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Elba Historical Society's first 2011 meeting

By Billie Owens

The first 2011 meeting of the Elba Historical Society will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday March 3 at the museum on Maple Avenue.

All members are asked to attend as we will be discussing and planning for the new year. We will also be discussing our Civil War display and staffing for the spring and summer.

Anyone is welcome to join our society or the junior member society.

Event Date and Time
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Weather conditions causing havoc on the roads

By Billie Owens

There are multiple accidents countywide due to weather conditions. The Thruway has accidents at several paces eastbound and westbound, most thought to be noninjury.

Many calls are flooding the dispatch center and dispatchers are asking for all scanner communications to be kept to a minimum.

Propane truck and another truck crash in Le Roy

By Billie Owens

A propane truck and another truck have crashed at 8053 Lake St. Road in Le Roy. Le Roy Fire and Ambulance are called. Injuries unknown.

Bergen Fire Department is asked to standby in its quarters.

UPDATE 11:50 a.m.: Bergen is now requested to go to the scene. A second ambulance is called. State Trooper is on scene.

UPDATE 11:57 a.m.: Bergen is told to go back in service. A trucker trying get through the clogged traffic is reportedly "in a hurry," to which someone replies "no doubt."

Tractor-trailer and vehicle crash on Thruway

By Billie Owens

A serious accident involving a tractor-trailer and another vehicle on the Thruway is reported. There are believed to be multiple injuries.

The location is eastbound at mile marker 387.3. It's nearest to the Byron Road Bridge.

Town of Batavia Fire Department is called to respond along with Mercy EMS.

UPDATE 11:47 a.m.: Oakfield Fire is requested to standby in the Town of Batavia's hall.

Rollover accident on Clinton Street Road

By Billie Owens

A rollover accident, with unknown injuries, is reported in the area of 5007 Clinton St. Road in the Town of Batavia.

Town of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy EMS are responding.

The vehicle is on its roof and two people are the driver is trapped inside. Extraction equipment will be needed. Gas is leaking from the vehicle.

UPDATE 6:39 p.m.: Mercy Flight is called and will be flying in. A landing zone will be established.

UPDATE 6:50 p.m.: Mercy Flight is preparing to land in the parking lot at Terry Hills Golf Course.

UPDATE 7 p.m.: The victims have has been extricated.

UPDATE 7:25 p.m.: Mercy Flight is headed to Strong Memorial Hospital with a male patient who is alert.

UPDATE 7:30 p.m.: The scene is cleaned up and all units are back in service.

Structure fire on Vine Street in city

By Billie Owens

A structure fire is reported at 20 Vine St. in the City of Batavia. City firefighters are on scene and the second and fourth platoons have been called in. Mercy EMS is going to scene in case needed.

UPDATE 6:26 p.m.: A fire chief has asked that police officers shut the street to traffic. Three rooms have been engulfed with flames at this point. National Grid and National Fuel are being contacted to shut off power to the structure.

UPDATE 6:29 p.m.: A firefighter says the second floor is full of smoke but there are no visible flames.

UPDATE 6:43 p.m.: Three rear windows upstairs have been opened, providing ventilation. The structure consists of two apartments. A young woman lives upstairs and Nick Ricigliano and his wife and toddler live downstairs. They are all out and safe. Ricigliano said he was burned out of his home last year, too. His family lived in an apartment on State Street in the city, in the same building where a woman died in a fire caused by her smoking cigarettes near her oxygen tank.

UPDATE 7:03 p.m.: A chief reports that the building housed a total of seven people. He asked that the American Red Cross be contacted and come to the scene to help those displaced by the fire.

UPDATE 7:15 p.m.: Firefighters are checking for hot spots in cavities of the building.

UPDATE 7:28 p.m.: A city inspector is called to the scene and "someone who boards up buildings."

UPDATE 7:37 p.m.: The fire is out and crews are cleaning up.

UPDATE 7:55 p.m.: The fire chief asks for the water department to shut off service to the building.

PHOTOS: Top photo by Frank Capuano.

Free workshop offered for adults seeking to be the ideal job candidate

By Billie Owens

Genesee Community College along with the Genesee County Career Center will host its second workshop on Adults in Career Transition: "Are You a Purple Squirrel?" from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 28.

The workshop will be held at the Genesee County Career Center, Eastown Plaza, 587 E. Main Rd – Suite 100, Batavia (behind Aldi's). This event is free and open to the public.

The term "Purple Squirrel" is a human resource term for the elusive candidate, with exactly the right qualifications and experience, to match an employer's need. The term is synonymous with the term "ideal candidate."

The Adults in Career Transition workshop will focus on introducing transition skills and career opportunities for adults returning to the workforce or attending college.

Guest speakers for the workshop include John McGowan, career services coordinator at Genesee Community College and Veronica Frost, senior employment and training counselor at the Genesee County Career Center.

"We want to encourage adults of all ages and skill sets to come to this workshop," McGowan said. "Employers are now looking for the ideal candidate and we want to inform adults transitioning back in to the workplace on how they can be that 'Purple Squirrel.'"

Interested participants should RSVP to the Adults in Career Transition workshop by calling the Genesee County Career Center, (585) 344-2042. ext. 217, or e-mail vfrost@co.genesee.ny.us <http://vfrost@co.genesee.ny.us>.

Batavia firefighters place second in 'Fight for Air Climb'

By Billie Owens

A team of five firefighters from the City of Batavia Fire Department participated in the American Lung Association's Fight for Air Climb this month.

The climb was a race up 38 floors -- or 800 steps -- that took place at the HSBC tower in Buffalo to raise funds for the American Lung Association. The team from Batavia finished second in the open team division with an average time of 6 minutes 44 seconds.

Also, the team raised a total of $955 for the American Lung Association, which is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research.

These Batavia firefighters participated: Mark Sacheli, Greg Ireland, Mike Morris, Jeff Whitcombe and Jerry Yoder.

Conservation district taking plant orders for spring delivery

By Billie Owens

The Genesee County Soil & Water Conservation District is now taking orders for spring delivery of plants.

Many varieties of trees, wildlife shrubs, berry bushes, vines, ornamental grasses, native wildflowers and perennials are available. Bare root or plugs for economical conservation planting.

For a brochure and order form, contact Genesee County Soil & Water Conservation District at 585-343-2362 or visit the Web site at
http://geneseeny.org/dpt/soilandwater/treebrochure2011.pdf

Little/Junior/Senior League sign-ups

By Billie Owens

Sign-ups/registration for 2011 Little League and Jr./Sr. leagues are this Friday and Saturday in Batavia.

This will take place at Genesee Country Mall, by the entrance to Sunny's restaurant.

On Friday, Feb. 25, the time is 6 to 8 p.m. On Saturday, Feb. 26, the time is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Please bring a copy of the player's birth certificate, the registration fee and proof of Genesee County residency.

Costs are:

Little League (ages 9 to 12) -- $75

Junior League (ages 13 to 15) -- $90

Senior League (ages 16 and under) -- $90

Event Date and Time
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Little/Junior/Senior League sign-ups this Friday and Saturday

By Billie Owens

Sign-ups/registration for 2011 Little League and Jr./Sr. leagues are this Friday and Saturday.

This will take place at Genesee Country Mall, by the entrance to Sunny's restaurant.

On Friday, Feb. 25, the time is 6 to 8 p.m. On Saturday, Feb. 26, the time is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Please bring a copy of the player's birth certificate, the registration fee and proof of Genesee County residency.

Costs are:

Little League (ages 9 to 12) -- $75

Junior League (ages 13 to 15) -- $90

Senior League (ages 16 and under) -- $90

Senior League-ages 16 and under-$90

Any questions?
Little League call Larry Hale 585-409-3485
Junior/Senior leagues call Mike Dobbertin 585-233-3577

Proud hockey coach tells about big win for Mite A team

By Billie Owens

Hockey Coach Kevin Hamilton, who refers to himself as "the proudest coach in Batavia," submitted this information.

The underage Mite A team has been playing against much higher level of play all season long. The majority being second-year teams, and three or four of them giving travel teams a run for their money.

We won two games in league play against MCYH and won a scrimmage against a tough Webster B team. The rest of the games we did not do much scoring, if any, but we did play our hearts out.

Well last night in Scottsville (Feb. 17), round one of playdowns, up against Geneseo (womped us 7-0 in regular season), it went 0-0 first period, 0-0 second period.

After the second period, they come to the bench, kneeled down on the ice in front of me (I already couldn't be any more happy, they are playing their best hockey ever), I look down at them and ask "Who thinks they can play better hockey in the third period?" They all respond with a hand raise. I said " Looks like whoever could score the next goal, could be the winner. We can do it!"

The boys stand up yelling and cheering, big smiles on their faces. The third period starts, we get the puck in Geneseo's end, puck comes back to the point, Connor Peterson (age 7) picks his head up and makes a pass to the weak side winger Cole Young (age 6) and a one-timer for the game's first goal.

We then carried the momentum even further, with more shots on net and eventually scoring another goal from Vince Dirisio (age 6) off a rebound. With hard work from the entire team, and especially our six-man defense and Alex Bialek (age 7) first-year goaltender picking up a huge playoff shutout!

We win 2-0. Priceless!!!!!! We now go on to play the Russians, I meen the stacked #1 team Monroe County (their second team)...These kids are the future of the Ramparts and are on their way to being an amazing group of hockey players.

Reunion committee seeking members of BHS Class of '81

By Billie Owens

The Batavia High School Class of 1981 Reunion Committee is gathering information for the 30th class reunion. If you were a member of the Class of '81 and would like
to participate, visit the "Batavia High School Class of 1981 30th Reunion"
Facebook group.

Two Le Roy students named to Elmira College Dean's List

By Billie Owens

Elmira College named two Le Roy students to its Dean's List for academic achievement for the fall 2010 term. The Dean's List recognizes students who have a grade-point average of 3.6 or higher for the semester.

Matthew Gale is majoring in childhood education, sociology and anthropology and is the son of Mr. Christie and Mrs. Cynthia Gale.

Megan Lowe is majoring in adolescence education -- mathematics, and is the daughter of John and Lynda Lowe.

Elmira College is located in the Finger Lakes Region. To learn more about what Elmira College has to offer, navigate to www.elmira.edu or call 1-800-935-6472.

Motor-vehicle accident with injuries on Thruway

By Billie Owens

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported on the Thruway in the westbound lanes at mile marker 395.8.

East Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy EMS are responding.

UPDATE 3:35 p.m.: Traffic is backed up all the way to Kelsey Road. One lane is blocked. A second ambulance is requested. State Troopers are on location.

UPDATE 3:47 p.m.: Mercy EMS is told to go back in service. Oakfield is continuing.

UPDATE 4:10 p.m.: Emergency responders are back in service.

Barn fire on Swamp Road, Bergen

By Billie Owens

A barn fire is reported at 7557 Swamp Road in Bergen. The smoke is visible for miles around.

Bergen Fire Department is responding. A Le Roy ladder truck is called and an engine is to stand by at Bergen's headquarters. An engine from Churchville is called to assist. The city Fast Team is also requested and a pumper from the Town of Batavia.

The location is between Jericho and Pocock roads.

UPDATE 1:10 p.m.: A tanker is requested from both Byron and South Byron. They are to approach from the west. Pavilion is called to stand by in Le Roy's hall. Mercy medics are responding to the fire.

UPDATE 1:33 p.m.: The fire is under control and the firefighters are working to overhaul the structure. Pavilion's crew that was on standby in Le Roy's hall was moved to Sheard's Antiques & Guns on South Lake Road to standby for two districts -- Le Roy and Byron.

UPDATE 1:42 p.m.: The overhaul operations are expected to take quite some time. The ladies' auxiliary is called to provide refreshments.

UPDATE 1:47 p.m.: The owner told us that he believes the barn was built in 1919 and that it was the oldest barn on Swamp Road. It was completely destroyed by the fire.

UPDATE 1:50 p.m.: The owners are Howard and Sandra Lee Brew.

UPDATE 1:58 p.m.: Howard Brew said he grew up on this property, which was his father's. One section of the barn was older than the rest of it, but he's not sure how much older. The Brews grow wheat, corn and oats and they raise geese and goats.

UPDATE 3:34 p.m. (by Howard): Departments are starting to go back in service. Firefighters are down to one charged line while other volunteers have started rolling up hoses.

UPDATE 4:30 p.m.: All units back in service.

Picture taken at 12:54 p.m. by Taylor Cecere.

Two rollover accidents in Alabama

By Billie Owens

Two rollover accidents, one with minor injuries, are reported in Alabama.

One of them is at 1564 Lewiston Road, near Church Street. Alabama Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

The other is a 1790 Judge Road and the vehicle is on its side. Oakfield Fire Department is responding, although it's in Alabama's district. No injuries. Mercy medics are responding nonemergency-mode to evaluate those involved.

Person suffers neck injury in car/deer accident

By Billie Owens

A person reportedly suffered a neck injury after a vehicle struck a deer at Route 19 and Pavilion Center Road.

Pavilion Fire Department is responding. A Monroe County ambulance was transporting a patient back to Monroe County and stopped at the accident scene, dispatch informed Pavilion.

Smell of smoke in Indian Falls residence

By Billie Owens

The smell of smoke is reported inside a residence at 8409 Indian Falls Road in Indian Falls. The basement of the home is flooded, too.

Oakfield, East Pembroke and Pembroke fire units are called.

UPDATE 8:03 p.m.: Assignment back in service.

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