A silver SUV on Maltby Road reportedly struck two dogs and kept on going.

A deputy is dispatched to the area.

Douglas James Clark, 40, of 4224 Batavia-Elba Townline Road, Oakfield, is charged with assault, 3rd. Clark is accused of throwing a rock at a person at 4 p.m., June 24, in Batavia. The victim was injured.

Charles Joseph Finnin, 41, of State Street Road, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Finnin is accused of pushing another person during an argument.

Ronald Jason Scroger, 31, Swan Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Scroger is accused of shoplifting from Walmart.

Katelyn Christen Kubala, 22, of Maple Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Kubala is accused of shoplifting from Walmart.

Jason Lance Washington, 21, of Eller Street, Buffalo. Washington was turned over to the Genesee County Sheriff's Office by the Erie County Holding Center upon his release from custody on a bench warrant out of Bergen Town Court. The original charge is grand larceny, 4th. Washington was jailed in lieu of $1,500 cash or $2,000 bond.

Among the 12 people arrested Aug. 11 at the Blink 182 concert at Darien Lake was a 27-year-old man who found himself on the other side of the badge after allegedly tussling with concert security.

Arrested and charged with disorderly conduct was Sean Ford.

According to the Buffalo News, Ford's day job is as a cop at the University of Buffalo.

“Unfortunately, University at Buffalo Police Officer Sean Ford was one of them and was issued an appearance ticket,” said Gerald W. Schoenle Jr., chief of UB’s police force, who added that it is the policy of his department not to discuss personnel matters.

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,I,C – Batavia) today released the results of questions and answers from his virtual town hall, which were posted on his Facebook page. The purpose of the survey questions was to gain feedback on issues important to the residents in Hawley’s district.

In response to question #1, “Do you favor having two New Yorks?” by a ratio of nearly 6 to 1, residents favored Upstate breaking away from New York City.

Question # 2, “Do you favor a 90-day residency requirement before anyone can receive Medicaid benefits?” 86 percent voted in favor, while 12 percent voted not in favor and 1 percent voted “no opinion.” Hawley has introduced A6059, which would require a 90-day residency. 

Question # 3, “What do you favor as New York state’s vegetable?” 66 percent of residents favored sweet corn, while 19 percent of residents favored the onion and the remaining 15 percent chose “other.” 

Hawley noted that he would like to have more question and answer sessions like this via his Facebook page in the near future due to the high volume of feedback received.

In the meantime, Hawley encouraged constituents and supporters to follow him on Facebook (Steve Hawley) so that they can stay informed and up-to-date on legislative updates and issues of importance to residents of the 139th Assembly District.

A reader sent this link saying that a group of students "worked really hard" on this video to promote their school. We don't have any other details.

Rancho Viejo, Batavia's new Mexican restaurant, opened at 11 o'clock today.

Owner Leon Ramirez, right, said he decided to open a restaurant in Batavia because it seemed like a good market and there was no Mexican restaurant in Batavia.

Ramirez completely remodeled the former Ponderosa location on Ellicott Street.

This is Ramirez's fifth location. He also owns Mexican restaurants in Mt. Morris (his home), Cornell, Waterloo and Fairport.

"I invite everybody down to give us a try," Ramirez said. "I promise them very real Mexican food."

Pictured with Ramirez is Jonathan Martinez.

New students for the 2011-12 academic year at Genesee Community College started arriving at College Village this morning.

Some 387 new and returning students will occupy 95 apartments by the end of the day Saturday.

For new students, coming in today and tomorrow, College Village has set up orientation classes, events and trips to help out-of-town students learn about Genesee County.

"We have fun programs and we have educational programs to help prepare students for residential life," said John Sisson, director of College Village.

On the educational front, students -- many of whom are living with non-family members for the first time --  attend sessions on how to get along with others and fire safety, for example.

The village has scheduled events Thursday through Sunday, starting with a shopping trip to Walmart, an ice cream social, a pizza dinner, a trip to Darien Lake and an afternoon Muckdogs game Sunday at Dwyer Stadium.

John Sisson, above, tries out the revitalized bowling lanes at Mancuso Bowling Center, behind T.F. Brown's, in Batavia.

All 24 lanes were screened (kind of like sanding) and recoated over the summer, according to manager Mike Sputore.

At one time, the Mancusos recoated the lanes only every few years, now they try to do it every year or two.

"We've noticed better scores with the more frequently we do it," Sputore said.

In an effort to spiff up the lanes even more, the walls have been repainted, the bowler's approach area resurfaced and many worn parts of the pin machinery replaced.

To help give bowlers a chance to try out the revitalized lanes, Mancuso's is offering $1 per-game specials from 4 to 9 p.m., Aug. 20 through Aug. 26.

Through August, Mancuso Bowling Center is open 3 to 9 p.m. and from noon to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

St. Mary's Church, of Batavia, got a visit from the Blessed Virgin Mary Monday night. The church at 20 Ellicott St. was one of her last stops in Genesee County as she tours the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo.

The International Pilgrimage Statue of Our Lady of Fatima has been crisscrossing the Western Hemisphere for the past 64 years (there is another statue made for pilgrimages in the Eastern Hemisphere). It was sculpted in 1947 by Portuguese sculptor Jose Thedim, who based it on descriptions provided by one of the children who received visions of the Virgin Mary at Fatima, Portugal, in the summer of 1917.

According to Carl Malburg, one of the statue's custodians, the Bishop of Fatima commissioned the Pilgrimage Statue 30 years after the three children -- Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco -- received the visions.

"The idea came from the message," Malburg said. "It was meant for all the world, not just the people of Fatima."

"Fatima is not over," said Malburg's fellow custodian Patrick Sabat (pictured below), referencing Pope Benedict XVI. "There is a continued need for prayer and penance."

Addressing the people who attended Monday's service, he added: "Pope John Paul II said the message of Fatima is more urgent and more relevant now than it was in 1917."

Much of the content of the Fatima visions -- which began on May 13 and occurred on the 13th of every month until October -- deals with the harm that human sins do to the world, leading to war and destruction. The Virgin Mary reportedly told the children that if enough people carried out her instructions, there would be peace on Earth.

"Pope Benedict XV (who was Pope at the time of the Fatima visions) called Mary the Queen of Peace," Sabat said, adding that her intercession would work "when all human efforts at peace had failed."

Malburg, of Indiana, and Sabat, of the Philippines, escort the Pilgrimage Statue in its travels on behalf of the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue Foundation, which is based in Munster, Ind. With permission from Bishop Edward U. Kmiec, they are making a 21-day trip through the Buffalo diocese.

Interestingly, the Buffalo diocese was the first place the statue visited in the U.S. on her very first pilgrimage in 1947. One of her stops was Our Lady of Fatima Church in Elba.

"And we thought, 'Why not bring her back?'" said Sally Ross, Ph.D, a member of St. Padre Pio Parish (which includes Our Lady of Fatima in Elba and St. Cecilia's Church in Oakfield).

Ross was the one who came up with the idea of bringing the statue back to Western New York for a pilgrimage. It all started when she, as a member of Our Lady of Fatima, did some research into how her church got its name. She learned three interesting facts about the Elba church:

1. The Pilgrimage Statue's visit in 1947.

2. It is the oldest church in the U.S. to bear that name.

3. The knoll in front of the church on which the Fatima Shrine is now located was once used by the Ku Klux Klan as a place to burn crosses.

Fact number three is especially interesting if you think about the Fatima message.

"Our Lady wants all her children to live together in peace and harmony," Malburg said. "She said that if we follow her instructions, there will be peace."

To that end, Sabat called everyone to be "Prayer Warriors."

"This is a different kind of war," he said. "It's a war of reparation for the sins of the world."

According to a pamphlet from the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue Foundation, fighting this war includes making each of one's daily sufferings a sacrifice in atonement for sin, praying the Rosary every day, and wearing the brown scapular as a sign of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Miracles and favors have been reported in areas the statue has visited over the years. One of the most famous of these miracles is the "Miracle of Tears," which refers to reports of the statue crying human tears in more than 30 instances.

While there may not have been any tears in Western New York so far, people have been affected by the statue. The pilgrimage isn't over yet, and Ross has already gotten some follow-up calls.

"I wish I could have recorded them, (as they talked about the message)," she said. "Even just the timbre of their voices...it's just incredible."

As much of an impact as the statue has had, Sabat and Malburg were both very clear that Catholics do not worship Mary or statues.

"A statue's just a piece of wood," Malburg said. "And the person it represents (Mary) is not divine. But we do talk to her and ask her to pray for us."

He also said that he sometimes meets fundamentalists who object to giving this type of honor to Mary. To this he replies, "You have a guardian angel, don't you?" His point is that Catholics talk to Mary the same way most Christians might talk to their guardian angels.

"Mary is still the greatest catechist (teacher of the faith)," Sabat said. "She's a role model for all Christians, and we continue to imitate her virtues. Our goal is to be as close to Christ as possible, and she was the closest person to Christ there ever was."

St. Joseph's Church welcomed the Pilgrimage Statue at Mass this morning. It is heading to Orleans County today, but will return for a visit to the New York State Veterans' Home on Aug. 19. All total, it will make seven more stops throughout the region before the pilgrimage concludes on Aug. 22.

For more information, go to www.pilgrimvirginstatue.com.

Supplemental Video: Malburg and Sabat on local news show in Cincinnati

Law enforcement is heading to the Rolling Hills Asylum in Bethany for a report of a suspicious condition.

A car or cars stopped and several people got out and are now "running around" on the property.

UPDATE 7:49 p.m.: The car has apparently left the area, but it's been identified.

UPDATE 7:53 p.m.: The alleged trespassers, a male and female, reportedly went onto the roof, but did not enter the building.

UPDATE 7:58 p.m.: Vehicle located in the county park.

The ride operators who allowed Sgt. James Hackemer to board the Ride of Steel at Darien Lake Theme Park on July 8 did not comprehend the instructions they were given regarding minimum ride requirements, according to a NYS Department of Labor Report.

The report was obtained by Buffalo TV station WIVB through a Freedom of Information Law request.

The report (PDF) also says that Hackemer went to the guest services booth to inquire about handicap access to rides and was given instructions on how to use exit ramps to access the rides. The report indicates that no one at guest services advised him not to board any rides, but he was offered a brochure listing physical requirements for all of the park's rides. Hackemer reportedly refused the brochure saying he already had a copy.

At 4:30 p.m., Hackemer -- who had lost his left leg and hip and part of his right leg to a roadside bomb in Iraq -- along with his nephew, entered the Ride of Steel boarding area through the exit ramp and stopped at the gate adjacent to the unload platform.

The unload attendent notified the ride operator that a disabled guest needed to board the ride.

Hackemer and his nephew, who assisted the war vet, were then allowed to board the ride in car 11.

The report indicates neither operator made any attempt to prevent Hackemer from boarding the ride.

According to witnesses, shortly after cresting the third hill, Hackemer was ejected from his seat.

The report states that the restraint system of the ride is specifically designed to lock the passenger's shins in place to help ensure a rider cannot fall out or be ejected.

"After exhaustive review of all the documentation and interviews, it appears that the ride operator and ride attendent training materials met the requirements of the manufacturer," reads the report. "However, issues concerning the employees' comprehension of the training material and their ability to retain the associated requirements of their positions, specifically in reference to rider restrictions, became apparent."

At a press conference July 22, General Manager Christopher Thorpe would not answer questions about the ride operators, including their immigration status. Reportedly, Darien Lake annually employs about 300 students who are in the United States on J-1 visas.

It's unknown if the ride operators were exchange students or residents of Western New York.

The DOL report notes that upon the recommendation of inspectors, Darien Lake's management has instituted a new training program, created new training materials and instituted an audit program to ensure ride operators understand the safety restrictions of Darien's rides.

Big vehicles and a quick reaction by one driver may have helped keep a serious accident from turning tragic, according to officials at the scene of a 2:20 p.m. collision on Route 19 and Perry Road in Le Roy.

The driver of a 1991 Cadillac was apparently following a friend's car too closely, according to State Police Sgt. Kurt Schmitt, and when the friend's car slowed to make a left-hand turn onto Perry Road, the Caddy's driver, Timothy Coates, 17, of Churchville, had to take evasive action.

Coates, who was the most seriously injured in the accident, tried to brake and clipped the left rear of his friend's car before swerving into the northbound lane of Route 19.

Heading southbound in a white Dodge Ram pickup truck was Matt Hendershott, 28, of East Bethany.

"The Caddy just came into my lane and that's about all I had time to see," said Hendershott, a volunteer firefighter with the Bethany department. "Apparently I took evasive action because I left skid marks on the shoulder."

Hendershott was not injured.

"If we have a call tonight, I'm responding," Hendershott said.

Schmitt confirmed that the investigation showed that Hendershott reacted quickly and avoided a head-on collision with the Cadillac.

"It could have been very serious," Schmitt said. "We were discussing earlier that they came within a foot of hitting head on. Because somebody was paying attention to their driving and reacted quickly, we avoided a more serious situation."

Asked by a reporter if the Cadillac's size was a factor, Schmitt that in his personal opinion, it was.

"It's one of those old battle wagons," Schmitt said. "The smaller cars are more economical but in cases like this, that's not always better."

Coates was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital by Mercy Flight with what are believed to be non-life threatening injuries.

"We have positive thoughts about his condition," Schmitt said.

He will likely be cited for following too closely.

Le Roy Fire Chief Mike Sheflin thanked the volunteers from Le Roy and Pavilion for their quick response to the scene.

He said it was also helpful that the driver of the car Coates was following was an off-duty EMT.

The driver, Matthew Mandoler, 21, of Rochester, was able to provide emergency responders with a quick assessment of the scene and victims.

"The more information we can get when we arrive on the scene, the more quickly we can formulate a plan," Sheflin said.

Once on scene, it took the volunteers only 12 minutes to extricate Coates.

A passenger in Mandoler's car, Mike Schockow, said Mandoler took charge of the scene immediately after the crash and until emergency responders arrived. He did his best to keep everybody calm and organize help for the victims.

"I'd never seen anything like this before," Schockow said. "I was kind of having a panic attack. I'd never been in an accident before and it was scary."

Neither Schockow nor Mandoler were injured.

A passenger in the Cadillac suffered a minor arm injury.

Besides Le Roy fire, Pavilion fire, State Police and Mercy Flight, responding to the scene were Le Roy Ambulance and Mercy EMS.

(Initial Report)

Clor's Meat Market, 4169 W. Main St. Road, Batavia, NY: For the best, most flavorful, juiciest chicken or hamburger in town, hands down, stop by Clor's. Oh, and the steaks are great, too. And the sausage. Clor's also serves lunch and dinners from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. We have a $10 gift certificate for $5.

Settler's, 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.

Bourbon & Burger Co., 9 Jackson St., Batavia, NY: Batavia's newest burger joint offers more than two dozen different types of tasty hamburgers. Our menu also includes a variety of sandwiches, appetizers and an extensive beer list, plus a full bar. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Alli's Cones & Dogs, 7063 Lewiston Road, Oakfield, NY: Full breakfast, lunch and dinner menu; all-you-can-eat salad bar; ice cream served year-round; eat-in or take-out. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Alabama Hotel, 1353 Lewiston Road, Basom, NY: A historic and legendary tavern and restaurant. The Alabama Hotel is famous for its fish fries, but also serves a variety of top-quality entrees, featuring Certified Angus Beef. Now with expanded hours. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

Stafford Trading Post, 6173 Main Road, Stafford, NY: Lunch or dinner, Stafford Trading Post offers a variety of fresh, homemade meals, as well as snacks and drinks. Now in a new, expanded location. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50. Gift certificates valid on menu items only. Not applicable to in-store purchases.

Cruiser's Creamery, 140 W. Main Road, Le Roy, NY: For the best homemade ice cream, gelato and Italian ice, cruise down to Cruiser's Creamery. It's worth the drive! We offer soft serve, sundaes, razzles, milkshakes and more! Try an old-fashioned Banana Barrel! Our waffle cones and bowls made fresh daily. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., daily. Drive thru and patio seating. We have a $10 gift certificate available for $5.

Spirits, 78 Lake St., Le Roy, NY. Le Roy's favorite sports bar, where fun and good food are always on tap. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

South Main Country Gifts, 3356 S. Main St. Road, Batavia, NY: Handcrafted items, gifts with a regional flair, candles, teas and spices -- South Main has a wide selection to please most any interest. Decorate your home or office for summer. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Batavia Downs Grandstand Bar & Grille, 8315 Park Road, Batavia, NY: A full menu, salad bar and drinks in one of the region's most popular entertainment venues. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50. (Must be new or current Players Club member to redeem.)

SOLD OUT

An oven fire has extended into the kitchen of an apartment at 86 1/2 S. Main St. in the City of Batavia. City crews are responding.

UPDATE 3:37 p.m.: They are opening the windows and venting the place. There is a lot of smoke but no flames.

UPDATE 3:39 p.m.: The fire is out.

UPDATE: Photos submitted by Frank Capuano.

A car accident, with possibly minor injuries, is reported in Darien on Snipery Road, just south of the railroad tracks. The patient is requesting an evaluation.

Darien Fire Department and Mercy EMS are responding.

UPDATE 2:58 p.m.: The first responder says there are no injuries. One vehicle is blocking traffic.

A three-car accident with serious injuries is reported at Route 19 and Perry Road in the Town of Le Roy. Mercy Flight is airborne. Extrication is required for the occupant(s) of one vehicle. Traffic police are needed.

Le Roy Fire and Ambulance Service and Pavilion Fire Department and are responding along with Mercy EMS.

UPDATE 2:38 p.m.: Mercy Flight has landed.

UPDATE 2:44 p.m.: The patient needing extrication is out of the vehicle.

UPDATE 2:56 p.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne, but we don't have the destination.

UPDATE 3:41 p.m.: All units back in service. The roadway is reopened.

An idea born in Buffalo to promote locally owned businesses has spread to Genesee County.

It's called "Cash Mob."

The idea is to use social networking sites to organize local residents around one day of supporting a specific local business.

People nominate locally owned businesses using Facebook, Twitter or on a form on the WNYMedia.Net site. On Wednesdays, the business with the most votes is announced and a day is announced for supporters of the "Cash Mob" descend on the business and spend from $10 to $20.

The first time it was tried in Buffalo two weeks ago, a local win shop had 40 extra customers and more than $2,000 in revenue.

"It’s about generating excitement to shop locally," said Chris Chravella, who organized the Genesee Cash Mob. "We want people to have a fun reason to spend money in the community instead of (going to another local to spend money)."

People who want to vote can do so through on Twitter (send message to @GeneseeCashMob), Facebook or this WNYMedia.Net post.

Only businesses with local or regional owners will be considered. National chains and franchises are out.

Charvella said he hopes the "Cash Mob" idea (the brainchild of Chris Smith, from Buffalo) will help raise awareness of local businesses and help people maybe discover the benefits of a particular shop that they never visited before.

"Any time you can keep dollars in the community, it's a good thing," Charvella said. "Any time you can boost the local economy, it's a good thing. You cannot go wrong spending money at the place down the street."