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Listening to county work crews chatter on the scanner: Snow is starting to accumulate on roadways, especially the southern part of the county, and bridges are starting to ice up.

For a year or longer, I've wanted to buy a John Hodgins painting.  It's been a matter of money as well as finding the right painting.  When I happened past the Edward Jones office on Jackson Street during Christmas in the City on Friday night, I knew this was the painting I wanted.  Later that night, I ran into John in the Mall.  We came to a quick agreement on price and I picked it up today.   I understand this painting depicts the old newsstand on Jackson.  I like it -- local art by a local artist of a local scene.

DPW reports there is a water main break on Richmond Avenue between Union and Redfield in Batavia.

Repairs are in progress.

There was a rash of car break-ins over night in Elba and Byron and items stolen include long rifles, according to Deputy Brian Thompson.

Thompson is asking that anybody who saw or heard anything suspicious between the hours of 10:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. to call the Sheriff's Office at 585-345-3000.

He said any residents who find that their cars were entered over night, no matter what was taken, should call.

"People will say, 'oh, it's just some spare change,' but we need to map where these break-ins took place," Thompson said.

The pattern of break-ins include Barre in Orleans County, Thompson said. He estimates the total number of cars reported so far at about 20.

All of them were left unlocked, including the cars that contained the guns.

"People are just not getting the message," Thompson said. "Every house we go to people say they didn't know we've been having car break-ins for the last year and a half. I just don't get it. You've been reporting it. The Daily's been reporting it. It's been on WBTA and on TV in Buffalo and Rochester. People don't understand that in today's drug-infested situation we're in, it happens everywhere, not just in the city."

Investigators are looking for possibly two suspects, Thompson said. Based on the description from people who heard the timing of car doors slamming and cars driving off, it appears there is a person on foot going into cars and another person driving a getaway car.

A Rochester man faces nearly half a dozen charges stemming from a single-car auto accident in Le Roy on Saturday morning.

Carlos Alberto Mateo, 30, of 27 Potomac St., Rochester, is accused of criminal trespass and fleeing the scene of an accident, as well as aggravated unlicensed operation, driving without a license and operating a vehicle without seat belts.

Mateo is suspected of driving his car into a telephone pole on Route 5 near York Road in the Town of Le Roy and then running from the scene. He was reportedly found hiding in a garage of a residence on York Road.

He was jailed on $2,500 bail.

(Photo courtesy Lorie Longhany -- original post)

A Medina teenager who died in a car crash over the weekend was a student at Images of Dance in Batavia, according to the Democrat and Chronicle.

Jenna Pratt, 17, is described in the article as somebody who took on all challenges and dance was “kind of her release,” said her father, John Pratt III.

Pratt was killed in a single-car accident in Shelby. Investigators have yet to determine the cause of the crash. Her boyfriend, who was driving, Joshua J. Stockwell, 18, of Medina, was not injured.

Clifford Leo Regimbal, 31, of 30 S. Main St., Oakfield, is charged with criminal mischief and unlawful possession of marijuana. Regimbal is accused pulling a phone box from the wall outside 36 South Pearl St., Oakfield. Regimbal allegedly possessed marijuana at the time of his arrest. He was jailed on $500 bail.

Amber Fallon Waleski, 22, of 30 S. Main St., Oakfield, is charged with assault in the second degree. While at 36 South Pearl St., Oakfield, Waleski allegedly struck another person in the head with a bear bottle, causing a cut. She was jailed on $500 bail.

Howard M. DeCarlis, 52, of 415 Ellicott St., upper, Batavia, is charged with assault in the third degree. DeCarlis allegedly punched his girlfriend in the face several times during an argument. She was treated and released at UMMC. DeCarlis was jailed on $1,500 bail.

Jacob J. Camerera, 18, of 335 S. Jackson St., Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt and unlawful possession of marijuana. Camerera allegedly violated an order of protection by sending text messages to a woman he was ordered not to contact. At the time of his arrest, he was allegedly found to possess marijuana. Camerera was jailed on $750 bail.

From the State Police blotter:

Patrick R. McFadden, 25, of Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief. McFadden was allegedly involved in an incident at Kmart.

David W. King, 52, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance. He was arrested in Bergen.

Buyers: Please remember the six-month rule -- please don't buy a gift certificate you bought within the past six months.

Pudgie's Lawn and Garden Center, 3646 W. Main St. Road, Batavia, NY: Time to visit Pudgie's and buy your Christmas tree. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

Sallome's Italian Deli, 40 Oak St., Batavia, NY: Wraps, subs, paninis and pasta as well as pizzas -- Sallome's offers a tasty variety of Italian deli items for eat-in or take-out.

Margarita's Mexican Restaurant, 15 Jackson St., Batavia, NY: When you're looking for an authentic Mexican meal, Margarita's is the place to go. The food and atmosphere are perfect and the service is always outstanding. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Alex's Place, 8322 Park Road, Batavia, NY: People come from all over the region for a fine dining experience at Alex's. It's best known for its ribs, of course, but Alex's seafood is also a favorite of the restaurant's diners. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

T.F. Brown's, at 214 E. Main St., Batavia, NY: 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. "If it happens in sports, it happens at Brown's." We have a $20 gift card for $10.

Great Kutz, in the Valu Plaza, 4152 W. Main St. Road, Batavia, NY: Great Kutz is Batavia's newest full-service hair salon. Women, try Great Kutz for a haircut at the incredibly low price of $7, exclusive offer from to The Batavian. (gift card can be applied toward other services, but not products).

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

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

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

SOLD OUT

This evening I wandered around downtown a bit and took some pictures of some of the businesses that have decorated for the holidays.

It's a good thing Santa is from the North Pole, because it's darn cold in Batavia today and he is serving as greeter today for an event at the Go Art! building on Main and Bank.

Joanne Mistler serves me my first The Batavian smoothie -- strawberry, banana with chocolate shavings. Manager Rob Crede tells me it's been a big hit so far.

Reader Lorie Longhany e-mailed in this picture of a car that hit a utility pole in Le Roy. We have no further details on the accident at this time.

By my estimation, twice as many people came out to Christmas in the City this year as compared to last, and the smiles were also about twice as bright.

In other words, it was a great evening. 

Thank you to all who stopped by our booth in City Centre.

More pictures below, and several more after the jump.  Merry Christmas!

UPDATE: I inadvertently left one photo out last night which I've added to the bottom of this post -- it's of our long-time reader Dan Cherry taking a picture of his boys outside Valle Jewelry. 

East Pembroke Fire has been dispatched to a truck fire in the westbound lane of the Thruway.

The initial report was of a brake fire, and later it sounded like the rear of a tractor-trailer was on fire.

Dispatch reports multiple phone calls about the fire.

UPDATE 11:39 p.m.: Fire under control.

UPDATE: 11:57 p.m.: East Pembroke equipment clearing the scene.

A 76-year-old resident of Corfu was struck by a car on Route 5 near Indian Falls Road in Pembroke this evening.

George Wells, of 2077 W. Main Road, Corfu, was transported to UMMC by Mercy EMS. The accident report states he had complaints of pain in his whole body.

According to the report, prepared by Deputy J.M. Graff, Wells was crossing Route 5 and the driver of the car that struck him said he attempted to swerve to avoid hitting Wells. Graff reports there are skid marks in the road consistent with that statement.

The accident occurred at 5:04 p.m.

The driver is identified as Thomas M. Yackeren, 26, of Alexander.

No tickets were issued by Deputy Graff.

The motto of Feary-Cohen Realty  -- "Sold Mine, too" -- took on a new meaning in recent weeks when owner Howard Cohen sold his office building, sold his home and closed the business so he and his wife could move to Hilton Head, South Carolina.

Cohen, a lifelong Batavian, said he and his wife vacationed in South Carolina and have talked for years about moving down there. When the opportunity came along to actually make the move, the pieces just fell into place too easily to pass up the chance.

"We're very excited," Cohen said. "I'm of course doing real estate down here. I'm not retired by any means. I'm associated with a very good firm, so I'm very happy."

It's one of the rare times in Cohen's life he hasn't been self-employed. Besides owning Feary-Cohen for the past 13 years, Cohen previously owned Triangle Liquor on East Main Street and Minor's Appliance on Court Street.

As for this move, Cohen said that with his daughter ready to start high school (two sons are in already college) and an unexpected buyer for his house, it seemed like the timing was right.

"It was just another sign (selling the house) that it was just time to do it," Cohen said. "If we waited another six or seven years, I'd be 67 or 68 and we would probably never leave then."  

He added at the end of the conversation, "Life is short, so you want to enjoy it to its fullest."

Another business owner purchased Cohen's office building, but is not ready announce his plans.

A landlord in Stafford is receiving a $36,837 tax exemption to expand the building on its land, the GCEDC announced today.

BGW Properties, LLC, owns the land and building that is currently leased by Fastenall, a wholesale distribution company.

Fastenall has run out of space at the facility and was looking for a new location. The tax break will help BGW add 4,000 square feet to the building and keep Fastenall as a tenant.

The exemptions come in the form $5,600 in sales tax relief, a $1,375 mortgage tax exemption and a $29,862 property tax exemption.

BGW is expected to invest $110,000 in the expansion, and GCEDC estimates that the multiplier effect for the local economy is $47 for each dollar of tax relief.