batavia

Robert P. Leiser Jr., of Lockport Road, Oakfield, is charged with assault, 2nd, and criminal contempt, 1st. Leiser was allegedly involved in a domestic incident July 24 at his residence. Leiser allegedly struck a female in the head with a flashlight. The woman required medical treatment. Leiser was allegedly under court order not to have physical contact with the woman. He was located in the City of Batavia, arrested, and jailed on $15,000 bail.

James A. Klotzback, 35, of Rochester, is charged with assault, 2nd. Klotzback was arrested by State Police for an alleged incident reported at 9:18 a.m., Wednesday, in the Town of Byron. No further details were released.

Summer Ogden, 36, no permanent address, is charged with trespass. Ogden is accused of being on 400 Towers property after allegedly being previously told by police and management that she was barred from the property.

Morgan B. Mikolajczyk, 18, of 328 S. Jackson St., Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Mikolajczyk is accused of pushing a family member during an argument.

Jessica R. Johns, 29, of 122 Jackson St., Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Johns allegedly possess marijuana while a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped on Jackson Avenue for an alleged traffic violation.

Cory J. Endres, 18, of 400 B Island Cottage Road, Rochester, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Endres was arrested Thursday by State Police for an alleged incident reported June 9 in the Town of Darien. No further details released.

Daniel H. Bettilyon, 51, of Hamlin, is charged with felony DWI and felony driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Bettilyon was stopped by State Police at 1:24 p.m., Friday, on Maltby Road, Oakfield.

Emily Ann Lane, 22, of Corfu, is charged with petit larceny. Lane allegedly stole $51.94 in merchandise from Kmart.

Press release:

The City of Batavia Fire Department will be flushing fire hydrants on Wednesday, Aug. 15 and Thursday, Aug. 16 at approximately 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the general area south of West Main Street and west of Jackson Street. Homes and businesses nearby will be affected. These tests may result in a temporary discoloration of water in that area. As in the past, please do not attempt to wash any clothing if your water appears discolored.

A motorcycle accident with injuries has been reported in the area of 7810 Lewiston Road.

A state trooper on scene requests an expedited ambulance response.

Town of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy EMS responding. Mercy Flight being put on in-air standby.

UPDATE 9:02 a.m.: The motorcyclist was taken by Mercy Flight to ECMC with neck, back, hip and leg injuries.

It appears that the bike rider and a red pickup were southbound and according to Trooper John Szymkowiak, the pickup driver came over the crest of the hill just south of Townline Road and apparently did not see the motorcycle.

The truck struck the bike from behind and the bike with the rider under the bike was propelled, skidding on its side, more than 200 feet down the asphalt.

Szymkowiak said that according to witnesses, the motorcycle was not slowing prior to be struck.

“The motorcyclist was conscious at the scene and he stated he was not slowing or stopping," Szymkowiak said.

Charges are pending against the truck driver, according to Szymkowiak.

"(The motorcyclist is) very lucky at this point," Szymkowiak said. "Any time there’s a motorcycle crash and you’re hit by a truck you’re very lucky to come out of it alive."

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City Slickers crowned Batavia's Chris Laird (bottom photo) the 2012 Hot Dog Cup champion after he beat out runner-up James Soccio (above), and the other contestants in the last seconds of the contest. Laird was able to down eight and a half of Nathan's brand hot dogs in the 10 minutes alotted.

Soccio, who was a close second, downed eight hot dogs. The annual cup was part of the WNY Round-Up Rally that took place all weekend. Contestants had to eat the dog and bun for it to count and were given a cup of water to dunk the bun if they chose. 

A car vs. pedestrian accident is reported at Ellicott and West Main Street. City police are on scene. Mercy EMS and city fire are responding. The pedestrian has a leg injury.

UPDATE 2:29 p.m.: The victim is a 32-year-old male who has a left leg injury and is being transported to UMMC. City fire is back in service.

Beer pong was the name of the game at the Polish Falcons clubhouse on Saturday as a couple of dozen people joined in a competition as part of a fundraiser for WNY Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

A group of Graham employees are trying to raise more than $20,000 for the charity and to finance their participation in a charity marathon in San Francisco in October.

Saturday's event also included a 50/50 raffle and a chance auction.

According to the group's fundraising page, the effort is halfway to its goal.

The team: Arlene Hall, Ashley Lashure, Elaine Harding, Nina Stevens, Andrew Haupt and Brian Ellingham.

Yesterday, Batavia played host to the 2012 ATV Extreme Dirt Track National Championship Series at the Batavia Motor Speedway on Harloff Road.

Hundreds of racers, including some of the top pros in the country, from all over the nation to participate in the event. (For more about the series, click here.)

(I don't have an ID on #16, but #708 is Harold Goodman, who came into the event in second place in pro point standings (no results posted yet for yesterday's event)).

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

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.

A person is reportedly pestering people in Austin Park, Batavia. The subject is wearing all-white clothing and has a teardrop tattoo under an eye. Police are responding.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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!)

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. 

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

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."

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.

A two-car accident with a possible minor head injury is reported on East Main Street Road in front of the Department of Social Services office.

An individual reportedly has a bump on his head.

Town of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 2:31 (by Billie): One person is being transported to UMMC.

UPDATE 2:41 p.m.: Town of Batavia is back in service.

At about 11 a.m., Batavia PD received a report of youths throwing rocks at the bus shelter at the  School for the Blind on State Street.

Officer Jason Davis responded and pulled up on four young men who he observed throwing crab apples at the shelter.

Davis could have charged the young men -- who were over 16 years of age -- with a offense such as criminal mischief.

Instead, Davis got creative and required some on-the-spot community service. He asked the dispatcher to contact the school and have a maintenance man respond with cleaning materials -- soap, water and paper towels.

The youths were required to clean all of the glass and pick up all of the smashed apples around it.