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The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a flood watch for Thursday through Friday afternoon.

Areas of heavy rain will spread across Western and North Central New York during that time, bringing total rainfall amounts between one and two inches. There is a potential for higher amounts locally, which could result in flooding, according to the weather service.

Rivers and creeks may continue to rise several hours after the heaviest rain has ended. There will be some ponding of water on roadways, especially in typically vulnerable low-lying areas. Locally, heavier amounts are possible in some locations, which could result in stream and small creek flooding as well as more widespread urban flooding issues.

A flood watch means there is a potential for flooding based on current forecasts. You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible flood warning. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.

The YWCA YES! Cafe will feature a Salute to Veterans lunch at noon on July 10th with guest host Assemblyman Steve Hawley, who will talk about his annual trip to Washington, D.C.

Veterans and those currently serving in the Armed Forces will have the opportunity to share their stories during Wednesday's lunchtime program.

The menu will feature: Grilled hotdogs and burgers, a salad bar, baked beans, and apple pie. Cost is $10. Reserve your seat now! Call 343-5808.

The YWCA YES! Cafe is located at 301 North St. in the City of Batavia.

Shortly before noon today residents on Shepard Road in Pavilion saw a light-colored minivan pull up to a neigbor's house. Witnesses said two men got out of the vehicle and knocked on the front door, then went around to the back of the house and the van drove away.

The neighbors called law enforcement and when State Troopers arrived, witnesses told them that they believed the two men entered the house and might still be inside. State Police and Sheriff's deputies from Genesee and Livingston counties responded to the scene.

A robot was deployed to check the interior of the house and with the help of the homeowner, intestigators determined someone had been in the house and items were missing.

A man from Rochester was located about an hour ago walking on Transit Road and is now in custody. It's unconfirmed whether he's connected to the case. A State Police helicopter has been deployed to search the area. State Police are still on scene.

A couple of minutes ago, Mercy medics were called non-emergency to stage in the area of Transit and Shepard roads to possibly assist the police.

(Howard is there and will have more complete coverage later.)

UPDATE 4:32 p.m.: The State Police entered the house found no one inside, thus clearing the scene. It appears the burglars were thwarted in their crime, leaving items taken from the house piled by the front door.

Tim Yaeger, coordinator of Genesee County Emergency Services, reminded us that this is Lightning Safety Awareness Week and notes that the National Weather Service has updated its Lightning Safety page <http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/>

The page contains not only information about lightning safety, but the science of lightning, the health effect on victims, download-able posters and brochures, and much more.

There have already been seven lightning fatalities this year.

<http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/fatalities.htm>

In Western New York, there have been 32 documented injuries by lightning since 1996. Monroe, Niagara and Erie counties have each seen seven injuries; three injuries each in Ontario and Cayuga counties; two injuries in Cattaraugus County; and one injury in Wyoming, Livingston and Chautauqua counties.

An accident with injuries is reported in front of the Arby's restaurant on West Main Street in the City of Batavia. City firefighters and Mercy medics are on location.

UPDATE 5:18 p.m.: The city fire assignment is back in service and Mercy medics will handle the sign-offs for the three people involved.

UPDATE 5:20 p.m.: The Mercy unit is back in service.

Batavia Police, detectives, Sheriff's deputies, medics and firefighters responded to a hostage situation on Highland Park about a half hour ago. Four people are now in custody. No one else is believed to be inside the lower apartment where the incident took place.

The first report indicated a person reportedly entered an apartment with a baseball bat and subesquently police shut down traffic at Pringle Avenue and Highland Park, and at Jackson Street and Highland, as well as Central Avenue.

UPDATE 2:25 p.m.: The perimeter is being opened. However, pedestrians and bystanders are still being kept at bay for the time being. Mercy medics are back in service.

Photo courtesy of WBTA

More T/K

A motorcycle accident with injuries is reported at Brown and Simonds roads. The rider is conscious and alert but the bike is on top of him. Mercy Flight is on air standby. East Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

The subject is fully outfitted for riding. He's in water, his head is not.

UPDATE 8:15 p.m.: Mercy Flight was called to the scene and has landed.

UPDATE 8:19 p.m.: The patient, who landed in a ditch, is now onboard the helicopter.

UPDATE 8:22 p.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne, but we don't know its destination.

UPDATE 8:35 p.m.: The East Pembroke assignment is back in service.

Press release:

Summer will be a happening place at YWCA, with the start of this year's Market at North Street and the unveiling of its exciting new Summer Adventure Program for children!

The Market at North Street is ready to go from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Sunday, June 23, with 15 vendors selling everything from maple syrup and tomatoes, peppers, sweet corn and strawberries to flowers, cheese, organic beef, farm fresh eggs, alpaca goods, wines, a variety of meats, artisan-crafted gifts, sweet baked goods, dried herbs, cheese and breads.

Each week will feature seasonal produce and something tempting to buy and eat right on the spot! Clor's will have grilled sausage and peppers, hotdogs and stuffed flatbread and will have assorted meats for purchase.

You may also want to relax for awhile and take in the sights and sounds of belly dancers, musicians and other live entertainment.

Market hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday through Sept. 29. SNAP and EBT accepted.

"Stop by to visit and get a head start on your weekly grocery needs. It's a fantastic opportunity to meet our local farmers and talk with them face to face about the products they grow and sell. That's something you can't do when you buy it off a shelf," says Market Manager Myra Schroeder.

"Agriculture is a big part of life in Western New York, and we are fortunate enough to have so many people willing to share their passion for healthy, fresh, organic foods with the rest of us."

The YWCA is also a pick-up site for Porter Farms' Community Supported Agriculture program. Participants get a bag full of organic produce each week for 22 weeks. The Porter family has graciously offered that for every 15 people the YW gets through its facility, Porter Farms will donate one free bag for a family in need.

What:  Scholarships & Strawberries at YWCA
When:  Starting June 23
Where: 301 North St., Batavia
Call:  (585) 343-5808

Also, for those who haven't heard about the YW's updated Summer Adventure Program, it offers kids opportunities for outdoor enrichment activities in the YW's six-acre back yard and field trips to Genesee County parks, planetariums and other fun places.

They'll also get to hone their culinary skills in the facility's commercial-grade kitchen and explore their green thumbs in the children's garden.

All of it is to teach teamwork, create motivation for learning and, most importantly, give kids a chance to have fun while exploring new things with their peers! But not everyone gets to join in on the fun, Executive Director Jeanne Walton said.

"Sadly, there are many families in our program who will not be able to afford the field trips, and their children will be left out as a result," Walton said. "We are seeking the support of the community to establish a scholarship fund, so that we can help more kids to be part of the full program."

A donation of $250 will allow one child to take advantage of 10 field trips offered during the Summer Program.

Your tax-deductible donation of any amount will go toward the Summer Program Scholarship Fund to ensure that every child may participate. Children may be signed up for a half-day up to five full days each week, depending on family needs.

For more information about these programs, call (585) 343-5808.

Press release:

The nationally recognized tie-dye spectacle and 5K run “Color Me Rad” stops at Darien Lake on Saturday, June 22, and is expected to draw more than 7,000 people, with nearly 6,300 already pre-registered for the race. Proceeds of the event will benefit the Special Olympics of New York.

Racers will be dressed in all white and run through the scenic grounds at Darien Lake while a Color Bomb Squad, made up of volunteers spread along the 3.1-mile course, takes aim at runners’ shirts, faces, and hair with a rainbow array of colors. More than 5,000 pounds of FDA-approved, colored cornstarch will be used during the event!

In addition to the Color Bomb Squad, walkers and runners will also be able to toss their own bags of color into the air, creating an unforgettable Technicolor display across the park.

In addition to the Color Me Rad 5K, families and participants of all ages are encouraged to take advantage of the numerous race weekend activities, including a Friday evening all-you-can-eat pasta dinner with live entertainment and Saturday post-race festivities in the amusement park.

On race day:
8:30 a.m.- - Onsite registration for the race begins
9 a.m. -- The first color bombs fly and waves of runners hit the course. (*Waves of runners depart every 20 minutes.)
11 a.m. -- Race ends

The amusement park is located at 9993 Alleghany Road in Darien Center

About "Color Me Rad"

Inspired by the Holi Festival of India, "Color Me Rad" is in its second year of turning runners into color revelers. This is the first year Color Me Rad comes to Western New York, and Darien Lake marks the 27th stop on this year’s nationwide tour. Color Me Rad™ will hold races across the U.S. and Canada in more than 50 cities. For more information and to see additional race locations, visit www.colormerad.com or check out what fans have to share on Facebook at www.facebook.com/colormerad.

Press release:

The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council’s 35th annual family event “Picnic in the Park” will take place on the Fourth of July from Noon until 5 p.m. in Batavia's historic Centennial Park on Richmond Avenue.

As always, this year’s “Picnic in the Park” is a free, family friendly event that will once again include all-day live musical entertainment, an arts and crafts show, folk arts programs, food vendors, children’s activities, and much more!

New this year is a Kiddie Parade, which will be held preceding the event. Harkening back to earlier times, families with children ages 12 and under are invited to bring their bikes, scooters or strollers to the northwest corner of Centennial Park – between the Main Stage and Richmond Avenue -- at 11a.m. to decorate them for an old-time “kiddie parade." Decorations will be provided, compliments of Kmart, and the parade will take place at 11:30 starting at Ellicott and Park avenues.

As is tradition, Main Stage entertainment commences at Noon with the Batavia Concert Band playing its traditional mix of Sousa-style marches and Big Band numbers. Founded in 1924, the Band has brought musical pleasure to the region every year except during World War II. The Concert Band itself consists of 40 to 50 brass, woodwind and percussion players ranging from advanced high school musicians to 50-year veterans. Many have professional performance experience; the rest are advanced amateurs.

All members of the concert band love to play. Their repertoire is wide-ranging in origin, style and period, and includes marches, Broadway show tunes, favorites from hit musicals and movies, pop, jazz and even rock numbers arranged for band. Join the band for weekly concerts during the summer on Wednesday evenings beginning at 7 in Centennial Park.

At 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 4,  “The Town Pants” take the stage with their own unique brand of rollicking Celtic roots music. With Genesee County native Mike Mastin on drums, this Vancouver, Canada-based band combines aspects of Irish traditional, folk rock and roots Americana, fusing their signature dual lead vocals to create their own unique brand of high energy "West Coast Celtic" that remains in the heart and head long after the music stops.

There are lots of Celtic folk rock bands out there, but rarely does a band have this combination of passion, energy, animation and spirit that makes for some of the most imaginative songwriting you’ll find in the genre.

Then at 2:30 p.m., Trio Los Arpegios takes the stage. They have been performing Latin American music for the past 24 years, specializing in the typical trio style of close vocal harmonies with guitar accompaniment. Led by Marcos Santiago, the members include Jesus Gracia Montes and Pedro Santiago, all on vocals and guitar. They will be joined for our Picnic performance by Latin percussionists Fermin Sanchez and Juan Collazo.

They perform traditional music from Puerto Rico, Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Central and South America. The Trio performs frequently in the Rochester and Monroe County area, and has traveled from Buffalo to Albany, from Watertown to Binghamton and even to New York City.

At 4, The BossTones round out the afternoon with a wide variety of music ranging from traditional fiddle tunes, Irish, bluegrass, and Southern Appalachian to jazz and swing. The BossTones are a fiddle music trio comprised of Jessica Boss Collins (fiddle), Darcy Collins (guitar), and Jack Metzger (bass).

Jessica was first exposed to fiddle music through her grandfather, Roland Huehn, a musician himself. When she was growing up Roland took her to a local fiddle club, The Fiddlers of the Genesee, where she met another musical mentor, Jack Metzger. Starting in the mid 1990s, Jessica, her sister Meghan and Jack formed a smaller ensemble, The BossTones, and began performing throughout New York State. Darcy Collins, the newest addition of the trio, was immersed in many musical activities starting at a young age, and has been playing the guitar for 18 years. Jack Metzger, a veteran musician, has performed with various bluegrass and other acoustic music bands throughout New York State. In addition to playing bass, Jack is also an accomplished guitar player.

STAGE II, the “family stage,” features two rotating acts this year -- at 12:30 and 2 p.m. The Traveling Dressup Theatre entertains with their family friendly dressup storytelling; and at 1:30 and 3 p.m. The Stringmen perform their delightful mix of folk and participatory music for kids of all ages.

Throughout the day in Centennial Park, other activities include horse-drawn wagon rides and petting zoo by Hartland Carriages, and the Wildlife Educators Coalition returns with its wide assortment of animals. Geoffrey Clough presents his popular interactive program of children’s songs called “Cookie Songwriting,” and don’t miss juggling by Picnic fave Brian Kozody and new this year, Owen Gould. The GLOW Area YMCA will have its bounce house and inflatable obstacle course on site, and recycling is generously provided by Genesee County ARC. Also new this year is My Cowboy Miniature Golf with a nine-hole course, putters, balls, scorecards and pencils.

In the Explore Art! Tent families are invited to decorate paper flower pots and create paper flowers to be delivered to area nursing homes and hospitals. Also, kids can try their hand at decorating white paper bags to be used in delivery of Meals on Wheels to senior citizens. All materials are provided. AmeriCorps volunteer Beth Ely will help kids and adults explore art! Free face painting will also be available at the Explore Art! Tent.

Along the Richmond Avenue side of Centennial Park, artists and crafters are again featured in an Arts & Crafts Show & Sale. An amazing variety of arts and crafts are represented, such as hand-beaded jewelry, photography, seasonal indoor/outdoor woodcrafts, homemade soap, hand-woven textiles, tie-dyed apparel, ceramics, and much more.

Additional attractions consist of booths by community nonprofit organizations, including Genesee County ARC information and recycling education, Genesee County Historians Association, Batavia Assembly of God dunk tank and sand art, Volunteers for Animals with dogs and cats for adoption, St. James Church garden tour tickets and plant raffle, Habitat for Humanity, GO ART!’s Picnic in the Park prize giveaway and many others.

The Picnic always offers up tantalizing food by a variety of vendors, such as Abbott’s cones, sundaes, milkshakes and root beer floats, Lonsberry fresh-squeezed lemonade and soft pretzels, Kernel Cravin’ Kettle Corn, and, of course, the Batavia Jaycees famous "dog and burger stand" in its traditional location.

The event is funded, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts Folk Arts Program with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

Picnic Sponsors include the County of Genesee and Rotary Club of Batavia.

Table Sponsors include: Batavia Area Jaycees; The Batavian; CY Farms/Batavia Turf; The Daily News & The Drummer Pennysaver; Stephen M. Hawley & Assoc., LLC.

Contributors include: Freed Maxick CPAs, P.C.; and WBTAi.com.

Flag Sponsors include: Bouchard Financial Services; Genesee ARC; Bob and Linda Knipe; McGinnis Excavation & Plumbing; SJF Construction, Inc.; and Tonawanda Valley FCU.

Friends include: DelPlato/Casey Law Office; Max & Jane Mason; Paula R. Schumann; Roger & JoAnn Triftshauser; and Wortzman Furtniture, Inc.

Additional support provided by City of Batavia DPW, Genesee County Chamber of Commerce and the Porter Family.

Please call GO ART! at 585-343-9313, or e-mail info@goart.org, or visit <http://www.goart.org> for more information.

A group of people are reportedly fighting outside at 26 30 S. Main St. in Oakfield. Sheriff's deputies are responding. At least one of the suspects is a male who lives on Sunset Parkway and allegedly drove away from the scene in a black and red pickup truck with chain link around the license plate.

UPDATE 5:46 p.m.: Deputies on scene report the fighters are gone, but they are going to check some addresses, including 19 Sunset Parkway, for information.

Pavilion Fire Department and medics are responding to an accident in Wyoming County at Route 63 and Boyd Road. The southbound lane is closed and the accident is blocking traffic. The driver is complaining of back pain and two infants will need to be evaluated.

UPDATE 2:28 p.m.: The road is reopened and the Pavilion assignment is back in service.

Press release:

BRING YOUR FEET DOWNTOWN AND MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES! The Batavia Business Improvement District announces the opening of the Downtown Batavia Public Market on Thursday, June 20 and runs through Sept. 26. The market is open from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., every Thursday and is located at the corner of Center & Ellicott (Rte 63) streets in Downtown Batavia.

Conveniently located in the center of our city, visit our market before you do your regular shopping to be sure your food is the freshest and that your dollars remain local. Now entering its eighth year, the public market has grown and changed to become a staple of the Downtown.

The market this season will have the following vendors providing fresh baked goods, a wide variety of produce and fruits herbs, flowers, maple syrup, dip mixes, dog treats, BBQ sauce, handmade quilts and other items. Plus, pulled pork sandwiches, Italian sausage, hot dogs and hamburgers for lunchtime at the market. Look for the colorful umbrellas.

Vendors include: Alston’s BBQ Sauce; Athena’s Bakery & Dog Treats; Crazy Quilts; Irene’s Variety; Karen’s Yarn Paper & Scissors; Nice Farms; Stymus Farms; and Schwab Farms.

If you would like to know more about how to participate in the Downtown Public Market, please contact Don Burkel at the BID at 585-344-0900 or email dburkel@downtownbataviany.com for local food, fun, and familiar faces!