A two-car accident unknown injuries is reported at Route 5 and West Avenue in East Pembroke. One car is blocking the roadway.
East Pembroke Fire Department is responding and medics from Oakfield are en route in non-emergency mode. There are reportedly two minor injuries.
A four-vehicle accident, with one of them possibly on fire, is reported on Batavia-Elba Townline Road at the intersection of Route 98 (Daws Corners).
Two people are reportedly injured, one of them a woman who is seven-months pregnant.
Elba fire is responding along with Mercy EMS.
The accident is blocking the roadway.
UPDATE (5:30 p.m.): Two women with minor injuries were taken to UMMC, including the pregnant female.
CLARIFICATION (6:10 p.m.): From reader Shannon Laurer: "Actually they took the pregnant female and two males to the hospital! She was a passenger in one vehicle, her mother the driver accompanied her and each of the two males was a driver in the other vehicles involved, the third male driver involved did not need medical assistance."
Thanks, Shannon. Most helpful!
A car accident is reported in the Town of Alabama at the intersection of Bloomingdale Avenue and Shanks Road. A passerby reportedly pushed the OnStar communications button in the vehicle, which alerted dispatch of the incident.
Alabama Fire Department and Mercy EMS are responding. Alabama responders say it involves one car and is not blocking the roadway.
Fire personnel calls for Mercy EMS to continue to scene in non-emergency mode.
The "Comeback Kid," Two Twentytwo, prepping for next week’s $40,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace, once again made it look easy when he notched his fifth win of the summer-fall meet in the $9,000 Preferred Handicap, Saturday night (Oct.9), at Batavia Downs Casino.
Sent off as the prohibitive 1-4 betting favorite, reinsman Jack Flanigen (recovered from his recent tumble) fired the 6-year-old Blissful Hall gelding right to the top and they made every pole a winning one cruising to an underwraps 1:54.2 score. Track announcer Joe Zambito called it a “jogburger.”
Compass Connection (Jim McNeight) finished 1-1/2 lengths behind in second, while Oh Gee Whiz (Ray Fisher Jr.) forced to go wide for the second week in a row behind stalled cover wound up third.
“He raced really well,” Downs dashing leading driver Jack Flanigen said. “It was a pretty easy win, our game plan was to try and save as much as we could for next week's Kane, and we definitely did that.”
“He’s the favorite for Horse of the Year, no doubt about that,” said Mike Kane, vice president of Live Racing. “We wish him well next week.”
Two Twentytwo ($2.70) is owned by Dominic Colarusso Jr. and trained by Richie Mays. Saturday night's win was his ninth of season in only 15 starts; he’s earned more than $225,000 lifetime.
Two Twentytwo was one of the top-rated 3-year-old pacers before an injury sidelined him for more than a year.
Rockin Ronny was Rockin
Two Twentytwo wasn’t the only one that had a big Saturday night. Veteran reinsman Ron Beback Jr. was red-hot, guiding home five winners on the 12-program including four from his own barn. Beback is currently second in the trainer standings before Sherri Holliday.
Kevin Cummings well on his way to 3,000 career wins scored a hat trick while Ray Fisher Jr. notched a double. Trainer Jim Graham conditioned a pair of winners.
Bring on the Cannolis
A Columbus Day tradition returned to Batavia Downs on Monday afternoon, the annual Italian/American drivers' race. The Downs regularly raced on Columbus Day but Monday will be the first Columbus Day program held since Western OTB purchased the historic track in 1998.
Carded as race seven, Tom Agosti drove favored Encil from the rail; however, Mike Caprio, a three-time winner of his event, was one to watch.
Batavia Downs congratulated Cyndy Stranges, of Lockport, for winning its $1,000 Handicapping Contest held Oct. 9! She bested 267 other contestants with a top score of 44 points to claim the $500 top prize.
Mark Angora, of Rochester, finished just a point behind to claim second place and $250.
Three contestants each finished with 42 points, Allan Wallace, Jean Liddell and LuAnn Furano.
Via the tiebreaker -- $2 to win on each winner selected during the nine-race contest -- Wallace’s tiebreaker total of $44.70 vaulted him into third place, good for $125. Liddell’s tiebreaker total of $40.20 bested Furano’s $38.20. They won $75 and $50 respectively.
All prize money can be picked up beginning at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 13 at Players Club.
Horizon Health Services Batavia Recovery Center is celebrating its third anniversary from 2 to 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 15.
It is located at 314 Ellicott St. in Batavia and has expanded its services and operating space.
“When we opened our doors in September 2007 we had one counselor and a program director,” said David Payne, CASAC program director, in a news release. “As it became obvious that our services were critical to individuals and families in the community, we added staff and just added our fourth full-time counselor, a consulting psychiatrist, and have reconfigured and expanded our footprint to include additional space for group and individual therapy, offices and a lunch room.”
Facts regarding young adult alcohol and drug use are startling:
• Young adults comprise the largest group of alcoholics in the U.S.;
• 5.4 million young adults (age 12-25) abuse prescription drugs;
• 1 in 5 young adults (age 18-25) is substance dependent or involved in substance abuse.
The Batavia Recovery Center (BRC) now works with Anthony Rancaniello, M.D., who has been instrumental with providing psychiatric assessments for client who suffer with symptoms of “dual diagnosis."
Dual diagnosis clients are those individuals with alcohol and drug dependency issues who also are challenged by mental health disorders such as depression, ADHD and anxiety. More than half of adolescents struggling with chemical dependency have a dual diagnosis.
BRC is one of the few providers of concurrent psychiatric services in Western New York.
“We understand that an addiction to alcohol or other drugs is often misunderstood, not only by the person who is addicted, but also by his or her family and the general public,” said Anne Constantino, president and CEO of Horizon.
“Addiction is a disease that affects the entire family. It is treatable and recovery is possible. We provide a fresh start for those who seek treatment or may have sought treatment from other service providers.”
The Batavia Recovery Center is recognized for its:
• Individualized assessment and treatment plans;
• Minimal waiting time for an appointment (always less than 48 hours);
• Gender-specific and dual-diagnosis treatments.
The Batavia Recovery Center can be reached at 585-815-0247 to schedule an appointment. Its hours of operation are:
Horizon Health Service is the largest and most comprehensive provider of fully integrated mental health and chemical dependency treatment and recovery services, with 12 outpatient clinics serving Erie, Niagara and Genesee counties.
In addition, Horizon Village, a 50-bed intensive residential facility, operates in Niagara County, where a Veterans treatment Facility and Wellness Center are under construction on the same campus.
This year marks the second consecutive year Horizon has been named one of the 40 Best Companies to work for in New York by Business First. For more information about Horizon visit www.horizon-health.org.
A fire is reported at a house at 433 E. Main St. in Batavia, between Harvester and Vine. City firefighters on scene say smoke is showing.
The fire is believed to have begun in the basement. Streets in the vicinity are being shut down to traffic.
Smoke rapidly began pouring from all three stories of the building soon after firefighters arrived.
UPDATE (5:07 p.m.): Until about 10 minutes ago, fire crews believed someone was still inside the building, now that is being re-evaluated.
The building is owned by Terry Platt of Platt Properties in Batavia. It is a rooming house with eight rooms and two apartments.
UPDATE (5:11 p.m.): No one was found inside during the initial search of the building. The landlord is providing the residents' names and contact information so fire personnel can account for all the occupants. Then the premises will be searched again.
UPDATE (5:26 p.m.): The fire is not yet under control. Smoke is still coming from the building. Elba Fire Department responded as mutual aid to the scene and Mercy EMS is also there. Oakfield Fire Department is asked to fill in at the station for the Town of Batavia, which also responded to the fire.
American Red Cross is called to stage at Wilson Farms on Main Street to provide aid to seven people. There seems to be some trouble getting water for one of the hoses.
UPDATE (5:49 p.m.): There is still fire on the first and second stories. All interior firefighters are ordered out and to muster in front for an accountability roll call. A cop on scene said they are going to "flood the building." All occupants are out and accounted for.
UPDATE (5:56 p.m.): Flames six feet high are now shooting out of the roof. National Grid is called to the scene.
UPDATE (6:05 p.m.): A plume of black and gray smoke is visible for at least a hundred feet above the house.
UPDATE 6:45 p.m. (by Howard) Town of Batavia's ladder, Engine 25, is on scene. It looks like the plan is to bring it around to the back of the house and pour as much water on the roof as possible. The construction of the house, built around the turn of the century or before, has "balloon" walls, making it possible for flames to shoot up from the basement all the way to the attic. Once the fire got into the walls, it became very difficult to fight from the inside.
11:04 p.m.: City Engine 12 is back in service. Town of Batavia Engine 18 is back in service. Genesee County Emergency Management is going back in service. A pump has been requested in the basement to start pumping out water so that the investigation can be started.
11:17 p.m.: All Town of Batavia units back in service. City personnel who responded to the second and third alarms being released.
1:17 a.m.: Ladder 15 back in quarters.
At the 96th annual Clinical Congress in Washington, D.C., earlier this month, Dr. Richard King was initiated as a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
The Oct. 3 ceremony was attended by dignitaries of the college, families of initiates and surgeons from around the globe.
Dr. King joined the staff of United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia in 2008.
He graduated from Cornell and New York Medical College in 1995. After service with the Army in Europe, he completed his surgical and fellowship training at Penn State/Hershey Medical Center in 2006 and then joined the faculty of the University of Rochester Medical Center before working at UMMC.
By meeting the American College of Surgeon's stringent membership requirements, Fellows of the American College of Surgeons have earned the distinguished right to use the designation of “FACS” (Fellow, American College of Surgeons).
“This is the culmination of many years of training as well as sacrifice on the part of my family” says Dr. King. “I owe this accomplishment to their support, as well as to those who have mentored and guided me through the years.”
King currently resides in Brockport with his wife, who is a marriage and family therapist, and their four children.
An applicant for the fellowship must: be a graduate of an approved medical school; have completed advanced training in one of the 14 surgical specialties recognized by the college; possess certification by an American surgical specialty board; present a surgical case from their own practice to a panel comprised of surgeons in their geographic area; and have been in practice in the same geographic location for at least one year at the time of application.
Before admission into fellowship, the surgeon must further demonstrate ethical fitness and professional proficiency, and his or her acceptance as a fellow of the college must be approved by three-fourths of its Board of Regents.
The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and to improve the care of the surgical patient. The college is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery.
Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The college has more than 77,000 members and it is the largest organization of surgeons in the world.
A vehicle with two occupants went off the roadway in the westbound lane at mile marker 394 on the Thruway. Injuries are unknown.
East Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy EMS are responding.
UPDATE (2:27 p.m.): Responders could not locate the vehicle. Units are put back in service.
Candidate for State Senate Marc Coppola put out this news release today, calling for "streamlined economic policies to encourage development and job growth."
The candidate for New York State Senate’s 61st District says too many layers of bureaucracy and red tape discourages small- and medium-size businesses. The end result is lost time and money that should be put into business building not government.
Coppola claims that there are too many layers of bureaucracy for entrepreneurs to deal with when attempting to open or expand their business.
“Current or prospective business owners get frustrated with the amount of paperwork and levels of government that they have to go through to open a business, let alone asking for assistance,” Coppola said.
Small- and medium-sized businesses are especially hurt because they don’t have the time or resources to hire lawyers and consultants to deal with all of the bureaucratic red tape.
“Just look on any wall of our local restaurants," he said. They have so many permits from so many different agencies that it could be wallpaper."
State economic development policies can provide safety for consumers while providing a "one-stop shop" for business owners so that they can spend less time dealing with government entities and more time growing their business and creating jobs.
“The state has the ability and authority to do this and should act swiftly in doing so. The ‘silver-bullet’ mentality for creating jobs in Upstate New York has gotten us nowhere. It’s time we recognize that and provide assistance to entrepreneurs, not barriers."
An overhaul of the state's economic development policies and consolidation of services and agencies is badly needed.
“(We should create) a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs in order to assist them as well as spend less money on administration and more on job creation."
He also claims that politicians too often say that they are working to help business and job growth with no details or plan of how to do so other than the customary, “cut taxes” approach.
The Republican Party's local headquarters will have its Grand Opening beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 9. It is located at 5 Jackson St., just around the corner from Main Street downtown.
Sen. Michael Ranzenhofer and Assemblyman Steve Hawley will be there. Refreshments and hors d'ouerves will be available.
So will lawn signs, brochures and bumper stickers supporting Ranzenhofer, Hawley and candidates Carl Paladino and Dan Burling.
A fire is reported at a residence at 224 East Ave. in the City of Batavia.
City firefighters and Mercy medics are responding following a fire alarm there. A second fire platoon is requested to standby in headquarters. Batavia police are helping with traffic control.
National Grid is being notified about the incident, but no other details have yet been reported. The occupants are not home.
UPDATE (7:57 p.m.): The fourth platoon is requested to standby in headquarters and the second platoon is called to the scene. It is reportedly a fully involved kitchen fire.
UPDATE (8 p.m.): Firefighters on scene are told to come in through the back sliding glass doors. The homeowner is en route according to the alarm company.
UPDATE (8:03 p.m.): The fire is "knocked down." National Grid is expected momentarily. Traffic barricades are soon to be delivered.
UPDATE (8:07 p.m.): The homeowners are on scene. One cat has been rescued, but firefighters are told there's another one still inside the home.
UPDATE (8:19 p.m.): The firefighters are now doing "overhaul" to ensure the fire's complete extinction.
Alexander Boy Scout Troop 650 is having a spaghetti dinner and silent auction from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 17 at the Alexander Recreational Hall. It is located at the fire department at 20 Albert St.
There will be many great items to be won for the highest bid. Cost is $5 per meal and ages 3 and under are free.
Donations are still being accepted for the silent auction. If you are interested in supporting your local Boy Scout troop, your donation to this event would be greatly appreciated.
Questions? Contact Kevin Lawson @ 356-2234 or email kllawson@msn.com
Donations? Contact Judy Jasen @ 547-2292.
Here's a news release from Genesee Community College.
Genesee Community College alumni and their families were welcomed back to a festive fall weekend for the first Homecoming celebration on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 1 and 2.
Hundreds of Genesee alumni filled the campus attending soccer games, class reunions, the Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony and the Cougar Reunion Mixer. The weekend was an overall success for the college and its accomplished graduates.
Led by a committee of 10 alumni, and chaired by Patti Michalak ('70) and Pam Whitcombe ('69), all classes of Genesee graduates were welcomed to partake in several alumni-centered activities. Throughout the weekend, 14 WGCC 90.7 radio station alumni came back to be guest DJ's to broadcast the weekend's events live.
Highlights included the women's and men's alumni soccer games played Friday night under the lights of the new soccer stadium. Classes from 1980-2010 were represented on the field, including 40 men alumni and 22 women alumni. The camaraderie of years past made the soccer games an enjoyable event not just for the alumni players, but for the spectators as well.
An alumni brunch that featured a banquet breakfast with the 'Prez and Profs' was a very successful event that brought past professors together with alumni, current professors, students and the president. The brunch featured the CEO Club's wildly popular Apple Cider Syrup product which was served over pancakes to the crowd of more than 100. The CEO Club also sold bottles of the syrup to the attendees as part of its fundraising efforts.
The first group of inductees was welcomed into the new Athletic Hall of Fame with an induction ceremony and celebration on Saturday evening. The standing-room-only crowd welcomed six new members and one team to the inaugural class in the new Cougar Athletic Hall of Fame.
Then Homecoming attendees danced the night away at the Cougar Reunion Mixer in the Forum. It featured a "hippie '60s" theme and paid special recognition to the classes of 1969 and 1970.
"The overall weekend was a huge success," said Jackie Christenson, Alumni Affairs coordinator at Genesee. "It was great to see old faces and new faces come back to campus to meet up with old friends from their days of classes at GCC.
"The alumni soccer players are already talking about next year's game! Homecoming could not have been possible without the help of the awesome committee that worked so hard to pull it off. We all can't wait for next year's Homecoming!"
For further information or for photographs of Homecoming weekend, please call Christenson at 585-343-0055, ext. 6265 or email <http://jkchristenson@genesee.edu>.
Here's information from a news release:
The completion of Jerome Senior Apartments in Batavia was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday.
Jerome Senior Apartments is a 37-unit affordable senior community owned and managed by Conifer Management. This brand-new complex is available for seniors 62+, and is located within the United Memorial Jerome Center, which makes it possible for residents to ride an elevator to appointments within the center.
The complex hosts a variety of services and amenities to accommodate the specific and individual needs of its residents. These include Energy Star-rated appliances, wall-to-wall berber carpets, window treatments, an emergency call system, a controlled building-access system, a community room, an exercise room, a computer lab and more.
It is located near financial institutions, churches, the senior center and shopping areas.
“It is heartening to see this type of housing made available for our citizens,” Assemblyman Stephen Hawley said. "It is equally impressive that the former St. Jerome Hospital has been refurbished instead of torn down…our history continues, intact, with existing structures instead of tearing down and starting all over!”
The complex is located at the site of the St. Jerome Hospital, 16 Bank St. Opened in 1917, the hospital was a iconic landmark of Batavia for more than 75 years. Several major renovations, notably in 1922 and 1947, display the unique architectural elements that were incorporated into the current renovation.
Jerome Senior Apartments share the building with professional and retail businesses, adding to the appeal for senior living in a mixed-use and accessible neighborhood.
Number of units: 37 affordable senior apartments
Unit type: One and two bedroom
Developer: Conifer Realty, LLC
Architect: Clark Patterson Lee
Contractor: Conifer-LeChase Construction, LLC
Not-for-profit partner: United Memorial Medical Center
Construction lender: Bank of Castile
Equity financing: M&T Bank/Tompkins Financial Corp.
Financing: $687,000 - DHCR Low Income
Housing tax credits: $4,690,245 -- 9-percent tax credit equity
(M&T Bank & Tompkins Financial Corp.)
$5,139,571 - NYS Housing Trust Fund TCAP
$703,000 - FHLB NY
$118,802 - FHLB Pittsburgh
$107,000 - NYSERDA
Sales Tax Exemption & PILOT - Genesee County Economic Development Center
The in-house simulcast of race cards for the remainder of the 2010 Batavia Downs Casino harness meet in the Buffalo viewing area have been canceled.
The announcement was made Tuesday by Michael D. Kane, vice president, Operations and Live Racing.
“Due to unforeseen contractual obligations, WGRZ/Universal Sports/Buffalo was unable to carry the required number of Batavia Downs Casino live racing simulcasts," Kane said in a news release.
"We have, therefore, canceled our agreement with WGRZ in the Buffalo viewing area for the balance of the 2010 harness racing schedule. Live racing from Batavia will continue in the Rochester market."
The Batavia races will continue to be featured on Channel 98 on Time-Warner’s basic digital package in the Rochester market. The coverage area includes all or parts of Genesee, Orleans, Monroe, Livingston, Wayne, Ontario, Seneca, Yates and Steuben counties.
In the Buffalo area, the races had been carried on Channel 114 on Time-Warner (Channel 111 in Olean), WGRZ Digital Channel 2-2 and Verizon Fios Channel 460. The coverage area included all or parts of Erie, Niagara, Genesee, Wyoming, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties.
Kane reminds harness fans that race replays are available on the OTB website (www.westernotb.com <http://www.westernotb.com>) and OTB provides telephone betting through its Dial-A-Bet service. Patrons may phone 1-800-724-4000 to establish an account.
Batavia Downs Casino is owned and operated by Western Regional Off-Track Betting, a public benefit corporation. In addition to being America’s oldest lighted harness track, the facility at 8315 Park Road is home to over 600 of the most popular slots and Grandstands Bar & Grille.
The Oakfield United Methodist Church will hold its annual Pork Roast Dinner from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on on Saturday, Nov. 6.
Cost is $8 and benefits the church. The menu is roast pork, dressing, sauerkraut, potaotes, carrots, roll, dessert and drink.
The church is located at 2 S. Main St. in Oakfield.
Call 948-5550 for tickets and info.
The play, “Tuesdays with Morrie”, based on the book by Mitch Albom, and featuring Norm Argulsky and Jessie Conklin, will be presented at St. James Episcopal Church at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 16 and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 17.
The ticket price of $15 includes dessert. All proceeds to benefit the St. James Restoration Fund. The church is located at 405 E. Main St. in Batavia. For more information or to purchase tickets, please call 343-6802.
The Town Of Batavia Volunteer Fire Department will be holding its 3rd Annual Open House from noon to 3 p.m. this Sunday, Oct. 10. The fire department is located at 8382 Lewiston Road.
This year the town "switched it up a little." According to fire Lt. Nathan Fix, they approached several larger businesses in the fire district and asked for donations.
The Town Of Batavia Volunteer Fire Department will be holding its 3rd Annual Open House from noon to 3 p.m. this Sunday, Oct. 10. The fire department is located at 8382 Lewiston Road.
This year the town "switched it up a little." According to fire Lt. Nathan Fix, they approached several larger businesses in the fire district and asked for donations.
As a result, they received approximately 75 smoke detectors and several carbon-monoxide detectors. The smoke detectors will given away on a first-come-first-serve basis, limited to one per household. For the carbon-monoxide detectors, there will be a free raffle.
As always, everything will be free -- hot dogs, lots of fire safety information and coloring
books with a nice handout for kids.
Please feel free to stop in and bring the kids to see some fire trucks. All are welcome, regardless of where you reside.
And the Town of Batavia is grateful for the donations and would like to give a big thanks to the following businesses: Lowes, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Kmart, BJ’s and Office Max.
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