A 24-year-old Batavia resident told a deputy he was returning a text message just prior to hitting a car that had stopped in front of him on Route 20 in Darien at 12:50 p.m., Saturday.

The 2003 Dodge pickup driven by Corey Lee Richenberg, of Galloway Road, struck one car in the rear and a second car spun into the oncoming traffic lane where it was struck by 2005 Ford pickup.

The Ford then continued off the road and overturned.

Neither the three drivers nor their passengers were seriously injured.

Richenberg, who was transported by Mercy EMS to UMMC with a general complaint of pain, was cited for allegedly following too closely and failure to maintain lane improper use of a mobile phone.

The driver of the car hit from behind was Christine R. Powell, 61, of Broadway Road, Darien Center. Powell was transported to UMMC by Mercy EMS.

The driver of the Ford that overturned was Gregory E. Fish, 45, of Parkview Drive, Akron. Fish was taken by private vehicle to Millard Fillmore Medical Center  the VA medical center.

The accident was investigated by Deputy Chris Parker.

(Initial report)

The first "Taste of the Holidays" in Downtown Batavia wrapped up this afternoon with arts and crafts for the kids under the big tent on Jackson Street, along with live music by Kevin and Bart, and horse-carriage rides around downtown.

With Girl Scouts singing yuletide carols, a visit from Santa Claus at the Moose Family Center, all of the stores bedecked for the season, it was beginning to feel a lot like Christmas in Le Roy today.

Well, some snow on the ground might have helped ...

The village put on "Winterfest," which included a "stroll through the village" (patrons got a punch card and could win prizes for visiting all of the stores), and the Moose Family Center sponsored a holiday bazaar. There was also an event at the Woodward Memorial Library. 

Adding to the Christmas spirit were songs of the season blasted up and down Main Street through the village's emergency bullhorns.

Mary Margaret Ripley, owner of Scratch Bakery, said she was busy all through the event.

Volunteers from Habitat for Humanity were at the former Cristina's location on Ellicott Street this morning clearing out junk from the building so that construction can get started on a Restore location for Habitat.

Habitat for Humanity of Genesee County was given the property by former owner Chuck Brumstead, who decided to deed the one building still standing and the land to a local nonprofit group. Habitat was selected from among several applicants.

Brian Bishop, volunteer and communications coordinator for Habitat said the group recently finalized building permits and will now begin work inside the building to create the retail space necessary for Restore. He said no date has been set yet for when the store will open.

A one-car accident with injuries is reported on Route 33 in the vicinity of Wortendyke Road in East Pembroke's fire district.

Mercy medics and East Pembroke volunteer firefighters are responding.

UPDATE 1:09 p.m.: There are two people involved. One is complaining of back pain and the other is "more shook up than anything." The location is 3487 Wortendyke Road.

UPDATE 1:34 p.m.: East Pembroke is back in service.

A three-car accident, minor injuries, is reported in Darien in front of the Chestnut Hill Country Club, at 1330 1263 Broadway Road (Route 20). One of the vehicles rolled over.

Mercy medics, Darien Ambulance Service and Darien Fire Department are responding.

UPDATE 1:07 p.m.: At the entrance to the golf course, at the top of the hill, traffic is being stopped and rerouted.

UPDATE 1:18 p.m.: The vehicle that rolled over did so three times and both occupants are being back boarded and collared.

UPDATE 1:29 p.m.: One ambulance is taking a patient to United Memorial Medical Center. Another one is transporting a patient to ECMC.

UPDATE 1:35 p.m.: The westbound lane is completely blocked.

UPDATE 1:53 p.m.: The roadway is reopened and Darien is back in service.

Daniel Cody Rosicka, 17, of 9292 Robbins Road, Le Roy, is charged with grand larceny, 3rd, and criminal mischief. Rosicka is accused of stealing several diamond rings from a family member and damaging the property of another. Rosicka was jailed on $5,000 bail.

Christopher Anthony Burek, 19, of Broadway Road, Alden, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Burek was allegedly observed pushing a female guest at a party at 1:52 a.m., Friday.

Nicholas M. Worrells, 24, of East Main Street, Le Roy, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation. Worrells is accused of choking his girlfriend during an argument, causing obstruction of breathing and blood flow. Worrells was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Winter is setting in, but local photographer Marlene Morris still found some signs of life in her own backyard yesterday and sent in these pictures to share with us.

Several individuals are reportedly on Thorpe Street, Batavia, fighting.

Batavia PD just arrived on scene.

UPDATE 10:15 p.m.: Police are looking for a couple of named individuals.

After an opening Christmas carol, BID director Don Burkel was given the nod and he flipped the switch, officially lighting Downtown Batavia's Christmas tree. More than 100 people gathered around the tree then joined in singing several more carols to help kick off downtown's Christmas celebration, "Taste of the Holidays."

With the support of WBTA, city firefighters and assorted volunteers, the Salvation Army was able to collect hundreds of toys today for needy children in our community. Today's drop off point was at Ken Barrett's auto dealership. Gift givers can continue to drop off toys at Barrett's all week. WBTA's Dan Fischer said that this year many more girls toys came in than boys toys and so more toys for boys are still needed.

Dorothy M. Baker received the 28th annual Health and Humanitarian Award of Genesee County from the UMMC Foundation during a luncheon at Terry Hills on Friday afternoon.

Baker was recognized for her many years of volunteer work, including at the Jerome Center gift shop and kiosk, the tourism information booth, Office of the Aging, Veterans Administration and St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Baker logged 1,750 volunteer hours in 2010.

The first-ever Taste of the Holidays event in Downtown Batavia kicks off this evening.

Here's the schedule of events for this weekend:

Friday, Dec. 2 (5:30-9 p.m.)

• Lighting of the Christmas tree (5:30 p.m.)
• Sample tastings by area restaurants and caterers (6-9p.m.)
• Entertainment: The OHMS Band (6-9 p.m.)

Saturday, Dec. 3 (11 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.)

• Holiday activities for kids and families
• Divine Dance Group (11-11:20 a.m.)
• Entertainment: Kevin & Bart (12-3 p.m.)
• McMahon Irish School of Dance (1-1:20 p.m.)
• Horse & Wagon Rides Around Downtown (12-3 p.m.)

Also, this weekend, Le Roy has its Winterfest. For more information, click here.

Kansas City lost 13-9 last week, but in giving up only 13 points the Chiefs gave up the fewest points among the 10 teams to choose from in last week's contest (two other teams gave up only 13 points, but were not among the selections, and one team gave up only 6 points, but wasn't a selection choice).

Only one contest entrant picked Kansas City and that was Corinne Marie. Corrinne wins two paninis and fried dough. Corrinne has one week to claim her prize.

This week the Genesee County Grand Jury issued the following indictments.

Mitchell J. Irish is accused of assault, 2nd, a class D felony, for allegedly recklessly causing serious physical injury to another person on June 9 by means of a deadly weapon and dangerous instrument, a motor vehicle.

In count two, he is accused of vehicular assault, 2nd, a class E felony, for allegedly operating a 1998 Chevrolet in an intoxicated condition on June 9 in the Town of Darien, thereby causing serious physical injury to another person.

In count three, he is accused of driving while intoxicated, a class E felony.

Christian J. Johnson is accused of driving a 2002 Cadillac while intoxicated, a class E felony, on July 23 on Pearl Street in the City of Batavia.

In count two, Johnson is accused of aggravated driving while intoxicated, a class E felony, for allegedly having a .18 BAC.

In count three, he is accused of allegedly operating the same vehicle without an interlock, a misdemeanor, although he was court-ordered to have an ignition interlock device on it.

A Darien man wanted on a felony assault charge was taken into custody in Darien on Thursday morning and jailed without bail.

Wyatt Becker was arraigned in front of Judge Robert Noonan following his arrest and charged with violation of probation, vehicular assault, 2nd, and felony DWI.

The charges stem from a serious injury accident in Alexander in August.

Becker was in Alexander court a few weeks later where he was arraigned and told he would be going to jail on $5,000. Becker reportedly asked to go to the bathroom and then allegedly walked out of court.

He then missed a court appearance in November and Noonan issued a second warrant for his arrest.

Press release:

On behalf of city hall, the Batavia Development Corporation (BDC) has distributed a request for proposals to attract developer interest in the former Carr’s warehouse building located on Jackson Square in Batavia. The city has asked for proposals to convert an historic 1880 warehouse into a productive mixed-use, office, commercial or residential building.

“This 6,000-square-foot historic conversion project, considered small to some, could have a real impact in downtown Batavia,” said Jason Molino, city manager. The city acquired the property in 2010 through a delinquent tax foreclosure process.

Consultants have recently indicated a lack of Class A office space availability, a void in certain retail sectors and a gap in modern housing stock for professionals. Each of these uses would be permitted for this project under the city’s C3 zoning law.

Inciting revitalization efforts through public and private partnerships has become the norm for the City of Batavia.

Neighboring to the warehouse, other public-private efforts have resulted in the redeveloped Center Street Smokehouse restaurant and the 19-25 Jackson Street mixed-use redevelopment by the Valle family to house their jewelry store. Habitat for Humanity also acquired a distressed residential property though a unique public-private arrangement with the city.

On a grand scale, the Mancuso Business Development Group wrapped up its multimillion dollar Masse Gateway redevelopment project to improve the product mix, accessibility and infrastructure to the century-old 30-acre industrial site. The city had secured a $1,500,000 RESTORE NY Communities grant that was redistributed to the developer upon satisfactory completion of the project.

“Substantial renovations to more than 100,000 square feet of flex-industrial space would not have been possible without the city’s support,” said Tom Mancuso, president, Mancuso Business Development Group.

Earlier this year, the city submitted a NY Main Street grant request that is expected to leverage a $275,000 private investment to improve 30 downtown commercial and residential properties. And just last month the city applied for a $100,000 grant through the consolidated funding application process to foster job creation at the new Save-A-Lot store prepping to open after considerable renovations to a longtime vacant building. Both of these projects anticipate award announcements this month.

The City of Batavia serves as the regional economic center for Genesee County situated between Buffalo and Rochester at Thruway exit 48. Four State Routes (5, 33, 63 and 98) traverse the city and provide easy access for both consumers and workers. Daily traffic counts top 40,000 vehicles and more than 3,000 people are employed within walking distance of the featured redevelopment site. To request a proposal package, contact the Batavia Development Corporation at 585-345-6380 or jpacatte@BataviaDevelopmentCorp.org.