By 4 p.m., Friday, there was a three-hour wait for tattoos and piercings at High Voltage on Main Street, Batavia.

People were lining up for $25 tattoos and $15 piercings with all of the proceeds going to Community Action of Orleans and Genesee.

Owner Mark Fanara posted on Facebook this morning that the event raised more than $2,000 and the crowd didn't clear out until 11 p.m.

Tattoos and piercings were provided by Fanara, Kevin Lockwood, below, and Lisa Vokes.

Cassandra Pierce was among the dozens and dozens of people who showed up at The Laughing Buddha on Friday for half-price tattoos with the donation of a new toy for a family in need.

Owner Jason Lang said toys and gifts were provided to four families, including the Culver family, which recently lost its home in a fire.

In the early evening, Santa showed up at the shop and Lang said people were lining up outside the door waiting to make a donation, get a tattoo, see Santa or just be a part of the event.

Among the donors of food and gift cards were Alex's Place, Center Street Smoke House, Bourbon & Burger and Applebee's.

Pictured with Pierce is tattoo artist Martin Slaymaker.

Deputy Timothy G. Wescott was named Officer of the Year by the Genesee County Sheriff's Office during the department's annual awards luncheon at the office on Park Road, Batavia.

Senior Emergency Services Dispatcher James E. Tripp received the Distinguished Service Award.

During the luncheon, dozen of other honors were handed out for time in service, distinguished service and meritorious service.

For the complete press release along with more pictures, click on the headline.

Pictures from the event can be purchased by clicking here.

Genesee County Sheriff’s Office Announces 2011 Departmental Awards

OFFICER OF THE YEAR

DEPUTY SHERIFF TIMOTHY G. WESCOTT
Deputy Timothy G. Wescott has distinguished himself in the performance of service to the citizens of Genesee County and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office during 2011. Over his 13-plus-year career, Deputy Wescott has forged a reputation for being a reliable, thorough and knowledgeable Deputy Sheriff. He has taken on additional responsibilities making presentations to the public and providing the Safe Child Program on behalf of the Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Wescott knows the citizens in his patrol area and is often the “go to guy” when another deputy is trying to locate someone. He provides a consistently high quality of police service every day and is dedicated to performing his duties with professionalism and motivation. Deputy Wescott has brought great credit upon himself and the Genesee County Sheriff's Office.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

SENIOR EMERGENCY SERVICES DISPATCHER – JAMES E. TRIPP
Senior Emergency Services Dispatcher James E. Tripp has distinguished himself as a member of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office. As the lead Communications Training Officer, Senior Emergency Services Dispatcher Tripp has updated the training program to reflect changes to the position and successfully trained four new dispatchers during 2011 while maintaining the high standards of the office. He was a member of the Genesee County Telecommunications Emergency Response Team that deployed to Broome County in response to flooding following Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. As the Assistant Integrated Justice Portal (IJP) Terminal Agency Coordinator, he was instrumental to the implementation, training, and changeover from the legacy NYSPIN system to IJP.  He continues to go above and beyond the call of duty and reflects great credit upon himself and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.

LONGEVITY AWARDS - Years of Service

Correction Officer Anthony J. Ridder -- 10
Correction Officer Philip A. Mangefrida -- 10
Correction Officer Walter M. Kolmetz -- 10
Sr. Correction Officer Kevin D. Wolff -- 10
Deputy Patrick J. Reeves -- 15
Sgt. Brian M. Frieday -- 15
Deputy Eric K. Seppala -- 15
Dispatcher Larry J. Buck -- 15
Deputy Cory W. Mower -- 15

Deputy Ronald E. Meides -- 20
Deputy Sean W. Graney -- 20
Deputy John L. Baiocco -- 20
Sgt. Steven C. Mullen -- 20
Deputy Brian A. Thompson -- 20
Communications Coordinator
Russell L. Lang -- 25
Sgt. James M. Meier -- 25
Dispatcher Barbara J. Eddy -- 30

CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION

Jail Cook Manager William Cultrara
Jail Personnel   
Range Officers: Investigator Roger M. Stone, Deputy Joseph M. Graff, Deputy Patrick J. Reeves, Deputy Robert J. Zehler, Deputy Eric J. Koziarski Sr., Correction Officer William A. Zipfel, Katie Conley
 
COMMENDATION

Emergency Services Dispatcher Adam L. Miller
Deputy Christopher A. Parker 
Genesee Justice Financial Management Assistant & Victim Advocate Donna Harris
Principal Financial Clerk Mary Hecht
Animal Control Officer William J. Taylor 
Senior Emergency Services Dispatcher Daniel L. Rieks
Emergency Services Dispatcher Robert H. Tripp
Deputy Brian A. Thompson
Sergeant Thomas A. Sanfratello
Senior Emergency Services Dispatcher Gary D. Diegelman

MERITORIOUS

Deputy Jason E. Saile 
Youth Officer Christopher M. Erion 
Genesee Justice Case Manager Aimee Weierheiser
Deputy Joseph M. Graff
Animal Control Officer Aggie S. Jaroszewski 
Emergency Services Dispatcher Steven L. Robinson 
Deputy Lonnie A. Nati 
Youth Officer John K. Dehm 
Investigator Timothy J. Weis

An East Pembroke resident is charged with criminal trespass in Monroe County after allegedly entering a home in the Town of Sweden without permission.

WHEC reports that Mark Humel, 20, entered the home on West Avenue at 2 a.m., Friday, and made sufficient noise to wake the homeowner. The homeowner told deputies that he found Humel, appearing to be intoxicated, standing in his living room, not wearing shoes, asking for "Dave."

Humel reportedly became belligerent and ran off when police were called.

The suspect was located later leaving a wooded area near the home.

Press release

Beginning in mid-January, Independent Living of Genesee Region (ILGR) is pleased to announce that in cooperation with Western New York Independent Living, Inc. (WNYIL), transportation services will be offered for people that are eligible for services through the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities AND are living with a family member in Genesee or Orleans counties.

Qualified individuals will receive up to six round trips per month at no cost to a location of choice in the Buffalo / Rochester region.

A wheelchair-accessible van with a driver that meets Article 19A of the Vehicle and Traffic Law guidelines will be based at the ILGR main office on Main Street in Batavia. ILGR and WNYIL recognize that reliable, accessible and affordable transportation is a barrier for many families, especially in rural areas. This program will help eliminate that barrier.

Also in January, ILGR will offer transportation services on a fee-for-service basis for anyone with a disability. ILGR believes the availability of local accessible services will assist to serve the ever-increasing mobility needs of the local community.

If you would like to sign up for either program, you can call 815-8501, ext. 126.

Independent Living of Genesee Region (ILGR), part of the WNY Independent Living Inc., Family of Agencies, has primary offices at 113 Main St., Suite 5, Batavia. The agency provides individuals of the Genesee Region (Orleans, Genesee and Wyoming counties) with four Core Services: Information and Referral; Peer Counseling; Independent Living Skills Training; and Individual and Community Advocacy.

For more information about ILGR or to begin receiving services, please call 815-8501, ext. 400 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Batavia, which has seen very little snowfall so far this winter, got a light dusting Saturday morning.

The forecast calls for a 30-percent chance of snow from 5 to 7 p.m. and the 10-day forecast predicts a couple more days of light snow in the next week and a chance of rain and snow on Dec. 25.

Careful driving this morning: Untreated roads are slick.

Above, St. Mary's. Below, Austin Park.

A homeless man who was given permission to sleep on the back porch of a residence on State Street has been arrested and charged with arson in the fourth degree after a fire he started caused some damage to the house.

The fire was reported shortly after 8:30 p.m. Thursday and quickly extinguished by city firefighters, causing minimal damage to the porch and siding of the house at 107 State St., Batavia.

Reginald J. Hawker, 57, of no permanent address, was arrested Friday afternoon following an investigation by Det. Patrick Corona.

He was jailed without bail.

Hawker is accused of intentionally setting the fire. Corona said it's believed that Hawker started the fire on the porch in an attempt to cook and to have heat and light.

Previously: Fire at home on State Street possibly set by homeless person trying to keep warm

A large motorhome has broken down and is blocking both lanes of traffic on Bloomingdale Road. The location is between the reservation and the Hawk's Nest Cafe. Alabama traffic police are requested to the scene to handle traffic until the vehicle can be towed.

Reader submitted photo.

For the 23rd year, all are welcome at T.F. Brown's on Christmas Day for a free holiday dinner, and for the children, Christmas gifts.

Seating times at T.F. Brown's this year will be at noon and 1 p.m. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling Maud at 343-2091.

T.F. Brown's is not officially open on Christmas and there will be no bar service that day.

The traditional Christmas Day fare will include turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberries, salad and dessert.

Photo: Ben Mancuso, Rick Mancuso, Joe Teresi, John Murray, president of the Batavia Lions Club, and Chuck Brenner, also of the Lions Club.

For the fourth year, Gilmartin Funeral Home has put on display a memorial Christmas tree in remembrance of people who have passed during the year. The tree features a bow and tag for each person remembered and the family is sent a tree ornament with the name of their loved one on it.

"It's a tough time of year because it brings up a lot of memories," T.J. Woodward said. "We hope this eases those memories and brings happier thoughts. It's nice for a family that somebody remembers. It helps with the healing process."

The tree is on display in Gilmartin's newly remodeled entry way.

This sign appeared in a shop window on Ellicott Street in the last day or so.  Nobody was around this morning, so no word on when the new deli might open.

It will be Ellicott Street's third deli. This summer, Molasses Hill moved from Alexander to a location near Harvester Ave., and, of course, on the corner of Liberty and Ellicott is Southside Deli. That location has been a deli or meat market for more than 100 years.

There's been a bit of a boomlet on Ellicott this past year, with four, now five, new shops opening for business.

A couple of readers have wanted to know this morning what's up with the Hess gas station at Oak and Main streets, Batavia, which has its driveways blocked. The station and convenience store are closed for remodeling. The manager said the station should reopen tomorrow.

Police are continuing an investigation this morning into a fire Thursday night at 107 State St. in Batavia.

Det. Pat Corona isn't calling it a criminal investigation, but police do want to know more about how and why the fire was set.

Corona said it appears a local homeless person had set up shelter -- with the home owner's permission -- on the back porch of a residence, then around 8:30 p.m., the man apparently tried to start a fire to keep himself warm.

"At least that's how it appears," Corona said. "We want to talk with him and find out more."

The man is known to police and was located last night by officers, but was uncooperative. Corona said detectives will try to interview him again.

The fire did minimal damage to the porch and the siding of the house, Corona said.

(Initial report)

Tonight we selected the winners in random drawings of three recent contests run on The Batavian.

The winner of the Hardcor Audio Facebook Like Contest is Diane Smith. Diane wins a $100 gift certificate from Hardcor Audio.

The winner of the VIP Salon Facebook Like Contest is Mary Cooley. Mary wins a gift basket from VIP Salon.

The winner of the Shop Batavia Facebook Like Contest is Terry Freeman. Terry wins a $200 gift certificate for Adam Miller Toy and Bicycles.

Santa took a break from his busy schedule to visit Alexander school tonight.

After reading two stories, it was time for Santa to hear what everyone wanted for Christmas.

Then everyone gathered in the cafeteria to frost and decorate cookies!

City Fire Department is dispatched to 107 State St. for report of smoke in the basement.

Engine 12 and Ladder 15 on scene, "nothing showing."

UPDATE 8:39 p.m.: "Smoke in the house. Investigating."

UPDATE 8:43 p.m.: Police requested to the scene for a possible investigation of arson. Firefighters apparently found something at the back of the house prompting them to request police to the scene.

View Larger Map

A motor-vehicle accident with injury is reported at 7381 Fisher Road in Oakfield. One person is complaining of a shoulder injury.

The location is "just before the curve" between Lewiston Road and Drake Street.

Oakfield Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

Update 6:09 p.m.: An official on scene says responders can come to the scene in non-emergency mode.

UPDATE 6:21 p.m.: This must be a pile-up since a Sheriff's Deputy is reporting to dispatch that there are six vehicles involved, but not all of them are damaged.

UPDATE 6:36 p.m.: Oakfield fire is back in service.

The owner of the Batavia Nursing Home was indicted today in federal court on charges of fraud and making false statements.

Five counts were filed against Marc Irwin Korn, 54, of East Amherst.

Korn is accused of engaging in two different schemes to obtain money.

He allegedly took more than $150,000 donated to the American Friends of Assaf Harofeh Medical Center while serving as an officer of the charity. 

He's also accused of causing more than $167,000 from leasing agreements for nursing home equipment to be deposited into a bank account of one of his businesses, Health Care Alliance, Inc.

The funds, according to the U.S. Attorney's office, were used for personal expenses, including salon visits, college tuition, clothing and antiques.

Korn is also accused of making false statements to investigating agents during a June 2010 interview. According to the indictment, Korn told agents the deposits into Health Care Alliance were commissions.  

The case is being prosecuted by Gretchen L. Wylegala, an assistant to U.S. Attorney for Western New York William Hochul.

A reader contacted us this afternoon and said Cedar Street was closed due to construction. He said traffic was being rerouted. However, about a half-hour later, traffic was passing through the construction zone one lane at a time. A worker said construction will hopefully wrap up in a few more days.