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Press release:

The Batavia Police Department is investigating an incident of leaving the scene of an accident. It occurred during the early morning hours of Monday, Sept 5.

The accident was at 59 Jackson St., at the entrance to a parking lot on Jackson Street just north of Ellicott Street. A lamppost and a stop sign were struck during the incident. The lamppost was destroyed and a stop sign was broken off at the base.

Debris left at the scene indicates the vehicle involved is a blue in color Pontiac.

Persons with information regarding this incident are asked to contact the Batavia Police Dispatch at 585-345-6350 or the Batavia Police Confidential Tip Line at 585-345-6370. Persons may also report information via the Suspicious Activity Reporting link on the Batavia Police Department’s website.

UPDATE 7:52 a.m., Wednesday: The female driver has reportedly turned herself in. The investigation is continuing.

Alicia M. Lyons, 31, of 17 1/2 Central Ave., Batavia, is  charged with criminal mischief, 3rd. Lyons was allegedly observed scratching the paint of a vehicle parked off of Central Avenue. Lyons was taken into custody by Officer Marc Lawrence.

Timothy Garrick Fitzgerald, 45, of Windsor Drive, North Tonowanda, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, failure to signal lane change and moving from lane unsafely. Fitzgerald was stopped at 9:53 p.m., Friday, in the area of 4016 W. Main St. Road, Batavia, by Deputy Joseph Graff.

Sarah White Gilmartin, 35, of Norwalk Avenue, Buffalo, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, dazzling headlights and no/insufficient tail lamps. Gilmartin was stopped at 2:10 a.m., Aug. 27, on Main Road, Pembroke, by Deputy James Diehl.

Russell R. Miles, 43, of 12 Lake St., Le Roy, is charged with criminal contempt. Miles was arrested following a report of a disturbance at 12 Lake St. Miles was allegedly involved in the disturbance with a person who was the subject of a stay-away court order. Miles was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Brett A. Simcick, 27, of Keeney Road, Le Roy, is charged with felony DWI. Simcick was stopped by Le Roy Police in the early morning hours Saturday for allegedly failing to stop for a stop sign on Hilltop Drive, Village of Le Roy. Simcick was jailed on $5,000 bail.

Matthew Alvin Johnson, 28, of Prestige Crossing Road, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, unlawful possession of marijuana and no plate lamps. Johnson was stopped at 1:46 a.m., Sunday, on Seven Springs Road, Batavia, by Deputy Patrick Reeves.

A 23-year-old woman was injured at 10:30 p.m., Saturday, when she was ejected from the back of the pickup truck she was riding in at Darien Lake State Park.

Deputy Chris Parker, who investigated the accident, said in his report that the driver, Jarrett P. Hayes, 22, of Doyle Road, Baldwinsville, was trying to take a curve at an unreasonable speed.

Hayes was cited for alleged unreasonable speed and reckless driving.

Injured was Ann M. Dale, who was transported by UMMC by private vehicle.

Six other people were in the truck. Nobody else was injured.

The Sheriff's Office reports 10 arrests and 50 citations issued in connection with the Toby Keith concert at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on Sunday.

Raymond J. Kolas, 29, of Four Mile Run, Pittsburgh, Pa., is charged with harassment, 2nd, after allegedly striking a security guard while attempting to enter the concert venue with a false access pass. Kolas was released on $100 pre-arraignment bail to appear Oct. 11 at 5 p.m. in Darien Town Court.

Thomas E. White, 26, of Fitch Road, Ransomville, is charged with disorderly conduct after allegedly causing a disturbance in the concert grass parking lot.

Adam C. Hellwig, 26, of Olean-Portville Road, Portville, is charged with trespass after allegedly reentering the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Andrew J. Whitmire, 25, of Stone Hill Road, Livonia, is charged with trespass after allegedly entering the concert venue without a valid ticket.

Robert D. Farnham, 25, of Campbell Blvd., Lockport, is charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after allegedly causing a disturbance while leaving the concert and then resisting arrest.

Ari J. W. Maio, 26, of Mulberry Street, Rochester, is charged with trespass after allegedly entering the concert venue without a valid ticket.

Durst J. J. Buchebal , 21, of Clay Street, North East, Pa., is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly possessing a small quantity of marijuana.

Adrianne M. Ceglia, 48, of Rapids Road, Lockport, is charged with harassment, 2nd, after allegedly pushing a security guard inside the concert venue.

Robert L. Burns, 57, of Barbadus Drive, Cheektowaga, is charged with harassment, 2nd, after allegedly pushing and attempting to punch a security guard inside the concert venue.

Joshua M. Carney, 20, of Wescott Street, Buffalo, is charged with false personation and possession with intent to consume alcohol after allegedly lying about his date of birth after being found in possession of alcohol.

The following people received citations for alleged underage drinking.

Bridget A. Kruszka, 20, of Dover Street, Lakeview
Shannon E. Yates, 19, of Garlow Road, Niagara Falls
Jamie L. Skrlin, 19, of Saunders Settlement Road, Lewiston
Jacob A. Piersc, 20, of Seneca Place, Lancaster
A 17-year-old of Meadowbrook Drive, Albion
Lucas J. Hellwig, 20, of Olean-Portville Road, Portville
A 17-year-old of Nash Road, North Tonawanda
A 17-year-old of Walmore Road, Wheatfield
A 17-year-old of Miller Road, Niagara Falls
A 17-year-old of Saunders Settlement Road, Niagara Falls
A 16-year-old of Center Pine Lane, Williamsville
A 16-year-old of Wood Acres Drive, East Amherst
Joshua M. Cohen, 18, of Valley Brook Lane, East Amherst
A 17-year-old of Driftwood Court, Williamsville
A 17-year-old of Arielle Court, Williamsville
Amira M. Sarkis, 20, of Long Pond Road, Greece
Dominique Estratti, 19, of Northwind Way, Rochester
Sean P. Federow, 19, of Marshall Road, Niagara Falls
A 17-year-old of East Rouen Drive, Cheektowaga
Cody D. Mayer, 19, of 5th Street Court, East Bradenton, Fla.
A 16-year-old of South Academy Street, Albion
A 16-year-old of Gilhooly Road, Alexander
Amanda M. Przybylski, 20, of Penora Street, Depew
Lauren M. Berner, 18, of Town Line Road, Lancaster
Karly D. Manges, 19, of Three Rod Road, Alden
A 17-year-old of David Road, Williamsville
A 17-year-old of Deveaux Street, Niagara Falls
A 16-year-old of North Military Road, Niagara Falls
A 17-year-old of Hermitage Road, Niagara Falls
A 17-year-old of Isherwood Drive, Niagara Falls
A 17-year-old of River Road, Niagara Falls
A 17-year-old of Colin Court, North Tonawanda
A 17-year-old of Switch Road, Stevensville, Ontario, Canada
Jason A. Michaud, 19, of O’Reilly Road, South Wainfleet, Ontario Canada
Brooke M. Lindsay, 20, of Birch Court, Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada
Sean A. G. Parker, 20, of Burnaby Road, Wainfleet, Ontario, Canada
Casey J. Benson, 20, of Union Street, Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada
Dylan D. Edwards, 19, of Knoll Street, Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada
Joshua R. Feith, 19, of Hwy. 3RR1, Wainfleet, Ontario, Canada
Landon S. Minor, 18, of Lakeshore Road, Wainfleet, Ontario, Canada
Sarah L. Pickersgill, 19, of Forest Avenue, Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada
Tage A. Crooks, 19, of Sherk Road, Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada
Jonathan L. Aarts, 20, of Pettit Road, Wainfleet, Ontario, Canada
Mark A. Kramer, 19, of Stanley Street, Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada
Markie L. M. Peyton, 18, of Clarence Street, Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada
A 16-year-old of Lakeshore Road, Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada
Saraya A. Madden, 18, of Shamrock Avenue, Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada
A 17-year-old of Lakeshore Road, Wainfleet, Ontario, Canada
A 17-year-old of Forks Road, Welland, Ontario, Canada

A possible structure fire is reported at 111 State St.

There is smoke in the residence, which is confirmed by a police officer who responded to the alarm.

City Fire Department on scene.

UPDATE 8:20 a.m.: Firefighter: "It looks like it's a piece of clothing on top of a lamp in the bedroom." Later, "The source has been removed to the outside."

UPDATE 8:30 a.m.: City fire back in service.

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Apparently, traffic is moving slowly out of Darien Lake Theme Park following the Toby Keith concert.

A Sheriff's Office's sergeant checked with the deputy on the progress of one grass parking lot and the deputy responded, "They've moved one car length since I've been out here."

"Copy."

"If the rain keeps coming, they might need Noah's Ark to come get 'um," the deputy added.

UPDATE 11:27 p.m.: A Darien fire chief reports that the road is blocked at Sumner and Walker by a truck trying to pull a car out of a ditch. Law enforcement dispatched to the scene.

From kettle korn to pop music there was no end of reasons to be in Oakfield today for the annual Labor Day picnic sponsored by the Oakfield Betterment Committee.

Games, crafts, music, family fun and of course food will all be part of the festivities again Monday starting with a parade at 10 a.m.

If you have trouble viewing the slide show below, click here.

At the top of the ninth inning, the Dwyer Stadium PA announcer played a song by The Doors.

This is the end
Beautiful friend
This is the end
My only friend, the end

Of our elaborate plans, the end
Of everything that stands, the end
No safety or surprise, the end
I'll never look into your eyes...again

For the Auburn Doubledays, it could have been a sign that the Muckdog's 4-1 lead could withstand any offensive assault. It could have been a reference to the final game of the season.

Or, perhaps, a dirge for the final game of the Batavia Muckdogs. Ever.

It's too soon to say, and nobody really knows, whether there will be a 2012 campaign of professional baseball in Batavia, but at least the Muckdogs gave the faithful something to cheer about on a cloudy Sunday in September.

The Muckdogs close out 2011 with a record 37-38, good enough for fourth place in the Pickney Division of the NYPL (a storied baseball league founded in Batavia), but leaving them eight games out of first place.

Vance Albitz, scrappy shortstop who played his college ball in San Diego but went undrafted despite twice being named defensive player of the year, helped lead the Muckdogs to victory with two hits, two runs scored and an RBI.

DH Jeremy Lee Patton, another first-year player, finished out the season with a .293 average after banging out two hits.

The win went to Javier Enrique Avendano (1-2) and Danny Miranda picked up his 15th save even though he surrendered two hits and run.

Miranda was helped out by two crucial Doubleday base running blunders.

Bryce Ortega, who should have been out at second except for a throwing error by second baseman Garrett Wittels, tried to advance to third. Ortega's decision to race for third was questionable with his team down by three runs. But with third baseman Daniel Stienstra busy retrieving Wittels' errant throw, maybe worth the gamble.

Stienstra grabbed the ball and was able to flip it to Miranda, charging toward the bag, and Miranda applied a tag with Ortega still two feet from the base (though some fans on the third-base side said the tag was never made).

When Russell Moldenhauer doubled to center, Matthew Skole scored and Moldenhauer, perhaps feeling greedy, tried to stretch his double into a triple. He was, as the say, out by a mile.

And that, my friend, was the end.

If you have trouble viewing the slide show below, click here.

A person is reportedly unconscious after being assaulted by an assailant at the Crooked Creek Driving Range on Sumner Road, Darien.

The location is near Darien Lake Performing Arts Center where there is a Toby Keith concert tonight.

Law enforcement and Darien fire and ambulance in route.

A driver said he blacked out before his car struck a tree at the intersection of Cockram Road and Transit Road, Town of Elba, at 6:04 p.m., Saturday.

The driver, Eric J. Harter, 36, of South Byron, was transported by Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital.

Sgt. Thomas Sanfratello wrote in his report that alcohol may be a factor in the accident and charges are pending.

Harter was westbound on Cockram when his truck proceeded through the intersection at Transit Road. His truck struck a stand of trees.

Byron and South Byron responded to the scene and extricated Harter from his truck. Elba fire police handled traffic control.

A woman said she suffered a diabetic issue, causing her to rear end the car of a Batavia resident who had stopped for a red light on Lewiston Road at 8:03 p.m., Friday.Two

Two people suffered minor injuries in the accident and needed to be transported to UMMC for treatment, according to the Sheriff's Office report.

Cited for allegedly following too closely was Mary A. Acomb, 31, of Dewey Ave., Batavia.

Acomb's 2008 Chevy sedan struck a 2007 Toyota sedan driven by Frank J. D'Angelo, 53, of South Main Road, Batavia.

D'Angelo was stopped at the intersection of Lewiston and Park roads when his Toyota was struck. He was not injured, nor was Acomb.

Reportedly injured where Mona L. Adams, 33, and Diana L. Sheehan, 30.

The accident was investigated by Deputy Brad Mazur.

(initial report)

Marc Bzduch took his sons -- Dante, Devyn and Alexandre -- out for some early morning fishing at Dewitt Park. Bzduch said they arrived at the lake at 5:30 a.m., but it was raining, so they sat in his truck for about 45 minutes waiting for it to clear.

Fifteen volunteer firefighters from five companies in Genesee County are headed east this morning to assist in relief and recovery efforts in one of the hardest hit areas of the state from Hurricane Irene.

The volunteers gathered at the Emergency Servcies Training Center on State Street Road at 6:30 a.m. to be briefed on their mission by County Coordinator Tim Yaeger.

The group then headed to the Thruway to make it to Schoharie County by noon for a 72-hour deployment.

"They're in bad shape down there and now they've got more rain coming," said Yaeger, who was among the state's emergency coordinators dispatched to the region right after the storm hit.

The firefighters will be relieving other volunteers who have been working in the county since the storm hit last week.

"There's still places that are getting drops by Blackhawk helicopters of food and water because they're still isolated," Yaeger said.

Yaeger said it's amazing what these guys have signed up for with no pay. They will likely be sleeping on cots, living on pizza and pumping sewage out of basements during their 12-hour shifts.

They might also be called upon to deliver relief supplies to residents isolated by storm damage or just help with general clean up and recovery.

"And they're offended if I don't offer them a chance to go," Yaeger said. "These guys have been waiting for this for a week."

Darien Chief Dale Breitwieser couldn't make the deployment, but he was at the training center this morning to see off the three volunteers from his department.  He said it's events like this where you see that volunteers are a special breed of person.

"There will be volunteers there from all over the state and they'll all pull together," Breitwieser said.

Besides Darien, participating departments are Bergen, Town of Batavia and Stafford along with staff from Emergency Services.

Yaeger is not joining this group, though he may be deployed later today to Green County where a village of 700 people in the Town of Plattsville was wiped off the map. The town supervisor lost his house and his gas station and now he's trying to help his town through the devastation, Yaeger said.

The Albany Times Union has a photo slide show of the damage in Schoharie County.

The city fire department is being dispatched to UMMC to set up a landing zone for Mercy Flight.

Mercy Flight has a 15 minute ETA.

No further information available at this time.

If you're an artist, even if you get your degree in graphic arts, there aren't many opportunities to do what you love.

Especially in a small town.

Mark Fanara got his degree from SUNY Brockport, just a few years after he got his first tattoo.

It didn't take him long to figure that maybe body art was a way he could avoid being a penniless artist or getting tied down by a suit and a tie.

He made a career decision -- to open his own tattoo parlor in his hometown, Batavia.

The start of the 21st Century turned out to be a good time to open up a tattoo business. People like Dennis Rodman and Brian Setzer helped make tattoos into a mainstream symbol of individuality.

"There a lot of people who have tattoos that you would never know they have them," Fanara said.

From soccer moms to police sergeants, tattoos aren't just something only drunken sailors get in San Diego or Honolulu or bikers use to advertise their outlaw aspirations. They are no longer just dancing hula girls, red hearts dedicated to mom or anchors emblazoned with "USN." A good tattoo is a complex work of art.

There are whole magazines now devoted to covering the latest trends in skin art.

And Fanara and his staff can give anybody the kind of tattoo they want -- from a simple rose on the back of a shoulder, to a complex and detailed eagle with wings spanning a chest.

High Voltage Tattoo opened Ellicott Street in 2006 and about a year ago Fanara moved his shop to 110 West Main St., Batavia, giving him a high-profile location and a completely remodeled and modern parlor.

A week ago, The Batavian hung out at High Voltage while 36-year-old Fanara applied an ornate zombie face to the back of an arm of one of his apprentices, 18-year-old Ashli Hill, of York.

Hill, who does body piercing for High Voltage and is learning how to tattoo, said she's always loved art and was attracted to tattoos because her dad had them.

"I just remember my dad having this crappy looking panther and I just thought it was the coolest thing," Hill said.

The zombie face was a drawing Hill found online and decided it was a theme she would like to develop in her own body art.

"I love scary movies," Hill said. "I love zombie movies. I decided that's a theme I would like to build on."

She also said she likes tattoos on her arms because, "it makes me feel like Popeye."

Fanara said he gets all kinds of people coming through his door, from the accountant looking for just a little something only his friends on weekends will see, to hardcore tattoo addicts who are looking to add a new work of art to their bodies.

"The classics never go out of style," said Fanara. "The heart with 'mom' will never go out of style."

Of course, many of his clients are repeat customers.

"It's one of those things where once you get one (tattoo), you just want more," Fanara said.

"It's really a mainstream art now," he added. "It's a way to personalize your skin and it's a way to express your personality."

Safety

While we talked, Fanara brought out a surprising issue: Genesee County is one of the few county's in the state that doesn't regulate tattoo parlors. NYS has some regulations, but in most counties, the health department conducts monthly inspections of tattoo parlors, and Fanara thinks in the interest of public safety, Genesee County should do the same.

Fanara said he follows all of the safety and cleaning recommendations common in the industry, from sterilizing his autoclave to using disposable needles, but he believes the public should be assured that all tattoos are applied with the same safety standards.

One danger he warned against is the tattoo applied by the hobbyist at the kitchen table.

"They just know nothing about safety," he said.

Licensing and inspections might help reduce the number of tattoos that aren't applied in a safe environment.

"It would be a good idea," Fanara said. "It would make it safer for everyone. I don't want to pay another fee or pay for a license, but it would just make getting a tattoo safer."

There was a time when a child who was victimized would have to go through a gauntlet of police and medical exams while a case was built against the perpetrator.

And at the end of the process, the child and his or her family was left alone to figure out how to deal with trauma and its aftermath.

Then a group of leaders in the local criminal justice system got together and created Justice for Children and the Child Advocacy Center.

Today, when a child is sexually or physically abused, the child is no longer brought to an intimidating police station for an interview, then driven up to Strong Memorial Hospital for a physical and forensic exam, and then perhaps put through interviews with another investigator or two.

Rather, at the CAC on Bank Street, the child is welcomed into a kid-friendly environment where the investigators, medical examiners and other specialists are brought in to simplify the process for the child.

The CAC also provides ongoing counciling, support and even clothing and school supplies to families that need the assistance.

"I can't imagine going back to the way that it was before," District Attorney Lawrence Friedman said. "It's just a great place."

Friedman is also president this year of the Batavia Kiwanis Club. As a national organization, Kiwanis has a mission of engaging in charitable and civic work on behalf of children. The Batavia Kiwanis adopted the CAC as its long-term project.

The first order of business is to raise $150,000 to buy a new building to house the CAC. The club's goal is to raise $100,000 itself and is asking other Kiwanis clubs to contribute a combined $50,000.

"It's hard for me to imagine a more worthwhile long-term project for our club," Friedman said. 

Currently, the CAC pays $1,300 a month in rent -- down from $1,500 when the landlord provided lawn care that is now performed by volunteers -- mostly Kiwanis members. 

Friedman said that $1,300 a month that could be used to benefit children directly, and it's also a big expense in an age when state and federal grants are being reduced.

According to Genesee Justice Director Tiffany Szymanek, the CAC receives money from three primary grants -- National Children's Alliance, NYS Office of Child and Family Services and NYS Office of Victims' Services.

A new formula for state grants has more funds going to CACs in larger cities and cuts to smaller cities, Szymanek said.

Cuts have forced CAC to reduce staffing from two full-time employees to one and a half, with the hours of Grace Flannery, a child advocate (pictured) having her hours cut in half.

Flannery's job is to help guide a child and family through the process, from the day the child first walks into the toy filled waiting room through the criminal investigation, the court proceedings and any counseling.

The waiting room, Flannery said, "at least makes them feel a little more comfortable."

It's a symbol of what the CAC tries to accomplish -- avoid victimizing children again by putting through the trauma of reliving their experiences in sterile, adult environments.

"If they are escorted from service to service, they are just re-victimized and re-victimized," Szymanek said.

In a tour, Flannery showed off the CAC's child-friendly exam rooms, the clothes closet, the school supplies stacked in the employee break room and a boardroom filling up quickly with donations for an upcoming fundraiser. She said many times she thinks the community needs to know about the work the CAC does to help victimized children.

"The CAC is a marvelous resource that the community should know about," Flannery said. "Anything you can do to help get the word out, we really appreciate."

The Kiwanis Club is sponsoring a "Bidding on a Brighter Future" Gala and Auction at 6 p.m., Sept. 17 at Batavia Downs. Donations of items for the auction are still being accepted. Tickets for the gala are $40 per person or $75 per couple. Checks can be mailed to: Justice for Children GLOW Foundation, Inc., 108 Bank St., Batavia, NY 14020.

Disclosure: As of Thursday, Howard Owens is a member of the Batavia Kiwanis Club.

The Blue Devils erased a 14-0 fourth-quarter deficit only to see a shot at victory slip past them. With less than 30 second to go in the game, Bath's Matt Nevius connected with Dan Leonard on a 47-yard TD pass.

In the season opener, Batavia's John DiFante connected with Brett Scheurline on a 65-yard pass to put the Blue Devils on the board.

In their next offensive series, the Blue Devils converted on fourth down to keep the drive alive and then scored on another fourth-down play, a three-yard run by Alex Ianita. Batavia's conversion attempt was a run by Codee Gangarossa, who managed to just get the ball across the goal line to tie up the game.

On Bath's next drive, the Blue Devil's defense looked like it might have a chance to stop Bath, but Leonard managed to sneak past a defender. Once he secured the pass from Nevius, there was nothing between him and the goal line.

The Blue Devils are at home again, 7:30 p.m., Friday, against Bishop Timon-St. Jude HS.

In other Genesee County football action on Friday: Way-Co beat Le Roy 28-8; Notre Dame beat Attica 27-7; Pembroke beat Alexander 21-14.

NOTE: About the video -- I shot the first half with the same video camera I've used each of the past two seasons, but it wouldn't stay in focus for some reason.  At the half, I decided to switch to my DSLR and use its video function. I decided not to even bother processing the first-half video, so the video above is only from half-time on. Ironically, during one of the key plays of the game, the tripod slipped, causing the camera to lose focus, but I included it in the video anyway.

Notre Dame scored 20 first-quarter points in route to a 27-14 victory over Attica in the opening week of high school football.

Quarterback Tim McCully tossed two TD passes to his brother Doane. Doane had four catches on the night for 90 yards. Doane also had a kick return for a touchdown.

Nick Conklin scored on a 10-yard run for the Fighting Irish in the first quarter and in the fourth quarter, Tim MCully connected with Nick Taylor on a 24-yard TD pass.

Photos submitted by Bare Antolos. His web site is bareantolos.com

The family of 86-year-old Thomas L. Dufford is concerned about his whereabouts.

Dufford was last seen leaving the residence of one of his daughters on Pratt Road at noon, Friday.

He has not been heard from since, according to another daughter, Bonnie Dufford.

Dufford drives a white Lincoln Continental

"We are worried," Bonnie said. "This is not like him and he needs his heart medication."

She's hoping a reader may have some information to share.

According to Sgt. Greg Walker, law enforcement agencies throughout the state have been notified to be on the look out for Dufford's car, a white Lincoln Continental, model year 1996, with New York registration EDW 3680.

Dufford resides in the northeast part of Town of Alexander.

Walker said the Sheriff's Office has no specific leads on where to look for him since nobody knows where he might have decided to go after leaving Pratt Road.

If you have information to share, call the Emergency Dispatch Center at (585) 343-5000.

UPDATE 1:01 a.m.: Thomas Dufford was been located. He is safe. Dufford was stopped by a Sheriff's unit in Ontario County. His family is in route to Ontario County now to pick up him. He had apparently become disoriented and lost, according to Walker.