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Press release:

Batavia Downs officials are proud to announce that Charles R. Ruffino has been named the Italian-American of the Year. Mr. Ruffino will be honored with a special trackside ceremony on Friday, Aug. 31th, between the seventh and eighth harness race of the evening.

Charles Ruffino was born in Batavia and grew up on the Southside in the tight-knit community surrounding St. Anthony's Church. Within this neighborhood is where he developed a strong work ethic and commitment to community service.

Chuck attended St. Anthony's School, graduating from Batavia High School in 1957. He completed his education with a master’s degree from Buffalo State and began work as a teacher for the visually handicapped at the New York State School for the Blind. From teaching, Chuck entered into administration and transferred to the State Education Department as a regional associate and back to the State School as the assistant superintendent.

Along the way Chuck also served on the Batavia School Board of Education, as a councilman-at-large for the City of Batavia, as a legislator for Genesee County, on the Board of Visitors (currently chairman) for the State School for the Blind, as coordinator for US TOO, a cancer-support group and most recently a trustee for Genesee Community College.

It should be noted that next month he will be presented with the Charles Rapp Award as the outstanding college trustee by the New York State Community College Trustee Association in Albany.

On a personal level, Chuck’s family has always come first. He and his wife, Janet, celebrated their 50th anniversary last year. They raised three accomplished children and now enjoy the accomplishments of their four grandchildren.

Friends and family wishing to join Chuck Ruffino are asked to call Mary Bucceri at 343-3750, ext. 468, to make a clubhouse reservation.

Press release:

The annual Petco Wiener Dog Races, the final activity of Family Fun Day at the Races, takes place Sunday afternoon (Aug. 26) at Batavia Downs Casino. Post time for the first of 12 exciting harness races is 1:15 p.m. Family Fun Day activities begin at 2 p.m. and the hilarious Petco wiener dog races begin shortly after the last harness race, approximately 4:20 p.m.

One year ago, the Championship final was declared a dead-heat after online video appeared to show that the final results, between two-time defending champion “Jake Arnold” and the robust newcomer “Gordon” may not have been correct.

The following day after reviewing video and photographs of the final heat the results were overturned and a dead-heat was declared.

"We have a full field of 80 signed up and ready to go,” said Todd Haight, general manager of live racing. “The dogs should begin arriving at 3 p.m. through the main entrance to be registered.”

"The prize structure for the top three finishers in the Championship final will be $200 in casino free play for the winner, $100 in free play for the second-place finisher and $50 in free play to the third-place finisher, " Director of Marketing Ryan Hasenauer said.

"New this year, all elimination heat winners are guaranteed $20 in casino free play while everyone that enters a dog will receive $10 in free play."

Family Fun Day activities include free pony rides, sponsored by Castilone Chrysler Dodge Jeep of Batavia, and special appearances by Mr. Scribbles and Pringles the Clown.

A live radio remote by Kiss 98.5 FM will be held featuring DJ Nicholas Picholas.

Paddock room food specials include $1 Sahlen’s hot dogs and soda from 12 until 4 p.m. For more information please visit www.batavia-downs.com.

A grass fire is reported reported by the quarry on Gulf Road, near Circular Hill Road, in Le Roy. Le Roy Fire Department is responding.

Of course, Oakfield is THE place to be to celebrate the Labor Day weekend. The annual two-day event is set for Sunday and Monday, Sept. 2-3 at Elroy D. Perkins / Little League Park on Drake Street.

Hosted by the Oakfield Betterment Committee, there will lots of live music, crafts, games and food for families to enjoy together, including a car and motorcycle cruise, and a great parade with amazing floats, marching bands and fire trucks.

Here's the live entertainment line-up:

SUNDAY Sept. 2

Noon to 3 p.m.: Ghost Riders

3:30 to 6 p.m.: Penny Whiskey

6:30 to 9:30 p.m.: Savage Cabbage

9:45 p.m.: Fireworks!!!

MONDAY Sept. 3

10 a.m.: Oakfield Labor Day Parade -- Theme: "American Pride"

Noon to 12:45 p.m.: McMahon School of Irish Dance

1:30 to 2:30 p.m.: Batavia Brass Society Band

3 to 6 p.m.: Terry Buchwald as Elvis -- "A Tribute to the King"

Prize drawings will happen at 6 p.m.

• First Prize -- $1,000 cash
• Second Prize -- Apple iPad3
• Third Prize -- $300 cash
• Fourth Prize -- John Deere Electric Toy Gator
• Fifth Prize -- $200 cash
• Judges Choice Grand Prize -- $500 cash (best parade entry)

Prize / Raffle tickets can be purchased at Oakfield Town Hall, Oakfield Pharmacy, Becky's Treasures. Hair Et Cetera, and Millenium Computers.

In addition, first-, second-, and third-place cash prizes will be awarded by judges for marching bands / performance groups, fire departments / trucks, and floats.

There will also be a Basket Raffle, Quilt Raffle and Christmas Tree Skirt Raffle.

The Car & Motorcycle Cruise is 1 to 6 p.m. at the Oakfield Town Hall.

If you or your company or organization would like to donate a basket, please contact Melissa Haacke at 314-4501 or email mhaacke@townofoakfieldny.com

Sponsorships, food vendors, craft vendors and parade participants are still wanted. Here's some contact information for the committee chairs:

Entertainment -- Kate Manges -- 813-2657 or kate.manges@yahoo.com

Craft Vendors -- Kim Staniszewski -- 356-7262 or stanski98@yahoo.com

Food Vendors -- Karl Dilcher -- 313-0100 or tdilcher@rochester.rr.com

Car & Motorcycle Cruise -- Bonnie Klein -- 409-5978 bsklein@verizon.net

                                           OR Dan Klein -- (716) 560-0380 or bsklein@verizon.net

Sponsors -- Pam Denny -- (716) 474-1950 or pdenny@townofoakfieldny.com

Parade -- Michelle Johnson -- 409-9299 or mljohnson@2ki.net

A large pine tree is on fire, and it's near a gas grill, just one house south of 6417 Oak Orchard Road, Elba. Elba Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 1:41 p.m.: "The fire's out. We're gonna hit a couple hot spots," says a firefighter.

UPDATE 1:57 p.m.: Elba is back in service.

A train's traction wheels, or possibly brakes, are smoking at the Walnut Street railroad crossing and city firefighters are responding to the call, which came from CSX.

UPDATE 12:33 p.m.: The incident is on the main line, just east of Donahue Road, and it's determined to be outside city limits. The Town of Batavia Fire Department is handling the call and the city's crews are standing down.

UPDATE 12:46 p.m.: Dispatchers were told by CSX authorities in Albany that train traffic was stopped to accommodate emergency responders. Then firefighters see a train chugging down the tracks in the opposite direction. So are the trains stopped or aren't they? Dispatch can only relay what they were told. "You can only do so much," one says.

UPDATE 1:02 p.m.: First responders on scene report fire is dying down, assignment held to units already responding.

UPDATE 1:12 p.m.: The smoking wheels are no longer smoking.

UPDATE 1:23 p.m.: Batavia fire is back in service.

(This photo from the scene was provided from reader Joel R. Murcin.)

A fully involved barn fire "with lots of smoke" is reported in Pavilion at the Schumacher's Kelkenberg's barn, thought to be located at 11338 11304 Starr Road. The location is between River and Hudson roads.

Alexander, Bethany, Town of Batavia's Fast Team, and Pavilion are responding along with units from Wyoming County. They are asked to draw water from Pearl Creek.

Bergen will stand in at Pavilion's fire hall.

UPDATE 8:31 p.m.: National Grid has been notified that there are power lines on the ground and it will respond ASAP.

UPDATE 8:45 p.m.: Fire police are asked to shut down traffic at Route 63 and Starr Road.

UPDATE 8:53 p.m.: Le Roy Fire Department is also responding as is Caledonia's.

UPDATE 8:56 p.m.: York's pumper is on scene and will be drawing water from the "first hydrant in the village," because getting an adequate water supply to fight the fire is proving problematic. The natural gas line in the barn is shut off.

UPDATE 8:58 p.m.: Monroe County is being notified they are tapping into hyrdrants. The water in the creek is said to be low, yet the amount to be had from the hydrants is also said to be limited. Now, they have enough water flow from the Hanson Aggregates mining facility. "We have plenty of it now." Warsaw crews have arrived.

UPDATE 9:06 p.m.: The top of a utility pole is on fire, directly across from where firefighters are working. Le Roy's auxiliary is called to provide cold drinks to the firefighters.

UPDATE 9:09 p.m.: They will employ the ladder brought by Warsaw to wipe out fire on one side of the barn, allowing those on the ground using hoses to concentrate on the other areas.

UPDATE 9:22 p.m.: The Town of Batavia's Fast Team is released from duty.

UPDATE 9:28 p.m.: Since the water supply from Hanson's is proving adequate, they are going to shut down the hand lines connected to fire hydrants.

UPDATE 9:58 p.m.: Cold beverages have arrived for the crews.

UPDATE 11:25 p.m. (by Howard): Fire crews are still on scene.The fire is knocked down but tankers continue to bring water to the scene to deal with what's left of the smoldering remains of the barn. Below are more pictures submitted by Joel R. Murcin. I was also out at the scene and will have a report with photos later tonight.

UPDATE 12:21 a.m.: Le Roy units returning to their hall.

Two children believed to 3- to 5-years old, described as hispanic, were found playing on Pekin Road in Elba unattended. Sheriff's deputies are responding to the complaint.

UPDATE 8:20 p.m.: The children are now safely back home.

UPDATE 9:15 p.m.: This is the same household as the one that made the news on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 12. Tonight, the parents went out and were expected back at about 9 p.m. and left the kids with the older brother. They arrived home early and a deputy spoke with them about the latest situation.

A person is stuck in the elevator at Milton Cat, located at 4610 E. Saile Drive. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding. The store deals in heavy equipment and power systems.

A motor vehicle struck a pole and a male has a head injury at Shanks and Sand Hill roads -- on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation. Alabama Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 7:25 p.m.: "He's bleeding pretty good," says a medic. Mercy Flight is called to the scene. A unit from Indian Falls Fire Department is also requested.

UPDATE 7:25 p.m.: Fire police are told to block traffic at Bloomingdale Avenue and Shanks Road. Pembroke Fire Department is also responding. Mercy Flight has a five-minute ETA.

UPDATE 7:34 p.m.: Responders are working to secure the scene. Mercy Flight will arrive momentarily and hover in the air until it's OK to land. The update from medics to the pilot is that the victim is about 60. He is unconscious, and has head, abdominal and leg injuries. They are still working to extricate the victim.

UPDATE 7:40 p.m.: The patient has been extricated. He was a passenger in the front seat. The landing zone is secure and the bird will land soon.

UPDATE 7:44 p.m.: Mercy Flight is on the ground.

UPDATE 7:46 p.m.: Notifications have already been made to National Grid, which has damages to Pole #7470, and Verizon, which has a cable box there that's above ground and is "completely knocked over."

UPDATE 8:05 p.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne. Not sure of its destination.

UPDATE 8:08 p.m.: Apparently, there is a second victim, presumably the driver. He is also described as being 60-ish and is being being taken to UMMC by ambulance with head trauma and either in cardiac arrest or with a history of cardiac arrest. (CLARIFICATION: There was only one occupant in the vehicle.)

UPDATE 8:15 p.m.: Indian Falls is back in service.

UPDATE 8:30 p.m.: Alabama is back in service.

Ah, the fall semester nears. Is that burnt food emanating from College Village? Why yes, it is. Room 203 in Spruce Hall. The college has confirmed it is burnt food. And the Town of Batavia now musters a fire crew to respond.

UPDATE 2:39 p.m.: The fire department confirmed the confirmation that food was burning inside Room 203 at Spruce Hall. It is back in service.

A trash can is on fire under the pavilion at the Veterans Memorial Park on South Main Street. Elba Fire Department is responding

A youth riding a bicycle has had an accident in the city at State Street and Park Avenue. Police and Mercy EMS are responding.

UPDATE 1:54 p.m.: City fire was responding, but told they could cancel the response.

UPDATE 1:57 p.m.: Police are back in service.

UPDATE 2:04 p.m.: Medics went back in service several minutes ago. Although this was initially called in as a car vs. bicycle accident, no vehicle was involved.

A Sheriff's deputy is responding to a larceny complaint at the Barbery Coast Mobile Home Park, located at 7862 Clinton St. Road, Bergen. The resident at Lot 16 says someone stole every drop of gas from his lawnmower.

Police are responding to a report of a suspicious-looking male near Wendy's in the City of Batavia. He's wearing shorts, a T-shirt and ski mask.

Black smoke is reported in the area of East Main Street Road and Broadlawn Avenue and the Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding to investigate.

UPDATE 7:36 p.m.: It is deemed a controlled burn. "We're all set here." Town of Batavia is back in service.