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Photos: Saturday at the WNY Round Up Rally in Downtown Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

Hundreds of bikers converged on Downtown Batavia today for the 2nd Annual WNY Round Up Rally.

At one point, just about the entire length of the south side of Main Street was lined with parked Harleys (mostly), Triumphs, Ducatis and Suzukis.

The bars and restaurants were full and of course there were vendors to visit and live music in Jackson Square.

The rally continues on Sunday.

If you're unable to view the slide show below, click here. To purchase prints of these pictures, click here.

Ambulance being dispatched for victim of fight in Elba

By Howard B. Owens

A subject may have a broken nose following a fight on North Main Street, near Chapel Street, in the Village of Elba.

An ambulance is being requested to the scene.

A witness notified dispatchers of a fight less than five minutes ago and a deputy responded.

The suspect, described as a 25-year-old Mexican, is wearing black shorts and shirt and flip-flops, and is believed to be on foot in the area.

UPDATE 11:39 p.m.: The suspect lost a flip-flop. A deputy found it. The suspect may be heading south on Route 98 on foot.

UPDATE 11:40 p.m.: Suspect may actually have left in a red Mazda.

UPDATE 11:42 p.m.: The ambulance is responding to the area of 42 Chapel St., the apparent location of the victim.

UPDATE 11:45 p.m.: There are apparently multiple suspects.  A couple are with deputies now.

UPDATE 12:21 a.m.: The flip-flop wearing suspect, who is now completely flip-flopless, seems to be in custody. Also, I heard something earlier about a knife being recovered, and it sounded like a deputy involved in this call, but not certain.

Highly intoxicated male requires UMMC evaluation

By Billie Owens

An extremely intoxicated male who was found "unable to ambulate" beneath the East Main Street railroad overpass in Batavia is going to be transported to UMMC for evaluation. Law enforcement and medics are responding.

UPDATE 6:39 p.m.: Mercy EMS is cancelled. The man is up and moving about and will be taken to the Sunset Motel instead.

Three-car crash with injuries on Alleghany Road, Alabama

By Billie Owens

A three-car accident with injuries is reported at 7153 Alleghany Road in Alabama. It's near Bloomingdale Road. Alabama Fire Department, Mercy medics and law enforcement is responding.

UPDATE 6:34 p.m.: The extrication jaws will need to be employed.

UPDATE 6:37 p.m.: A second ambulance is requested, mutual aid, from Oakfield.

UPDATE 7:03 p.m.: Mercy is transporting two patients to Sisters of Charity Hospital in Buffalo.

UPDATE 7:16 p.m.: A 17-year-old boy is being taken to UMMC for evaluation due to his age. He has no complaints of pain. He also has no local relatives.

UPDATE 7:28 p.m.: Alabama is back in service.

School bus pulled over after riders reportedly toss beer cans out the windows

By Billie Owens

A Genesee County Sheriff's deputy is out by the Bergen exit on westbound 490 with a school bus from Monroe County. The bus was pulled over because its occupants were reportedly throwing beer cans out the windows.

"Occupied by a lot. Checking IDs," says the deputy, who asks for a State Trooper to assist at the scene, which is the parking lot of the Sugar Creek store.

Boyfriend allegedly takes pregnant girlfriend's pack of smokes

By Billie Owens

A mother called dispatch to complain that her pregnant daughter's boyfriend allegedly took her daughter's pack of cigarettes, which she had purchased for her, and has since left the Le Roy residence. She'd like some justice.

7-Eleven set to sell three Wilson Farms locations in Genesee County

By Howard B. Owens

In 2011, 7-Eleven, Inc., acquired the Buffalo-based Wilson Farms chain and according to an industry report, the company that pioneered the convenience store concept decided to sell three of newly purchased locations in Genesee County.

According to CSPnet.com, 7-Eleven will sell two locations in Batavia and one Le Roy.

The Batavia locations would appear to be the stores at corner of Ellicott and Cedar streets and at 189 Pearl St.

A month or so ago, 7-Eleven converted the Wilson Farm at 505 E. Main St., Batavia, to its own branded store.

It appears 7-Eleven is unloading the locations that sell gas.

"In any acquisition of an entire chain, there will inevitably be some stores that don't fit with a buyer's long-term strategic plans," said Robbie Radant, 7-Eleven vice president of mergers and acquisitions. "Such is the case with these 30 properties. While not right for our current operations, we believe they will provide great opportunities for the right buyers, as they did for Wilson Farms over the years."

Photos: Start of WNY Round Up Rally in Downtown Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

The WNY Round Up Rally got off to a soggy start, but it is under way.

By tomorrow, thousands of bikers with bright, shiny Harleys and Triumphs, and maybe an Indian or two, are expected to fill the streets of Downtown Batavia.

There's only a 30-percent chance of rain, so perhaps we'll have a nice weekend for the round up.

At least it should be clear enough at times for all of us to make our way to Main and Jackson.

Bottom photo: You could win this sculpture and help contribute to canine health at the same time.

Accident reported on Oak Orchard Road, Elba, with injuries

By Howard B. Owens

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported at 6508 Oak Orchard Road, near Lockport Road, in Elba.

Elba Fire Department and Mercy EMS responding.

State Police on scene.

UPDATE 6:17 p.m.: Mercy is transporting one person to Strong Memorial Hospital. Elba is back in service.

Accident involving pedestrian at Centre City building

By Billie Owens

A minor-injury accident involving a car and pedestrian is reported in front of the Hillside Children's Center at 50 Main St., which is in the Centre City building. City firefighters and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 1:34 p.m.: The 45-year-old bicyclist is complaining of pain in his ribs and an injury to a finger which was already broken. He is being transported to UMMC.

Motorcycle wreck at Maltby and Fisher roads, Oakfield

By Billie Owens

An accident involving a motorcycle is reported at Maltby and Fisher roads in Oakfield. The rider is attempting to leave the scene but the caller is trying to prevent that as he believes the motorcyclist is injured. Oakfield Fire Department and medics are responding.

UPDATE 1:30 p.m.: This was a sign-off. No injuries. The emergency responders are back in service.

Sponsored Post: City Slickers has biker weekend specials, country DJ, hot dog contest and more!

By Press Release

City Slickers welcomes everyone for a weekend full of events and drink specials!

Friday:

Country/ Southern rock DJ from 7 p.m. to close.

Meet the Labatt Blue girls from 10 p.m. to midnight and the Sweet Revenge girls from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. 

Saturday:

Hot Dog Cup 2012- "Batavia's largest hot dog eating contest"- To enter call City Slickers at 345-6788 or stop in before the event to register. $10 to enter and the winner will receive their name on the Hot Dog Cup and a free 1 year Next Level Fitness Membership. The contest is at 1 p.m. 

Meet the Bud Light girls from 2 to 4 p.m., then meet the Labatt Blue girls from 4 to 6 p.m. and Sailor Jerry's girls from 9 to 11 p.m.

Country/ Southern rock DJ from noon-close. 

Enjoy 16 oz. cans of Budweiser, Bud Light, Labatt Blue and Labatt Blue Light for just $3 all weekend long! Tent is up and the patio is open! 

(...and don't forget, every Wednesday from 8 to 11 p.m. is karaoke!)

Photo: Downtown streets closed for bike rally

By Timothy Walton

City workers have closed School Street, along with all of Jackson Street for today, Saturday and Sunday, in order to make room for motorcycles and street vendors participating in this weekend's Round Up Rally. The rally, which last year hosted more than 2,500 bikers, was moved downtown in order to increase the number of vendors and bikes who could attend. 

No citations or arrest in concert venue for Big Time Rush show at Darien Lake

By Howard B. Owens

There were no arrests in the concert venue Thursday night in connection with the Big Time Rush / Cody Simpson concert at the Darien Lake Performing Arts Center.

There were no citations for underage drinking, according to a Sheriff's Office release.

There was a DWI arrest in the parking lot.

Janet Mary Brady, 45, reportedly drove into the employee parking lot after being told not to enter the lot. Upon investigation, she was allegedly found to be operating in an intoxicated condition with her 5-year-old child in the car. The exact charges she faces were not listed in the Sheriff's Office press release. She was released on an appearance ticket.

If you're not familiar with Big Time Rush, below is a video.

Village of Corfu without water overnight to fix break in line

By Howard B. Owens

Monroe County Water Authority is shutting off water tonight to at least a portion of the Village of Corfu in order to repair a water main break in the area of 14 E. Main St.

The break was reported at 11:40 p.m. by a Corfu PD officer and a passing motorist.

Tentatively, the work is expected to be completed by early morning.

Fight inside Wendy's restaurant in Batavia

By Billie Owens

A fight is reported inside Wendy's restaurant on Main Street. The parties have dispersed, but are still on scene. City police are responding.

Owner of new business in Batavia hopes to educate children about importance of reptiles

By Howard B. Owens

Children participating in the city's Summer Youth Program stopped by Pioneer Reptiles in Batavia today, where owner Crystal Poyfair showed the youngsters a variety of lizards, turtles and snakes and other creepy-crawly things. With certain animals, the children were able to feed, hold or touch them. They also got to meet some of the future food of the reptiles, such as giant cockroaches.

Pioneer Reptiles is herpetological breeding facility that breeds and works with pet reptiles and investment-quality reptiles and some critically endangered species.

Poyfair has been working with reptiles for 20 years. She recently moved her business to Batavia from Virginia so her family could be closer to her husband's family.

She said she's deeply involved in the reptile industry and served as executive producer on the documentary Herpers 3. She's been working with Bob Irwin (father of late, great Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin) and Colin Riddell to help end the slaughter of endangered sea turtles and dugong species in Australia.

Tours of the reptile facility are available by appointment, Poyfair said. She really wants to help educate children on the importance of reptiles in nature.

"One of the biggest messages I'm trying to get across is the fact that you really need conservation," Poyfair said. "Don't listen to the old myths. Not all snakes are dangerous. They're not all bad. They serve a purpose in nature, but they're disappearing at an alarming rate."

Historic Masonic Temple building remains open during restoration project

By Howard B. Owens

Don't let the scaffolding around the historic Masonic Temple building at Main and Center streets fool you -- the shops and offices inside the structure remain open for business.

Owner Dave Howe has hired Catenary Construction out of Rochester to give the brick and mortar structure a $150,000 facelift. The masonry is being repointed and restored.

"I could have done some temporary fixes along the way, and could be doing that forever, but the right thing to do to save the building is restore the whole building," Howe said.

Catenary's most recent Batavia projects were the restoration of the St. James Episcopal Church tower and the restoration of the First Baptist Church.

Construction of the Masonic Temple Building was probably completed in 1909. Howe said he has tattered blueprints that are dated 1908.

While Howe is shouldering the majority of the expense, he has conditional approval on a state Main Street Grant for $35,000 and the Business Improvement District is providing a $7,000 facade-improvement grant.

"I couldn't have done it without the help of Don Burkel at the BID and Julie Pacatte at the BDC," Howe said.

Howe recently won a Landmark Society Award for the restoration work on his house in Alexander and the long-time business owner has nursed along the aging Masonic Temple building for a couple of decades, making various repairs and upgrades to keep the building suitable for his business, Charles Men's Shop, and his tenants.

"Besides the fact that I love older buildings and the history of older buildings, also my business is here and it's important to keep up the appearnace of the building for my business and my tenants," Howe said.

Tenants include Enchanted Florist, Travelore, The Batavian, Blue Pearl Yoga, attorney Tom Burns, A Place for Change and the BID.

All businesses and offices remain open during the project, which will take a couple of months, and pedestrian access to East Main Street remains open under the scaffolding.

Top Items on Batavia's List

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