A car accident is reported on the westbound Route 490 at mile marker 4.7. The vehicle is in a ditch and the female driver is complaining of chest pain. Bergen fire and ambulance are responding.

Start a business and make it well into your second year and you're doing better than nearly 20 percent of the other people who tried doing the same thing. Make it to five years and you've lasted longer than nearly half of your compatriots. How about 30 years? Well, the Small Business Administration doesn't publish those stats, but does tell us 75 percent of new businesses are closed by year 16.

And in the age of speedy delivery from computer to doorstep, it gets even tougher on retail businesses.

That makes 30 years of owning Neptunes Gardens for Nick and Cathy LaFarnara quite an accomplishment.

Nick said customer service and an ongoing effort to diversify what they offer has helped them survive, especially against growing Internet competition.

Just this past Thursday, as an example of going above and beyond for a customer, Nick said he drove nearly 150 miles to retrieve a saltwater aquarium filter and deliver it to an elderly customer after she tried unsuccessfuly to purchase it at Petco.

"It's stuff like that, you kind of bend over backwards to try to make ends meet," Nick said.

A big part of their business now is live bait, and they do well in the summer with goldfish for fairs and carnivals, and stocking fish for residential and commercial ponds.

Nick's father opened Neptune's Gardens at 33 Liberty St., behind the Pok-A-Dot, in 1967.

Nick and Cathy's daughter, Jamie, works in the store now and will likely run it someday, but Cathy thinks a fourth generation is already eager to take over.

"Our grandkids are already involved," Cathy said. "One time we had a customer looking for a fish and I was, 'I don't think we have it,' and Victor, I think he was 6  years old, said, 'Grandma, we have it.' He took the lady right to it."

Now 9, Victor has a way with reptiles in the store and he thinks nothing of walking around with a snake wrapped around his waist.

"He probably sells more reptiles and snakes than I do," Nick said.

Dignitaries, politicians and business leaders gathered at Batavia Downs today for an official groundbreaking ceremony for a new $5.4 million hotel being developed by ADK Hospitality, a company from Buffalo that reached an agreement earlier this year to build the hotel on land formerly owned by Western OTB.

The project turns the land from tax-free acreage to tax-generating acreage and is expected to create 25 full-time equivalent jobs in the 82-room facility. To help finance the project, Genesee County Economic Development Center has granted more than $600,000 in tax relief. Once open, hotel guests with balconies will be able to watch harness racing from their rooms.

Western OTB VP Mike Nolan, left, and CEO Michael Kane.

 ADK Hospitality CEO Anthony Baynes.

High Voltage Tattoo and Piercing will be hosting a benefit for the owner, Mark Fanara, on Oct. 23 thru 25. We'll be offering $30 tattoos and $15 piercings throughout this event. Tattoos will be limited to designated tattoo flash sheets designed by Jeremy Fridman, Andrew London and Kevin Lockwood. Lettering will also be available, up to 15 letters.

Mark is a single father of two young boys, a tattoo artist and a small business owner. He is now fighting a rare form of lymphoma called lymphatoid granulomatosis (LYG). He has been unable to work for the past few months and will not be able to return in the foreseeable future. He needs your help. All donations will be appreciated.

If you would like to donate, but you cannot make it in, you can mail a check to Benefit for Mark Fanara, High Voltage Tattoo, 110 W. Main St., Batavia, NY 14020. Make check payable to Mark Fanara, memo: Benefit. You can also donate at https://www.gofundme.com/p857yxts

New and gently used winter coats, hats, mittens, gloves, scarfs and boots in all sizes are being accepted by Community Action of Orleans & Genesee in Batavia.

These will be given to adults and children in need during this cold season.

Please donate only items that are clean, without holes or broken zippers.

Drop off donations at Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, located at 5073 Clinton Street Road, Batavia, anytime between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Call 343-7798 for information.

Press release:

Notre Dame High School is sponsoring a program about good manners for all fifth- through eighth-grade students at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24. This interactive program is presented by Beverly Thomas, founder of Buffalo-based Etiquette for a New Generation.

Etiquette for a New Generation's programs focus upon skills to help individuals succeed in the classroom, at home, in the world of business or in a college interview. Application of these manners and skills leads to increased opportunities, greater confidence and improved self-esteem.

Topics to be covered include: Communication Skills, including cell phone etiquette, Social Etiquette, Self Image, Creating a Personal Preference and Elements of Good Sportsmanship.

Notre Dame High School is located at 73 Union St. in Batavia. Cost is $10 per student and includes lunch. Please call 585-343-2783, ext. 100, for more details and to make reservations.

A three-car accident with injuries is reported at Slusser and Pratt roads, East Pembroke. Law enforcement is on scene and says extrication will be needed. East Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 9:48 a.m.: There were only two cars involved; the third vehicle was driven by a witness who stopped to block off the accident scene. The drivers involved in the accident had minor injuries and both were transported to a hospital; neither had passengers.

City firefighters are responding to a complaint about "a recreational fire" behind the residence at 7 Ross St. Law enforcement is also dispatched to the scene.

Press release:

Genesee County Sheriff Gary T. Maha shares the following safety tips to help you plan a safe, fun Halloween for your family. Review these safety guidelines with your family and set ground rules before heading out. The sheriffs and other law enforcement agencies will have increased patrols on October 31 but planning on your part is the best way to ensure a safe Halloween.

Never leave your house unattended. If you have to leave your house, make sure all the doors are locked.

Parents DO:

• Map out your route and check it against the New York State Sex Offender Registry at www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/nsor

• Accompany your young children and plan to go when it’s light out.
• Feed your children a meal or substantial snack before trick or treating.
• Have children save all candy until they get home.
• Inspect all treats; throw away unwrapped, open, or suspicious looking goodies.

Trick-or-Treaters DO:

• Travel in pairs or groups and stay together.
• Walk on the sidewalk or on the left side of the road facing traffic.
• Stop, look and listen at corners.
• Plan a safe route; stop only at familiar homes where the outside lights are on.
• Carry a flashlight or glow stick.
• Carry a cell phone if going without an adult.
• Be respectful of people and their property.

Trick-or-Treaters DON’T:

• Go into a stranger's house or get into a stranger's car.
• Run across yards or streets.
• Venture down dark, empty streets.
• Approach dark, unlighted houses.
• Go between parked cars or crisscross back and forth across streets.
• Eat any treats before your parents check them.

At Home:

• Put away anything children could trip over.
• Turn the lights on and replace any burned-out bulbs at the walkway and front door.
• Remember, your jack-o-lantern and any other candles or electrical decorations can be a fire hazard. Keep them out of the reach of small children and away from flammable materials.

Press release:

Genesee Community College will offer two open house events this fall at the Main Campus in Batavia, allowing perspective students and their families to explore the many opportunities the College has to offer. Those interested in attending are encouraged to pre-register at www.genesee.edu/OpenHouse or by calling 866-CALL-GCC.

The first event is scheduled on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 9 - 11 a.m. The admissions, financial aid and advisement staff will be available to answer questions, and enjoy complete tours of the Batavia Campus, College Village and the College's Nursing labs and classrooms located across the street in the Med Tech Building.

The College will also hold its annual Veterans Day Academic Open House on Wednesday, Nov. 11, from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. As the biggest recruitment event of the year, visitors have the opportunity to talk one-on-one with professors and instructors at the Academic Fair which runs from 9 to 9:45 a.m., gaining inside knowledge about GCC's many majors and some long-term career projections. In addition, representatives from several four-year colleges will be on hand to talk about transfer options from GCC. If you want a comprehensive look at academics, admissions and the overall GCC experience, don't miss this event!

Genesee Community College provides a variety of convenient learning options for students of all ages. Students can take classes at the main campus in Batavia or at one of six campus centers in GCC's four-county service area, including Lima and Dansville in Livingston County, Albion and Medina in Orleans County, and Arcade and Warsaw in Wyoming County. GCC also has a robust online learning program with more than 100 online courses offered each semester and 15 degrees can be earned fully online.

Establishing new degrees, certificates and concentrations that are focused on careers and jobs of the future has always been a priority for GCC. Among the newest programs are Food Processing Technology AAS, Polysomnographic Technology, AAS, (the study of sleep disorders), Supply Chain Management Concentration and Economic Crime Investigation as two concentrations within the Business Administration program, and GCC recently realigned the science programs into four Natural Science concentrations, specifically Physics, Environmental Biology, Biology and Chemistry.

"I have been at GCC for nearly 20 years and I continue to be impressed by the diversity of our student body," Tanya Lane-Martin, assistant dean for Enrollment Services and director of Admissions said. "While we enjoy our traditional aged students who come from high school, I'm also delighted by our growing number of international students, parents and some grandparents who are attending classes with their children, students from Downstate who love our rural community, and the displaced workers who want to retrain and get back into the workforce ASAP. Serving the needs of all these students and helping them achieve their success is what makes GCC such a special place."

For those interested in upcoming courses, a complete listing of GCC's Winterim, Spring and Summer 2016 course schedules can be viewed here: http://www.genesee.edu/courses/schedule/

Plans are being made to honor Don Read, former Genesee County Clerk who retired on Sept. 11, with a dinner at Terry Hills Restaurant. He served as county clerk for 22 years.

It is planned for Saturday, Nov. 7th, with social hour starting at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7. Cost is $30 per person.

To reserve a seat, send your check -- made out to Richard Siebert -- to P.O. Box 171, Batavia NY 14021.

Also, if anyone would like to participate honoring Mr. Read, please let Mr. Siebert know.

Press release:

The Village of Oakfield’s Department of Public Works plan to flush hydrants throughout the Village and Town of Oakfield beginning Oct. 19th and concluding Oct. 23rd. Residents may notice some discoloration in water and possible low pressure.

(Also, a reminder to Village residents -- street parking regulations change beginning Nov. 1st through April 30th.)

A caller is reports an open burn is causing a nuisance at 251 Bank St. City firefighters are responding. The location is between Hart and Douglas streets.

The Business Teachers Association of New York State awards the Julian A. Milkes Award for Outstanding New Business Educator each school year. Notre Dame High School is proud to announce that its Business Teacher, Lindsay Warner, is the recipient of the 2015 award.

The Julian A. Milkes Award recognizes exemplary efforts of new business educators early in their careers. Individuals must have made significant contributions to Business Education through some combination of program development, professional association activities, professional contributions (through presentations/publications), and civic and community involvement. They will have been involved in innovative, unique and novel programs and have shown extraordinary professional commitment early in their careers.

Retired principal Joseph Scanlan, Ph.D., said “Mrs. Warner has brought Business Education into the new millennium at Notre Dame High School.”

Lindsay’s hard work and diligence have resulted in Notre Dame obtaining college course accreditation for three high school business courses she currently teaches in conjunction with Genesee Community College.

“She is a mover and shaker who teaches business courses using real life business applications," Scanlan said. "Course requests for the courses she teaches are off the charts as the word has traveled quickly that her classes are indeed the real deal."

Warner also masterminded her senior-level marketing class’s participation in the Virtual Business Competition held at GCC in March. The Notre Dame “Cupcakery” team captured four first-place awards and one for second in the competition with 12 other regional schools. She planted the seed, encouraged them to do their best and oversaw their efforts.

Warner has also started a quality shadowing experience program, which is placing interested juniors and seniors in real-life career opportunities during the school year and summer vacation.

A Notre Dame High School graduate, she received her master's in Education from Nazareth College in 2009. She holds a NYS Professional Certification in Business and Marketing Education. She lives in Le Roy with her husband, Jeremy, and two young sons. Congratulations to Lindsay on this prestigious award!

We are informed that the phones are not working at the Genesee Park & Forest Interpretive Nature Center. So if you want to attend tonight's program about bats, including a slideshow and guided nature tour afterward, please register via e-mail to: Shannon.Morley@co.genesee.ny.us

Or message the park people on Facebook, Genesee County Parks, Recreation & Forestry.

Either way, registration is required.

You will learn that bats are experts at staying warm -- they have a fur coat, keep a cozy home, and they love to cuddle!!

Le Roy finished out the regular season with a loss to Livonia, 28-22.

The Oatkan Knights will head into sectional play with a 4-3 record.

Nick Egeling carried the ball for 176 yards and a TD on 22 rushes. Dom Filio gained 54 yards and scored 11 carries. Josh Laurie had nine carries for 43 yards and a TD. He was 4-20 passing for 20 yards. Ryan Boyce had a 35-yard reception and Benny Piazza caught one for 34 yards.

Nate Flint had seven tackles, and with six each are Piazza, Egeling, Dave Englert and Laurie.

Also on Friday night:

• Pembroke over CG Finney, 36-28
• Attica, 34, Oakfield-Alabama, 21
• Elba/Byron-Bergen, 35, Alexander, 32
• Cuba/Rushford, 47, York/Pavilion, 22

Notre Dame hosts Holley today at 1:30 p.m.

Le Roy game photos by David Boyce.

A bicyclist was struck by a vehicle and is possibly injured on Veterans Memorial Drive in front of Peebles department store. Town of Batavia fire is responding. Mercy medics are on scene to evaluate the patient.

UPDATE 11:15 a.m.: The town assignment is back in service.