When asked how old she is, Elba artist Patricia Burr has to think about it a minute.

"Well," she says, "I was born in 1918, so that would make me...my goodness, that would make me 91. But," she adds with a laugh, "I don't feel it."

She doesn't look it or act it, either. Burr, who has resided in Elba for the past 68 of those 91 years, is still a working artist.  

"I've enjoyed drawing for as long as I can remember. But in fifth grade, my teacher noticed that I would always draw in my books after I finished my homework. She called my parents and said, 'You know, it would be nice if your daughter could go to the art school.' Of course, I was all atwitter. I think that was really the beginning of it all."

The art school that her teacher recommended was the Albright Art School, now the Albright Knox Gallery. It was there that she took lessons every Saturday throughout grade school for 50 cents a week.

In 1939, after graduating from Buffalo State College, Burr was hired as Elba High School's first art teacher. Two years later, she moved from her native Buffalo to her current home.

Her love of art is evident just by opening up one of her 14 "fun books," which are filled with photographs and sketches of everything from carefully arranged fruit to strangers seen in restaurants. 

"Always bring a pen or pencil with you wherever you go," Mrs. Burr advises, pointing out to me an impromptu drawing of the back of a friend's house. "You see a lot of different, interesting things."

She says that one of her greatest influences was Don Getz, a well-known Ohio watercolor painter from whom she took some classes.

"He was always very well-prepared for everything. We would all watch him and say, 'Wow, this guy knows how to do it!'  We all hoped that someday we could be as good as Don. My friends and I would go on short road trips to find interesting things to draw, and sometimes Don would come with us. We all had a blast."

Now, Burr paints about three days a week and it usually takes her two days to finish one painting. She tends to work with acryllics and paints mostly landscapes and portraits, although she has been known to paint everything from pets to whiskey bottles, as pictured below.

"There's nothing I don't like to draw," she declares.

Apparently a fajita skillet at Margarita's got a little hot and set off the fire alarm. 

City fire units were dispatched, but a first responder sounded the "all clear" pretty quickly.

"Dispatch, you can disregard," was the first responder's message. "They had a fajita flare up."

Dispatch: "Copy. Fajita flare up."

If you don't eat much Mexican food and are unfamiliar with "fajita," this from Wikipedia:

In many restaurants, the fajita meat is brought to the table sizzling loudly on a metal platter or skillet, with the tortillas and condiments served on the side.

Additionally, some restaurants keep a flame burning under the skillet.

True fajita is beef skirt steak, but most restaurants also serve chicken and shrimp fajitas.

A pedestrian has apparently been hit by a car and suffered a leg injury near the entrance to the parking lot of Tops, 390 W. Main St.

Traffic is currently blocked at Cinton Street Road and Stringham Drive by a two-car accident.

There are possibily two injuries.

A house fire has been reported in Oakfield.

The initial call reported heavy smoke and sparks in the attic.

I don't have the address at this time.  A reader says it's: 10 Irving Parkway.

The fire is reported under control.

With Monday's hot weather, city of Batavia Firefighters took to the water yesterday, according to a press release from the firefighters' union.

Firefighters conducted training at DeWitt Recreation Area on Cedar Street, where they deployed a 16-foot aluminum boat with a 6 hp engine and also rolled out Engine 12, which comes equipped with Coast Guard-approved life vests, rescue ring and several hundred feet of rope.

There are 58 acres of water (ponds and lakes) within the city's first-response area, and 2.75 miles of Tonawanda Creek, plus numerous pools.

"The rapid deployment craft is the most versatile piece of water rescue equipment in service with the City of Batavia," wrote Robert Fix II. "It is quickly inflated and can be used in many situations including open water (DeWitt Recreation Area),  swift water (Tonawanda Creek)  and ice rescues. It is particularly well suited for rescues at low head dams like the one located behind the county courthouse."

Matt "The Hammer" Hamill, a UFC fighter with Western New York ties, will appear at Dwyer Stadium on Saturday when the Batavia Muckdogs take on the State College Spikes.

Game time is 7:05 p.m.

Hamill will be on hand to sign autographs for an hour before game time, and for an hour after he throws out the first pitch.

The popular UFC fighter attended RIT and while a student there, he was was a three-time NCAA Division III National Champion in wrestling.

Matt, who is deaf, also has a silver medal in Greco-Roman wrestling and a gold medal in freestyle wrestling from the 2001 Summer Deaflympics.

He was a contestant on the third season of The Ultimate Fighter reality television show, training under Tito Ortiz in the 205 lb weight class. He is currently 7-2 in his 9 professional Mixed Martial Arts fights.

Last night was Ladies' Night at The Mane Attraction on E. Main Street, downtown Batavia.

The monthly event brings together members of the community along with more than a dozen local businesses. It's a chance to learn more about the local businesses, as well as receive educational material related to a topic important to women.

Last night's theme was "Domestic Violence Awareness."

There was a raffle, Chinese auction and "awareness pins" handed out.

The event raised $180 for YWCA.

Picture provided by Byron Ariyaratnam, co-owner of The Mane Attraction.

The next Ladies' Night is Sept. 21 at The Mane Attraction, from 5 to 8 p.m. The theme will be "Ovarian Cancer Awareness."

Eric Massa is smarter than those he represents.  Or at least he thinks he is.  He held a town hall meeting yesterday in which this exchange took place.

For those without video

MASSA: I’m not going to vote for 3200 as it’s currently written. Step one, I will vote for a single payer option or a bill that does have a medicare coupled public option, which we don’t have right now. If my town hall meetings turn into the same media frenzies and ridiculousness, because every time that happens we lose. We lose another three million people in America. They see that happening and negate us.

PARTICIPANT: It changes America.

MASSA: Every time that occurs. So what happens in my town hall meetings frankly is important, because I am in one of the most right wing Republican districts in the country, and I’m not asking you guys to go back to wherever and send people to me. This is a generic statement of what can I do? Well that’s one thing we can do.

PARTICIPANT: So if we got your meetings to sixty forty, you’d vote…and there was single payer in a bill you would vote for it?

MASSA: Oh absolutely I would vote for single payer.

PARTICIPANT: If there was sixty forty sentiment in the room?

MASSA: Listen, I tell every audience I’m in favor of single payer.

PARTICIPANT: If there was eighty twenty in the room?

MASSA: If there was a single payer bill?

PARTICIPANT: And there was a single payer….

MASSA: I will vote for the single payer bill.

PARTICIPANT: Even if it meant you were being voted out of office?

MASSA: I will vote adamantly against the interests of my district if I actually think what I am doing is going to be helpful.

(inaudible participants' comments regarding the "interests" of the district statement from Mr. Massa)

Massa: I will vote against their opinion if I actually believe it will help them.

It's a sad day in this REPUBLIC when a REPRESENTATIVE can't do the job he was elected for. Instead he will do what his party bosses tell him and not what his constituents want.

I wish I was in his district just so I could run against him because anyone that does and has a copy of this should win in a landslide.

It was a hot, humid night but Senator Gillibrand looked cool and comfortable at the Sweet Briar last evening. 

A small group of protesters gathered at the front entrance and were treated to the Senator walking up the hill to meet with them.

The Senator discussed issues facing local dairy farmers; jobs; and health care reform. 

Her message on health care was clear, concise and easy to understand.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand believes that the high cost of health care is a serious problem for families and for employers, who struggle with the high cost of providing health insurance for their employees. The problem is getting worse - more than 45 million Americans, and 2.5 million New Yorkers, are uninsured and millions of families and businesses are struggling with skyrocketing health care costs. In Congress, she will continue to fight to expand health care access and protect the coverage for those at risk of losing it. In the Senate, she will work with President Obama to reform our health care system and make it work for all of us.

Comprehensive Health Care Reform

Senator Gillibrand plans to work with President Obama, Health and Human Services Secretary Sebelius, and Senators Kennedy and Baucus, Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Health and on Finance, respectively, to embark on comprehensive health care reform. 

Currently, Americans spend more on health care than any other country in the world. In 2007, average spending per person on health care was over $6000 in America, compared with approximately $3000 in Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.  Senator Gillibrand believes that we must get these spiraling costs under control, and take the important steps towards real reform.

Expanding Health Care Access

Senator Gillibrand is working with President Obama and his Administration to fix America's broken health care system, give power back to patients and families, and provide affordable, quality health care to every single American. Senator Gillibrand has been a leader in promoting health care access and affordability throughout her time in Congress.

In February, Senator Gillibrand worked with President Obama to reauthorize the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which was then signed into law. This law will provide 11 million lower and middle income children access to basic health care coverage.  Senator Gillibrand was a fierce advocate for this law, voting in the House of Representatives seven times to expand the program. 

In fact, she was the only Member of Congress to vote for the expansion in both the House and the Senate, and she joined President Obama at the White House when he signed the bill.

Protecting Social Security and Medicare

In the Senate, she will continue to fight to expand health care access and protect the coverage for those at risk of losing it.  In the Senate, she will work with President Obama to reform our health care system and make it work for all of us.  Senator Gillibrand has been a strong advocate for Medicare, ensuring that New York's seniors have access to quality, affordable health care.  Last summer, Senator Gillibrand voted twice for the

Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act.  This new law made a number of significant improvements to Medicare including expanding coverage of Medicare preventive services, providing greater benefits for low-income seniors, and reversing a detrimental payment cut to the doctors who care for Medicare patients. Senator Gillibrand remains committed to making sure that America's seniors always have access to the health care they need.

Helping Small Businesses Provide Health Care

Senator Gillibrand has been at the forefront of new efforts to make health care more affordable for small businesses.  She cosponsored the SHOP Act to help small businesses provide health care to employees.  This legislation would create a tax credit for small businesses which provide health insurance for their workers and allow them to buy into a purchasing pool to reduce their costs.  More than 28 million uninsured individuals work for small businesses that cannot afford to offer health care.

Improving Health Care IT

To improve quality and efficiency, Senator Gillibrand has fought to increase our nation's investment in health care information technology.  In February, she voted to provide $19 billion for healthcare information technology across the country. This is important to help improve treatment, while reducing the cost of care.  Currently, one out of every five lab tests and X-rays are conducted solely because previous test results are unavailable. This waste and duplication in our system could be eliminated with improved electronic medical records and more integrated health information technology.

A man with an unloaded BB gun sent Batavia police on a late night search for a subject with "a handgun" in the area of Chestnut and Kibbe streets last night.

Jason P. Wickson, 27, of Orleans Ave., Batavia, was arrested after a brief foot pursuit through the Kibbe Park neighborhood on the south side of the city.

It was only after Wickson was arrested that officers discovered the gun he allegedly brandished shortly after midnight was an unloaded BB gun.

Wickson was charged with menacing and obstructing governmental administration.

Police say Wickson displayed the gun "in an attempt to place another in fear."

The pursuit began when police officers arrived at 7 Chestnut and reportedly ordered Wickson to "show his hands."  Wickson allegedly turned and ran.

Wickson ran from yard-to-yard in the area of Kibbe and South Jackson, eventually being taken into custody in a residential backyard without further incident.

Wickson was arraigned this morning and sent to jail on $5,000 bail.

Officers responding to the scene were E.E. Bolles, Dan Coffey and Lt. G.Q. Steele.

Previously: White male reportedly carrying handgun taken into custody near Kibbe and South Jackson

More than a half dozen cars were ransacked over night, according to reports this morning, but very little was taken.

Many callers to the dispatch center this morning say somebody went through their cars, rifling through glove compartments and looking through other areas of the car, but the callers haven't found anything stolen.

The person or persons going through the cars have left behind spare change, radar detectors and other valuables. One man reported his wallet with $50 cash in it was left behind.

Two bicycles left in a car were reportedly stolen.

UPDATE: At our request, Det. Rich Schuaf provided a description of the bikes and he added a reminder about securing your property.

Taken from 11 N. Lyon St. during the night.
1. Schwinn, Gold/White, Girls, 26", 18 spd. Mt. Bike.
2. Schwinn, Maroon, Boys, 26", 18 spd, Mt. Bike.

Reminder: Secure bikes with locks or in garage. Also remember to lock car doors. None of the latest reported incidents of theft have come from locked cars or secured garages.

Sport of Kings Family Restaurant, 419 W Main St., Batavia, N.Y.: A favorite locally owned family restaurant that is open 24 hours per day, seven days a week. We have a $15 gift card for $7.50.

Jackson St. Grill, 9 Jackson St., Batavia, N.Y.: Try the fresh, skinless haddock fish fry on Fridays. We have a $10 gift certificate for $5.

Pudgie's Lawn and Garden Center, 3646 West Main Road, Batavia, N.Y.: Visit Pudgie's for all your lawn and garden needs, where the staff of Cornell-trained master gardeners will provide friendly and helpful service. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

Picasso's Pizza, 419 W. Main St., Batavia, N.Y.: A great variety of pizza, subs and salads -- and try the wings, too. We have three $5 booklets of $1 gift certificates ($15 value) for $7.50. The gift certificates can be used collectively or individually.

South Main Country Gifts, 3356 Main St. Road, Batavia, N.Y.: Always a great place for gifts, South Main just brought in a bunch of new merchandise from the region. We have a $20 gift certificate for $9.

If you've never bought Deal of the Day before, or are otherwise unfamiliar with the rules and process, click here.

Sport of Kings

SOLD

Pudgie's

SOLD

Picasso's

SOLD

South Main Country Gifts

SOLD

Jackson St. Grill

SOLD

The Democrat and Chronicle engages in some idle speculation, raising the possibility that this could be the last year of baseball in Batavia.

The article leaves the impression that the writer has spoken with officials of the Red Wings and that the operator of the Muckdogs is undecided about the Muckdogs' future.

The average attendance this year has been 988. The article says that's down from 1,199 last year, but doesn't note that the Red Wings have instituted something new in counting attendance at NY-Penn League stadiums: Telling the truth. There's no inflation in the count this year.

The Red Wings would get only 10 percent of the sale price if the team were sold prior to next season.

Shane M. Ramos, 18, of 16 Hutchins Place, Batavia, and Joshua M. Barber, 18, of 7380 Griswold Road, Bergen, are both charged with criminal trespass. Ramos and Barber allegedly got onto the roof of Batavia High School on Aug. 11. They were arrested yesterday. Ramos faces an additional charge of petit larceny for allegedly taking computer accessories. The case was investigated by Officer Wayne Fenton.

Michael P. Murphy, 24, of 39 Columbia Ave., Batavia, is charged with DWI, DWI with a BAC of .08 or greater and endangering the welfare of a child. Murphy's car was reportedly stopped following the complaint of another driver about an erratic vehicle. Murphy allegedly had a child with him in the car at the time.

Luke W. Ritzenthaler, 26, of Byron (no address given), is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Ritzenthaler was reportedly ticketed by State Police at 7:55 a.m. yesterday.

The quality didn't come out all that great, but somebody e-mailed me some cellphone video of the Le Roy firefighters getting cool and relaxing after last night's training.

Batavia Police have just apprehended a subject who was reportedly seen with a handgun in the area of 7 Chestnut St.

The suspect, described as a white male with short hair, wearing a black hoodie with the hood down, and barefooted, was taken into custody in the area of Kibbe and South Jackson streets.

Officers were apparently on foot as they searched for the suspect, who was seen heading down Kibbe, lost for a minute, and then seen heading east across Kibbe. A few minutes later, a Batavia police officer informed dispatchers that he had the suspect in custody.

There are no reports of shots fired at this time.

UPDATE 8:52 a.m.: The man was reportedly carrying an unloaded BB gun.

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A semi-truck was temporarily stuck on Oak Street roundabout this evening.

The cause may have been a broken air line to the brakes, according to Batavia Police Officer Chris Camp. 

The line may have broke because of the current height difference between the brick inner turning circle and the outer asphalt area.

The truck was stuck on the circle for only a short time. It was no longer on scene by the time I arrived and I live close by (hence, no picture).

For those who don't know, as Camp explained to me, air brakes on trucks work differently than car brakes. On trucks, the brake pads are separated from the wheel and held apart by air pressure. In this case, when the air line broke, the brake pads contracted, causing the tire to stop spinning.

New Today, Total Image Hair Salon/Sarah and Amanda Lowe, 226 Ellicott St., Batavia, NY: Time to update your style? Try something different or finally get the hair styling you've dreamed of, give Sarah or Amanda at Total Image a try. We have a $22 gift certificate for $11.

T.F. Brown's, at 214 E. Main St., Batavia, N.Y.: T.F. Brown's is a great place for a good meal, good friends and to catch up on what's going on in the sports world. When you need to book your next party, think T.F. Brown's. See the ad on the right side of the page for contact information. We have a $20 gift card for $10.

Amelia's Antiques and Collectibles, 5213 E. Main St. (Rte 5), Batavia, N.Y.:  A unique collection of old and new is at Amelia's -- antiques, country primitives, candles, collectibles and more. Click Here to download an entry form for a drawing to win $75 in merchandise from Amelia's. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Settler's Restaurant, 353 W. Main St., Batavia, N.Y.: Settler's has a 25-year history in Batavia of serving great, affordable breakfasts, lunches and dinners to Batavians. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

The Enchanted Florist, 202 E. Main St., Batavia, N.Y.: Brighten up your home or office with flowers! We have a $20 gift certificate for $8.50.

Valle Jewelers, 21 Jackson St., Batavia, N.Y.: Need a gift? Need some sparkle? Valle's has a large selection of jewelry and gifts starting at under $25. We have a $50 gift certificate for $25.

Main St. Pizza Company, 206 E. Main St., Batavia, N.Y.: Pizza, wings, subs and even hamburgers and hot dogs, Main St. Pizza makes everything deliciously. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

Adam Miller Toys & Bicycles, 8 Center St., Batavia, N.Y.: Feel like a kid in a toy store again, or treat your kids to the greatest toy store they will ever see. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

A $1 PayPal service fee applies on items more than $10. The fee is 50 cents on items below $10.

Rules: The gift certificate must be used by within 30 days of purchase. It is not valid with other offers and has no cash value. Only one gift certificate per-merchant per-person every six months. Gift certificates cannot be combined with other offers without prior approval of the merchant. Gift certificates bought separately cannot be combined for a single purchase. Individuals buying gift certificates must use their own personal PayPal account for the purchase.

How to Win: Purchase using the PayPal "Buy Now" button below. After the first person to hit the "buy now" button completes the purchase, PayPal will let you know that the item has been sold. Unless other arrangements are made immediately after purchase, the gift certificate will mailed to the winner at his or her PayPal-provided postal address within two or three days of purchase.