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Cold milling of Vine Street in the city planned next week

By Billie Owens

From the city's Superintendent of the Bureau of Maintenance Raymond Tourt:

Vine Street from East Main Street to Bank Street will be affected by construction delays and lane reductions for the cold milling of the pavement, base repair and binder installation on Monday, July 30, through Wednesday, Aug. 1.

Time of work those days is 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and delays may also occur at these locations: Fisher Parkway & Vine Street; Chase Parkway & Vine Street; East Avenue & Vine Street; Farwell Drive & Vine Street; North Street & Vine Street; and Evergreen Drive & Vine Street.

All residents within that area along Vine Street are asked not to park on the roadway during the day; they should either park in their driveways or on neighboring streets.

All motorists are asked to avoid Vine Street if possible.

Portions of this work are weather dependant and delays may occur.

Please plan accordingly and contact D&H Excavating at this phone number -- (716) 482-4956 -- if special accommodations are needed.

Thank you for your cooperation in advance.

City Bureau of Maintenance

147 Walnut St., Batavia

345-6400, Opt. 1

Law and Order: 40-year-old Oakfield man accused of having intercourse with female under age 17

By Billie Owens

John M. Brabowski, 40, of Fisher Road, Oakfield, is charged with third-degree rape. He was arrested on July 24 and arraigned at 9:11 p.m. in Batavia Town Court. It is alleged that he engaged in sexual intercourse with a female victim under the age of 17 on July 23 at a location on Fisher Road in Oakfield. He was jailed on $100,000 bail and is due in Oakfield Town Court on Aug. 6 to answer the charge. Additional charges are pending. The case was investigated by Genesee County Sheriff's Investigator Joseph Loftus, Youth Officer Howard Carlson and Sgt. Bradley Mazur.

Anthony D. Micucci, 24, of Main Street, Alexander, is charged with third-degree assault, third-degree menacing, and endangering the welfare of a child. He was arrested at 3:25 p.m. on July 25 on Main Street in Alexander following a domestic incident in the village. He is due in Town of Alexander Court on Aug. 8. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Joshua Brabon.

Joshua M. Gaudioso, 29, of Genesee Street, Le Roy, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon because he is a convicted felon. He was arrested and arraigned in Bergen Town Court at 9 p.m. on July 26. He was jailed in lieu of $10,000 cash or bond. He is accused of possessing a shotgun on July 20 at a location on North Bergen Road, Bergen. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Andrew Mullen, assisted by Deputy Chad Minuto.

Kevin Wayne Howard, 18, Bank Street, Batavia, is charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle in the third degree. He was arrested at 4 a.m. July 26 on Griswold Road in Le Roy following a complaint. It is alleged that the defendant took a motor vehicle without the consent of the owner. He was issued an appearance ticket for Town of Le Roy Court and is due there Sept. 3. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Ryan DeLong, assisted by Batavia Police Sgt. Dan Coffey.

Damien Anthony Weir, 37, of Branch Lane, East Stroudsburg, Pa., is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. The defendant was charged after a traffic stop on Veterans Memorial Drive in Batavia at 10:28 a.m. on July 24. He was issued an appearance ticket for Batavia Town Court and is due there on Aug. 14. The case was handled by Sheriff's Deputy Lonnie Nati, assisted by Deputy Ryan DeLong.

Semi vs. car accident reported on Main Road in Corfu, unknown injuries

By Billie Owens

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A two-vehicle accident -- possibly between a semi-truck and car -- is reported at 2033 Main Road in Corfu. Unknown injuries. Mercy Flight is put on standby. The location is between Cleveland and Indian Falls roads.

Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding, along with Mercy medics.

UPDATE 12:15 a.m. (By Howard): The patient, the driver of the sedan, was transported to ECMC by Mercy Flight for treatment of injuries, including a broken leg, and evaluation of possible internal injuries. The Sheriff's Office Crash Management Team is conducting an investigation into the accident. There is little that is known about it so far. The Perry's truck was westbound and the sedan was eastbound. A gouge in the roadway indicates the collision occurred in the eastbound lane. The truck driver, who was not injured, told deputies he swerved left to try and avoid the sedan. 

UPDATE 2:04 a.m.: Route 5 is open. All responding fire units back in service.

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Wisdom Tree impressive in NYSS at Batavia

By Billie Owens

(Wisdom Tree with driver Kevin Cummings.) Photos courtesy of Paul White.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

The heavily favored Wisdom Tree (Betterthancheddar-Wisdom) displayed why everyone from the track handicapper to the bettors heavily endorsed her as she dominated the field in her division of the $120,400 New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for 3-year-old pacing fillies at Batavia Downs on Wednesday evening (July 25).

Wisdom Tree (Kevin Cummings) left for the lead but had to work hard for it; getting to the quarter in :27 flat. But once she cleared and settled in, the filly was in total control. Cummings backed the half off considerably before speeding up the proceedings up the backstretch, although no one was close enough to challenge. By the three-quarters Wisdom Tree had opened up a three-length advantage which she held as she cruised around the far turn and down the lane to win in 1:53, which was just one-fifth off the track record.

Cummings said after the race “That was pretty easy once she got to the front. I backed off the second quarter to :29.1 and it was pretty much over from there. I had to get after her in the third quarter because she was starting to go to sleep on me but around the last turn when I pulled the plugs, she responded well and was looking for horses because she was off by herself for most of the mile.”

It was the fourth win in her last five starts and eighth win of 2018 for Wisdom Tree ($2.70) who has now carded $215,785 for the year for owners Thomas Pollack and Jeffrey Cullipher. Ed Hart trains the winner.

Wisdom Tree was a $28,000 yearling purchase at the Lexington Select yearling sale and was bred by Winbak Farm.

(Alexis Faith with driver Jim Morrill Jr.)

Alexis Faith (American Ideal-Cannae Cammie) put in as impressive an effort in her division, but she did it from behind. Getting away sixth from post seven, Alexis Faith (Jim Morrill Jr.) watched from afar as Hurrikane Shorty (Jim Marohn Jr.) sped away with a loose lead in :27.1, :56 and 1:24.1. At that last station, Morrill was finally able to get his filly off the pylons from sixth and tipped three-deep into the last bend. She went from sixth to first during the arc of the turn and sped away to a two-length lead when they straightened out to win in 1:53.4.

"She was very good tonight; she's been good pretty much right along. She threw a clunker in her last start but we came to find out she was sick. So we have her healthy again and she's back. She made a big move three-wide tonight but she did the same thing at Yonkers two starts down, coming home in :27.1. Once she gets moving she's good," Morrill said.

It was the second win of the year for Alexis Faith ($6.60) but first of 2018 in the NYSS. The filly is owned by West Wins Stable, Jim Fielding, J. Robert Darrow and Kevin McKinlay and trained by Casie Coleman.

Alexis Faith was purchased at the Lexington Select yearling sale for $55,000 and was bred by Melvin Segal.

The third leg saw Ubettergo Go (Art Major-Ubetterthink Think) leave from post seven and tuck fourth at the eighth pole while Checkered Past (Jim Morrill Jr.) and Solitary (Jim Marohn Jr.) argued for the front. But halfway up the backside, her driver Mark Macdonald had her out and rolling and took the front by the quarter in :27.2. With the field in single file, Ubettergo Go slowed the pace and forced Apothic (Drew Monti) to advance an outer flow.

The field hit three-quarters in two rows with Ubettergo Go still calling the shots, but Apothic looked live and Checkered Past was ready to strike having gotten the perfect pocket trip to this point. At the head of the lane, Macdonald asked Ubettergo Go and she responded by opening up a two length lead and hitting the wire in first in 1:53.4.

"She went well. That was a bruising first quarter in :27.2 but she ended up pacing away anyway. She kind of stepped over a little shadow around the last turn there and it took her mind off her work for a minute, but then she just breezed her way home. She's a real nice filly," Macdonald said.

(Ubettergo Go with driver Mark Macdonald.)

Ubettergo Go ($4.40), in photo above, is owned by Blake Macintosh, Tony Basile, Reginald Petitpas and Ozzie Mackay and is trained by Blake Macintosh.

Ubettergo Go was a $13,000 Harrisburg yearling purchase and was bred by Concord Stud and Birnam Wood Farms.

There were also two $15,000 division of the Excel "A" series on the card.

The first division went to KJ's Justine (American Ideal-Day Blue Chip), winning gate to wire in 1:55.4. KJ's Justine ($6.10) was driven Jim Morrill Jr. for trainer Linda Toscano and owner Ken Jacobs.

The second division was won by Psychic Blue Chip (Art Major-All Spirit) who also led at every station in 1:56. Psychic Blue Chip ($9) was driven by Ray Fisher Jr. for trainer Joseph Skowyra and owners Jeffrey Clark and Vernon Cannon.

Full 'Buck Moon' hike at GC Park & Forest is Saturday, must preregister

By Billie Owens

Long ago each full moon was given a name to mark the season of the year. Join us for the Full Moon Hike: Full Buck Moon on Saturday, July 28th, from 9 to 10:30 p.m.!

Explore the forest by moonlight on a warm midsummer night, listen for animals and find out how the buck moon got its name!

Meet at the Interpretive Nature Center at the Genesee County Park & Forest and dress for the weather; hike will go on rain or shine! GC Park & Forest is located at 11095 Bethany Center Road in East Bethany.

Cost is $5/person, $10/family. Preregistration is required! Call 585-344-1122 to reserve your spot!

For more information visit the website here, or contact Shannon Lyaski at Shannon.Lyaski@co.genesee.ny.us OR call 344-1122.

Wanted: homes for two pets named after cheesy snack food; also, Hogs for Paws is Aug. 11

By Billie Owens

This solid, friendly canine is a pit bull / Labrador retriever mix.

He's a grownup and is neutered.

His mien is happy and energetic.

He gets along good with other dogs.

Walking with the Volunteers for Animals at the Genesee County Animal Shelter is most enjoyable for him.

Someone took it upon themselves to name this dog Cheeto. That would be the singular form of the Frito-Lay snack food, Cheetos (formerly, until 1998, Chee-tos).

Charles Elmer Doolin (not just another pretty name) created Crunchy Cheetos in a Texas test kitchen in 1948. Today, there are 21 different Crunchy types; in Japan, they like strawberry-flavored ones. I kid you not.

This reporter is betting that Cheeto has had a taste or two of the savory snack in his day, not that any veterinarian would recommend it. Would go so far as to say he deserves another bite -- from the hand of a forever friend no less.

Also at the shelter, the feline wing of it, is an orange tiger domestic shorthair cat whose constitution is quiet and sweet. This gingery cutie is a spayed adult female.

Sitting with you and getting her tummy rubbed are her preferred pastimes.

Her name? Well, we can't make this stuff up. (Fiction so bad, nobody would buy it, or believe it.) It is Cheese Puff.

Yes, you read correctly, Cheese Puff is hankering for a home in Genesee County just like her doggie comrade Cheeto.

We assume she, too, is named after the strangely orange edible.

Cheetos Puffs were introduced in 1971; Baked Cheetos, inarguably a healthier choice, came along in 2010.

Cheese Puff, as you can see in the inset photo at right, is lightly colored.

She obviously was not the muse for the screaming bright Flamin' Hot Cheetos that have sent many people to the ER with gastrointestinal distress -- because excessive consumption, with the emphasis on excessive, will b-u-r-n your guts, folks.

But I digress. I usually do in these posts. Get off into the weeds somewhere and have to slog back to the matter at hand.

Which reminds me. If you can't adopt one of these amicable amigos, you can AT LEAST help support some of their needs while they await new homes.

Which brings me to Hogs for Paws, the annual fundraiser at Stan's Harley-Davidson in Batavia that benefits the critters at the Genesee County Animal Shelter.

This year's event, staunchly sponsored as always by Stan's and the Volunteers for Animals, will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11. Stan's is located at 4425 W. Saile Drive.

Anyone and everyone are welcome.

There will be pet ID tags for purchase; food from Care-A-Van Ministries; plus a variety of vendors; T-shirt sale; 50/50 raffles and much more.

All monetary donations go toward the cost of spaying and neutering animals prior to adoption -- so important!

Please bring an item from the volunteers' Wish List. Always good choices are: canned and dry cat and dog food; small blankets and pet beds; bleach; laundry detergent; paper towels; NON-CLUMPING (plain) cat litter.

No one will be held responsible for Frito-Lay products left unattended.

UPDATE 6:32 p.m.: Full disclosure: Original Crunchy Cheetos are the reporter's most favored snack item, for reals.

Room still available for Hawley's Patriot Trip to Washington, D.C., in September

By Billie Owens

Submitted photo: Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) [center] poses with veterans of the Air Force at a memorial honoring Air Force veterans during last year’s Patriot Trip to Washington, D.C.

Press release:
 
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) announced there is still room available to sign up for this year’s Patriot Trip to Washington, D.C., from Sept. 20 – 23.
 
Veterans who have attended a previous year’s trip or live outside the 139th Assembly District are now welcome to sign up.
 
*Veterans who are first-time attendees to the trip will still receive first priority.
 
Hawley is a longtime supporter of veterans and has served on the Assembly Veterans’ Affairs Committee since 2006.
 
“The Patriot Trip is one of my favorite events throughout the year,” Hawley said. “This trip was inspired by Mike Paduzak, a World War Two veteran, who asked me to come together with local veterans and host a trip to Washington, D.C.
 
"Through the experiences of my father, veterans I have met during previous year’s trips, and my own service in the military, I have gained a tremendous understanding and admiration for the sacrifices endured by our veterans. It is for these reasons that I continue the Patriot Trip each year and have solidified it as one of the staples of my service to our community.”

Attractions Hawley plans to visit this year on the trip include:

  • U.S. Capitol  
  • World War II Memorial
  • Gettysburg 
  • Korean War Memorial
  • Vietnam War Memorial
  • Iwo Jima – The Marine Corps Memorial
  • American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial
  • Air Force Memorial
  • 9/11 Memorial at the Pentagon
  • Arlington National Cemetery, including the Changing of the Guard
  • Wreath Laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns

If you or a veteran you know wants more information about this year’s Patriot Trip XI, please call 585-589-5780 or email carneyj@nyassembly.gov.

To view photos from previous years, use the following link: http://vetsdctrip2008.shutterfly.com/

Hazardous weather outlook issued for Genesee County

By Billie Owens

At 1:11 p.m. today the National Weather Service in Buffalo issued a hazardous weather outlook for portions of Western New York, including Genesee County.

This afternoon and tonight, there will be a low probability of widespread hazardous weather. Starting late Thursday, scattered thunderstorms will approach, with a few capable of producing isolated damaging wind gusts and locally heavy rainfall.

The hazardous weather outlook continues through Tuesday.

CANCELLED: Women's Republican Club to hold basket raffle fundraiser Aug. 16, donations and sponsorships wanted

By Billie Owens

CANCELLED: The Genesee County Women's Republican Club will hold its Lucky Numbers Fundraiser on Thursday, Aug. 16, at T.F. Brown's restaurant in Downtown Batavia. It is located at 412 E. Main St.

The public is invited to this basket raffle fundraiser, which begins at 5:30 p.m.

Cost is $30 per person. There will be hors d'oeuvres. Please RSVP by Aug. 8.

Corporate sponsorships are available for $500. This includes 10 tickets, a speaker, event signage, and press materials.

Please consider donating a basket; donations accepted in advance.

To donate a basket or to inquire about a corporate sponsorship, contact:

  • Trisha Werth:  twerth74@hotmail.com  or  (716) 560-0843
  • Melissa Haacke:  mhaacke5@gmail.com  or   314-4501
  • Michele Smith:  msmith1548@frontiernet.net  or   329-7967

Stafford's Fiona O'Connor named to dean's list at Baldwin Wallace University in Ohio

By Billie Owens

Fiona O'Connor, of Stafford, a graduate of Le Roy Central School majoring in Criminal Justice and Political Science, has been named to the dean's list for the spring 2018 semester at Baldwin Wallace University.

Students who receive at least a 3.6 GPA for seven or more graded hours in a single semester are named to the dean's list.

Baldwin Wallace University, founded in 1845, was one of the first colleges to admit students without regard to race or gender. An independent, coeducational university of 4,000 students, BW offers coursework in the liberal arts tradition in more than 80 academic areas.

Located in Berea, 12 miles from downtown Cleveland, BW offers students the cultural, educational and business advantages of a major metropolitan area.

Master Gardener Training this fall at Cornell extension: fee is $225, must preregister by Aug. 24

By Billie Owens

Press release:

If you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener Volunteer, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County will be offering Master Gardener training this fall.

Classes will be held on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m., starting Sept. 5 and running through Nov. 14. There will also be a full day of classes on Saturday, Nov. 3. Classes will be held at the CCE office at 420 E. Main St., Batavia.

Each class will focus on a different horticulture topic throughout the training.

Some of the horticulture topics we will cover include: botany, diagnosing plant diseases, entomology, soils and fertilizers, lawn care, herbs, vegetable gardening, weed identification, woody ornamentals, pruning, tree and small fruits, perennials, annuals, integrated pest management and organic gardening.

By attending the Master Gardener training, you will become a more knowledgeable gardener.

Anyone interested in learning more about gardening may attend the course. Preregistration by Aug. 24 is required.

Class size will be limited. No walk-ins will be allowed. The fee for this horticulture training is $225 per person, which includes all class sessions and materials. The Cornell Master Gardener manual is available on line.

If you have a passion for volunteering and gardening, this training is the first step to becoming a Genesee County Master Gardener volunteer.  Graduates of the program (Genesee county residents) are then eligible to apply to become a volunteer.

(Other county residents should contact their local Master Gardener program.)

A Master Gardener volunteer should have a willingness to give back to the community and help put into practice what they learned at training.  Enthusiasm for sharing their gardening skills and knowledge is a must.

For an application or to register contact Brandie Waite at 585-343-3040, ext. 101, visit our website: genesee.cce.cornell.edu or stop by the Extension office located at 420 E. Main St. in Batavia.

Open-air jam at former site of historic Stumblin' Inn in Elba, local musicians to perform

By Billie Owens

Local musicians Paul Draper and Dylan Desmit are organizing an open-air jam night at the former location of the Stumblin' Inn, 1 Main St., Elba, at 8 p.m., this Thursday (July 26). All musicians and music fans welcome. 

Statement by Norman Itjen, mayor, Village of Elba:

Event Date and Time

Benefit for the Stumblin' Inn at the Elba Fire Department Rec Hall

By Billie Owens

Statement by Norman Itjen, mayor, Village of Elba:

The Elba community lost an iconic landmark when the Stumblin’ Inn was destroyed by fire on July 8. This building sat at the corner of South Main and Mechanic streets since 1875, known by several names, lastly as the Stumblin' Inn, owned and operated by brothers Steve (Stork) and Jim Goff for the last 39 years.

Event Date and Time
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Brawl reported on Walnut Street in the city

By Billie Owens

A brawl involving several households is reported on Walnut Street in the city. Batavia PD are on scene at 18 Walnut St. because of the altercation. The location is near Walnut Place. A subject has a head injury.

UPDATE 7:35 p.m.: Mercy medics are responding, too.

UPDATE 7:42 p.m.: Command requests a second ambulance to the scene. Dispatchers call Alexander ambulance for an unknown injury.

UPDATE 7:51 p.m.: A patient has a hand injury but is refusing treatment, so Alexander is told to stand down.

UPDATE 7:59 p.m.: It is Le Roy's ambulance transporting a male from the scene to UMMC who has an obvious deformity to his nose and pain estimated to be a 7 out of 10 on a scale of 1 to 10.

Big rig rollover with injuries reported in Pavilion

By Billie Owens

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A tractor-trailer rollover accident with injuries is reported in Pavilion at Ellicott Street Road and Starr Road. The driver has shoulder and head injuries, according to a first responder on scene. Wires and utility poles are down. Mercy Flight is called.

Pavilion Fire Department and Mercy medic #5 are responding to the scene.

UPDATE 7:14 p.m.: National Grid has been advised; no ETA.

UPDATE 7:20 p.m.: Mercy Flight #5 out of Batavia requested to the scene; no ETA yet.

UPDATE 7:23 p.m.: A heavy-wrecker tow will be called. The estimated weight of the rig is 80,000 pounds.

UPDATE 7:25 p.m.: Mercy Flight has a 10-minute ETA.

UPDATE 7:27 p.m.: The landing zone will be set up in a field on the north side of Route 63, near the incident location.

UPDATE 7:37 p.m.: "National Grid comin' at you," says a first-responder near the accident site. Also, Mercy Flight has landed.

UPDATE 7:54 p.m.: The male driver was transported to ECMC mainly as a precaution to determine any possible internal injuries. He told officers at the scene he swerved to avoid a deer, causing a rollover.

UPDATE 8:04 p.m.: This wreck will be difficult to move, according to people at the scene. The job will be handled by Parise's Automotive and Towing Service in Batavia. The semi was hauling liquid -- bottled juice.

UPDATE 9:02 p.m. (By Howard): Firefighter David Clor was the initial first responder on the scene and stayed with the patient throughout his treatment on the ground. The driver, who had crawled out the front window of his rig on his own and walked about 20 feet before collapsing, before anybody was on scene, was in a lot of pain, Clor said. Besides the possible internal injuries, he had complaints of head and back pain. "He wanted me to go with him on the Mercy Flight because we bonded a little and he didn’t want me to leave his side," Clor said. "When I told him I couldn’t fly on Mercy Flight but there was another guy named Dave who was on Mercy Flight and that he’d be taken care off, he was still determined that I go."

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Team New Era to hold 2019 summer baseball tryouts for ages 10-17 starting on July 30

By Billie Owens

Team New Era will hold 2019 summer team tryouts for ages 10 thru 17 starting July 30th thru Aug. 4th.

Age as of 4/30/2019

Ages 9 thru 12: Monday July 30th at 5 p.m. at Garnet Park in Amherst (66 Garnet Road)

Ages 13 thru 15: Tuesday July 31st at 5 p.m. at Losson Park #6 in Cheektowaga (500 Losson Road)

16U and 17U Showcase: Wednesday Aug. 1st at 5 p.m. at Losson Park #6 in Cheektowaga (500 Losson Road)

For those unable to attend: Ages 12 and under -- Saturday Aug. 4th at 10 a.m. at our Depew facility (3950 Broadway); and ages 13 thru 17 - Saturday Aug. 4th at 1 p.m. at our Depew facility (3950 Broadway).

In the event of rain for outdoor tryouts, tryouts will be moved to our indoor facility at 3950 Broadway (10 minutes away)

For more information or to register see www.teamnewerabaseball.com or contact Rich Wozniak at 716-681-3001.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley will hold four GC Town Hall meetings on Saturday, Aug. 4

By Billie Owens

Press release: 

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) is pleased to announce several town hall meetings on Saturday, Aug. 4. All are welcome to attend to discuss local issues and express any questions or concerns they might have.

“I always try to stay as aware as possible about the concerns and issues important to my neighbors, and to achieve this, I’m going to be hosting several town hall meetings in the near future,” Hawley said. “I encourage everyone to attend at least one of the meetings in Alexander, Oakfield, Byron or Elba. I’m looking forward to seeing you all there.” 

TOWN HALL MEETING SCHEDULE

  • Town of Alexander/Village of Alexander: 9:30 - 10:15 a.m., Village of Alexander Hall, 3350 Church St., Alexander
  • Town of Oakfield/Village of Oakfield: 10:45 - 11:30 a.m., Oakfield Town Hall, 3219 Drake St., Oakfield
  • Town of Byron: 11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Byron Town Hall, 7028 Byron Holley Road, Byron
  • Town of Elba/Village of Elba: 12:45 - 1:30 p.m., Elba Town Hall, 7 Maple Ave., Elba

MOVED TO GCC: Musical tribute to honor late Batavia school band instructor Neil Hartwick, held at free Batavia Concert Band show

By Billie Owens
UPDATED Aug. 1 at 4:43 p.m.: A musical tribute and celebration of the life of the late Batavia band director and music instructor Neil Hartwick is set for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 1, at Centennial Park Genesee Community College's Stuart Steiner Theatre. It is free.
 
He is credited with influencing the lives of many students.
Event Date and Time

Musical tribute to honor late Batavia school band instructor Neil Hartwick is Aug. 1, alumni musicians wanted

By Billie Owens
A musical tribute and celebration of the life of the late Batavia band director and music instructor Neil Hartwick is set for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 1, at Centennial Park. It is free.
 
He is credited with influencing the lives of many students. He created the Pageant of Bands.
 
Music student alumni from Batavia Middle School, Batavia High School and in Brockport will play together with the Batavia Concert Band in honor of their beloved mentor who died last September.
 
Everyone is invited to attend, but organizers are also looking for band alumni who might like to perform along with the Batavia Concert Band to entertain that evening.
 
Neil's wife, Nancy, is planning to attend!
 
All Band/Jazz Ensemble alumni and any students/friends of Mr. Hartwick wanting information about the event or participation in the tribute band performance, please contact Gary Bird via email at: solidgolddj@yahoo.com or phone (585) 343-0688.
 
Centennial Park is located at Richmond and Ellicott avenues in the City of Batavia.

Wisdom Tree in NYSS at Batavia Wednesday

By Billie Owens

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

For the second time in as many racing days, a band of state-bred sisters will be invading Batavia Downs on Wednesday afternoon (July 25) when the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) 3-year-old pacing fillies go postward to compete in three divisions for a total purse of $120,400.

NYSS divisions go in races one, five and seven with post time for the first race at 5 p.m.

Headlining the pool of 22 participants is Wisdom Tree (Betterthancheddar-Wisdom) who will be competing in the $39,900 third division. This filly is not only tearing up the NYSS this year; she is also racing large on the Grand Circuit.

Besides winning three New York events so far, Wisdom Tree also won the $142,000 Nadia Lobell at Hoosier Park on July 6, setting a new lifetime mark and track record of 1:49.4 in the process. A week later she drew post 12 in the 1-1/8th mile $191,800 Mistletoe Shallee at the Meadowlands and finished a strong closing fourth behind the winner Kissin In The Sand after being parked out over half a mile in the distance race timed in 2:04.1.

Wisdom Tree ranks high in stats among all 3-year-old pacing fillies in North America. For the year so far she is the third richest ($195,835), fourth fastest (1:49.4) and fifth winningest (seven) against all her rivals. In the NYSS she is the highest point-getter, has the most wins and has earned the most money.

Trainer Ed Hart has called on Kevin Cummings to drive the 8-5 early favorite Wisdom Tree who will leave from post six.

In the first $39,900 division Ubettergo Go (Art Major-Ubetterthink) started the year strong, winning back-to-back NYSS events. She then qualified for the $315,400 final of the Fan Hanover at Mohawk Raceway where fast early fractions caught up to her late and saw her finish seven lengths behind the winner. She was given a 26 day rest after that start and looked fresh finishing second by a head in 1:52.2 in a NYSS event at Vernon Downs. Now after another 11 day break, she looks like the one to beat.

Trainer Blake Macintosh has Mark Macdonald in the bike behind Ubettergo Go who starts from post seven at 5-2.

The main competition looks to be Solitary (American Ideal-Lonesome Day) who moves up from Excel “A” action at Vernon where she finished a strong second in 1:52.1 and Apothic (Art Major-Permafrost) who paced in 1:51.3 finishing third in a NYSS race at Vernon as well. Both mares are still looking for their first NYSS win.

Solitary leaves from post one for driver Jim Marohn Jr. and trainer Nick Surick and Apothic starts next to her in post two with trainer Mark Harder calling on Drew Monti to drive.

The second division goes for $40,600 and has Alexis Faith (American Ideal-Cannae Cammie) listed as the 5-2 morning line choice. Alexis Faith has yet to win a NYSS event this year after being the 2-year-old champion in 2017, but she has finished second on two occasions. Like Ubettergo Go, Alexis Faith also raced in the Fan Hanover final and fared a bit better. After cutting three-quarters of the mile and having an open lead at the head of the stretch, Alexis Faith ended up fourth by only two lengths in 1:50.4.

Arguing for the purse will be Presto Blue Chip (American Ideal-Cantor’s Daughter) who just got beat at Vernon in 1:52.2 in her last start in NYSS action and Jewels Forreal (So Surreal-Dandy’s Jewel) who took a lifetime mark of 1:51 at Tioga Downs in the $23,500 Geers Stake on June 29.

Drew Monti drives Presto Blue Chip from post two for trainer Jeffrey Smith and Jewels Forreal has the services of Matt Kakaley from post six for trainer Ron Burke.

There are also two $15,000 division of the Excel “A” series in races two and three and one $6,800 division of Excel “B” in race 11.

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