Alexander

What started as a Pepsi Challenge award for a new playground has evolved into something much more ambitious at Alexander Elementary School.

Rather than build just another set of swings, slides and monkey bars, faculty at the school have started an ambitious project to build an outdoor classroom.

"There's a lot of the research out there no indicates that kids don’t get enough time outside," said Ellie Jinks, the teacher behind the push for the $50,000 Pepsi grant, but after doing more research, realized the money would be better spent starting an outdoor classroom.

Jinks noted that research shows that children who don't play and learn outside are more susceptible to obesity and later in life, substance abuse.

Principal Matt Stroud also thinks it's important to get children outside more often.

"I know with my own kids at home we try to push them outside as much as possible, but in a school setting it sometimes gets pushed to the wayside," Stroud said. "This is just a great opportunity to get them back to what kids used to do."

Phase one of the project -- which must be completed to specification for the area to be certified as an outdoor classroom -- has 10 stations, with each having a different learning focus.

The goal of the outdoor classroom is to offering learning experiences in not just nature and science, but math, music, art, reading and physical education.

"The focus really is on learning," Stroud said, "but there will also be unstructured play time."

The Arbor Day Foundation and Dimensions Educational Research Foundation are helping with the planning of the outdoor classroom, but once construction is complete, Dimensions will also provide teacher training and professional development to help Alexander's educators get the most out of the four-acre classroom for the kids.

While the elementary school has pushed the initial effort for the classroom, it's not intended to be just a young-child learning and play area. Once the focus shifted from a playground to an outdoor classroom, teachers from the high school were also brought into the planning process and the classroom is designed to meet the needs of students all the way through 12th grade.

Jinks, who teaches pre-school, hopes the classroom will give students a chance to explore, to learn cooperation, but also develop an appreciation for nature.

"When my pre-schoolers go out now they just want to step on all the bees and kill all the ants," Jinks said. "We talk about protecting nature and why we want to protect it, so we hope that will be an outcome of the classroom."

To complete all three phases, it will take more community support, Jinks said. The school is actively looking for volunteers to help with the project, as well as donations of money and material.

At 6 p.m., May 9, the school will host a community open house, when residents can see first hand what the outdoor classroom is all about and learn how they can contribute. The school is located at 3314 Buffalo St. in Alexander.

For more information about the Alexander outdoor classroom, click here.

Top photo: Pre-school students Deacon, Catrina and Rachael check out some of the animal prints pressed into the concrete walk way at the entrance of the outdoor classroom.

Jinks and Stroud

Deacon on the wheel toy path.

It was Deacon's birthday Tuesday, and when asked how hold he was, he happily showed us. He's 5.

Gorge L. Correa, 19, of 72 Ward St., F, Rochester, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, 4th, trespass and possession of marijuana; Arami Morales, 16, of 72 Ward St., F, Rochester, is charged with harassment, 2nd, resisting arrest and trespass; Markeef H. Royal, 23, of 9 Beechwood St., Rochester, is charged with trespass; Joshua L. Burris, 22, of 21 Baumen St., Rochester, is charged with trespass; Malik J. Johnson, 19, of 916 Plymouth Ave., Rochester, is charged with trespass. The five suspects were arrested after Batavia PD responded at 6:40 a.m., Sunday, to a report of a disturbance at the Batavia Gardens Apartments, 679 E. Main St., Batavia. Morales is accused of hitting Officer Darryl Streeter. Further investigation led to the alleged discovery of a handgun and marijuana in the vehicle of Correa. Burris was turned over to Rochester PD on an arrest warrant. Correa and Morales were arraigned in Batavia City Court and jailed on $5,000 bail each.

Joel D. Prouty, 25, of Maple Avenue, Oakfield, is charged criminal contempt, 1st, unlawful imprisonment, 2nd, and criminal mischief, 4th. Prouty is accused of violating an order of protection by slammng a woman who is seven-months pregnant into a doorway and threatening to punch her in the stomach. Prouty also allegedly smashed the woman's mobile phone while she tried to call 9-1-1 and restrained her against her will. Prouty was jailed on $5,000 bail.

Gary Robert Dean, 61, of Buffalo Street, Alexander, is charged with felony aggravated unlicensed operation, DWI and a violation of unlicensed operation. Dean was stopped at 9:32 p.m., April 4, on Broadway Road, Alexander, by Deputy Howard Carlson.

Marquis Kwanaine Saddler, 21, of Brockport-Spencerport Road, Sweden, is charged with violation of sentencing conditions. Saddler was arrested by Village of Brockport PD on a warrant out of Batavia City Drug Court and jailed on $100,000 bail.

Raymond Kyle Jonathan, 23, of Bloomingdale Road, Alabama, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, aggravated unlicensed operation, 2nd, unlicensed operator and failure to stop at stop sign. Jonathan was arrested by Deputy Kevin McCarthy following an investigation into a rollover accident at 3:17 a.m., Sunday, at 890 Judge Road, Basom.

Tara L. Hall, 33, of 132 State St., lower, Batavia, is charged with two counts of harassment, 2nd. Hall is accused of threatening two people.

Jennifer L. Stack, 25, of 5861 Walkers Corners Road, is charged with failure to appear. Stack was arrested after being located at an apartment on South Main Street during a disturbance at that location. Stack was jailed on $500 bail.

Sky M. Lewis, 18, of 38 Walnut St., lower, Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Lewis is accused of fighting with another person while in the presence of two young children.

Shawn Michael Kwiatek, 33, of Alleghany Road, Darien, is charged with unlawful dealing with a child. Kwiatek is accused of bringing alcohol to a party and serving it to people under age 21.

Passing down Gilhooly Road late this afternoon, I spotted these two trees on the side of a hill and thought they were pretty interesting.

An unknown type of fire has been reported in the area of Old Creek Road and Cookson Road in the Town of Alexander.

Alexander Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 8:32 p.m.: It appears to be a controlled burn.

UPDATE 8:37 p.m.: The fire is at 9519 Old Creek Road. Alexander will extinguish the fire.

A field fire is reported in the area of 2757 Route 20, Alexander.

Alexander Fire Department dispatched.

A passerby reports that it looks like a controlled burn that has now spread.

UPDATE 10:12 a.m.: A brush truck from Darien was requested, but a chief on scene now requests that Darien stand by in quarters.

UPDATE 10:16 a.m.: Darien back in service. One Alexander unit canceled.

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After the tractor fire on Dorman Road in the Town of Batavia, I drove over to Cookson Road -- some of which is unpaved. I stopped in this wooded area and decided to make a picture. What may be notable -- by my memory, the past couple of years, this area has been knee-deep in water. When I was in California, we would have called this a drought condition, but according to U.S. Drought Monitor, we are not currently in drought conditions.

A grass fire is reported by Route 20 near Bowen Road. Alexander Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 6:34 p.m.: Alexander is back in service.

Amy Lynne Koch, 37, of Route 98, Alexander, is charged with grand larceny, 3rd, and petit larceny. Koch is accused of using information of her estranged boyfriend, who is incarcerated in state prison, to file both state and federal income tax forms. Koch allegedly created a bank account in both of their names so any tax refund money could be deposited in the account. Once the money was deposited, Koch allegedly withdrew the funds.

Timothy S. DiSalvo, 51, of 106 North St., Batavia, is charged with strangulation, 2nd, and two counts of harassment, 2nd. DiSalvo was allegedly involved in a fight with a family member at their business location on Harvester Avenue, Batavia. DiSalvo is accused of choking another person and shoving a female employee who tried to intervene to stop the fight.

Cheryl Lynn Vanelli, 52, of 2101 Main Road, Pembroke, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 and failure to keep right. Vanelli was stopped at 2:42 a.m, Jan. 21, on Boyce Road, by Deputy Kevin McCarthy. Vanelli will be arraigned in Pembroke Town Court on April 17.

Veshaun D. Thomas Sr., 34, of 110 Bank St., Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd, and suspended registration. Thomas was stopped at 2:40 a.m. Sunday by Officer Marc Lawrence.

Kyle David McNutt, 21, of Route 238, Warsaw, is charged with petit larceny. McNutt is accused of shoplifting $24.99 in merchandise from Kmart.

Gina Marie Glor, 18, of Route 238, Warsaw, is charged with petit larceny. Glor is accused of shoplifting $24.99 in merchandise from Kmart.

Sandra Lynn Cassford, 29, of South Main Street, Castile, is charged with petit larceny and unlawful possession of marijuana. Cassford was arrested on a warrant stemming from alleged events on Dec. 22. She was jailed on $200 bail.

Peter Joseph Gravante, 23, of Townline Road, Byron, was arrested on a warrant for driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Gravante was taken into custody on a warrant out of Town of Batavia Court by NYSP in Monroe County and turned over to the Sheriff's Office.

Ryan Douglas Woodward, 22, of Vallance Road, Le Roy, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, failure to reduce speed for a curve, moving from lane unsafely and leaving the scene of a property damage accident. Woodward was allegedly involved in a motor vehicle accident while intoxicated on Route 19, Bergen, at 2:45 a.m. on Feb. 26.

Alexander Fire Department is responding to investigate a report of thick, black smoke in the area of Alexander and Dodgeson roads.

UPDATE 11:42 a.m.: The location is "the old Post Farm." The fireman on scene says "He's burning tires."

UPDATE 11:56 a.m.: The fire is out.

UPDATE 12:05 p.m.: Engine #7 is back in service. The location was determined to be 9568 Route 98.

UPDATE 12:17 p.m.: A representative of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation is now on scene to investigate the incident.

A grass fire is reported in Alexander at 11250 Maplewood Road. Alexander Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 2:36 p.m.: The fire is out. All units returning to service.

A tractor-trailer and another vehicle crashed in the area of 2732 Route 20 in Alexander. The tractor-trailer is off the road and the roadway is partially blocked. There are possibly injuries. Mercy Flight is contacted. Alexander Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

Darien Fire Police are called to shut down eastbound traffic at Route 20 and Darien -- Alexander Town Line Road. Darien's ambulance is also called.

UPDATE 5:38 p.m.: Traffic will also be shut down at Bowen Road. A total of three ambulances are responding.

UPDATE 5:39 p.m.: Mercy Flight out of Buffalo is called to the scene. The landing zone will be a wheat field next to the accident scene.

UPDATE 5:41 p.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne with a 13- to 15-minute ETA.

UPDATE 6:19 p.m.: Alexander is back in service. Two women are being taken to UMMC. One is a 20-year-old complaining of shoulder, neck and head pain; the other is 19 and has pain in her head and ribs. One lane of Route 20 traffic is being opened now.

UPDATE 6:24 p.m.: Darien is back in service. State Troopers Sheriff's Office deputies are handling the scene.

UPDATE 6:25 p.m.: Mercy Flight transported one patient to Erie County Medical Center.

UPDATE 7 p.m.: Darien Fire Police are now called to shut down traffic at routes 20 and 238. They are redirecting traffic so the tow company can remove the tractor-trailer at the accident site.

UPDATE 7:14 p.m.: Earlier, a fourth patient was transported, and taken to Buffalo General Hospital.

UPDATE 7:47 p.m.: They are going to allow traffic to flow on Route 20 in one direction, then another, alternating until the accident scene is cleared.

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A "fire explosion" is reported a quarter of a mile west of 2965 Pike Road in Alexander, which is the caller's address. Alexander and East Pembroke fire departments are responding.

UPDATE 8:13 p.m.: A firefighter is on scene and reports he's not sure what's burning there. The location is west of Upton Road.

UPDATE 8:17 p.m.: The firefighter on scene says it's a controlled burn that the fire department will have to extinguish. East Pembroke is put back in service.

UPDATE 9:11 p.m.: The location was determined to be 2929 Pike Road and the incident stemmed from a small rubbish fire. The homeowner has been apprised of new open burning laws and the Alexander Fire Department is back in service.

A barn fire is reported at the Miller farm in the Town of Darien. It's located at 9697 Ridge Road. Darien Fire Department is responding along with mutual aid from Alexander and Corfu.

Caller is the owner who says flames are shooting out of one end of the barn and there's a possibility other structures nearby could be compromised.

UPDATE 1:37 p.m.: The fire has gone to a second alarm and mutual aid is called in from Pembroke, East Pembroke, the Town of Batavia and the city's Fast Team. The city's first platoon is called to stand by in quarters. There are three sites of fire inside the barn.

UPDATE 1:40 p.m.: County emergency coordinators are called to the scene. Monroe County Water Authority is notified of the fire, and tanker personnel are communicatinn on the "water channel."

"I have the owner heading up toward you. All the barns are full of pigs."

UPDATE 1:48 p.m.: Indian Falls is also responding along with Attica. "I need all available manpower to the back of the barn."

UPDATE 1:51: All available manpower from the Town of Batavia is called in.

UPDATE 1:53 p.m.: Wyoming County offers Bennington's "Super Tanker" and it is called in.

UPDATE 1:58 p.m.: Akron,  Alden, and Crittenden are assisting or called to assist.

UPDATE 2:01 p.m.: Oakfield is responding.

UPDATE 2:05 p.m.: "The fire is contained to the center of the building." This is a hog farm. The pigs are in their pens and the roof over them is on fire. They are frantically working to save the livestock. Stafford is called to stand by in Town of Batavia's Station 2.

UPDATE 2:09 p.m.: Firefighters on scene are saying the first responders did a good job of knocking down the fire's progress northward where most of the hogs are penned.

UPDATE 2:11 p.m.: The power is on in the building. All incoming responders are told to take their time getting to the scene because they'll be waiting in line. The staging area is behind City of Batavia's Engine 12. Some firefighters are working to ventilate the buildings so the pigs can breathe more comfortably.

UPDATE 2:15 p.m.: A gas-fired ventilation fan is requested to the staging area, but the one on hand is electric.

UPDATE 2:42 p.m.: Firefighters are overhauling the burned barn then the plan is to shut water down there, dismantle and bring in a truck to transport the hogs.

UPDATE 3:04 p.m.: The farm is owned by Charlie Miller. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. It appears to have started in the nursery.

UPDATE 4:06 p.m.: All available manpower from Darien is called to the scene. Crews are breaking down their equipment and preparing to clear out.

UPDATE 4:16 p.m.: Darien and Corfu are to remain at the scene. All other tankers and equipment from mutual aid responders are released.

UPDATE 5:26 p.m.: Darien went back in service from this scene at 5:14 p.m., but is now providing mutual aid at a chimney fire in Pembroke.

A house is filling with smoke and a possible chimney fire is reported at 1500 Erie St. in Darien. Darien Fire Department is responding along with mutual aid from Alexander. The occupants of the home have evacuated. Attica has also been dispatched.

UPDATE 1:09 p.m.: Darien command has put the two units responding from Attica back in service.

UPDATE 1:18 p.m.: The fire is out.

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A two-car accident in Alexander shortly after 10 Sunday night, which resulted in minor injuries, was caused by a driver allegedly traveling at an unsafe speed for road conditions, according to the accident report.

Alexander resident Nicholas P. Hiscutt, 19, was driving a 2000 Chevy sedan southbound on Route 98 near Dodgeson Road at an allegedly unsafe speed for road conditions. He reportedly lost control of the car and it crossed into the northbound lane, a witness told the investigating officer, Deputy Kevin McCarthy.

Hiscutt's car was struck by a 2003 Chevy Suburban driven by 29-year-old Jon D. Smith, of Prune Street in Batavia, causing both vehicles to veer onto the east shoulder of the roadway. Sylvia L. Smith was a passenger in the Chevy Suburban.

Minor injuries were reported and Jon Smith was taken to UMMC. Hiscutt was issued a citation for allegedly driving at an unreasonable speed.

A two-car accident with injuries is reported in the area of 9491 Alexander Road, Alexander.

Alexander Fire Department and ambulance responding.

UPDATE 10:28 p.m.: Accident is not blocking traffic.

UPDATE 10:31 p.m.: One person is injured.

UPDATE 10:38 p.m.: Mercy EMS responding to assist with patient on scene.

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John Starkweather is lucky to be alive. He knows it. He wants other hunters to know it, too.

According to hunting safety instructor Bill Fox, in Western New York this past season, five people fell from tree stands. Four died. Starkweather made it, though he almost didn't.

"I love hunting," said Starkweather, whose father, a chicken farmer in Pavilion, first took him out looking for game 30 years ago. "If I can save one person, whoever it is, I would feel I've done my part. I don't want someone to go through what I've gone through."

An avid bow hunter and a truck driver for Wegmans, Starkweather scheduled his vacation to coincide with bow season, and on his second day out, Nov. 1, Starkweather went to a tree stand he's used a few times over the past four years.

He arrived at about noon on his aunt's property on Gilhooly Road in Alexander and climbed up to the stand with his bow and arrows.

And he waited. And he waited. And he waited. Starkweather was skunked.

As evening approached and an afternoon of zero game passing within range, Starkweather decided it was time to climb out of the tree stand.

The 45-year-old father of two teenagers unbuckled from his harness and climbed out of the stand.

"I've stepped on that branch many times over the years," Starkweather said. "This time, the branch broke."

He fell 26 feet.

He doesn't know how long he laid on the ground unconscious.

When he awoke, he knew he was badly hurt. But he was able to reach his mobile phone in his pocket and call 9-1-1.

Alexander Fire Department arrived within minutes, with firefighters riding a gator to his location, guided by information he gave to emergency dispatchers who relayed it to responders. 

Mercy Flight was called to the scene and he was airlifted to Erie County Medical Center.

His injuries were extensive and serious.

"I had eight broken ribs, a broken shoulder blade, collapsed lung, lacerated liver and two cracked vertebrae," Starkweather said, and looking at his wife, Stephani, "Is that it?"

"Yes," she replied.

"Oh, and two chipped teeth," John added. "There was so much. The list never stops."

After a week in the hospital, Starkweather returned home to begin his recovery.

On his fourth day home, Starkweather tried to scratch his back and the main artery to his liver broke open.

Stefani, an assistant physical therapist, said he stopped breathing and was turning blue. She could hear his heart, and also knew because of the cracked ribs, chest compressions were not an option. She started mouth-to-mouth and their son called 9-1-1.

When East Bethany firefighters arrived they put him on oxygen and he started to revive. He remembers being carried outside and when the cold air hit him, he said he was fully aware from that moment on of what was going on.

He needed another airlift, but Mercy Flight #5 was out of the area and too far away (Starkweather was likely the first patient on the brand new Mercy Flight #5 on Nov. 1). The State Police helicopter from Batavia was called to the scene and Starkweather was airlifted to Erie County Medical Center.

Surgeons opened Starkweather, who was in an induced coma, and left his body open for three days to ensure all bleeding was controlled. They inserted a stainless steal tube to replace his damaged artery.

"I was in the hospital for my vacation, my birthday and Thanksgiving," Starkweather said.

He still has visible bed sores on the back of his head.

"He's lucky," Fox said. "He's absolutely lucky. That's why I so intensely want him to come and talk (to a safety class). Hopefully, for the younger generation, instead of us telling them, 'This is what can happen,' he can show them."

Fox said it's especially important to stress tree stand safety with bow hunters. Because of the limited range of bows, they use tree stands in the hope of passing game and the chance to get within 20 or 30 yards in order to fire off a shot.

The week Starkweather was in the hospital, another bow hunter seeking game in Genesee County, fell to his death.

Charles E. Sossong, 42, of Lockport-Olcott Road, Newfane, was in a tree stand located off Sour Springs Road, Alabama. When he didn't meet his hunting partner, his partner went looking for him and found him on the ground seriously injured.

There are no details available on how Sossong fell or what safety device he might have been using.

"It's a big issue and we stress tree stand safety a lot in the course because it's especially important for bow hunters," Fox said.

In Starkweather's home are a few trophies bagged with his bow, from a bear to a deer with a nice eight-point rack and the skull of a wild boar he killed on a hunting reserve overseas.

He said he knows all about safety, but on Nov. 1, maybe he got just a little bit complacent, a little too comfortable with something he's done many times.

Starkweather said the harness he was using that day was kind of old-school. It's designed to hold the hunter in the tree stand once he takes position. It offers no protection while getting in and out of the stand, which is the most dangerous time.

A newer harness would connect from the top of the stand to the ground, and if a hunter started to fall, the belt clip would catch, much like a car's seat belt, preventing a fall.

The systems are expensive, though, which may be why hunters still don't use them as much as they should, though Starkweather is now convinced they're worth it.

"You always say, it can't happen to me," Starkweather said. "That's the cliche, right? Well, it can happen to you."

As for Starkweather, he said the only tree stands he will climb into in the future will use a ladder. He's not taking any more chances.

"There's never been any doubt he would keep hunting," Stefani said. "He loves it too much. It's who he is."

Just like John, Stefani doesn't want to see another hunter's family go through what the Starkweathers have been though, which is why she supports John talking about his injuries so publicly.

"He's always been so active, so strong and so on the go," said Stefeni, who for the first time while we talked, struggled against a few tears. "Seeing him so injured, having to put his life on hold, has been hard, especially for somebody you love so much."

Starkweather knows just how fortunate he is, and part of the reason he's alive, he acknowledged, are the emergency personnel who responded, first to his accident, and then to his medical emergency at home.

He especially wanted to thank the personnel of the Alexander and East Bethany volunteer fire departments, Mercy EMS, Mercy Flight, the Sheriff's Office and State Police.

"I'll never get another piece of paper from Mercy Flight or a volunteer fire company asking for money and just throw it out," Starkweather said.

A structure fire at 2460 Orangeville Center Road in Wyoming County is prompting a mutual aid response from Genesee County volunteer firefighters. Darien is sending a tanker and an engine to fill in at Attica's fire hall, which is going to the scene. Alexander is sending a unit to fill in at Darien's fire hall.

UPDATE 12:30 p.m.: Alexander is back in quarters.

UPDATE 12:52 p.m.: Darien is in quarters, in service.

Steven R. Cox, 29, of Franklin Street, Machias; Jessica A. Cox, 26, of North Union Street, Olean; and, Bonnie J. Bremiller, 33, of 4th Street, Olean, are charged with grand larceny, 4th, and conspiracy, 5th. The trio was arrested at 2:26 a.m., Thursday, following a routine property check by Deputy Kevin McCarthy of Deluxe Machine & Tool Co. at 8825 Route 98, Batavia, which revealed heavy equipment parts were missing. The suspects appeared to have left traveling south on Route 98, and with the assistance of Deputy Howard Carlson and Officer Brian Marceill of the Attica PD, a truck overloaded with metal was located on Route 98 in the Village of Attica. The suspects are accused of stealing $1,500 worth of used heavy equipment parts from Deluxe Machine & Tool. Steven Cox was jailed on $20,000 bail. Jessica Cox and Bremiller were given also jailed and bail was set at $10,000 each. Sgt. Brian Frieday and Deputy John Weis also assisted in the investigation.

Christopher J. Fiorentio, 21, of 622 Four Rod Road, Alden, is charged with petit larceny. Fiorentio is accused of shoplifting from Dollar General. Fiorentio allegedly fled from the store when confronted and was located by Batavia PD a short distance from the store.

Raymond Paul Boskat, 38, of Dorwood Park, Ransomville, is charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument, 2nd. Boskat is accused of presenting a legitimate NYS prescription form containing forged information to obtain Oxycodone from the Kmart pharmacy.

Joel Brent Zajaczkowski, 18, of Main Street, Alexander, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. Zajaczkowski is accused of damaging flowers and a flower urn at Alexander Central School.