As promised, Paul Berardini opened his new pizza shop today, Big Pauly's. It's in the same location as the former Pauly's Pizza (314 Ellicott St., Batavia).

Meet Trooper Mike Niezgoda, who is part of the State Police motorcycle detail out of Clarence.

Trooper Niezgoda was nice enough to meet me one day out in Pembroke for a photo and an interview to coincide with Motorcycle Safety Month. It was a great interview. Unfortunately, my recorder failed me and the interview was lost.

We've tried to arrange a follow-up phone interview, but it hasn't quite come together.

But it's still an important public service message: Be careful out there.

Car drivers, be aware that you share the road with two-wheeled friends. 

One thing Niezgoda emphasized is "look twice." Most car-motorcycle accidents occur at intersections because drivers simply don't see the approaching motorcycle so they pull out into traffic, especially when making turns.

Drivers need to be careful about following too closely behind motorcycles. Hitting a bike from the rear can be fatal for the rider, even if the speeds would have resulted in just a fender-bender for cars.

For motorcycle riders -- get as much safety training as you can, wear DOT approved helmets, and be alert for drivers pulling into your path.

A couple of notes about Niezgoda and his bike. Trooper Niezgoda is also a Marine. He served a tour in Iraq and two tours in Afghanistan. He is passionate about motorcycles and rides a Harley in his off-time as well. The Harley he is riding was part of the factory output on Sept. 11, 2001. Harley-Davidson donated that run of bikes to NYPD and State Police.

Chantal M. Lord, 32, of 82 Gilbert St., Le Roy, is charged with two counts of grand larceny, 4th, and two counts of petit larceny. Lord was charged following a Le Roy PD investigation into missing money from a relative's bank account. Lord is accused of using the relative's debit card on two separate occasions without permission to make withdrawals from the relative's bank account. Lord was jailed on $5,000 bail.

Joshua M. Banick, 22, of 3 McIntosh St., Liverpool, is charged with DWI, driving while impaired by drugs and alcohol, failure to keep right and unsafe backing. Banick allegedly had a near head-on collision with a Batavia PD patrol vehicle in the area of 509 East Main St., Batavia, at 1:40 a.m., Thursday. Banick then allegedly backed up and through the 7-11 parking lot and over a concrete parking space bumper, coming to rest on the sidewalk near the front entrance. Banick was transported back to College Village following his arrest.

Morgan B. Mikolajczyk, 19, of 328 S. Jackson St., Batavia, was arrested at Tim Horton's on a warrant for alleged failure to appear in City Court on an unreasonable noise charge.

Douglas G. Goodwin Jr., 22, of 130 Bank St., Batavia, turned himself in on an arrest warrant out of City Court related to an alleged parking violation for parking facing the wrong way.

Michael J. Carroll, 21, of 16 Harvester Ave., Batavia, was arrested by Monroe County Sheriff's and turned over to Batavia PD on a warrant out of City Court related to a charged of possession of alcohol under age 21.

Shaneeka R. Wroten, 20, of 16 Central Ave., rear, Batavia, is charged with criminal trespass, 2nd, and harassment, 2nd. Wroten was arrested on a warrant out of City Court related to the listed charges.

Samantha L. Tennity, 18, of 318 E. Main St., Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Tennity is accused of shoplifting from Dollar General.

Jeremy M. Denton, 27, of Brockport, is charged with felony DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, unreasonable speed, leaving the scene of a property damage accident, driving left of pavement markings and moving from lane unsafely. Denton was allegedly involved in a single-car accident at 1:23 a.m., Friday, on Route 19, Bergen. He allegedly fled the scene was was later located. The accident was investigated by Deputy Howard Carlson.

Jeffrey Louis Deats, 26, of Olyn Avenue, Batavia, is charged with aggravated harassment, 2nd. Deats is accused of making threatening phone calls to a woman.

Destiny S. Milroy, 16, of Le Roy, is charged with assault, 3rd. Milroy was arrested by State Police in connection with an incident reported at 8:28 a.m., May 1, in the Town of Le Roy. No further details released.

A fuel leak of approximately 50 gallons is reported at the Pembroke service area on the Thruway.

East Pembroke Fire Department is being dispatched.

A two-car accident is reported on Lewiston Road at Gorton Road, Alabama.

A person is trapped in a vehicle and there is at least one injury.

One vehicle is on its side.

Mercy Flight is available if needed.

A passerby is stabilizing the person who is trapped and reports smelling fuel.

Oakfield is requested mutual aid with extrication equipment.

A deputy reports both vehicles leaking fuel but no source of ignition at this time.

Traffic is being shut down at Route 63 and Maple.

Alabama fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 6:44 a.m.: Mercy Flight 5 requested to the scene.

UPDATE 6:47 a.m.: A second Mercy ambulance requested to the scene.

UPDATE 6:52 a.m.: A medic on scene says Mercy Flight won't be necessary. Mercy Flight cancelled.

UPDATE 6:57 a.m.: Patient extricated.

UPDATE 8 a.m.: Alabama assignment back in service.

Temperatures late tonight through 8 a.m. could dip below 30 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

The freeze could damage crops and other sensitive vegetation.

The freeze watch covers most of WNY except Wyoming County, interior Southern Tier and along the Lake Ontario coast.

Also, a thunderstorm is moving across the region and could hit Genesee County later this afternoon.

Strong winds are expected to continue throughout the day.

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported on the eastbound Thruway at mile marker 382.1. Le Roy Fire and Ambulance Service is responding.

UPDATE 2:59 p.m.: Due to the lack of available ambulances, Bergen's ambulance is requested to the scene. An ambulance from Caledonia is also called. A person at the scene reports three people are injured.

UPDATE 3:02 p.m.: The availability of Mercy Flight is checked. Also, an ambulance from Henrietta is called in.

UPDATE 3:07 p.m.: A responder reports there are six patients. A second ambulance out of Henrietta is requested. Mercy Flight out of Buffalo is available.

UPDATE 3:09 p.m.: Apparently Byron was also called, because Byron is requesting Clarendon is asked to stand by in Byron's fire hall.

UPDATE 3:11 p.m.: A Mercy rig has become available and it is asked to stage at the Thruway entrance.

UPDATE 3:17 p.m.: Bergen is taking a patient to Rochester General Hospital. Stafford is asked to stand by in its own quarters.

UPDATE 3:22 p.m.: Bethany's ambulance is requested. A crew from Darien is asked to assemble in quarters.

UPDATE 3:32 p.m.: A patient is being taken to Strong Memorial Hospital.

UPDATE 3:34 p.m.: A chief on scene reports five patients have been removed from a vehicle. Henrietta is taking a patient to Strong.

UPDATE 3:39 p.m.: Caledonia is taking a victim to Strong.

UPDATE 3:41 p.m.: Stafford is told to stand down from its standby in quarters.

UPDATE 3:48 p.m.: Le Roy fire is packing up and preparing to return to service and the State Troopers are in charge of the scene.

Deputies are heading to the area of Shanks Road and Sandhill Road, Basom, to check on reports of loud booms.

A dispatcher said there have been multiple calls and one as far away as Indian Falls Road.

About 20 or 30 minutes ago, a deputy checked on a report of a loud boom from a caller in the Indian Falls Road area and didn't find anything.

A dispatcher said one of the booms was audible while dispatchers were on the phone with a caller.

UPDATE 11:16 p.m.: Another caller has said, "It sounds like some kids having some fun."

UPDATE 11:25 p.m.: There's a large party on Shanks Road. Deputies going back in service.

Today was Women Build Day at the Habitant for Humanity project house on Harvester Avenue. More than 75 percent of the workers at the job site were women, part of a national week that recognizes women in the construction trades.

Work on the house began Wednesday with the Day of Caring.

Above, Kelly McCaffery, of Rochester, removes from debris from the house. Also pictured below, Charlotte Dickson (carrying wood out of the house) and Marsha (no last name given) from Wyoming, who was prying wood from the walls of the kitchen.

Mrs. Richmond hosted a tea party at the Holland Land Office Museum today and dozens of local women attended.

Awards were given for the best hats.

Above, Dona LaValle, who won the award for best hat and ensemble.

Below, Anne Barone, most original, and Maryanne Arena, most elegant.

Darien Lake Theme Park is getting back to basics -- entertaining families and celebrating its Western New York roots.

Symbolic of that theme was the grand opening today of the 2013 season with a ceremony honoring Paul Snyder, the founder of Darien Lake Fun Country, which was primarily a campground until 1981, when Snyder opened an amusement park.

Snyder, now owner of Beaver Hollow in Java, said he wanted to create a family-oriented atmosphere and he's glad to see Darien's current owners, Herschend Family Entertainment, putting more emphasis on family rides and attractions.

"They've turned it back into a family-oriented resort," Snyder (top photo) said. "I think when Six Flags owned it, they made it kind of a hard-ride park for teenagers and young adults. It was different and harder and I think (the present ownership) has done of good job of turning it back into a family-oriented park. They've done a good job."

New this year is an area called Boardwalk, which features a renovated carousal and Blast Off, a brand new ride that General Manager Bob Montgomery called a "family thrill ride."  It simulates the feeling of "riding a rocket ship to the moon," generating four Gs of air-powered force.

Also new this year is an Anchor Bar food stand, which fits into a growing trend at Darien Lake to feature things that make WNY special. The original Anchor Bar in Buffalo, of course, is where buffalo wings were invented.

The park also serves two other WNY delicacies, Perry's ice cream and Sahlen's hot dogs.

Local music will also get a little extra attention this summer with local bands being invited in for a summer-long battle of the bands.

One of the upgrades to the carousal was decorating it with paintings of WNY scenes (two photographs by Howard Owens were turned into paintings for the carousel -- a picture of a barn in Stafford and a sunrise over Harlow Lake (pictures below).

All of Herschend's parks feature regional themes, Montgomery said, but it's also what the company's research showed people wanted as part of the Darien experience.

Even our Canadian visitors, they're coming to a different country and they wanted an experience that reflected that," Montgomery said. "That's why we began the relationship with Anchor Bar. That's going to be appreciated by our local visitors, but by the people that come from further away as well."

The park's light show has also been upgraded into a bigger laser and fireworks show called "Ignite the Night."

The creation of Broadwalk, installation of Blast Off and creation of "Ignite the Night" was a lot to take on over the off-season, Montgomery said, so the push toward more WNY touches is far from over. There's only so much that can be done during a single off-season.

"You'll see that more and more as we make our way around the park with renovations, bringing those things in," Montgomery said.

Snyder is clearly proud of what the park he started as become and said it's something Genesee County should treasure.

"Darien Lake is the largest privately owned attraction in the State of New York," Snyder said. "A lot of people don't know that, the fact that it employs thousands of young people every year and that employment probably helps keep those kids working and out of trouble -- there's just so many benefits that flow from the investment of hundreds of millions of dollars at this point, it's unique and special."

A caller reports a shed fire off Ellicott Street Road near Paul Road.

The caller didn't have an exact address.

Stafford Fire Department is dispatched.

UPATE 7:05 p.m.: A chief arriving on scene reports heavy smoke in the area.

UPDATE 7:06 p.m.: A chief requests a second alarm for tankers.

UPDATE 7:10 p.m.: Bethany is responding.

UPDATE 8:07 p.m.: All units back in service.

Press release:

The Le Roy Police Department is again encouraging all citizens to be alert due to the recent home invasion involving the knife-point sexual assault which occurred on Gilbert Street in the Village of Le Roy during the early morning hours of Thursday 5/9/13.

The Le Roy Police Department is reenforcing this request as the Le Roy Police Department recovered a knife late yesterday afternoon, located in the general area of the crime, which the Police Department believes was used by the unknown perpetrator during the crime.

The Le Roy Police Department is asking the public to report any conditions or persons who they believe to be suspicious by calling the Genesee County Dispatch Office immediately at 345-6350.

A severe thunderstorm is hitting Hamburg and moving northeast at 35 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

The storm is capable of producing quarter-sized hail and dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning with winds in excess of 60 mph.

The thunderstorm warning is in effect until 5:15 p.m.

Particularly within the storm's path, according to the weather service are Darien and Batavia.

From the weather service:

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH...PREPARE IMMEDIATELY FOR DAMAGING WINDS...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...AND DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER... PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

A driver reportedly involved in a single-car accident overnight is facing possible charges after he allegedly left the scene of the accident.

Jeffrey S. Canale, 43, of 2 Orchard Drive, was located at his house following the accident and transported by an ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital.

According to a Sheriff's Office accident report, Canale was driving a 1999 BMW sedan westbound on Oatka Trail, Le Roy, at 2:13 a.m. when his vehicle spun out, went off the roadway and struck a tree, and then spun off the tree.

Canale allegedly left the scene of the accident before law enforcement arrived.

The accident was investigated by Deputy Frank Bordonaro.

A car / deer accident is reported on the westbound thruway at mile marker 403. Unknown injuries. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 1:12 p.m.: A chief on scene says fire and medics can stand down. Only law enforcement is needed at the scene (to dispatch the deer).

Press release:

Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) officials will hold a public information session on June 4 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the MedTech Center Building, located across from Genesee Community College (GCC) in Room 214. GCEDC officials are encouraging residents to attend the meeting to learn more about how the GCEDC fosters economic development in Genesee County.

Mark Masse, senior vice president of operations for GCEDC, will provide an overview of the organization, the incentives they offer, and how a potential company can be attracted to our community. A question and answer period will follow the presentation.

“This is a great opportunity for residents as well as local businesses to learn more about  how our organization enhances economic growth in Genesee County,” Masse said.

Because the seating capacity is limited to about 100 persons, GCEDC is requesting that those interested in attending to please contact Rachael Tabelski, marketing and communications manager at GCEDC by calling 585-343-4866, ext. 12, or sending an e-mail to rtabelski@gcedc.com.

Press release:

Law Street, City of Batavia, is closed until 2 p.m. today for resurfacing.