A tree and a utility pole have blown over and onto a house at 3 Vine St. in the City of Batavia. The pole has a transformer on it and it's leaning across the roadway. National Grid is on scene. City fire dispatched.

UPDATE 11:05: City fire back in service. National Grid is handling the situation.

UPDATE 11:08 a.m.: A city code enforcement officer is called to the scene regarding the tree fallen onto the house, presumably to address safety concerns.

UPDATE (by Howard): Duane Pruston, a local landlord, said he bought 3 Vine St. just a few weeks ago. He was inside finishing up work for new tenants (he just rented it) when he walked outside, heard a crack and looked over and saw the tree falling into the house. He said wires were flying everywhere and paint crews working in a bucket next door were lucky, Pruston said, that they weren't struck by wires.

UPDATE: Frank Capuano submitted the two photos below:

A section of roof has blown off a barn and into a telephone pole at 1083 Transit Road.

The section of roof is tangled up in the wires. The pole snapped.

Pavilion Fire Department is dispatched.

UPDATE 10:51 a.m.: Traffic is being shut down at Sheppard and Transit. The pole is broken and leaning toward the roadway, but is not completely sheared off.

UPDATE 11:10 a.m.: The roadway is being reopened. Pavilion Fire Department is leaving the scene. The farm workers are working to clear away the portion of the barn roof. Apparently, the wires are not a safety hazard.

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Joshua Edward Krzemien, 24, of Portageville Road, Castile, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing. Krzemien is accused putting another person in a head lock, obstructing the person's breathing, during a domestic incident on Ellicott Street Road, Pavilion, at 9:40 p.m., Tuesday.

Sarah Jean Nugent, 25, of Ellicott Street Road, Pavilion, is charged with criminal mischief. Nugent is accused of breaking the mobile phone of another person during a domestic incident on Ellicott Street Road, Pavilion, at 9:40 p.m., Tuesday.

A 16-year-old from Three Rod Road, Marilla, is charged with trespass. The youth, along with three others, are accused of being on property at 400 Seven Day Road, Darien, without permission. Also charged with trespass were three youths from Alden: a 17-year-old, of Emerson Street; a 17-year-old, of West Drive; and Steven Anthony Jasinowski, 18, of Kellogg Street.

A roof is apparently blowing off an apartment building at 10980 Starr Road, Pavilion.

Pavilion Fire Department being dispatched.

UPDATE 10:22 a.m.: The building is being evacuated.

UPDATE 10:23 a.m.: A code inspector on scene advises it's just shingles blowing off. The decking is intact and no electrical wires are involved.

UPDATE 10:26 a.m.: An assistant chief on scene reports just sheeting coming off the roof. All Pavilion equipment held in the hall.

UPDATE 10:30 a.m.: Pavilion back in service.

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Winds between 30 and 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph are possible today through 4 p.m.

The National Weather Service warns that strong winds could bring down trees and power lines.

Drivers of high profile vehicles should exercise caution.

A flash flood watch for the region has been cancelled.

There's a 50-percent chance of precipitation today, and it will be partly cloudy.

A pursuit of a motorcycle rider is in progress. It began in Oakfield, came into the city briefly and now appears headed back toward Oakfield.

The original call was for a motorcycle rider on a "crotch rocket" apparently racing through the Village of Oakfield. The original caller suspected the rider was intoxicated.

Law enforcement units responded to Oakfield but didn't get there before he refueled at Wilson Farms.

The rider was spotted southbound on Route 63. When he reached West Main Street, he turned right and headed west. He took Kelsey to Galloway, then Downey, then Maple and is now heading back into the village and then 63.

The rider has allegedly ran multiple stop signs and "almost lost it on Maple."

He just "dumped it" on southbound Route 63.

The rider took off on foot, northbound.

UPDATE 6:34 a.m.: Suspect in custody.

UPDATE 6:37 a.m.: Medics requested to the scene to evaluate the suspect from being Tased and his tumble.

UPDATE 6:42 a.m.: Suspect is denying any injuries. Taser probes need to be removed from his legs.

A scene along South Main Road, at about 6:45 p.m., shortly after our cloudburst.  Recent rains have the Tonawanda Creek running high, from bank-to-bank.

While radar shows the storm seems to have passed, a tornado watch remains in effect until 10 p.m.

There is a flash flood watch in effect from 10 p.m. until tomorrow morning.

Two cars going in the opposite direction on Railroad Avenue in Alexander struck side view mirrors and the driver in one of the vehicles suffered minor cuts as a result of the accident.

Nicholas A. Antonucci, 23, of 4192 Broadway Road, Alexander, was eastbound in a 2009 Dodge pickup, and Edward R. Reiter, 58, of East Main Street, Attica, was westbound in a 1990 Ford dump truck when their mirrors struck.

Reiter suffered cuts on his arm but was not transported to a hospital.

The accident occurred at 1:06 p.m.

No citations were issued.

The accident was investigated by Deputy Chris Parker.

Earlier this week, Antonucci was charged by City Police with driving with ability impaired by drugs.

Ian Murphy, on the Green line in the NY-26 special election on May 24, may be considered such a long shot that the Buffalo News won't even mention him as a candidate in the race, but that's hardly keeping him silent.

As a long-time blogger at Buffalo Beast, Murphy has learned a thing or two about the Web, social media and PhotoShop.

Murphy has raised so little money for his campaign, he hasn't even needed to file campaign financing reports, but it doesn't take much cash to launch a Web site.

So Murphy is campaigning against the frontrunners in the race the best way he knows how -- with satire and digital media.

Within the last day or so, Murphy launched JaneCorwin.org.

The site is a direct copy of Corwin's own campaign site, JaneCorwin.com, but alter's text and photos to send a decidedly different message.

On the authentic site, where Corwin invites people to sign up for an e-mail newsletter, Murphy changed the submission fields from e-mail address and zip code to "Bank Account Number" and "SS #."  Where Corwin has a "Contribute" button, Murphy's button reads, "Give Me Your Money."

One blog post entry is titled "Corwin Outlines Comprehensive Pandering Strategy." The post begins: "Jane Corwin, successful daughter of rich people and candidate for New York’s 26th Congressional District, today outlined a comprehensive pandering strategy to say she’ll decrease gas prices because that’s what our polling research said people want to hear. Corwin discussed her pandering agenda to a crowd of local idiots."

The humor isn't always polite. Murphy also calls Corwin "ugly."

The disclosure on the footer of the site reads, "paid for by corporate greed."

Some of the links on the site lead to a page asking people to make contributions to Murphy's campaign.

Asked about the site, Murphy wrote back:

We set it up as a favor to Jane. Her current Web site doesn't accurately portray her vapidity, her corporate agenda, or her desire to decimate Medicare and Social Security for the financial benefit of the Wall Street elite. We just thought she deserved a more honest Web site.

We also asked Corwin's campaign for a response and this is what we received from Matthew Harakal:

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Now if we could only get liberals and career politicians like Kathy Hochul to follow Jane Corwin’s lead to reduce taxes, cut spending and create jobs, we could really start to fix Western New York’s economy.

Weather Service statement:

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 236 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS 

IN NEW YORK THIS WATCH INCLUDES 13 COUNTIES 

IN CENTRAL NEW YORK  CAYUGA 

IN WESTERN NEW YORK 

ALLEGANY CATTARAUGUS CHAUTAUQUA ERIE GENESEE LIVINGSTON MONROE NIAGARA ONTARIO ORLEANS WAYNE WYOMING 

THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...AUBURN...BATAVIA...BUFFALO... CANANDAIGUA...FAIR HAVEN...GENESEO...JAMESTOWN...MEDINA... NEWARK...NIAGARA FALLS...OLEAN...ROCHESTER... WARSAW AND WELLSVILLE.

Press Release:

The following is a statement from Fabien Levy, director of communications, for Kathy Hochul for Congress:

“While voters of the 26th District express their concern over Jane Corwin’s support of the Republican budget that decimates Medicare, the Assemblymember is hitting the D.C. fundraising circuit with the same Washington insiders who voted for the proposal.

“This morning, Jane Corwin is headlining a fundraiser in Washington, D.C., with slick Washington politicians and her old Wall Street pals at the Capitol Hill Club. The fundraiser is being hosted by The Financial Services Roundtable – a group of Wall Street bankers, who were among the first to back President Bush’s plan to privatize Social Security.

“So not only do Jane Corwin’s donors want to decimate Medicare, but they supported privatizing Social Security as well? Voters in the 26th District will not stand for politicians that support proposals that could send our seniors back into poverty, while lining the pockets of the super rich.

“Jane Corwin’s plans are wrong for all Americans and will only add burdensome costs onto the backs of our seniors, while providing massive tax breaks to America’s corporate giants and wealthiest individuals.”

UPDATE: Response from the Corwin campaign:

"Today, Jane is discussing how she would vote to cut spending and create jobs, while over the last few days Kathy Hochul has been sipping champagne with radical New York City special interests that have decimated Western New York’s economy. Instead of hobnobbing with glitterati on New York City’s Upper East Side, maybe Kathy Hochul will finally speak up and unveil her plan for cutting spending, creating jobs, lowering gas prices, or anything else for that matter."  -Matt Harakal

Saturday, for National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, members of the Batavia Police Department will be in the parking lot of department HQ, 10 W. Main St., Batavia, to collect unwanted prescription drugs and hypodermic needles.

No questions asked.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The drop off is open to all people regardless of where they reside.

Additionally, nursing homes, doctors offices and other organizations wishing to dispose of unwanted prescription drugs and or hypodermic needles may use the service.

As an added bonus, people disposing of unwanted prescription drugs will receive a certificate for a free seat at a Buffalo Bisons home game between May 5 and 12 when one ticket is purchased for the same game.

Photo submitted by Batavia PD. Pictured are Det. Charles F. Dudek, left, and Det. Todd A. Crossett

The Town of Elba has a new phone system, according to Supervisor Lucine Kauffman. 

The new, automated phones at Elba Town Hall required the town to change its phone numbers.

Here are the new numbers:

Town Hall main number: 585-757-2762. Callers will receive a message with the extension menu for all of the Elba Town officials and departments.

Town Hall Fax number: 585-757-9921

Town Court Fax number: 585-757-9200

The changes took effect today.

Flash floods are possible in Genesee County this evening as moderate to heavy precipitation moves into the area and hits already saturated ground.

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for the entire region.

Rainfall tonight may exceed an inch.

The watch is in effect from 10 p.m. through Thursday morning.

Flooding is possible in areas of poor drainage as well as along small streams and creeks. Larger creeks and rivers will also rise significantly.

The National Weather Service says that if you are in a watch area you should monitor weather closely and be ready to move to higher ground if flooding is observed or a warning is issued.

The big honkin', humongous SUPER MAMMOTH Indoor Garage Sale at St. Joe's School is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday. It's located at 2 Summit St. in Batavia.

While planning it hasn't put Chairwoman Kathy Stefani in seventh heaven, she knows the proceeds are heaven sent, so to speak, and will be used to buy state-of-the-art instructional technology for the school.

Now in its seventh year, this thing has grown quite a bit since its inception.

Stefani, a St. Joseph's parent, began chairing the sale as a fundraiser for St. Anthony's School in Batavia, where her children attended until the school closed several years ago. She's the one who gave it the name MAMMOTH, because "even (during the first year) it got real big."

"It's gotten to the point where it's not just a sale," Stefani said. "It's really an event."

It will fill all the main areas of the school -- both upstairs and downstairs -- as well as the green space outside, which will feature a 20-by-40 foot tent in which lawnmowers and outdoor furniture will be sold.

Volunteers have been collecting donations all year, and have spent the last two weeks setting up. The latter process has included the tasks of washing and pricing the items.

Speaking of prices -- bibliophiles will definitely want to get to showroom #2 (a.k.a. the gym), where a large variety of books for all ages will be sold for only 25 cents each.

And for $20, you can own a 49-star American flag.

Shoppers will have a total of 19 cashiers, two of whom will be "express cashiers," to assist them.

In addition to antiques, furniture, books, needful things and other goodies to which customers have come to look forward to, there are some exciting new features this time around.

• Clor's Chicken BBQ will be sold outside, with picnic tables and benches available for sit-down meals.
• A bake sale, featuring all homemade items, including cakes and fresh-brewed coffee.
• Because there is so much merchandise this year -- "tens of thousands of items," according to the ad flier -- Stefani and other volunteers will be restocking tables at 12:30 p.m. on the day of the sale. So, if you are not a morning person, you will still have plenty of choices if you come in the afternoon!
• A special attraction will be an Artisan Doll Shoppe, staffed by an expert in vintage and collectible dolls who will be able to answer questions and offer free appraisals.

Yesterday, there were no obvious blossoms on the trees behind the Upton Monument at Ellicott and Main streets. This morning, an explosion of pink.

Surely, spring is here, finally?

The seven-day forecast calls for more rain this week, but supposedly, Saturday will be clear, which is good news for those of us who have gardening to do.

The proposal is in the city budget, it's in the strategic plan, it's on the drawing board, but officially, the Batavia City Council has yet to approve the creation of an economic development director.

The vote will take place at the council's next business meeting, but on Monday council members got a chance to learn more about the proposal, ask questions and state their opinions.

There were no strong objections, and Councilman Bill Cox called on his fellow council members to approve the proposal.

"It’s a great opportunity for the city and it’s the most important thing we’ve done in a long time," Cox said. "I don’ think you’re going to see any results for 18 months, because no matter what you decided, you’re going to have to apply for grants, you’re going to have to wait for replies, you have to be selective, so I think we’ll see the first fruits of our labor in 18 to 24 months."

Under the proposal, the city would chip in $10,000 per year for each of the first two years (funded by cutting $15,000 from the grant writing budget of the city), with the balance of the eventual hire's salary being covered by money from the revolving loan fund and the micro-enterprise fund (both funds filled years ago by state grants).

The Batavia Development Corporation, which in the past has overseen the revolving loan fund, would hire and supervise the economic development position.

Councilman Bob Bialkowski wondered if, within the two years allotted for the new position to start paying off, whether new grants would start funding the position.

Ray Chaya, president of the BDC board of directors, said, "that would be the hope. Even though the state is in dire straits, there is still money out there for economic development. We want to be able to capture whatever is out there as soon as it’s available."

Council members asked questions about benefits -- the new hire will not receive benefits through the city as an employee of the BDC -- and what the person will actually do.

The job description specifies that the economic developer will be required to recruit and retain small businesses in the city and help businesses find ways to expand and grow.

If the council approves the proposal, the BDC can get to work on recruiting the right person and hopefully getting him or her in place on or before Aug. 1.

"We really need three-to-four months to get that person in here and really have benchmarks set up," Chaya said. "Two years is really a short amount of time, so this person needs to have strong communications skills, small business sense and a really good understanding of economic development."

There was at least about one thunderclap over Batavia around 4:30 this afternoon, which is about the same time the National Weather Service issued a thunderstorm warning, but by then radar showed the storm moving quickly to the northeast.

We never got the big hail downpour that was supposedly part of the storm.

And then patchy clouds rolled in and the warning was cancelled.

This picture was taken from Mill Street off of Evans Street about about 7 p.m.