Trick-or-treaters in East Pembroke last night could go house-to-house, but there were also adults in costumes who parked their cars, opened their trunks full of candy, and the kids could "trunk-and-treat" along the row of cars as well. About a block of away, the East Pembroke Volunteer Fire Department provided candy and served cider and donuts.

Press release:

The Red Osier has a goal to become as community-orientated as its owners, Steven Foster and Tim Adam. Together with their staff, they have decided to rename November "Lovember" with a month of promotions to give back to the local community.

In November, bring in a bag of nonperishable goods or new clothing and you will receive a $10 gift voucher toward your next dinner visit. All food will be donated to the Le Roy Food Pantry, while the clothing will be donated to the local homeless community.

Bring in a package of new undergarments and socks during November, receive a complementary chef dessert. All items will be donated to restaurant employee Wendy Cappoli-Frongetta's grassroots organization "Spirits and Skivvies" that donates underwear and garments to local less fortunate throughout the community. Her goal is to restore dignity and comfort to the fellow human one pair of underwear at a time. There is an auction of donated items this Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m. at the Byron Fire Hall where all proceeds will support "Spirits and Skivvies."

On Thanksgiving, the restaurant will be open 12 to 5 p.m. This is the first year in the history of the restaurant that it has been open on this holiday. All -- 100 percent -- of the sales proceeds from the day will be split between Genesee Cancer Assistance and The Stafford Monument Committee, which is erecting a monument at the Stafford Four Corners to honor the past and present military personnel from Stafford. Throughout the month, we will have our annual buy a $50 gift certificate and receive a complementary $20 gift certificate as well.

It is extremely important to get our local businesses and their staffs involved in the holiday spirit. If we can make a small difference one can of vegetables or a package of underwear at a time, that's what we will do. We hope that our spirit of "Lovember" will resonate to other businesses within our area.

Photos submitted by Rob Radley.

The parents, children and teachers at Imagination Station celebrated Halloween together yesterday afternoon.

As many 50 young girls, grades 2 through 8, have just completed the new Fall Ball Training Camp run by Tom McCulley and Otis Thomas in the renovated Notre Dame High School Gym.

The camp was offered to girls attending either St. Joe's or Batavia City Schools.

"There’s not really a whole lot going on for girls this age," said McCulley, who takes over from Dave Pero as head coach at Notre Dame this season. "We thought this would be a way to get them ready for the upcoming season no matter where they may be playing."

The camp is designed to get the girls in basketball shape for the season, drill them in fundamentals and help them learn how to focus, follow directions and participate as a team member.  

McCulley said this training will help the girls as they move up to higher levels. It's a lot harder for a coach to work with an incoming freshman, say, who hasn't had this kind of experience.

The camp ran for five weeks.

This was the first year for the camp and given its success, McCulley expects it to become an annual event.

"The girls love it," McCulley said. "They’re excited about it. They show up every week, so obviously, they want to do it. It gives them a chance to compete and to learn how to compete, learn how to prepare and stay focused and take direction, so when they do get up to the higher levels, at least they have a foundation to build upon."

This gorgeous lady is sleeping on a cozy pillow on a deck at a home on Sliker Road in Indian Falls, but that's not her home, and the homeowner would like to help find her owner.

The concerned citizen said the German shepherd won't let her get close enough to read her tags. She just runs off.

UPDATE 8:53 p.m.: Owner and dog are reunited.

Photos submitted by Glenn Adams.

There was a two-vehicle accident at 10198 W. Bethany Road this afternoon. Alexander Fire Department was called to the scene, with the Bethany Fire Department assisting. The two drivers were transported by ambulance to an area hospital(s).

UPDATE 10:06 p.m. (by Howard): John Brown, owner of Select Collision, wrote to us this evening. It was his son Brandon in the vehicle in the top photo. Brandon is at Strong with no major injuries. John said Brandon crested the hill and there was a vehicle coming at him on the center line. He swerved to avoid the vehicle and lost control, crossing into the truck's lane. His car was split into two. In John's words, "He walked away."

UPDATE Tuesday, Nov. 1 (by Howard): The accident was reported at 2:34 p.m. in the area of 10198 W. Bethany Road, Alexander. Brandon J. Brown, 17, of Conway Road, East Bethany, was driving a 2008 Subaru Legacy northbound on West Bethany Road and traveled over the center of the roadway, according to the Sheriff's Office, and was struck by an oncoming vehicle. That vehicle was driven by Joseph L. Graham, 49, of Werner Road, Attica, in a 2010 Toyota Tacoma pickup. Both drivers were able to exit their vehicles. Brown was transported by Alexander ambulance to ECMC with head and arm injuries. Graham was transported to Strong by Mercy EMS with neck and hip injuries. The investigation is ongoing. Assisting were the Town of Bethany Volunteer Fire Department, Town of Alexander fire and Mercy EMS.  The accident is being investigated by Deputy Chris Parker and Deputy Lonnie Nati and Investigator James Diehl.

From our news partner WBTA:

At around 1:30 p.m. today, Town of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy medics were called to 4975 West Ag Park Drive for a reported motor vehicle accident with entrapment and the vehicle on fire.

The accident is said to have occurred at the bend behind the County Maintenance Building.  

The female victim reportedly made it out of the vehicle with the assistance of two passersby, however the truck was into the woods and on fire at last report.  

Mercy Flight was requested.

UPDATE 9:17 p.m.: Tim Hens shared this on social media:

Crazy afternoon. Sitting in my office when I hear a police call on the scanner for a single vehicle off the road with entrapment and on fire literally 1500 ft from my office.

Jumped in my car and responded with a few guys from the shop... Christopher J Klein, Rob Barone, Mike Nicolucci and Tyler Lang. Showed up to a fully engulfed vehicle. Tried to extinguish with a few small fire extinguishers with no luck. We were beside ourselves thinking there was someone inside, but two earlier passers-by luckily got there before us and managed to drag the woman to safety into the woods. They had to pry the passenger door open with the cab on fire and yank her out! Truly heroic whoever they were! Tyler Lang did an awesome job keeping the woman stabilized until police and Mercy Flight got there.

Life changes in a second. So glad she is alive.

Press release:

Genesee Community College is pleased to announce an expansion of its annual schedule of events for veterans at the Batavia Campus Center. Veterans of all ages, active duty, reserve or separated veterans, along with their families and friends are invited to GCC for special opportunities on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 10-11.

"We look forward to the opportunity to showcase the many offerings and opportunities we have here at GCC for veterans," Marie Giardino, program director of Adult Educational Opportunity Center (AEOC) said. "While these special events are planned around Veterans Day, our services continue throughout the year at all of our campus locations."

On Thursday, Nov. 10, from 1:45 – 3:45 p.m. in the College Forum, the Batavia campus will host a Veterans Career and Community Fair, giving veterans the opportunity to meet with potential employers and interact with numerous community agencies that offer an array of helpful services. Veterans can interact with regional service providers in higher education, vocational training, healthcare, housing and transportation. Among the organizations that will be present (subject to change):

• Veterans One-Stop Center of WNY Inc.

• Rochester Regional Health

• Bonduelle USA Inc.

• Five Star Bank

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection

• ATB Staffing Services

• National Tractor Trailer School

• NY Army National Guard

• Navient/Pioneer Credit Recovery 

• ConServe

• Darien Lake Amusement Park

• Fidelis Care New York

• United Memorial Medical Center

Veterans should plan on bringing their resumes, a copy of their DD214 forms, and if they are looking for employment -- "dress to impress!"

Prior to the Career and Community Fair from 1 – 1:45 p.m., attendees will have the opportunity to listen to Purple Heart recipient Benjamin Randle Jr., director of Veterans Affairs at D'Youville College, who will speak about the life changing educational opportunities. Randle is a Vietnam War Veteran and his talk will occur in room T102 in the Conable Technology Building.

The annual Veterans Day "Faculty Connect" Open House in Batavia is scheduled from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11, and it's the biggest recruitment event of the year at GCC.

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., and gain inside knowledge about GCC's many majors and long-term career projections. The admissions, financial aid and advisement staff are available to answer questions, and visitors can enjoy complete tours of the Batavia campus, College Village and the College's Nursing labs, as well as the dedicated Veterans Lounge. Those looking for a comprehensive review of the academics, admissions and the overall GCC experience should register for this event! Go towww.genesee.edu/OpenHouse or call 866-CALL-GCC.

After the Open House, a series of special Veterans Day events adds to the day, honoring the brave men and women who have defended our country. Tim Palmer, a  Navy veteran, GCC adjunct history instructor and recent SUNY Chancellor Award recipient will serve as keynote speaker for this year's event. Veterans from all eras will be recognized with the Wall of Honor photo display; a rotating photo show of veterans related to any and all GCC students, faculty and staff; a thank you board will be available and open for all to sign; and motivating music, literary readings and refreshments rounds out the day.

For a complete listing of GCC's Spring 2017 course schedule featuring hundreds of courses, go to http://www.genesee.edu/courses/schedule/

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) said the safety and well-being of trick-or-treaters must not be overlooked this Halloween, as many youngsters will be out in high volume, even after sunset. 

“Halloween is a great opportunity for kids and adults alike to show off their creativity, celebrate their favorite monsters, superheroes and celebrities, and enjoy all types of tasty treats; however, safety must come first,” Hawley said. “A little precaution goes a long way when there are so many young people out. Candy and costumes are important, but ensuring every child makes it home safely is the priority.”

Hawley offered some safety recommendations. He said flashlights for trick-or-treaters out after dusk will help them see and be seen as they move from home to home. Young children should be supervised by an adult, he said, while those old enough to go out without a parent should stay in groups. Parents should make sure their children know never to enter the home of a stranger and should set up a specific time they expect to hear from them.

Costumes should not restrict the vision of those seeking treats and if they are made of dark material, reflectors will help ensure drivers can see them crossing the street. And, for those who will be handing out candy this Halloween, be sure there is a clear walking path to your front door so revelers don’t trip over any lawn decorations.

“Fall fun is at its pinnacle during Halloween thanks to great parties, candy and the company of our friends and family. Please join me in making sure this Halloween is safe and enjoyable for everyone participating,” Hawley added.

Adults interested in trying out different kinds of art projects, different mediums, different techniques now have an outlet through Queen of the Arts, a new arts class business started by Jill Pettigrew.

Pettigrew moved to Batavia two years ago after being an art teacher (she has a master's degree in painting) at the public schools in Erie, Pa., and she missed teaching.

She thought adult art classes would help fill a need in the community. 

"I think it's really important for adults to have a creative outlet," Pettigrew said.

Classes are on Friday evenings at GO ART! and are $25 per session, which includes all supplies. Students are welcome to bring wine, snacks and other beverages.  

For more information, visit the Queen of the Arts page on the GO ART! website.

Jeffrey William Scott, 33, of Market Street, Leicester, is charged with: driving while ability impaired by drugs; operating a  motor vehicle while registration is suspended; operating motor vehicle without insurance; unsafe tires; and failure to keep right. Scott was originally involved in a one-vehicle accident on Fargo Road in the Town of Stafford on June 2. As a result, he was flown by Mercy Flight to Erie County Medical Center. On Oct. 26, he turned himself in at the Genesee County Sheriff's Office and was arrested on the charges. Scott was released on appearance tickets for Stafford Town Court on Nov. 17. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Kevin Forsyth, assisted by Sheriff's Sgt. Jason Saile.

If Batavia is a ring that holds a precious gem, that diamond is now the new Batavia Downs Hotel, said Hart Hotels Sales Manager Shane Draman during a tour Friday of the new facility with the hotel's General Manager Richard Likus.

Both were brimming with pride as they showed off the hotel's amenities, boasting of the subtle details that they believe will earn a four-diamond rating from AAA.

"We’re a destination now," Litkus said. "We have a racetrack. We have a casino. We have four beautiful restaurants in the casino that do room service to our rooms. It’s not like we’re a hub where people are passing through. This is where people are going to come and spend a weekend or spend their anniversaries or spend the holidays. It’s going to be something special."

The finer points include free Wi-Fi, refrigerators and Keurigs with Tim Horton's coffee in all 84 rooms, 310 thread-count sheets and goose-down pillows, hardwood floors and open-air drawer racks (both are more sanitary than carpet and wooden drawers), and spacious rooms with a turn-down service between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. (which includes a small piece of chocolate left on your pillow).

"People won’t remember what you said," Draman noted. "People won’t remember what you did. People will always remember how you treat them. I think when you take a look at that, how we treat people, the little nuances that are here, the little special things, people pick up on."

There are 40 rooms in the hotel with king-size beds, 40 with double queens and four two-room suites that have a wine cooler the size of a mini-fridge, a refrigerator and sink area with a dining table. There is also a balcony overlooking the racetrack.

Hart Hotels already operates four four-diamond hotels in Watkins Glen, Clayton, Thousand Islands, and Portland, Maine,

Key members of Batavia's new staff were sent to these locations to train.

"Our goal is to be the leading hotel in Batavia and the surrounding area," Litkus said.

The hotel has already hosted several guests, including a convention of 300 members of Rotary clubs from throughout the state and Draman said the feedback so far has been as great as they had hoped. He said people use words like "wow," and "fantastic," when describing the hotel.

From the outside of the hotel, you would never guess how spacious the hotel is, an observation made by several guests, Draman said.

"We've received emails were people have said it's the best hotel they've stayed at," Draman said.

The ribbon cutting for the new hotel will be at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, and Thurman Thomas will be on hand for the ceremony. He was a professional football player, a running back, who spent most of his National Football League career with the Buffalo Bills. 

With paving underway today, the $2.5 million reconstruction project for Summit Street is near completion for the major portion of the work. There are still trees to plant and other finishing touches that need to be done; crews could wrap the major work up today.

There are still patches left of fall color, such as along the Tonawanda Creek behind the County Courthouse.

A Level 3 sex offender facing a possible life sentence on his latest charges alleged sexual conduct with a child won't get a chance to make bail, Interim Judge Micheal Pietruszka ruled in Genesee County Court this morning.

Pietruszka cited the five felony convictions, including two violent felonies, and five prior violations of terms of probation when ordering Marlek E. Holmes, 42, of Batavia, held without bail.

District Attorney Lawrence Friedman requested a no-bail status because if convicted of the two Class A felonies in the last indictment -- predatory sexual assault and predatory sexual assault against a child -- Holmes could be sent to prison for the rest of his life.

In all, Holmes is charged with 11 counts related to alleged sex crimes between 2010 and 2015, plus there are also charges still pending stemming from two prior incidents where Holmes allegedly failed to register his correct street address as a registered sex offender.

His attorney will have until Dec 16 to file any motions in the case, and a hearing on any motions was scheduled for 9:30 a.m., Jan. 11.

The Batavia Rampart's Squirt III travel team traveled to Cleveland to play in the Rock'n'Roll Cup Tournament, where they beat the Michigan Sting, 5-0, the Lake Erie Panthers, 10-1, and the Erie Lions twice, 4-1 and 5-2, to win the championship.

In the first game, goals were scored by Chase Cummings, who had three, Anna Stevens and Jameson Motyka.

In the second game, scoring: Brady Johnson, three goals, Anna Stevens, two, Jameson Motyka, two, and with one each, Chase Cummings, Drew Jursted and Noah Whitcombe.

In the third game, Evan Schwerthoffer, Anna Stevens, Sammy Pies and Jake Hutchins scored.

In the final, Chase Cummings had two goals, Anna Stevens, Sammy Pies and Jake Hutchins each had one.

Frankie Falleti was tournament MVP.

A chemical fire is reported at Summit Lubricants, 4080 Pearl Street Road, Batavia.

The caller reports he is the only employee working and he is out of the building.

Town of Batavia fire dispatched.

UPDATE 2:35 a.m.: A chief reports a working fire at the rear of the building. Another chief asks, "what is it?" "Charcoal, he's telling me," the second chief replies.

UPDATE 2:37 a.m.: All available manpower requested to the scene.

UPDATE 2:47 a.m.: The fire is in a silo on the outside of the building. The chief is unsure if it's made its way into the interior of the building. Oakfield requested to fill in at Station 1, Stafford to fill in at Station 2.

UPDATE 3:20 a.m.: A firefighter needs treated for smoke inhalation. On scene, firefighters say fire contained to silo detached from the building, but it was popping pretty good. There is quite a bit of charcoal in the silo. Firefighters will attempt to remove it to get the fire out. 

UPDATE 3:27 a.m.: Firefighters have open the top and are putting water on the fire from the top. The firefighter treated by Mercy should be fine.

UPDATE 3:49 a.m.: Employees in nearby facilities should shelter in place and turn off HVAC systems.

UPDATE 4:18 a.m.: Fire is out. Chief informs dispatchers, "It was not a chemical fire." It was just a charcoal fire. If there are complaints of odor in the area, "that's all it is," says the chief.

UPDATE 7:45 a.m.: Town of Batavia fire cleared this scene just before 6 a.m. Now they're called back for another alarm. A chief on scene reports, "nothing showing."

UPDATE 7:51 a.m.: Investigating, all units can remain in quarters at this time.

UPDATE 7:55 a.m.: Alarm is unfounded.