Alexander

After learning to sew only a year ago, and despite being derailed by a car accident, an Alexander girl won third place and $5,000 cash in a national sewing competition.

The sponsor, Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts, announced the winners earlier this month.

Grace Raines, the daughter of Eric and Heidi Raines, was one of more than 112,000 applicants in the prom-outfit contest. Her prize was $5,000 cash and a $250 Jo-Ann store gift card.

"Well, to be honest, I was a little disappointed because I spent a lot of time on it," Grace said. "I thought I would get first place. But I'm proud."

She's also bright, ambitious and more than a little talented. The newly minted grad of Alexander High School is attending Genesee Community College this fall with plans on earning a degree in business.

"I've always known I wanted to be in business for myself," she said.

Her motivation and competitiveness can serve her well. They certainly did in this case.

"I love contests, I've always loved contests," Grace said.

The whole thing started when Grace went to the fabric store with her mother about a year ago to get some cloth for a crazy quilt. The clerk put a brochure about the prom-outfit sewing contest in the bag.

Watching her mom sew inspired her to try it and soon she was making crazy-quilt pillows and working on a design for the contest. She hit upon an "oceanic/mermaid theme," using colors she loves like aqua, orange, pink and deep blue.

While driving to her grandparents' house in January to show them her design, she got into a car accident. Although not seriously injured, the incident spooked her and sidelined her from sewing temporarily.

"I associated the accident with the project," she says in hindsight.

But with a July deadline fixed ahead, she gained new momentum and spent countless hours perfecting the dress and a neckless to go with it.

The design features a ruched top, shaped like two seashells, made of orange silk. The midriff is a sparkling, intricately beaded triangle. The lower part of the dress is crazy-quilt style, made up of 24 different expensive types of brocades, jacquards, satins, etc. The top of the back is "all bright and glittery," made of sheer, mesh-like fabric, decorated with Swarovski Crystals.

Predictably, putting in the zipper was the toughest part.

She also designed the necklace she wore to the prom with the gown. It's made of hand-crocheted gold wire, with orange, aqua and pink beads, and a fish-shaped pendant dangling in the middle.

Total cost of the outfit was about $400, though she admits she bought more materials than she ended up needing.

Grace says she's set for college, so she plans to use her winnings to one day establish a business of her own. But she's already an entrepreneur, cleaning house for a regular clientele of 10 and counting.

Timothy V. Meyers, 17, of 2481 Walker Road, Darien, is charged with grand larceny, 4th. Meyers is accused of stealing a 2006 Yamaha Blaster four-wheel ATV from a house on Dodgeson Road, Alexander.  The ATV was recovered by Erie County law enforcement at a house in Clarence.

Jeffery Allen Good, 34, of Route 98, Alexander, was picked up on a bench warrant. The charges prompting the warrant were not released. Good was jailed on $500 bail.

Charles Anthony Smalls, 26, of Shefflen Avenue, Bronx, is charged with assault, 2nd. Smalls was a passenger in a car involved in a rollover accident on Route 33, Town of Batavia. Smalls reportedly left the scene of the accident and was located a short time later. When he was identified, deputies learned there was a warrant for his arrest from NYS Parole.

Matthew D. Derrick, 25, of 4036 West Main St., Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt. Derrick allegedly sent eight text messages to a person he was ordered not to contact.

Roger A. Laird Jr., 41, formerly of 11 Mix Place, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt. Laird was found inside of a particular residence in alleged violation of an order of protection.

Emily Helenbrook is proving to be a rising young star in the opera world. This fall she will be a junior at Alexander High School and on Sunday she was featured on the popular CBS Sunday Morning program.

The 16-year-old was shown being nurtured and coached by world-famous diva, Renee Fleming, whom CBS profiled. Emily is a lyric coloratura soprano and she was aided by Fleming at the star's New York home in the spring.

Emily is a student of Patricia Alexander at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester. She has performed as a soloist with the Buffalo and Rochester Philharmonic orchestras and Ars Nova Musicians.

This fall, she will be performing in concert in NYC as winner of the Barry Alexander International Voice Competition.

She hopes to follow in the footsteps of Fleming, her mentor, who happens to be a native of Churchville.

There's a report of a dog attack at 3160 Pike Road in Alexander. The location is between Upton and Beaver roads. There's a male victim and possibly a second dog involved in the incident.

Sheriff's deputies are responding.

UPDATE (4:18 p.m.): Medics are also responding. There is possibly one other person injured, too.

Deanna L. Virgo, 34, of Garibaldi Avenue, Oakfield, is charged with DWI and aggravated DWI (driving with a BAC of .18 or greater). Initially, the Sheriff's Office received a report of a woman in the Bergen Sugar Creek parking lot not wearing any pants. Upon arrival, deputies were unable to locate the woman. Later, the Sheriff's Office received a report at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, of a disturbance at the Bergen Service Center, 8132 Buffalo Road, Bergen. There a customer was trying to talk to a woman who was in an apparent intoxicated condition in order to try and keep her from leaving. Upon investigation, deputies believe Virgo was the woman reported at the Sugar Creek without pants and that she drove to the Service Center and was drunk at the time. The incident was investigated by Deputy Chris Parker with back up from Deputy Corey Mower, Trooper Eric Daigler and Trooper Edward Chaney.

A 17-year-old from Alexander is charged with petit larceny. The youth is accused of stealing a case of Arizona Iced Tea worth $15 from a delivery truck while workers were unloading product at the Alexander Country Deli.

Lael Jacob Dylag, 24, of Cedar Street, Akron, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Dylag is accused of verbally and physically threatening another person at a location on West Main Street, Batavia.

Douglas Gene Swede, 62, of Perry Road, Pavilion, is charged with aggravated harassment, 2nd. Swede was reportedly unhappy with the scheduling of a planning board meeting and left a threatening message on the town supervisor's voice mail.

Thomas Ralph Stevens, 46, of Cook Road, Bergen, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Stevens is accused of arguing with his brother and jamming a finger into his brother's face, knocking off his glasses.

Dominic Joseph Cordello, 25, of Crossbow Drive, Penfield, is charged with a felony count of DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, moving from lane unsafely, and failure to keep right. Cordello was stopped at 12:24 a.m., today, on Alexander Road, Alexander, by Deputy James Diehl.

Darren M. Brooks, 24, of Hawkmeadow Drive, Irving, is charged with criminal contempt,1st, and harassment, 2nd. Brooks was allegedly involved in a fight with a woman while leaving a bar in the area of Sandhill Road, Alexander. Brooks is allegedly barred from having contact with that woman. He was jailed on $5,000 bail or $10,000 bond.

Elysia Marie Summers, 26, of South Main Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Summers is accused of attempting to shoplift from Kmart. She allegedly filled a large diaper bag with merchandise totaling $332.81.

Saul D. Standsblack, 32, of Parker Road, Alabama, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Standsblack was allegedly involved in a fight at Jim & Bob's Automotive. There are no charges from that altercation; however, Standsblack allegedly had contact with a person he was barred from contacting during the incident.

Lisa Marie Franks, 38, of McDonald Street, Greensville, N.C., is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Franks was allegedly observed leaving the Green Day concert at Darien Lake Theme Park driving in an erratic manner. Franks was followed by a citizen who phoned in a complaint about Franks' driving.

JodyLynn Wetmore, 35, of North Spruce Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI and with a felony count of driving  with a BAC of .08 or greater with a child passenger (in violation of Leandra's Law). Wetmore was reportedly observed at the East Pembroke Mud Races in an intoxicated condition. She was reportedly told by a Sheriff's deputy not to drive. Some time later, she was allegedly observed driving out of the parking lot. Wetmore was stopped at 10:14 p.m., Saturday, by Deputy John P. Weis. Wetmore allegedly had an 8-year-old passenger in the car.

Dean Wilkins, 46, of Route 20, Pavilion, is charged with criminal contempt, 1st, and harassment, 2nd. Wilkins is accused of slapping his roommate, who had an order of protection in place.

James Michael Palladino, 33, of Waterman Street, Lockport, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and no or inadequate headlight. Palladino was stopped at 11:06 p.m., Saturda, on Route 77 in Pembroke by Deputy Patrick Reeves.

Nicholas Anthony March, 23, of Phillips Road, Oswego, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. March was stopped for an alleged traffic violation at 1:48 a.m., Sunday, by Deputy Patrick Reeves, who reportedly found a quantity of marijuana in March's car during a search.

Jane Amanda Lachut, 23, of Phinney Road, Hannibal, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Lachut was allegedly found in possession of marijuana during a traffic stop on Route 77, Pembroke, at 1:38 a.m., Sunday, by Deputy Patrick Reeves.

Roberto R. Ayala, 25, of 5 Valleyview Drive, Batavia, is charged with assault, 2nd. Ayala is accused of striking another person with parts of a broken chair during a domestic incident 8:10 p.m., Thursday.

Philip J. Ritter, 56, of Stonehall Road, Rochester, is charged with public lewdness. Ritter is accused of urinating in public at around noon, Sunday, in the area of the town park, Town of Pembroke. He was jailed on $500 bail.

Anne C. Levy, 21, of 21 Prospect Ave., Ithaca, is charged with DWI and speeding. Levy was stopped at 11:51 p.m., Friday, on Pearl Street by Officer Dan Coffey.

Martin F. Jones, 39, of 10 South Main St., Batavia, is charged with exposure. Jones was observed by Officer Thad Mart allegedly urinating in public in Austin Park.

Chrystal Marie Bush, 21, of Oak Orchard Road, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Bush is accused of shoplifting at Walmart.

Jonathan Paul Bouter, 26, of Oak Orchard Road, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Bouter is accused of shoplifting from Walmart.

Vincenzo M. Delucia, 34, of Rochester, is charged with DWI, a right-of-way violation and refusal to take a breath test. Delucia was stopped by State Police at 11:38 p.m., Saturday, in Darien.

Melessia A. Winkler, 23, of Amherst, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Winkler was stopped by State Police at 11:10 p.m., Friday, in Darien.

David R. Meier, 51, of Alexander, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, operating without insurance, no license, aggravated unlicensed operation and suspended registration. Meier was stopped by State Police at 7:08 p.m., Thursday, on Alexander Road, Alexander.

The Alexander Steam Show will have another classic piece of farm equipment to display this year. The Hegge family, which has farmed on Dodgeson Road since about 1930, is donating a 1950s era combine built by Massey-Harris.

Above, Matt Meyers operates a Massy-Harris tractor owned by his father, Vinnie Meyers, as the combine is turned over for the first time since sometime in the 1970s.

Rob Hegge is making the donation, but his son Lee was on hand Saturday to help the Meyers get the combine out of storage.

I stopped on Dodgeson Road to take a picture of the Hegge barn and the group noticed me out by the road and we talked a bit, so I went over and introduced myself, which is how I came across these two classic, Batavia-built, examples grand old farm equipment.

Lee let me wander around a bit and take a few more pictures.

Wayne P. Fielding, 23, of East Bird Road, Byron, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. Fielding is accused of throwing his mobile phone at the windshield of his girlfriend's car, causing the windshield to break. Fielding was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Cassandra L. Brunea, 37, of Alexander Road, Alexander, is charged with offering a false instrument for filing. Brunea is accused of signing a statement against a suspect in another case. Some of the information in the statement was allegedly falsified.

Kimberly Melissa Volk, 21, address not released, is charged with petit larceny. Volk is accused of stealing cash on several different occasions while working food stands at Darien Lake.

Donald A. Carney, 50, of Pavilion, is charged with unlawful dealing with a child, 1st. Carney was arrested by State Police at 11:05 p.m., Saturday. No further details were released.

Albert C. Osborne, 24, of Cheektowaga, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Osborne was stopped at 11:20 p.m., Friday, by State Police, on Route 77, Darien.

Carl R. Caughill, 20, of Niagara Falls, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 and failure to keep right. Caughill was stopped by State Police at 10:30 p.m., Friday, on Route 77, Darien.

Lucas David Trzecieski, 18, of Broadway Road, Alexander, is charged with criminal trespass, 3rd, and petit larceny. Trzecieski is accused of being on Alexander School property without permission and of stealing latex gloves. A 17-year-old from Attica was also charged.

Jason L. Adams, 66, of Batavia, is charged with assault, 3rd. Adams was arrested by State Police at 5:17 p.m., Wednesday. No further details were released.

Today was Alexander's annual parade, part of its annual carnival and tractor pull.

The Stafford Fire Color Guard, above, along with volunteer fire departments from throughout the region as well as businesses and community groups participated in the parade.

More pictures after the jump:

Michael J. Wilkins, 28, of Nunda, is charged with manufacturing/possession/selling of a prescription controlled substance, criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th and unlawful possession of marijuana. Matthew A. Moir, 19, of Portageville, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Wilkins and Moir were arrested by State Police on Route 20 in Alexander at 11:30 p.m., Friday. No further details were released.

Vamaca Noe Velazquez, 22, of Hundred Mark Road, Elba, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, unregistered motor vehicle, switched license plates and operating without insurance. Velazquez was stopped at 1:02 a.m., Monday, on Hundredmark Road, Elba, by Deputy Patrick Reeves. Velazquez was jailed on $2,500 bail.

Assante Darrell Huggins, 18, of Brunswick Road, Buffalo, is charged with petit larceny. Huggins is accused of stealing $416 while employed at Darien Lake. The alleged thefts occurred between June 6-26.

Matthew R. Norstrand, 25, of Vroom Road, Spencerport, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and unlicensed operation. Norstrand was stopped at 8 p.m., Friday, on North Street Road, Le Roy, by Matt Butler. Norstrand was allegedly driving on a suspended license. During the traffic stop, a marijuana pipe was allegedly found in his car. Norstrand was jailed on $500 bail.

Samuel F. Richardson, 45, of 231 Vine St., Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and unsafe backing. Richardson was reportedly involved in a minor traffic accident at 4:15 p.m., Monday, at the Wilson Farms store on West Main Street.

Cindy S. Dudek, 51, of Darien, is charged with harassment 2nd. Dudek was arrested by State Police at 9:45 p.m., Saturday. No further details released.

Jayson L. Bryant, 26, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt/disobeying a court order. Bryant was arrested in Oakfield at 1:45 p.m., Sunday, by State Police. No further details were released.

Cheryl A. Vagg, 53, of Warsaw, is charged with driving under the influence of drugs, 2nd offense in 10 years. Vagg was arrested at 5:22 p.m., Friday, by State Police on Ledge Road, Alabama. Vagg was jailed on cash bail. No further details were released.

It may be a minor injury accident, but responders are requesting that Route 20 be closed at Route 77.

Alexander Fire and Ambulance responded to the scene of what was reported as a truck vs. car accident with minor injuries.

UPDATE Tuesday, 9:53 a.m.: We've received the accident report on this incident.

A tractor-trailer was westbound on Route 20, reportedly driven by Rashpal S. Jhutty, 43, of Alabaster Road, Rexdale, Ontario, Canada, when the truck apparently strayed into the eastbound lane.

Wendy Green, 52, of Alexander, pulled her 2003 Pontiac sedan out of a driveway in the area of 3082 Route 20.

Her vehicle was struck on the side, the back driver's side area and knocked off the roadway.

The cargo on the truck was reportedly not securely fastened and spilled onto Route 20.

No injuries were reported.

Jhutty was issued three citations, including one for allegedly driving on the wrong side of the road.

The accident investigation was handled by Deputy Kevin McCarthy.

Charles Thigpen Gus "Gusto" Williams, 31, of 4213 Cookson Road, Alexander, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd, and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. The Local Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at 4213 Cookson Road, Alexander, on Wednesday afternoon. Williams was allegedly found in possession of crack cocaine, powder cocaine, Hydrocodone, Suboxone and $770 in U.S. currency. Williams was jailed on $15,000 bail.

Dyllon E. Soccio, 20, of 134 Tracy Ave., Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 4th, criminal possession of marijuana, 2nd, and three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. The Local Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at 134 Tracy Ave., Batavia, on Wednesday afternoon. Soccio was allegedly found in possession of 3/4 of a pound of Psilocybin (mushrooms), about 2 1/2 pounds of marijuana, a quantity of powder cocaine, Hydrocodone, Valium and $2,096 in U.S. Currency.  Soccio was jailed without bail.  Additional charges may be pending.

A 17-year-old resident of Prospect Avenue, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. The youth is accused of placing items in her purse while at Tops Market and attempting to leave without paying.

Lucinda Dawn Barber, 40, of 141 Tracy Ave., Batavia, is charged with grand larceny, 4th. Barber is accused of stealing another person's wallet while in a check-out line at Walmart. Barber was jailed on $10,000 bail.

Robert J. Eppolito, 27, of 41 Maple St., Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and harrassment, 2nd. Eppolito allegedly pushed a person while that person was holding an infant. He was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Gregory Robert Lyons, 21, of Dry Bridge Road, Alexander, is charged with trespass. Lyons was allegedly operating an all-terrain vehicle on the old railroad bridge over Creek Road.

Kevin J. Compton, 48, of 9791 Clipnock Road, East Bethany, is charged with DWI. Compton was stopped at 2:10 a.m., Sunday, on Lake Street for alleged failure to use a turn signal.

Adam M. Kreutz, 21, of Byron-Holley Road, Byron, is charged with a felony count of DWI, felony driving with a BAC of .18 or greater and felony unlicensed operation. Kreutz was stopped at 2:04 a.m., Saturday, by Sgt. Greg Walker on Route 237, Stafford.

Stacey Jean Donahue, 36, of Cook Road, Byron, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Donahue is accused of striking another person in the face.

Michael S. Miller, 24, of East Eden Road, Eden, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, failure to keep right and moving from lane unsafely. Miller was stopped at 1:05 a.m., Saturday, by Deputy Chris Parker on Route 5, Pembroke.

Thomas M. Cromey, Jr., 33, of Chili-Riga Center Road, Rochester, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and failure to keep right. Cromey was stopped at 12:07 a.m., Saturday, by Deputy Chris Parker, on Route 237, Stafford.

Ashleigh Lynn Daniels, 22, of Kent Road, Kent, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and speeding. Daniels was stopped at 12:36 a.m., Saturday, by Deputy James Diehl on Route 33, Pembroke.

A fire is reported in the basement of a house at 3181 Dodgeson Road, Alexander.

Alexander Fire is responding, along with a tanker and ladder truck from the Town of Batavia, a tanker from East Pembroke and a unit from Darien.

Bethany Fire is called to stand in at Alexander Fire Hall.

Residents are out of the house. The location is between Beaver and Seward roads.

UPDATE: A chief reports, "I don't think we have much of a fire if we can get here and get it knocked down."

UPDATE 3:39 a.m.: An interior firefighter reports, "heavy smoke in the basement." A chief is requesting a second line to the back of the house.  An interior firefighter reports heavy smoke, but no source.

UPDATE 3:48 a.m.: Fire contained. It appears to have been an electrical source in the basement.

UPDATE 3:54 a.m.: Red Cross requested to the scene. Fire is out.

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