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A car versus motorcycle accident with possible serious injuries is reported at 519 Genesee St. in Darien, at the intersection of South Lake Road. Darien Fire Department is responding along with Mercy medics. Mercy Flight #7 out of Batavia is put on ground standby.

Corfu Fire Police are requested to the scene in case needed to set up a landing zone. Law enforcement is on scene; vehicles are off the side of the road, not blocking traffic.

UPDATE 12:20 p.m.: Mercy Flight response is canceled, along with Corfu Fire Police, per command.

UPDATE 12:23 p.m.: A tow is called for the motorcycle, but not the car.

UPDATE 12:27 p.m.: Mercy medics are put back in service.

UPDATE 1 p.m.: The motorcyclist was transported by Darien ambulance to ECMC with a compound fracture of an arm and other non-life-threatening injuries. The female driver of a Dodge Dakota pickup truck was also transported there for evaluation. Sheriff's Sgt. Jason Saile said the truck was eastbound westbound on Genesee Street when it slowed to make a left turn onto South Lake Road. The motorcyclist was behind the truck. The truck driver said she used her turn signal. The motorcyclist says she did not. The truck driver slowed and attempted the left-hand turn and collided with the motorcycle, which attempted to pass on the left. The motorcyclist was ejected and may have struck his arm on a Direct TV satellite pole in the yard adjacent to where the accident occurred. The motorcycle ended up in a ditch.

A severe thunderstorm warning was issued at 4:10 p.m. by The National Weather Service office in Buffalo.

It is in effect until 4:45 p.m.

At 4:09 p.m. a severe thunderstorm was located over Batavia moving northeast at 75 mph. Wind gusts of up to 70 mph are a hazard. Up to three-quarters of an inch of hail are possible.

The weather service says: Expect considerable tree damage. Damage is likely to mobile homes, roofs, and outbuildings.

This area of impact includes the following highways: Interstate 390 between exits 11 and 12; and Interstate 90 between exits 48 and 46.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.

Also, a high wind warning is in effect until 10 p.m.

A "motorcycle versus mailbox accident with injury" is reported at 1018 Lewiston Road, Basom. The operator is conscious, alert and sitting down. Alabama Fire Department is responding along with Mercy medics. The location is between Casey and Crosby roads.

The Genesee County Women's Republican Club will host the 2018 Spring Breakfast from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 19, at Ascension Parish Hall in Batavia.

Enjoy a full breakfast buffet catered by the Dibble Family Center.

Cost is $20 per member and $25 per nonmember; you can sign up for membership at the event.

The parish hall is located at 15 Sumner St.

This year's "Caring for America Charity" is the Alzheimer's Association.

For more information, contact Melissa M. Haacke at 314-4501.

RSVP by May 7 to:

Michele Smith

20 Canterbury Lane

Bergen NY 14416

or via email at:

Msmith1548@frontiernet.net

Reader James P. Bradman sent us a photo of this female dog found running around West Main Street in Batavia near Settler's restaurant. "Apparently there was another small white dog with her that we were unable to find," he says.

An animal control officer has taken this one with the jaunty pistachio-colored bandana kerchief to the shelter. The shelter's phone number is 343-6410.

Press release:

Genesee County Office for the Aging and Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) will be holding a FREE six-week Chronic Disease Self-Management (CDSM) workshop for the community, beginning on Friday, May 11.

Those who attend the CDSM workshops will be shown practical steps to gain control of their daily health concerns.

Participants will learn about healthy eating, problem-solving, action plans, medications, weight management, physical activity, sleep, and relationship communication skills.

The workshop information is relevant for those experiencing chronic conditions such as: arthritis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and eating disorders.

The workshop is taking place at 2 Bank St., Batavia, at the Genesee County Office for the Aging, from 9:30 AM to noon over six Friday’s; the dates are May 11, May 18, May 25, June 1, June 8 and June 15^th.

Participants who complete the series will receive free materials and a gift card.

Preregistration by Wednesday, May 9, is required.

You can receive more information, and sign up for the workshop by contacting Donna Becker at (585) 815-8501, ext. 411.  

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) is a member of the Western New York Independent Living Inc. family of agencies that offers an expanding array of services to aid individuals with disabilities to take control of their own lives.

Press release:

Congressman Chris Collins (NY-27) will host a ceremony to honor any Vietnam era veteran from 4 to 5 p.m. on Friday May 11^th at the Batavia City Centre.

Veterans who are interested in receiving a pin from The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration are encouraged to contact his office to confirm their eligibility and RSVP for the ceremony.

“This year we commemorated the first National Vietnam War Veterans Day to recognize the brave individuals who served in our nation’s military during the Vietnam War years,” Collins said. “I’m honored to have the opportunity to meet Vietnam veterans in my district and distribute these special pins.”

Any veteran who served in Vietnam is eligible for a pin and should contact Alex Gould in the Congressman’s office at (716) 634-2324 for more information on obtaining one.

May 11
4 o'clock
Batavia City Hall, Board Room
1 Batavia City Centre
Batavia, NY 14020

Press release:

New York gubernatorial candidate Larry Sharpe (L), will meet with citizens of Batavia on Monday, May 7, to share concerns and discuss solutions to New York-specific business challenges including regulations, taxes, and the overall business climate.

“We need to unleash the individual New Yorker, who loves their state and wants to bring value to their community,” said Sharpe, a former business owner and leadership management consultant. “We must stop limiting them and start encouraging them to be innovators in their communities. I’m excited to hear what they have to say.”

The event will be hosted at T. F. Brown's (214 E. Main St., Batavia) from 8-10 a.m. Breakfast will be provided for residents and business owners who attend. A brief press conference will be held immediately following the event.

Larry Sharpe (L) is a Bronx native, a Marine Corps veteran, an entrepreneur, and a management consultant with 15 years of experience mentoring international executives, entrepreneurs & sales people.

He is also a teacher, previously serving as a guest instructor for business management and leadership at institutions such as Yale University, Columbia University, Baruch College and John Jay College.

He is now running for governor of New York in order to make education more effective through innovation, reform the criminal justice system to focus on rehabilitation, and build an economy that works for all of New York State.

For more information about Larry Sharpe’s plan for New York, visit http://www.larrysharpe.com/.

For more information regarding this event, please contact Deborah Kerr-Rosenbeck as 585-356-1712.

A serious injury accident -- a head-on collision -- is reported at Route 98 and West Saile Drive. Town of Batavia Fire Department, Mercy medics and law enforcement are responding. A first responder reports one lane of traffic is blocked.

UPDATE 8:58 a.m.: There is no entrapment. Mercy Flight was called but is cancelled.

UPDATE 9:12 a.m.: Both drivers are out of their vehicles and are being treated by medics. They were alert when medics arrived. Northbound Route 98 is closed at West Saile Drive.

UPDATE 9:32 a.m.: Both drivers are being transported to Strong Memorial Hospital; they have non-life-threatening injuries. Both are female. One is 36 and lives in Kent; the other is 53 from Elba. One was northbound on Route 98; the other was southbound and attempted to turn left onto West Saile Drive at the time of the collision. No determination has yet been made as to who was at fault. The accident is being investigated.

GO ART! is seeking artists, crafters and vendors to participate in the 40th annual Picnic in the Park on Wednesday, July 4, at Centennial Park in the City of Batavia. Nonprofit organizations are welcome, too.

The event will start at 11 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. Setup begins at 8 a.m. and must be completed by 10 a.m.

Vendors are encouraged to sell artworks and handcrafted items.

"Buy and sell" iteme should be limited. GO ART! retains the right to refuse applications as they deem necessary. Approval will be given via email or phone.

Entries received after June 30 will not be accepted.

For arts and crafts vendors, there is a non-refundable entry fee per space of $50 for nonmembers and $40 for members if paid by June 1. After June 1, the fees are $20 more -- $70 and $60, respectively.

There is no fee for nonprofit organizations. Solicitations are not permitted in the park, but may be conducted at the nonprofit's display.

Vendors provide their own equipment including tables, chairs, signs, canopies, etc. No electricity is available. Spaces are 10' by 10' and marked, but not assigned -- first come, first served. Each vendor is responsible for collecting/reporting all applicable state and local sales tax (Genesee County sales tax is 8 percent).

To get additional details and applications to print out and mail in, click here. There is a link for arts and crafts vendors, and another one for nonprofit organizations.

For more information, please visit www.goart.org, call 585-343-9313 or email info@goart.org

A tractor-trailer rollover accident is reported at Batavia-Elba Town Line Road, west of Route 98. One person is injured. Town is Batavia Fire Department is responding along with Mercy medics. Mercy Flight is on ground standby.

UPDATE 2:48 p.m.: The driver was transported via ground ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital for evaluation. The roadway remains closed until a State Police truck enforcement unit can respond and inspect the truck. Then a heavy wrecker tow will be called in to haul the tractor-trailer away. No other vehicles were involved. The cause of the accident is under investigation; it is not yet known to what extent speed or wind played a factor, if at all. The trailer was hauling 8,000 pounds of O-AT-KA dairy-processing byproduct. The organic substance spilled. It was bound for farms to be used as feed and/or in fertilizer.