattoo under Oksana Weber and Guy Prandstatter. He finished his apprenticeship in September of 2015 and started working at The Ultimate in Rochester, New York in October 2015­­­. Dan started working at High Voltage Tattoo & Piercing this March. Help us welcome Dan, call the shop today to book your appointment - 585-201-1127. High Voltage Tattoo & Piercing is located at 110 W. Main St. in Batavia. Stay up-to-date & check out new designs, like us on Facebook.

A two-car accident with injuries, including a possible head injury, is reported at 8244 Batavia-Stafford Town Line Road. Town of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. The location is near R. Stephen Hawley Drive.

UPDATE 8:59 a.m.: A second Mercy ambulance is called in, non-emergency mode.

Sixty Minutes: Privacy, weekend leave, keys...This is prison? (video, autoplay)

From our news partner, 13WHAM.

Mikayla Radecki, 17, of Holland, speaks with Living Waters Church member Denise Parmenter during the “Girls Helping Girls” prom dress giveaway Saturday at the Le Roy church.

Some dreams came true this weekend at Le Roy’s Living Waters Church.

The occasion was “Girls Helping Girls,” a prom dress giveaway that marked its sixth year on Saturday. A steady stream of girls and parents browsed among racks of dresses displayed in the church sanctuary.

It had a department-store feel. But the beat of Christian rock music was a reminder that the program is a church ministry born out of compassion.

“Girls Helping Girls” was originally suggested by church member Valerie Moore. She saw it as a way to help families who may not be able to afford a new prom dress, which can cost as much as $400 on average and is usually worn only once.

“God just dropped it on my heart one day, to reach out to those who may be in need,” Moore said. “I know how important it is for a girl to be able to attend her prom.”

In the first year, there were about 75 prom dresses available.

On Saturday the number topped 600 — more dresses, organizers pointed out, than at Kohl’s, JCPenney and Macy’s combined.

Most of the dresses were donated, while others were bought on sale by Moore at the end of last year’s prom season.

Although dresses were free, some families have asked to make financial contributions. This year, the church will forward any donations to the House of Hope being built in Moshi, Tanzania, as a refuge for girls who would otherwise be exploited.

“Girls Helping Girls” draws families from across the region. One visitor was Mikayla Radecki, 17, of Holland, Erie County, who both made a donation and chose a dress for her upcoming junior-senior prom.

“This is very helpful,” said Mikayla, who was holding a purple sequined dress in the church lobby. “You can make a donation and find a dress — it makes things a lot easier.”

Moore has received similar feedback from many girls and families over the years.

“A lot of them are very grateful, and very thankful that we do this,” she said.

“Last year, one of the girls left a comment that said, ‘Now my dream can come true.’ If that was the only dress that we gave away last year, it made the entire event worth it.”

Valerie and her husband Henry Moore have been members of Living Waters Church for 12 years, and help oversee its ministry programs.

One of them is Operation Drumstick, which sends church members to New York City. There, they help serve Thanksgiving Dinners to more than 5,000 people as part of an outreach program of the New York School of Urban Ministry. Living Waters is also preparing to send a team to Tanzania to support House of Hope.

Closer to home, Living Waters offers dinners and picnics for residents of local apartment complexes.

“Our biggest goal is outreach ministry,” Henry Moore said. “People think about missions as, ‘I have to go to another country,’ but ‘missions’ is in our own communities; it’s in our own back streets.

“Yes, we want to be able to send people to Tanzania, Africa, and Mexico — and that’s great,” he said. “But where we can connect the best is right here at home.”

“Girls Helping Girls” was originally suggested by Living Waters Church member Valerie Moore, right, who helps oversee mission programs with her husband Henry Moore.

Exhibitors said there was a steady stream of people coming through the Chamber of Commerce's Home Show today at Falleti Ice Arena in Batavia, and that had them in pretty good spirits.

Here's a quick photo tour of some of the activity today.

Doors are open tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

More pictures after the jump:

Photos by Jim Burns. Information provided by Paula Savage, Friends of the Batavia Peace Garden.

April is Child Abuse Awareness Month. On Friday morning, a total of 241 pinwheels were staked in the dirt of Batavia Peace Garden on Main Street, each representing a child helped last year in the GLOW region (Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties).

GLOW has an Advocacy Center focusing on providing assistance to child-victims of physical and sexual abuse by reducing trauma and enhancing prosecution. They are teaming up with the Friends of the Batavia Peace Garden simply because "Peace and Love is Child Abuse Prevention."

The Justice for Children Foundation, established in 2011, believes every child has the right to grow up in a safe and nurturing environment. The goal is to reduce the number of times a child-victim is interviewed and to take those interviews out of intimidating locations such as police stations, hospitals or the district attorney’s office. By reducing the number of interviews, the possibility of causing further trauma that many victims suffer in the system is also reduced.

This is how it works: members of the legal, medical, social services, mental health and victim advocacy professions are brought together in one child-friendly location. The use of the CAC with its multidisciplinary approach helps to enhance criminal prosecution and can strengthen Family Court dispositions that are in the best interest of the child. All services provided at the JFCAC are FREE. 

Colorful markers will be on display throughout April in the Batavia Peace Garden representing the numbers of victims identified in the GLOW region.

A coloring page has been created to promote this message and you are encouraged to get out your crayons and show your support. The pages can be obtained at the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, 210 E. Main St., Batavia, or by requesting via e-mail: peacegarden@ipgf.org.   

The last of 241 pinwheels going in the Batavia Peace Garden on Friday.

A car has reportedly hit a utility pole and wires are down in the area of 6071 Ellicott Street Road, Bethany.

No injuries are reported, but Mercy EMS is dispatched as a precaution.

Bethany fire and Stafford fire dispatched.

UPDATE 9 a.m.: Bethany and Stafford, back in service.

The third annual Super Sale starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 2, at St. Joseph's School on Main Street in Downtown Batavia.

Organizers say it will feature "housewares & toys, basket raffles, refreshments and SO MUCH MORE! This is the not-to-be-missed sale of the year!"

Press release from Assemblyman Steve Hawley's office: 

“Barring the extreme disregard for transparency, integrity and inclusiveness in this year’s budget process, the legislation we passed over the last two days in Albany will wreak havoc on our small businesses and agriculture industry," Hawley said.

The budget includes virtually no tax and regulatory reform for small businesses, and a minimum wage increase to $12.50 per hour Upstate with an escalation to $15 in the future, which will destroy New York’s already-ailing business community. Upstate cannot afford such a drastic increase, and the burden will fall on the middle-class in the form of higher prices and vanishing job opportunities.

Further damaging to our small business community will be the 12 week paid-family leave program, entirely funded by already over-burdened taxpayers. This is another example of New York City liberals expanding government and reaching into the pockets of our business owners and residents. While paid-family leave has good intentions, it will be ripe with abuse and cause labor costs to skyrocket. We cannot afford another expensive Albany mandate.

As the former owner and operator of our family-owned farm, I know what it takes to grow New York’s agriculture industry. Unfortunately, this budget cuts agriculture local assistance by over $160,000 and offers little relief for farms transitioning to a higher minimum wage. Agriculture is one of New York’s premiere industries, and I will do what I can to rectify these abhorrent policies.”

A 23-year-old woman was transported to UMMC with a complaint of right knee pain after a two-car accident shortly after 6 p.m. at Jackson and Ellicott streets, Batavia.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.

Traffic was impeded for about 30 minutes.

The woman had a passenger in her van who was uninjured and the other driver was not injured.

Batavia PD, Batavia fire and Mercy EMS responded.

From the National Weather Service in Buffalo:

A winter weather advisory is in effect here from 5 p.m. Saturday, April 2, through 5 a.m., Sunday, April 3.

The advisory is for snow and blowing snow, with accumulations three to six inches. The greatest snow totals will be across the hills south of Buffalo.

Winds -- northwest at 15 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. Visibility under a half mile at times.

Snow will accumulate on roads and create slippery driving conditions.

A winter weather advisory is normally issued for a variety of winter weather conditions such as light snow, blowing snow, sleet, freezing rain and wind chills.

While the weather will be significant, the word advisory implies that severe weather is not anticipated.

Late this afternoon, vendors were busy putting together the final touches on their booths for the annual home show at Falleti Ice Arena.

The home show, brought to you by the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, opens at 5 p.m. today and continues tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday.

There are about 70 exhibitors with goods and services designed to help you make home life better, beautiful or more efficient. For more information, visit the Chamber's Web site.

It’s been a long cold winter and now it’s time to “think spring.” And there’s no way better way to beat those long winter blues than by attending the second annual Genesee County Chamber of Commerce Home Show. The Home Show will be held at Falleti Ice Arena in Batavia Friday through Sunday, April 1st - April 3rd.
 
Here’s your chance to talk face to face with more than 60 area businesses attending this year’s Home Show for help with your home ideas and projects. And while you’re there, make sure you register for a chance to win a $500 gift certificate from the Home Show vendor business of your choice. The winner will be drawn at the conclusion of the Home Show and you do not need to be present to win.
 
The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce Home Show will be open Friday, April 1 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, April 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. And if you’re hungry, the concessions are being run by Alex’s Place, so you know the food will be excellent!
 
Admission is only $3 per person and children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. Parking is free at the Falleti Ice Arena. Coupons good for $1 off all admissions are available at the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce office, 210 E. Main St., Batavia, or at any of the participating businesses. For a complete list of participating businesses go to www.geneseeny.com/homeshow. For more information, call the Chamber office at 343-7440.

Kendra Marie McGuire, 25, of Bryant Street, North Tonawanda, is charged with fourth-degree grand larceny. She was arrested and issued an appearance ticket for April 26 in Darien Town Court. It is alleged that she stole cash and coins valued at more than $1,000 from a residence on Richley Road in Darien in November of 2012. The case was investigated by Sheriff's Deputy Chad Minuto.

Daniel Joseph Kish, 44, of Payne Avenue, of North Tonawanda, was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd, and unsafe turn/failure to signal at noon on March 17. He was arrested on the charges March 31 after turning himself in on an arrest warrant out of the City of Batavia. Kish allegedly missed city court for prior alleged traffic violations. Bail was set at $250 and he did bail himself out at city court. He was released and is to reappear in city court on May 18. The case was handled by Sheriff's Deputy Michael Lute.

Photo by Jim Burns.

A dead turkey on Ross Street this morning has been tying up traffic. No word if it's been removed yet.

A motor-vehicle accident is reported east of Transit Road at 6248 Main Road, Stafford. A person is said to have a minor neck injury. State Police are on scene. Stafford Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

Press release:

The Genesee County Local Drug Enforcement Task Force, comprised of officers from the Genesee County Sheriff's Office, Batavia Police NET officers, and the Le Roy Village Police Department, concluded an investigation into the sale of marijuana in the towns of Bergen and Byron.

Cody D. Mayer, 23, of Lake Avenue, Bergen, was arrested and charged with two counts of criminal sale of marijuana, 3rd, a Class E felony, and one count of criminal sale of marijuana, 4th, a Class A misdemeanor.

On March 30, Mayer was arrested by a uniformed deputy of the Genesee County Sheriff's Office at the County Jail, while he was incarcerated for a separate charge, on a Genesee County Grand Jury indictment warrant. It is alleged that Mayer sold a quantity of marijuana to an agent of the Drug Task Force while in the towns of Bergen and Byron.

Mayer was jailed without bail.

The District Attorney's Office and uniform members of the Sheriff's Office assisted the Task Force members with the investigation.

Press release:

The Genesee County Local Drug Enforcement Task Force, comprised of officers from the Genesee County Sheriff's Office, Batavia Police NET officers, and the Le Roy Village Police, concluded an investigation into the sale of "crack" cocaine in the City of Batavia with the arrest of a City of Batavia woman Wedesnday afternoon.

Jennifer M. Moore, 30, of Tracy Avenue, is charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd, a Class B felony, and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd, also a Class D felony.

The defendant was arrested on Wednesday afternoon on a Genesee County Grand Jury indictment warrant by the Drug Task Force and uniform officers from the City of Batavia PD. She was jailed without bail. The investigation is continuing into the sales of illicit drugs from the defendant's residence with further charges and arrests pending.

Task Force members were also assisted in the investigation by the District Attorney's Office.

A tree fell, broke a utility pole and took down power lines at 9680 Beaver Road, Alexander. The location is between Dodgeson and Beaver roads. Alexander Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 3:18 p.m.: "We've got primary wires down," says a first responder on scene. "Be advised they are off the road. They're just laying across the driveway of a house." National Grid is being informed.