Oakfield

An Orleans County man arrested for an alleged burglary in progress in Niagara County is a possible suspect in a series of bold burglaries in the Village of Oakfield, according to Investigator Kris Kautz, of the Sheriff's Office.

Jonathan K. Banks, of 4886 S. Townline Road, Ridgeway, is charged with one count of second-degree burglary after allegedly breaking into a house at 5:20 a.m. Thursday, according to OrleansHub.

Banks is also a person of interest in similar burglaries in Albion and Medina.

In all the cases, according to investigators, a person entered homes, often while the residents were there, and grabbed purses and other items that might contain money or valuables and left quickly.

Kautz said there may be search warrants executed today on Banks' property and residence.

In May, Banks was charged with endangering the welfare of a child for allegedly taking a 12-year-old girl from Albion to Buffalo overnight.

He was jailed in Niagara County on $15,000 bail or $30,000 bond.

Gregory S. Snyder, 45, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with disorderly conduct and unlawful possession of marijuana. The Wyoming County Sheriff's Office received two separate complaints of a man walking in the middle of the roadway on Route 98, Town of Attica. About 90 minutes later, there was a complaint of a man walking in the middle of the roadway on Route 98 in the Town of Bennington. Synder was reportedly located by deputies walking on Route 98. Snyder was charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing the flow of traffic. Upon his arrest he was allegedly found in possession of marijuana. Snyder was reportedly transported to the Village of Attica and released to a sober third party.

Charles Howard Sims, 43, of McIntyre Road, Caledonia, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing and two counts of criminal mischief. Sims allegedly choked a woman during a domestic incident. He also allegedly ripped her shirt and also damaged a door. Sims was jailed on $250 bail.

Jacob Duane Defisher, 17, Roanoke Road, Pavilion, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Defisher allegedly pushed another person and then punched that person causing the person's lip to bleed and swell.

Louis Michael Biro, 52, of East Shelby Road, Oakfield, is charged with DWI, refusal to take breath test, failure to stop for stop sign, speeding (unreasonable speed, special hazards), unapproved/no face shield on motorcycle. Biro was allegedly driving at the time when a one-vehicle accident occurred involving a motorcycle at 10:12 p.m. Sept. 9 on Bloomingdale Road, Alabama. The accident was investigated by Deputy James Diehl.

A woman from Akron is accused of selling crack cocaine to an agent of the Genesee County Drug Enforcement Task Force on Friday afternoon in the Village of Oakfield.

The woman and a passenger in her vehicle were allegedly found in possession of drugs and cash when they were arrested.

Taken into custody were Cindy Ann Battistoni, 41, of Greenbush Road, Akron, and Sakeel D. Hilson, 20, of Stevens Avenue, Buffalo.

Battistoni was allegedly found in possession of crack cocaine and marijuana.

Hilson was allegedly found in possession of crack, morphine and $1,050 cash.

The charges against Battistoni are criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd, unlawful possession of marijuana, criminal using drug paraphernalia, 2nd, and aggravated unlicensed operation.

Hilson is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd, criminal possession of a controlled substance, 4th, and criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th.

Both suspects were arraigned in Oakfield and jailed on $25,000 bail each.

Task force members were assisted by uniformed deputies and the District Attorney's Office.

Katherine J. Briggs, 34, of 172 S. Main St., #112, Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief, 3rd. Briggs allegedly damaged property of another person during an argument. The alleged incident was reported at 2:16 a.m., Saturday.

Kyle E. Kirtley, 24, of 6 Pine Tree Road, Central Square, is charged with assault, 3rd. Kirtley is accused of punching another person in the head several times causing substantial pain. The alleged incident was reported at 2:16 a.m. Saturday at 172 S. Main St., Batavia. Kirtley was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Tracey Lynn Brewer, 48, of Columbia Avenue, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Brewer is accused of shoplifting at Walmart.

Sara Marie Zilliox, 38, of South 7th Street, Lewiston, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Zilliox was charged following a traffic stop at 1:05 a.m. Saturday on Lake Road, Bergen, by Deputy Joseph Corona.

Christine Marie Osborne, 38, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Osborne is accused of stealing $62.78 in merchandise from Walmart.

Mark Anthony Rebmann, 24, of Exchange Street, Attica, is charged with petit larceny and criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. Rebmann is accused shoplifting $24.99 in merchandise from Kmart. During the investigation by Deputy Joseph Graff, Rebmann was allegedly found in possession of heroin.

April Marie Palmer, 27, of East Main Street, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to appear on a grand larceny, 4th, charge.

Dale A. Hollwedel, 26, of 9983 Francis Road, Batavia, is charged with DWI, refusal to take breath test and drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle. Hollwedel was stopped at 1:42 a.m. Thursday following a complaint in the MacDonald's drive thru by Officer Jason Davis.

Kimberly M Volk, 24, of 111 Liberty St., Apt. A, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Volk is accused of shoplifting at Tops.

Willie F. Irvin II, 31, of 22 Trumbull Parkway, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Irvin is accused of verbally threatening another person while on State Street. He was jailed on $750 bail.

Jason E. Carpenter, 35, of 137 State St., Batavia, is charged with disobeying a mandate. Carpenter allegedly contacted another person in violation of an order of protection.

Rosemary R. Waters, 27, of 23 Forrest Ave., Oakfield, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th.  Waters allegedly picked up a mobile phone from the floor during an altercation and threw it back down, breaking it.

Froylan Hernandez, 26, from California, is charged with trespass. Hernandez was arrested by State Police following a report at 2:14 p.m. Aug. 10 on Wilkinson Road, Batavia. Hernandez was jailed on bail. No further details released.

Maurice G. Leach, 37, of Rochester, is charged with petit larceny. Leach was arrested in the Town of Batavia by State Police. No further details released.

The following individuals were arrested by State Police at 11:30 p.m. Friday at a location in the Town of Bergen, and charged with trespass: Alana M. Diefendorf, 16, Olivia R. Sweet, 16, Jacob M. Hillabush, 19, Danielle C. Zelazny, 17, Joseph T. Burr, 20, Dakota Troy Harlach, 20, Hannah M. Feary, 19, Kyle K. Shultz, 19, Daniel J. Ognibene, 19, Payton V. Conley, 18, Richard S. Streiff, 19, and Matthew C. Ferris, 18. Diefendorf, Sweet, Hillabush, Zelazny and Burr were also charged with possession/consumption of alcohol under age 21.

Criminal investigators want to know more about this cigar box.

Obviously, it once held 25 Arturo Fuente Flor Fina 858 cigars, but what interests investigators is how it wound up yesterday morning at a location in the Village of Oakfield.

It's location has investigators in the Sheriff's Office thinking it may be related to a recent rash of burglaries in the area.

The box was found shortly after at least three burglaries in the village two nights ago.

The recent series of burglaries have been "pretty nervy," said Investigator Kris Kautz.

The burglars are entering homes when people are home and likely to be awake, such as later afternoon and evening hours, and grabbing anything of value that can be snatched quickly, such as a purse, wallet or a box of potential valuables.

"They're going in when people are home and that's scary stuff," Kautz said. "We don't want something ugly to happen."

The same M.O. has been reported with a series of burglaries in Albion and in one case there, two unidentified young white males were spotted at a time that have investigators thinking they may be involved.

If you are the owner of the box, or if you're the person who placed it where it was found (or know who did place it there), or have other information about the recent burglaries, contact the Sheriff's Office, Investigator Kris Kautz, at (585) 343-5000.

It took nearly three hours for Benjamin Muntz to find out that Judge Robert C. Noonan would be tacking another two to four years onto his prison term.

In the arcane labyrinth of our judicial system's sentencing guidelines, there was no clear cut answer on what to do with Muntz's case.

It's that complicated.

In January, Muntz entered guilty pleas to counts of burglary, 3rd, and grand larceny, 4th. Rather than show up for his sentencing in March, he flew south. He also became a suspect in another burglary and was charged with another felony.

Eventually, he was caught and returned to Genesee County.

He was sentenced in April by Noonan to three and a half to seven years in state prison and charged with bail jumping.

If the only charges against Muntz were those earlier felonies and the bail jumping, the sentencing guidelines are clear: Any sentence Muntz received on bail jumping would need to be served consecutively (not at the same time, or concurrently) with his other sentence.

As part of a plea deal, Muntz had received a one and a third to three year sentence cap on the bail jumping charge.

The curve for Noonan was that newer burglary, 3rd, charge.

If Noonan gave Muntz another three and a half to seven on that charge, could the bail jumping sentence be concurrent with that sentence, or would it need to be served consecutively?

Noonan didn't have the answer. The attorneys for the prosecution and the defense didn't have the answer. The prison guards who transported Muntz in his DOCs green jumpsuit to County Court today certainly didn't have the answer.

After consulting his law books and case law in chambers and conferring with attorneys -- in between hearing other cases -- Noonan concluded that if the second burglary sentence was consecutive then the bail jumping sentence would be consecutive to that.

In other words, Muntz would be looking at more than eight years and up to 17 years in prison.

Through his attorney, Thomas Burns, Noonan offered Muntz a deal: waive his sentence cap on the bail jumping conviction so Noonan could sentence him at two to four years and Noonan would make his other burglary charge, at three and a half to seven, concurrent with his prior sentence.

Once Burns got it all thoroughly explained to Muntz, with a little assistance from one of the prison guards, Muntz agreed to the arrangement.

For prior coverage on Muntz, click here.

Honor, duty, country. For Jason M. Jewett, those words were more than platitudes, said family and friends following his funeral today in North Pembroke.

His coffin was draped in stars and stripes when it arrived at the cemetery after a procession of more than 100 cars through Batavia and East Pembroke. Two honor guards, with white cotton gloves and golden aiguillettes, removed the flag from the casket and with solemn precision folded it into a razor-sharp triangle.

A guard raised his white-gloved hand toward the deep blue sky. Honor, duty, country, he pronounced loudly enough for God to hear.

"For a young man, he was very patriotic," said his mother, Joyce Jewett, after the service. "He loved his country. He loved his fellow man. He helped people in need everywhere he saw people in need. For a young man with a short career, he accomplished a lot in a short time."

Jewett was an agent with ICE and helped train the agency's Special Response Team.

Team members traveled from as far away as Texas to honor their comrade, who died Friday in a traffic accident on East Eden Road, Eden, in Erie County.

More than 250 people attended his funeral.

The Oakfield native touched many lives, making friends instantly with everybody he met, regardless of race or background or means, said longtime friend Nathan Fix.

"He could walk into a room and, even though you never met him, you would smile," Fix said. "He would smile. He had no enemies."

Deputy Joseph Corona counted Jewett as his best friend.

It was Jewett who lured Corona into law enforcement.

"Law enforcement is a path we both enjoyed," Corona said. "He made me passionate about it and made me want to strive for more. He opened doors for me when I had turmoil in my life and uncertainty, and he always led me on the right path."

The outpouring of love for Jewett following his death came from all quarters and from around the country. It showed, said Corona, what a special man he was.

"I'm happy that he was so loved," Corona said. "Everything that he represented was represented here today."

Joyce Jewett said the funeral was not an end, but a transition.

"Right now, we don't consider him gone," Joyce said. "We consider him onto the next mission. God has a mission for him."

Jewett received a 21-gun salute, taps on a trumpet and "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes. His perfectly folded American flag was presented by a member of the SRT to Joyce and his father Joe. The gloves that folded the flag were laid to rest on the casket.

One-by-one, members of SRT placed their division patches on top of the casket. The INS guards filed through the tent where family sat and each gave each member of the family a hug. Then Jason's parents walked over to the line of SRT members and the line of Sheriff's deputies and officers and hugged each of them. Joe Jewett had a private word with each man. Men and women in the assembled gathering sniffled and cried.

 "Jason deserved this," Joyce said. "He worked hard and he loved his job."

Fix said in their long friendship, they never drifted apart even as their careers took different paths.

"No matter what Jason did, it was always the right thing," said Fix, who first met Jewett when they were security offices together at Darien Lake years and years ago. Jewett helped Fix when he needed it most and they were neighbors in Oakfield for awhile.

"It was an honor to be at the funeral today," Fix said. "He was like a true guardian angel."

Everything happens for a reason, Joyce said. God has a plan. He brought Corona and her son together and built a special bond between them. That friendship helped form new relationships between ICE and the Sheriff's Office, she said (and Fix, who is a dispatcher and volunteer firefighter agreed). Before, agents and deputies might talk on the phone, but now they know each other personally, Joyce said. That relationship will improve both agencies, she said.

Corona said will never forget his friend.

"He is buried here in a part of a town that I patrol and I'll be here every day that I can be to pay my respects," Corona said. "He'll always be remembered as my best friend."

Joyce Jewett found a few bullet hole stickers among her son's belongings, so she gave them to SRT members and Joseph Corona. Jewett like a good practical joke, she said, and putting the stickers on his casket is the kind of thing he'd appreciate, she said.

Here are the awards that judges handed out following the Oakfield Labor Days Parade on Monday:

Veterans Color Guard

• 1st Prize: Vietnam Veteran’s Chapter #193
• 2nd Place: Oakfield-Alabama American Legion #626

Fire Departments

• 1st Prize Best Appearing: Stafford Volunteer Fire Department
• 2nd Prize Best Appearing: Alabama Volunteer Fire Department
• 3rd Prize Best Appearing: Oakfield Volunteer Fire Department
• Best Appearing Aerial: Town of Batavia Fire Department
• Best Appearing Pumper: Stafford Volunteer Fire Department
• Best Appearing Tanker: Byron Volunteer Fire Department
• Best Appearing Utility & Rescue Vehicle: Alabama Volunteer Fire Department
• Best Appearing Antique Hand Drawn Fire Apparatus: Attica Fire Company
• Best Appearing Antique Motorized Fire Equipment: Attica Fire Company

Marching Bands

• 1st Prize: Alexander Fireman's Marching Band
• 2nd Prize: Akron Tigers Marching Band
• 3rd Prize: Oakfield-Alabama Marching Band

Best Novelty Band, Act or Float

• Grand Prize: Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation
• 1st Prize: Crossroads House
• 2nd Prize: Genesee Country Church
• 3rd Prize: Batavia Silver Stars

More than 300 people showed up this evening for calling hours at the Gilmartin Funeral Home on West Main Street, Batavia, to pay respects to the memory and the family of Jason M. Jewett.

Among the mourners were about three dozen members of a nationwide car club that was proud to include Jason among its members.

Jewett, 31, of South Byron and originally from Oakfield, died Friday in a car crash in Erie County.

The car club members who attended tonight came from throughout the Northeast, but the majority were from Rochester. They represented three teams within the club: Style by Choice, Sunworks and Street Kings.

Any hardcore car enthusiast, regardless of make or model the member owns, is welcome into the club.

Jewett was all in once he became passionate about cars, according to Kyle McGuckin, team leader of Style by Choice.

His car was a black and yellow Mitsubishi Evolution club members called Pikachu.

"Jay loved his car and everybody knew his car," McGuckin said. "It was bright yellow. You could not miss it."

There's a tight bond between club members, McGuckin said. It just happens to bring them together.

"We wouldn't have known any of these guys without cars," McGuckin said. "We're definitely more about family than just a car crew."

Also honoring Jewett tonight were several members of the local law enforcement community, where Jewett had many friends. He was an agent at the Immigration Customs Enforcement & Deportation facility in Batavia along with being one of 13 instructors for the Special Response Team.

He had worked in and around law enforcement in Genesee County much of his adult life.

Calling hours will continue tomorrow from 3 to 8 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, at Resurrection Parish, 303 East Main St., Batavia. Interment will be in North Pembroke Cemetery.

Click here for Jewett's obituary.

Jason's nephew Nate Jewett, also a car club member, with his BMW. Nate is active duty Navy currently stationed at Port Hueneme in Ventura County, California.

Besides his car, Jason owned a gray Dodge Ram 1500 that he was proud of. A friend brought it to the wake. With it are Nate Jewett, Zach Hallatt and Huseyin Damlar.

Elaine Forti was honored to be Grand Marshal of the Oakfield Labor Days Parade. She was surprised when current and former students started singing the Oakfield-Alabama spirit song, "Nothing Is Going to Stop Us Now." Forti wrote the lyrics for the song in 1988.

Each year, the Oakfield parade seems to grow a little bigger and it's always well attended.

Here are some shots -- including one you've probably never seen before: A City of Batavia Fire Department truck in a parade outside the city. 

To purchase prints of photos, click here.

NOTE: It turns out, not all of the pictures have finished uploading yet ... in progress ...

For the past five years, the Williams family of Oakfield has been setting up a lemonade stand at Oakfield Labor Days to help raise money for cancer research.

This year Alex's Lemonade Stand, named after their son, could surpass the $10,000 it's raised so far. At least that's the goal. All proceeds go to pediatric cancer research.

Alex’s Lemonade Stand is a national charity named after Alexandra Scott who lost her battle with neuroblastoma in 2004.  She had a vision for kids all over the world to hold lemonade stands to raise money to find a cure.

Brady Williams, age 6, was diagnosed in 2009 with neuroblastoma.

For the past several years, Megen Williams and Christina Sosnowski have talked about having a float in the annual Labor Days Parade, but once again this year, circumstances weren't going to make that possible.

So Sosnowski decided to do what she thought might be the next best thing: Get her minivan decked out with Alex's Lemonade Stand signs.

The van was shown to Megan yesterday evening for the first time.

"I was in shock (when I saw it)," Williams said. "I think I screamed then I kind of cried. I was blown away. It's really cool."

The work was completed by Joe Bradt of Vinyl Sticks in Batavia.

For more about the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, click here.

A severe thunderstorm warning for Genesee County and other parts of Western New York is in effect until 3 p.m.

According to the National Weather Service in Buffalo, Doplar Radar shows a line of severe thunderstorms capable of producing quarter-size hail and damaging winds in excess of 60 mph. These storms were located along a line extending from five miles north of Youngstown to 20 miles west of Lewiston, moving east at 50 mph.

In Genesee County, Oakfield is mentioned in particular.

For the remainder of the day, the weather service predicts a chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 78. West wind around 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a 10th of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight, it looks like showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then a chance of showers. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Patchy fog after 3 a.m. Low around 68. West wind 7 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Information and photo provided by Tony Ray.

Team DirecTV is the champs of the Monday Night Oakfield Softball League. DirecTV beat Larry's Steakhouse in the playoff 13-1 and beat Oakfield Hotel for the championship, 30-7.

First row from left to right: Jason Pratt, Chuck Gugel, Ryan Gugel, Ron Klienback. Back row: Evan Nenni, Andre Kinder, Tony Ray, Matt Dimartino, Otis Thomas, Drew Crofts and Rich Baird.

A fully involved car fire is reported in the area of 3137 Batavia Oakfield Town Line Road. Oakfield Fire Department is responding. It's between two houses, but "well away from the structures."

UPDATE 3:13 p.m.: Oakfield Fire Police are asked to shut down traffic at Town Line Road, west of South Pearl Road. Alabama Fire Police are asked to shut down traffic at Town Line and Macomber roads.

UPDATE 3:19 p.m.: Fire police are also going to stop traffic at Town Line and Hutton roads. A tanker is requested to the scene.

UPDATE 3:25 p.m.: The car fire is knocked down.

UPDATE 3:27 p.m.: Oakfield command says the road closures will remain in place until further notice.

UPDATE 4:06 p.m.: All units back in service. Road reopened.

Joseph Andrew Hernick, 64, of Seven Springs Road, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Hernick is accused of being verbally abusive and attempting to be physically intimidating toward a neighbor.

James A. Hancock, 44, of 318 E. Main St., Apt. 6, Batavia, is charged with aggravated criminal contempt. Hancock allegedly violated an order of protection while having a prior criminal contempt conviction within five years.

Patrick O. Spikes, 32, of 16 Hutchins Place, Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief, 3rd. Spikes is accused of damaging property of another person valued at more than $250 during an alleged incident on Holland Avenue at 2:30 a.m., Saturday.

Keluan B. Williams, 24, of 109 Summit St., Apt. 2, Batavia, is charged with acting in a manner injurious to a child less than 17 years old. The alleged incident was reported at 3:30 p.m., Saturday. No further details released.

Danny D. Williams, 24, of 18 East Ave., upper, Batavia, is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle on a public highway. Williams was allegedly found driving at 6:54 p.m. Saturday on Hutchins Place by Officer Chad Richards. At the time of the traffic stop, Williams allegedly had an open can of Natural Light beer in the driver's side cup holder.

Brandi A. Watts, 32, of Indian Falls Road, Corfu, is was arrested on a warrant yesterday following a court appearance on an unrelated matter. Watts is accused of failure to pay a fine on an overnight parking ticket in the City of Batavia.

Eric Alexander Ion, 40, of Brant Road, Brant, was arrested on bench warrants related to charges of criminal contempt, 1st, and assault, 3rd. Ion is accused of failing to appear on these charges. Ion is currently being held on bail in the Genesee County Jail on matters in Family Court.

Faith Brenda Obeirne, 45, of Mt. Read Boulevard, Rochester, was arrested on warrants for alleged petit larceny and criminal possession of a controlled substance. Obeirne was arrested by Rochester PD and turned over to the Sheriff's Office. Obeirne was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Conor Patrick Wilkes, 25, of Lewiston Road, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and failure to keep right. Wilkes was stopped at 1:31 a.m. Saturday on Veterans Memorial Drive, Batavia, by Deputy Patrick Reeves.

Justin Joseph Caryl, 26, of Maple Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Caryl is accused of stealing $25.94 in merchandise from Walmart.

Jake Philip Myers, 23, of Maple Avenue, Oakfield, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08, failure to keep right and no or inadequate headlights. Myers was stopped at 1:48 a.m. Saturday on Edgerton Road, Elba, by Deputy Joseph Corona.

Evelio Rodriguez-Santiago, 46, of Bergen, is charged with petit larceny. Rodriguez-Santiago is accused of stealing an item of value at a location on Church Street, Bergen, at 6:15 p.m., Saturday. Rodriguez-Santiago was arrested by State Police. No further details released.

Timothy J. Poblocki, 24, of East Bethany, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Poblocki was stopped at 1:45 p.m. Sunday on Route 20, Alexander, by State Police.

Jennifer N. Bujnowski, 39, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Bujnowski is accused of shoplifting at Walmart.

Active duty service members Kyle A. Shrum and Nicole L. Woodard were married Saturday in Oakfield's Memorial Park.

Nicole's grandmother Bonnie Gendron said it's the first wedding held in the park.

The couple met at the Army's Fort Gordon in Augusta, Ga., and Kyle, 19, is from VanBuren, Ark., and Nicole, 19, is from Oakfield.

UPDATE: Melissa Baker says that there was at least one more wedding in Memorial Park before this one.  That was the wedding of her sister, Tiffany Reynolds and Koree McAlister. McAllister is an active Marine and both are from Oakfield. They were married last summer in Memorial Park.

Wedding photo by Heartmade Photography. Photos and information submitted by Bonnie Gendron.

Workers are continuing to make progress on Oakfield's new 165-foot water tower.

Press release:

No one wants to think that summer is almost over, however, the Oakfield Betterment Committee has been busy planning the Annual Oakfield Labor Days in the Park Celebration scheduled for Sunday, September 1st and Monday, September 2nd at Elroy D. Parking Park on Drake Street.

Many things have stayed the same, such as Great Food, Entertainment, Craft Show, Car Cruise, Labor Day Parade & Fireworks.  We’ve also added some new features, such as a 5K Run, Kids Games and Minute to Win It Challenges, Cow-Chip Bingo and our Raffle this is for a chance to win a John Deere XUV 550 Gator Utility Vehicle.

In years past, the Betterment Committee would mail raffle tickets to all local residence, however, this year, only 2500 tickets are being sold for the Gator Utility Vehicle, so tickets were not mailed.  Tickets are $10 each.  There are 4 chances to win $500 and a chance to win the Gator.  Anyone that is interested in purchasing tickets, please go to www.oakfieldbetterment.com or stop by several local businesses: Millennium Computers, The Bed Room Store, Amy Nichols Salon, West Main Wine & Spirits, Oakfield Town Hall, Scopano’s Oakfield Hotel, Caryville Inn, Ken’s Shooting Supply,Oakfield Family Pharmacy and Alli’s Cones & Dogs, or contact any Betterment Member.  Tickets are still available.  The Raffle will be drawn on Monday, September 2nd at 6pm.

The Betterment Committee is also looking for Crafters/Vendors for the Craft Show and Entrants for the Labor Day Parade.  The cost for a booth is $50 for both days.  If interested, please contact Kim Staniszewski  at kim@oakfieldbetterment.com.

The Oakfield Labor Day Parade is scheduled for Monday, September 2nd beginning at 10 am.  The Parade theme this year is “Musical Memories”.

The Genesee Valley Judging Association will be judging:

• Veteran’s Color Guard (1st Prize:  $50, 2nd Prize: $25)

• Best Appearing Fire Department (1st Prize: 150, 2nd Prize: $75, 3rd Prize: $25)

• Trophies for Best Appearing Aerial, Best Appearing Pumper, Best Appearing Tanker, Best Appearing Utility & Rescue Best Appearing Antique Hand Drawn Fire Apparatus and Best Appearing Antique Motorized Fire Equipment

• Best Appearing Marching Band (1st Prize:  $50, 2nd Prize: $75, 3rd Prize: $25)

Oakfield’s local Triplet’s, Erik, Dylan & Trevor Maier, Makena, Brooke & Josie Reding, and Brady, Eli & Cara Williams will be judging the Best Novelty Band, Act or Float (1st Prize: $150, 2nd Prize: $75, 3rd Prize: $25).  There is a $500 Grand Prize for the Best Overall Entrant.  Registration is required to be eligible for a prize category.  If interested in entering your Marching Band, Boy/Girl Scout Troop, Cheering Group, Performance Group, Float, Fire Department, Trucks, Equipment, Automobiles, Organization, or Your Own Creative Group, contact Michelle Johnson at michelle@oakfieldbetterment.com or 585.409.9299.

The Oakfield Betterment Committee invites everyone to come out to a Fun, Family-Friendly end of summer celebration….Oakfield Labor Days in the Park.

For more information, go to www.oakfieldbetterment.com.

A small black dog is reportedly locked inside a red station wagon outside of the Caryville Inn in Oakfield. That's at 25 Main St. across from the post office. An animal control officer is responding.

UPDATE 2:35 p.m.: The officer says the dog is now out of the vehicle and taking a walk with its owner.