Rep. Chris Collins announced on Twitter today that he will "actively" seek reelection to the NY-27 seat he's held through three terms despite being under federal indictment for alleged securities fraud, wire fraud and lying to the FBI.

Collins released his statement in a graphic. Below is the graphic:

Below is a response from Nate McMurray, who is challenging Collins in the November election:

Nate McMurray, the Democratic and Working Families Party Candidate for New York’s 27th Congressional District, reacted to today’s news that indicted member of Congress and master insider trader Chris Collins would suspend suspending his campaign.
 
“It looks like the criminal is returning to the scene of the crime – and I’m not just talking about insider trading, lying to the FBI and everything else he’s been accused of – I mean the derelict(ion) of duty he did by ignoring his constituents and their interests for every second of his elected life.

"I’m curious to know what Mr. Collins means by ‘actively campaign’ because he hasn’t talked to his constituents, hasn’t held town halls, and has been hiding in his penthouse since the FBI arrested him. Now he thinks that the voters of this district who are getting hurt by a trade war, are struggling to make ends meet, and know that Washington is more corrupt than ever, he thinks they’re going to trust him? Give me a break. He looks out for himself. And maybe his donors.

"Chris Collins has been charged with a crime. He can’t buy his way back into his job.

"Chris Collins thinks the rules don’t apply to him. They do.

"Chris Collins represents everything that’s wrong with Washington.

"Chris, if you’re listening from Manhattan, here are a few words you may remember, ‘lock him up’ ‘drain the swamp’. I hear your next court appearance is on October 11. I bet some folks from NY-27 may take a road trip.

"In the meantime, I welcome you on the campaign trail, sir. Bring it.”

A hazardous weather outlook was issued this afternoon by the National Weather Service office in Buffalo.

It is for portions of Western New York, including Genesee County, through Tuesday.

This afternoon and tonight the probability of widespread hazardous weather is low. Gusty southwest winds will develop Friday ahead of a strong cold front. Winds may gust to over 50 mph northeast of Lake Erie, including much of the Niagara Frontier to near Rochester.

Scattered thunderstorms will then develop from mid-afternoon through mid-evening Friday along and ahead of the advancing strong cold front. There is a slight risk that some of these storms may contain damaging winds.

Throughout the concert season at Batavia Downs, basketball players at Elba High School volunteered their time after the shows to help with clean up, gathering recyclable bottles and cans.

Ryan Tenney, owner of McNickel's Redemption, on Ellicott Street, Batavia, collected the bottles and cans for redemption.

Today, he handed a $1,700 check to the Elba Sports Boosters.

Heather Dillion, not pictured, organized the bottle and can drive.

Photo: First row: Ryan Tenney, left, Mike Nolan, COO for Western OTB, Bill White, CIaci Zambito, Elba basketball coach, Henry Wojtaszek, CEO of Western OTB, and Jackie Leach, CFO of Western OTB. The basketball team is (not in photo order): Jon Boyce, Evan Hare, Colton Dillon, Collin O'Halloran, Greyson Huntington, Holden Brinkman, Tyler Stevens, Caleb Scouten, Andrew Hare, Jake Long, Zack Marsceill, Cj Gottler, Zach Howard, Jayden Hughes, Drew Hare, Travis Kauffman, Kyle Norton, Caden Muehlig, Nate Esten, and Jaykob Belluscio.

A corn chopper is reportedly fully engulfed in flames in a farm field at Colby and Sumner roads, Darien.

Darien fire is dispatched.

UPDATE 2:03 p.m.: Fire is out.

UPDATE 2:35 p.m.: Darien fire is back in service.

There will be a Polka Mass and Dinner at Ascension Roman Catholic Parish, Batavia, on Saturday, Oct. 27. It is located at 19 Sumner St.

It is sponsored by Ascension Parish Altar and Rosary Society.

Polka Mass will be celebrated at 4 p.m. 

Golabki Dinner will be served beginning at 5 p.m. until sold out in Slomba Hall. Take outs available.

Cash bar for beer and wine only.

There will be 50/50 - Basket Raffle

Dancing 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. with music by New Direction Band.

Tickets are $15 per person or $25 per couple. (limited seating 300)

Phone is 343-1796.

During the Public Service Committee meeting Tuesday, Highway Superintendent Tim Hens updated members of the County Legislature on the work of his department.

On funding, the proposed county road budget for 2019 is $5,527,130. Asphalt prices have increased 20 percent in 2018. Salt prices are up 16 percent. Gas prices have gone from $2 a gallon to $2.35 and climbing, though prices should stabilize in 2019, Hens said. The department has 57 employees (54.25 full-time equivalents), working in administration, highway, parks, airport, fleet, and facility maintenance.     

Besides a share of the general fund, the department receives grants for projects. State aid in 2018 has been $1.6 million, plus $382,193 from the PAVE-NY fund, $240,498 for extreme weather recovery.

Federal aid, Hens said, is still limited.

The county, including applications from towns, has 31 applications made to BRIDGE-NY, with an announcement for funding expected in the fall. 

Hens anticipates needing $2,131,466 for roach machinery in 2019. The department is making lease payments on a dozer, loader, an excavator, and needs a wheel loader, pickup, 2.5-ton truck, and mid-sized track excavator.

The county is responsible for 260 miles of highway. There are 92 bridges longer than 20 feet and 278 bridges and culverts longer than five feet and less than 20 feet. 

"We need to replace two bridges a year to keep our heads above water and we have been doing one bridge a year based on available federal funding," Hens said. 

The rating for the Lyons Street Bridge has been reduced from eight tons to seven. Pratt Road Bridge has been reduced from 19 tons to seven and is scheduled for replacement next year.

Reconstruction of the Stroh Road Bridge is nearly complete and it should open Oct. 1, three weeks ahead of schedule. 

Four culverts in the county of less than 20-foot span were replaced this summer.

The county also completed paving or overlay projects on Indian Falls Road, North Lake Road, North Byron Road, Prole Road Extension, South Street in Pavilion, Colby Road, Hickox, Walker, and Gillate roads in Alexander. 

These projects often included shoulder widening to 30 feet.

The widening has gone over well with residents in those areas, Hens said, who now have more room for walking and biking.

Much of the material used for this work is recycled asphalt from the work at the County Airport to replace the runway and taxiways. This has produced more than 16,000 tons of asphalt for the county to process and reuse.

"It's cheap material," Hens said. "But it's not free. We still have to process it and handle it."

As for county parks, Hens praised the work of Shannon Lyaski, conservation education program coordinator, and Paul Osborn, parks director.

"We've seen year-over-year growth in the environmental programs," Hens said. "We've hit record numbers for revenue and people attending events at the County Park." 

He said Lyaski has done a good job with programming for events at the Interpretive Nature Center.

The revenue generated by these programs cover her salary, Hens said.

As for Osborn, Hens said he's a master at rounding up volunteer workers and scavenging for material for structures in the parks.

"He flips over rocks and pulls people out and he's got people down there cleaning, cutting and trimming," Hens said.

One of the annual programs at the County Park is Camp Hard Hat, which brings in high school students in to build a project under the supervision of a BOCES instructor.

This year, the crew built a footbridge using guardrails Osborn scavenged from the old Stroh Road Bridge.

Attendance has also been up at the DeWitt Recreation Area.

Hens said work on a bridge through the wetlands in the park for the Ellicott Trail should be completed by fall. The county is waiting on the Town of Batavia to finish its part of the trail and Hens is hopeful the trail will open next spring.

For facilities, significant projects in 2018 include a new jail elevator, a security system, new fire alarm for the County Courthouse, and completion of an energy performance contract. For 2019, the county is waiting on a grant for the stonework on the facade of the jail building and a grant is pending for energy upgrades at the Animal Shelter.

In the 20 years since Hens became highway superintendent, the County has invested $30 million in capital improvements, which includes new hangars, a new terminal, and a new runway and taxiways. The funds were all generated by grants or fees for use of the airport and fuel so there have been no direct costs to local taxpayers.

There are 21 jobs at the airport, including private employers, and generates $2.35 million in economic impact.

The airport has brought in more money than it cost in 16 of the past 17 years. Hens anticipates the airport will only break even in 2018 due to a prolonged winter and construction projects.

Pete Zeliff is building a new hangar for corporate jets, which should help generate more revenue for the county through additional fuel sales.

Hens has also been heavily involved in public water projects with several new projects starting this year and more planned for 2019.

PHOTO: Tim Hens in the foreground and Laura Wadhams, the county's new assistant engineer, who started her job a little over a week ago.

Press release:

The Jerome Foundation is seeking nominations for the 36th annual Health and Humanitarian Award of Genesee County.

The award recognizes outstanding men and women whose volunteer efforts have improved the physical, emotional or spiritual well-being of the greater Genesee County area.

“We are fortunate to have many caring and committed volunteers devoted to the sick or those in need, and helping build a stronger, healthier community for all of us,” said Justin Calarco-Smith, president of The Jerome Foundation.

Past recipients have included doctors, nurses, educators, clergy, and community volunteers.

Nomination forms are available by emailing Chris Fix at:   thejeromefoundation@gmail.com or calling 585-343-1398.

Organizations or individuals may nominate candidates. Consideration will be given to actual accomplishments achieved through volunteer service and subsequent improvements to quality of life.

Nominations should be submitted on or before Oct. 5.

The 2018 award winner will be honored at a luncheon on Friday, Nov. 30, at Terry Hills Restaurant.

The official ribbon-cutting ceremony for Revival Salon on Sunday afternoon.

Submitted photos and press release:

Nearly 100 people attended the Grand Opening of Revival Salon on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 16^th, located at 401 Ellicott St. in the City of Batavia.

The name Revival not only stands for refreshing one’s beauty, it also honors a very special lady and the goal to carry on her legacy. The great-grandmother of salon owner Jessica Levins was Viola Kulikowski, who owned and operated Viola’s Beauty Salon for nearly 70 years in the same space -- at the corner of Ellicott and Swan streets.

Levins remembers watching her great-grandmother at the salon and being infatuated with the idea of owning a business that was exciting and fun. Viola is not only with her great-granddaughter in spirit on this new venture, but within the business name. Viola’s nickname “Vi” is cleverly hidden inside the name Revival. Jessica’s mother came up with the name, while her dad designed the Revival logo.

Entrepreneurship is a family trait. The building at 401 Ellicott St. has been in the family since her great-great-grandfather owned a barbershop. In the mid-'90s her aunt, Pam Reed, owned and operated the “All Victorian” gift shop there. Her Uncle Mark Kulikowski, now owns the building and operated Southside Photography there most recently. Another Uncle Frank Kulikowski, owns and operates Frankly Design laser engraving just down the block.

Levins earned her cosmetologist’s license in 2014 and gained experience at a couple local hair salons. Her specialties are colors and updos. She has also worked for the past four years as a counseling aide in the Batavia City School District while earning her bachelor’s degree. As if starting a new business wasn’t enough, Levins is also continuing her graduate work at the University of Buffalo to earn her master’s degree and become a school counselor.  

Levins has three hair stations that she will be renting out to independent hair stylists. 

The Revival Salon is starting out by appointment only.

Before cutting the red ribbon on Sunday, Levins first and foremost thanked the key people involved with helping make her dream a reality: Small Business Development Center Advisor Sam Campanella; Batavia Development Corporation President Pier Cipollone; BDC Director Rachael Tabelski; BDC Board Member Chris Fix; Genesee County Chamber of Commerce President Tom Turnbull; Rick Hale of Genesee Plumbing; Brian Kemp of T-shirts Etc.; and Michelle Farina of Michelle’s Catering.

She also thanked City and County officials who attended -- District 7 Genesee County Legislator John Deleo; Sixth Ward Councilwoman Rosemary Christian; Fifth Ward Councilwoman Kathy Briggs.

Levins gave a special thank you to her parents Debbie Levins (John Deleo), Steve Levins, Stepdad Ed Popil, her sister Melissa Levins, grandparents, and all the family and friends who took the time to come and celebrate her Grand Opening. A well planned out celebration included plenty of food, games, prizes, T-shirts, hats, cups, and giveaways.

For more information or to book an appointment at the salon, call Jessica at (585) 402-9269.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Tuesday announced that $5 million is available as part of the first rebate designed specifically for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations at workplaces, office buildings, multi-family apartment buildings, and public locations such as theaters, malls, parks and retail locations.

The installation of charging stations for public use supports the Governor's ambitious clean energy goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030.

"New York continues to lead the nation in reducing our carbon footprint by aggressively investing in clean transportation methods," Governor Cuomo said. "By expanding public access to electric vehicle charging stations, this program will make it more affordable for New Yorkers to make the switch to an environmentally friendly electric vehicle, resulting in a cleaner, greener New York for all."

"We're expanding access to electric vehicle charging stations and investing in installation initiatives to promote electric vehicle use," Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul said. "Communities across the state are taking advantage of funding and programs to support electric vehicles, and this funding as part of the first rebate for the installation of charging stations at office buildings, apartment buildings, and other locations continues to advance our clean energy goals and help make communities greener and healthier for future generations."

Administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the new Charge Ready NY initiative provides a $4,000 rebate per charging port for public or private employers, building owners, municipalities and nonprofit organizations to install Level 2 charging stations. Depending on installation costs and the model/make of the charging station, installers can save up to 80 percent of a typical installation's total cost. Level 2 stations provide up to 25 miles of electric range to cars for each hour they are charging. Charging stations must be installed at one of the following types of locations:

• Public parking lot: must have at least ten parking spaces and be open to the general public at least 12 hours per day for at least five days per week. Examples include municipal or privately-operated parking lots or garages, parking at retail locations, shopping malls, restaurants, parks, transit stations, schools and other destination locations.
• Workplace: must have at least 10 parking spaces that primarily serve a minimum of 15 employees who work at or near the lot. Examples include office buildings, universities, schools, and hospitals.
• Multi-unit housing: must have at least eight parking spaces that primarily serve a building with five or more housing units, such as apartment buildings, condominiums and co-ops.

Chairman of Energy and Finance for New York Richard Kauffman said, "Governor Cuomo is building a comprehensive electric vehicle and charging infrastructure across the state to support the electrification of the transportation sector -- the biggest emitter of carbon than any other industry. New York is rapidly becoming a leader in clean transportation technologies and deployment across the state and today, we're making another move to get us closer to our meeting our emissions reductions goals."

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Alicia Barton said,"Through initiatives like Charge Ready NY, Governor Cuomo is helping New Yorkers join the clean transportation revolution that is taking place in our state. Combined with the Drive Clean Rebate, which provides rebates for the purchase of electric vehicles, this initiative is helping reduce emissions by making cleaner modes of transportation a possibility for more and more drivers."

NYPA President and CEO Gil C. Quiniones said, "The build-out of an extensive electric car charging network is key to getting more New Yorkers to drive low-emission vehicles and bringing New York State that much closer to its clean energy goals. Our new Evolve NY electric vehicle initiative focuses on addressing infrastructure barriers and our ongoing joint efforts with NYSERDA will help bring more fast chargers to qualifying businesses and nonprofits through our workplace charging programs across the state."

Charge Ready NY rebates can be combined with New York State's 50 percent tax credit for installing charging stations. The tax credit is applied after therebate amount received from NYSERDA. Charge Ready NY rebates cannot be combined with other New York State charging station rebate programs offered by NYSERDA, the Department of Environmental Conservation, the New York Power Authority, or other state entities.

The transportation sector is one of the largest producers of energy related greenhouse gas emissions in New York State. As a result, the state has multiple initiatives and programs designed to reduce these emissions and support the expansion of electric vehicles. For example,  the Drive Clean Rebate initiative provides New York residents with rebates of up to $2,000 for the purchase of a new or leased electric car. Since its launch, more than 9,000 New York residents have received rebates totaling more than $12 million.

This new initiative supports the Governor's Charge NY 2.0 initiative, which aims to have at least 10,000 charging stations across New York by the end of 2021, so clean cars can travel across the State with the opportunity to recharge along the way. The initiative also builds on the Governor's Charge NY initiative, which was launched in 2013 and has a goal of having 30,000 to 40,000 electric cars on the road by the end of 2018.

To complement Charge Ready NY, which enables public and private organizations to apply directly for rebates, the Governor recently announced a $250 million commitment by the New York Power Authority to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles and expand electric vehicle fast charging stations along key transportation corridors and in New York City airports.

Entities interested in installing a charging station at their location can visit NYSERDA's website at www.nyserda.ny.gov for more information.

Reforming the Energy Vision

Reforming the Energy Vision is Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's strategy to lead on climate change and grow New York's economy. REV is building a cleaner, more resilient and affordable energy system for all New Yorkers by stimulating investment in clean technologies like solar, wind, and energy efficiency and requiring 50 percent of the state's electricity needs from renewable energy by 2030.

Already, REV has driven growth of more than 1,000 percent in the statewide solar market, improved energy affordability for 1.65 million low-income customers, and created thousands of jobs in manufacturing, engineering, and other clean tech sectors. REV is ensuring New York reduces statewide greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030 and achieves the internationally recognized target of reducing emissions 80 percent by 2050.

To learn more about REV, including the Governor's $5 billion investment in clean energy technology and innovation, visit rev.ny.gov

Rachel B. Solomon, no age provided, no residence provided, is charged with two counts of criminal contempt, 2nd, obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest, and three counts of harassment, 2nd. Solomon was arrested following an investigation in an alleged violation of an order of protection. She was jailed on $2,500 bail or $5,000 bond.

Frank Bergholtz, 41, of Franklin Street, Batavia, is charged with possession of a dangerous weapon. Bergholtz allegedly possessed a knife while at the Probation Department office.

Paul J. Doctor, 40, no permanent address, was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to appear. Doctor was jailed on $500 bail or $2,000 bond.

Zackary Seeley, 21, of Central Avenue, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Seeley is accused of violating an order of protection.

Danny D. Williams, 29, no permanent address, is charged with two counts of criminal contempt, 2nd. Williams allegedly violated two orders of protection during a disturbance on Thorpe Street at 9:41 p.m., Sept. 13.

Joshua D. Beardsley, 29, of Groveland, was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to appear. Beardsley allegedly failed to appear in City Court on an appearance ticket stemming from a traffic ticket. He posted $250 police bail and was released.

Douglas Scott Sprague, 51, of Judge Road, Alabama, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. Sprague is accused of breaking items in a residence on Judge Road at 6 p.m. Monday during an argument. He was jailed without bail.

A structure fire is reported at 483 Alley Road, Darien.

That's between Gadd Road and Countyline Road.

The fire has gone to a second alarm.

It was initially reported as a shop fire but it reportedly quickly spread to a residence. A caller reportedly went into the house to assist an elderly resident with getting out.

Darien fire dispatched along with mutual aid companies.

UPDATE 11:34 p.m. (By Billie): The house closest to the blaze was never in danger; there was no flame damage to the house. A neighbor assisted an elderly resident to the back of the property, where the elderly resident's son resides. Meanwhile, a neighbor and the woman's son removed propane tanks from the building. But the all-metal construction of the shop was nonetheless destroyed. The son is a road construction electrical contractor.

UPDATE 1 a.m. (by Howard): The structure was fully involved when the first firefighters arrived on the scene, according to Capt. Ray Felski, so crews immediately took a defensive posture toward fighting the fire.

"Tthe initial report said it was a shop fire and then it was updated that it might have gotten to the residence," Felski said. "On our arrival, it had not gotten into the residence. It was contained to the shop building, which was fully involved on our arrival."

The structure is a total loss, along with four commercial vehicles parked in the building.

Firefighters from three counties and seven companies responded to the fire. No injuries were reported. The humid night required crews to rotate regularly so they could stay hydrated. There is a large pond on the property near the shop, which was a key source of water, Felski said. Tankers were also dispatched to the fire. "Water was not an issue," Felski said.

The property is owned by the Osborn family.

PHOTOS: First four photos submitted by a reader. The rest of the photos by Howard Owens.

The decision on creating a new water district for public water in Bethany is really up to residents of the proposed district, Eric Wies told about 300 people at a meeting at Bethany Town Hall on Monday evening.

Wies is a senior associate with Clark Patterson, the consultant on the proposed project.

The Town of Bethany has created prior water districts but this would be the largest one, as District #5, so far, with 28 miles of pipe installed to deliver water to the equivalent of 500 water customers.

The estimated total cost of the project is more than $13 million. The direct cost to residents in the proposed district can be reduced if the USDA determines the median income in the district is low enough, which would enable the district to qualify for a low-interest loan and about a $2 million grant.

Breaking down the cost per water customer, Weis said the calculation begins with determining an "equivalent dwelling unit" (EDU). An EDU is one household with one family. There is a usage formula to determine costs for commercial users.

Multi-family units are calculated based on one EDU for the first family and a half an EDU for each additional family.

There are approximately 500 EDUs in the proposed district.

Customers who hook into the public water will pay a quarterly fee to the Monroe County Water Authority, plus their share of the debt for installation of the infrastructure.

The most optimistic calculation is $1,000 per EDU per year. The most conservative estimate, Wies said, is a bit more than $1,100 per year.

A typical EDU in Genesee County uses 63,000 gallons of water a year. The current Monroe rate is $2.43 per gallon, plus a base charge of 21 cents per gallon. There is a Genesee County surcharge of 60 cents per gallon but the rate will go up to $1.20 per gallon.

At those rates, the average EDU will pay to MCWA a total of $386.34 per year. (NOTE: See clarification below)

"You've really got to do the math and your own evaluation," Weis said.

Only those residents and businesses that connect to public water will pay for water.

But all property owners in the district will be in debt necessary to build the infrastructure.

Currently, residents in the proposed district are being asked to complete an income survey. If the district qualifies as low income, the USDA will provide the district with a low-interest loan and a $2 million grant. Genesee County will also pay $4.5 million of the cost.

The balance of the $13 million cost will need to be financed.

The estimated debt service under this scenario is $519,910.

The loan would take 30 years to pay off but the responsibility for repayment is attached to the property not the property owner.

Each EDU's share of the annual debt payment would be $631.87.

These numbers are just estimates and if the USDA doesn't provide a low-interest loan and grant, the costs would go up slightly.

Given the topography of the district, the infrastructure requirements include two water storage tanks and two pumps.

Residents with well water would either need to cap off those wells or install a backflow system to block backflow of well water into the public water lines. The cost of backflow blocks and connection to the public water line are the responsibility of the property owner.

UPDATE: After comments about the rate calculation, we contacted Eric Wies and asked him for clarification.  Here is what he provided:

MCWA

• $0.21 per day x 365 days = $76.65
• $3.43 per 1,000 gallons x 63,000 gallons = $216.09

Genesee County

• $1.20 per 1,000 gallons x 63,000 gallons = $75.60

Total Annual Water Cost = $368.34

Batavia City Court Judge Robert Balbick saw the photo we shared this morning from yesterday's sunrise as seen at DeWitt Recreation Area and wanted to share the picture he took about the same time at Terry Hills Golf Course.

See for yourself-easy to see at a moments notice! Solid 3 bedroom bath and a half home! Completely remodeled within the last 5 years -- beautifully done and nothing for you to do but enjoy!

Full tear off roof 4 yrs. ago. Beautiful cherry cabinetry with granite countertops and all stainless appliances to stay plus washer/dryer! Extra large family/dining area perfect for entertaining with pretty gas fireplace! Super convenient upstairs laundry and 3 large bedrooms. All new carpeting thru out!

Outside features extra wide drive and double lot with great deck -- inexpensive utilities and NO flood insurance! SO MUCH BANG FOR THE BUCK AND EASY TO SEE AT MOMENT NOTICE! BE IN BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS!

Call Lynn Bezon at Reliant Real Estate today, call 344-HOME or click here to view the full listing!

Kayla Martinez and her 7-year-old daughter Adela Martinez. Photo courtesy of Kayla Martinez.

After giving birth to a stillborn female, Kayla Martinez has come out stronger, and is trying to start a nonprofit foundation in memory of her daughter Yuliana Esmeralda Martinez, born on Dec. 14, 2016.

Martinez, a Bergen native, lives in Alden and gave birth to Yuliana at United Memorial Medical Center.

After Yuliana died, it took Martinez awhile to figure out what she wanted to do to honor her daughter. Martinez decided to start a support group in Yuliana’s memory. The group was originally called “Justice for Yuliana” but later turned into “For the Love of Yuliana.”

“I really wanted more love to come out of everything, than anything else,” Martinez said. “I wanted to spread her love throughout the community.”

Martinez is working on creating an official nonprofit organization, but in order to do that she needs funds to pay for legal paperwork, so more things can be done in Yuliana’s memory.

In August, Martinez held a basket raffle at the Community Church in Alden to start raising funds for the foundation. She is beginning to put together a bottles and cans drive to raise funds to create care packages for other bereaved parents and babies in the neonatal intensive care unit. From there, Martinez has also thought about doing memory boxes.

“I wanted something in honor of her and I want to keep her alive through me,” Martinez said.

Martinez asked her now 7-year-old daughter Adela Martinez what she wanted when Yuliana passed away, and her response was a locket. So she came up with the idea of doing Lockets of Love from Yuliana, giving the families something to put a momento of their child in.

When Martinez lost Yuliana, she said she felt alone and felt like she had no one to talk to or reach out to.

 “When I lost Yuliana, I had to wait for somebody to contact me,” Martinez said. “I want to make sure other mothers out there know they are not alone and they have someone they can reach out to.”

Stillborn babies are always kept in the dark, Martinez said.

“Our babies did exist, and our babies should be remembered,” Martinez said. “The only way to do that is to spread their love.”

Being a bereaved mother is one of the hardest and loneliest journeys in life, Martinez said.

“Knowing that you aren’t alone and that you have someone to lean on for strength makes the world of difference.”

One resource she discovered belatedly is the WNY Perinatal Bereavement Network, which aids families in the community facing perinatal death, the death of a baby from miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth or early infant death. They offer support for families and their website is located here.

Martinez thinks the more help and comfort for bereaved families, the better.

"This has been a real learning experience," Martinez said, adding that she would greatly appreciate anyone who could help her set up the nonprofit and move forward.

She can be reached at:   proudmama112210@gmail.com

Last spring, a proposal by the Alexander Central School District to charge fees to the Tri-Town Youth Athletics Association for use of the high school's football field upset many parents of young athletes.

It could have added another $4,000 to the cost of the football program.

Now, according to Lisa Lyons, president of the association, the proposal may have been for the best.

Rather than pay the fee, volunteers banded together and reconstructed a field in need of repair so it could serve as Tri-Town's new football field.

"Somebody mentioned this week as we were cleaning up at the field, and somebody said, 'I think maybe we should write and thank her, thank Ms. Huber (Superintendent Catherine Huber),' " Lyons said. "This has been a really good thing. Our concession stand is thriving. We have everything in one place. It's made things on game days a lot easier. We're not hauling equipment and concessions to the football field and back. It's been a lot better for us. It really has."

The field -- which is on property used by Tri-Town behind the Alexander Fire Department Recreation Hall off of Alexander Road -- was used for soccer and other activities but over the summer, volunteers brought in heavy equipment and stripped the existing grass from the field, regraded it, leveled it and planted new sod. The only expense -- which Lyons said she would need board permission to disclose -- was the new grass.

The new field has brought back a lot of Tri-Town alumni back to check things out and attendance at the youth football games has increased, Lyons said.

"I feel like people have come out to the woodwork to see what’s going," she said.

Tri-Town hasn't completely worked out what it will do for basketball. It's probably unavoidable to use school facilities for practices, which means paying a fee for usage and chaperons (a new requirement from the district) but Lyons indicated they may have other options than using the school on game days.

"We have to weigh out our options and see what the best financial option is," Lyons said.

Photos: Football photos by Howard Owens from Saturday. Construction photos submitted by Lisa Lyons.