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Alexander 6 Byron-Bergen 2

By Chad Flint

At Byron-Bergen Tuesday night a pair of 2-0 Genesee Region Division 1 teams squared off. The game was delayed approximately 40 minutes due to thunder after only 1:50 of the game had been played. After the break Alexander came out moving the ball well and put immediate pressure on the Bergen net. Junior Defender Gabby Kwiatek found Senior Forward Julia Pettys with a pass and Pettys beat the keeper to make it 1-0 early in the first half. Pettys would 2 more times before the half (with an assist to Junior Midfielder Maria Dominick on the last goal) to build the halftime lead to 3-0.

Senior Goalkeeper Amanda Bender made 3 fantastic stops to keep Bergen off the scoreboard in 1st half.
 

Alexander's bench was a bit short to start the game (only 3 active subs due to various circumstances) got a bit shorter as Sophomore Defender Eliza Vacanti went down with a knee injury with under 10 minutes to go in the 1st half.

After the half Alexander came out a bit slow to start but picked it right back up.  Bergen pulled a goal back to make it 3-1 but Junior Midfielder Abby Shilvock would restore the 3 goal lead just over 10 minutes into the 2nd half as she made the score 4-1.  

Bergen would again pull one back to make it 4-2 but it wouldn't take long for Alexander to have a great passing sequence that resulted in a goal by Sophomore Midfielder Lydia Spiotta (assisted by Dominick) to make it 5-2.  Pettys would net her 4th goal (assisted by Shilvock) moments later to make the final score 6-2.

Senior Amanda Bender had 8 saves in goal for her 2nd win of the year.  The defense and midfield played excellent games.

Alexander is now 3-0 while Bergen falls to 2-1.  Alexander's Varsity team hosts Oakfield Thursday at 4:30 while the JV team hosts Oakfield Saturday at 10am.

Alexander Roars Back to Defeat Attica 4-2

By Chad Flint
Attica traveled to Alexander Friday afternoon to get the 2011 version of their rivalry kicked off. Attica got off to a great start jumping out to a very early 2-0 lead before the game was 8 minutes old. The first goal saw a long ball down the left side of the field and then sent to the front of the net put into the Alexander net on an own goal and minutes later a very similar play resulted in another goal for Attica to go up 2-0. With not much going their way Alexander continue to battle. After about 15 minutes of the game Alexander began to take control of the ball as they have been known to do and put a great deal more pressure on the Attica net. It finally paid off when Senior Forward Julia Pettys fired on home off an assist from Junior Midfielder Abby Shilvock to make the score 2-1. Attica had an opportunity to increase their lead from the penalty spot just a short time later but put the shot wide of the net. After the half (with the score 2-1) Alexander came out a bit sluggish for the first 5 minutes and easily could have found themselves in an even bigger hole but some strong defending by Gabby Kwiatek kept the score at 2-1. Alexander began to take control of the play once again and good things started to happen. Pettys again got free behind Attica's back line and poked a goal by the goalie to make it 2-2. Shilvock would set Pettys up moments later to make it 3-2 and with about 15 minutes left in the game Shilvock found Pettys one more time and Pettys fired another home to make it 4-2. In the 2nd half Alexander's defense stood tall lead by Juniors Kwiatek and Ashlee Wolf, Sophomore Eliza Vacanti, and Freshman Sydney Breton. Senior Amanda Bender started her first varsity game in goal and had 5 saves in net along with some great communication and direction from her position. Alexander moves to 2-0 in the league and overall while Attica falls to 2-1 overall and 1-1 in the league. Alexander's next game is at Byron-Bergen Tuesday - JVs at 4:30, Varsity at 6:30.

Photos: Alexander Steam Show, 2011

By Howard B. Owens

I made two trips to the Alexander Steam Show this year, Friday night and Saturday afternoon. On Saturday, I intended just to stay for an hour to get a few photos to supplement what I snapped on Friday. I ended up staying more than two hours, which has put me behind on all my other projects and coverage. I took a lot of pictures. If you've never been to the steam show, put it on your calendar for next year. It's a great event that brings tens of thousands of people to Genesee County.

If you can't view the slide show, click here.

Elba/BB bounces back for 13-12 win over Alexander

By Howard B. Owens

It took six quarters of football, but the Elba Byron-Bergen Lancers finally got fired up Saturday to turn a 12-0 half-time deficit into a 13-12 victory of the Alexander Trojans.

After a blistering 32-7 loss to Barker last week, Coach Mike Cintorino said the Lancers needed a spark to turn things around, and Zack DuBois, helped by some key blocks at the line, did that in the third quarter with a 95-yard run for a score.

"Our guys came out in the second half excited to play and we had some success to get us moving in the right direction," Cintorino said. "We've been waiting, knowing that Zach is due, and he popped a big one for us today. This is exactly what our team needed today just to show us that we are as good as we were last year and now we can build on that."

Alexander, playing under new head Coach Jack Rennolds, and coming off an injury-plagued 2010 season when the team went 1-6, played a pretty dominant first half.

The Trojans converted a turnover into a touchdown when Austin Heberline punched it in from two yards out.

Patrick Crawford helped lead the next drive, including darting in on a 12-yard TD run to put Alexander up 12-0 at the half.

Alexander had 213 yards on the ground, most of it gained in the first-half of the game.

But the momentum seemed to shift in the second half, sparked, of course, by the DeBois run, but defensively the Lancers seems to come to life, making it much harder for Alexander to move the ball.

Zac Gillard helped put his team ahead with a 35-yard TD pass to Matt Ramsey with 10 minutes remaining in the game.

From there, it was just a matter of a fired-up Lancers' defense keeping the Trojans in check.

Rennolds said he saw a lot of positives in his team, especially during the first half of play.

"We played really well in the first half and I was really happy with our play, but we seemed to drop our coverage a bit in the second half," Rennolds said. "We came out a little flat and Elba came out definitely ready to play."

The Lancers move to 1-1 and Alexander is now 0-2 on the young season.

Stats:

Offensive Stats - Elba Byron Bergen
RB - Zack DuBois (So.): 24 Carries for 175 yards and 1 TD (94-yard run)
QB - Zac Gillard (Jr.): 6-10 for 79 yards and 1 TD (35 yards)
WR - Matt Ramsey (Sr.): 1 reception for 35 yards and 1 TD (35 yards)

Offensive Stats - Alexander
RB - Pat Crawford (Sr.): 3 Carries for 51 yards and 1 TD (12-yard run)
RB - Austin Heberline (Sr.): 5 Carries for 6 yards and 1 TD (2-yard run)
RB - Mark Farnsworth: 48 yards rushing
RB - Luke Phillips: 42 yards rushing
RB - David Schmeide: 22 yards
QB - Mark Farnsworth (Jr.): 3-11 for 22 yards
QB - Nelson Burke: 3 completions for 31 yards
Lineman Nick Mrucza was used on an offensive play and carried the ball for 38 yards.

Defensive Stats - Elba Byron-Bergen
Cody Naylor (Sr.): 10 tackles, 3 for a loss
Nate Jonathan (Jr.): 10 tackles, 2 for a loss

Defensive Stats - Alexander
Lucas Phillips (Sr.): Forced fumble
Austin Heberlein: 8 tackles and 4 assists
Nick Mrucza: 6 tackles
David Patrick: 5 tackles and 2 assists

Photos from this game can be purchased by clicking here.

If you can't view the slide show below, click here.

Field car in race rolls over, driver injured in Alexander

By Billie Owens

A field car involved in a field car race has rolled over in an accident and there are injuries reported. The site is 2757 Route 20 in Alexander, behind Breton Construction, Inc.

Alexander Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. An ambulance from Darien is called in as mutual aid to Alexander to stand by at the high school football game so Alexander can handle this call.

Mercy Flight out of Buffalo is on in-air standby.

UPDATE 3:09 p.m.: Mercy Flight is asked to land in the field adjacent to the accident.

UPDATE 3:21 p.m.: The patient is a 40-year-old man who suffered loss of consciousness and has upper back pain, upper thoracic tenderness and "crackling in the lungs."

UPDATE 3:38 p.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne and headed to Strong Memorial Hospital.

Accident reported on Brookville Road, Alexander

By Howard B. Owens

An Alexander fire chief was the first to call in a personal injury accident in the area of 10543 Brookville Road, Alexander.

Alexander Fire Department and ambulance dispatched.

UPDATE 1:13 p.m.: Alexander ambulance is transporting a patient to Corfu to meet up with a Mercy EMS ambulance for transport to Buffalo.


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Facebook group set up to support family of young drowning victim

By Howard B. Owens

A Facebook group has been created to support the family of Andrea Lynn Mangefrida, the 3-year-old Le Roy girl who drowned Saturday at a residence in Alexander.

Nearly 120 people have joined the group so far to express their sympathies to the Mangefrida family. There's also a PayPal donation link on the site.

M. Gary Guiste appears to have formed the group and writes, "This group is set up for the sole purpose of assisting the Andrea Lynn Mangefrida family in easing the financial burdens of medical costs and the financial burdens associated with the tragic loss of Andrea Mangefrida."

Guiste's note indicates that Andrea was an autistic child.

In an unfortunate accident that is the #1 cause of death in autistics, Andrea was taken from her family too prematurely. As a group, we want nothing more to have her back safe in her family's arms.

As a community of friends and families of police/law enforcement, EMS and fire professionals we stand ready to help the Mangefrida family with anything we can do.

Alexander 2 Holley 0

By Chad Flint

Holley traveled to Alexander in the opening game for both teams in the 2011 season. Alexander came away with a 2-0 win thanks to goals by Junior Midfielder Abby Shilvock and Senior Forward Julia Pettys.  Alexander was playing in a different formation with many starters in different positions due to various circumstances but were able to settle down and control the game as time wore on.  Early on the game was a bit ragged as the revamped lineup got used to playing in the positions they were in.  Alexander had a couple chances midway through the first half but was not able to convert on any.

Sophomore Korie Leitten filled in as the the goalie and had a couple nice saves in the first half to keep Holley off the board.  It was Leitten's first game at any level in goal.  

Inside the final minutes Shilvock hit a cross to Pettys on the back post and Pettys' header nearly found the corner but was cleared out by Holley.  However Alexander got the ball right back to Shilvock who hit a shot from 22 yards that found the top left corner of the net to give Alexander a 1-0 lead just before halftime.

Alexander came out in the 2nd half and began to get more of the possession and it paid off about 15 minutes in as Shilvock found Pettys with a nice through ball inside the 18 yard box and Pettys finished with her left foot low in the right side of the goal to make the score 2-0.  

Leitten continued her solid work in goal by knocking a corner kick clear later in the half to keep the score 2-0.  With about 10 minutes left Holley had a cross go off the post but it was cleared out by Junior Defender Gabby Kwiatek to again keep the score at 2-0.

It was a great all around performance by the ladies from Alexander as they got were swarming on defense to the ball and applied a lot of pressure high up the field on Holley's defense and midfield and that lead to a lot of turnovers while also breaking up Holley's possession and attack before it got into Alexander's defensive 3rd.  Leitten finished with 7 saves to get the win and shutout.

Starting Lineup for Alexander: Korie Leitten (10th, GK), Gabby Kwiatek (11th, D), Eliza Vacanti (10th, D), Sydney Breton (9th, D), Ashlee Wolf (11th, D), Maria Dominick (11th, M), Mary Kunze (9th, M), Abby Shilvock (11th, M), Emily Alvut (10th, M), Lydia Spiotta (10th, F), Julia Pettys (12th, F)

Substitutes for Alexander: Morgan Woodhouse (11th, D), Sam Marchisin (11th, M), Nikki Draves (11th, F), Breyana Crawford (9th, F)

Le Roy girl drowned in pool in Alexander on Saturday

By Howard B. Owens

A 3-year-old Village of Le Roy girl died Saturday evening after being found unresponsive in the pool of a relative's house on Broadway Road in Alexander.

Alexander fire and Darien fire and ambulance responded to the scene at 7:09 p.m. as friends and family members performed CPR on the child.

Darien ambulance transported the girl, Andrea L. Mangefrida, to UMMC. She was then flown by Mercy Flight to Women and Children's Hospital in Buffalo.

Andrea was pronounced dead at 12:45 p.m., Sunday.

The girl's parents are Philip and Christina Mangefrida, Village of Le Roy.

The Sheriff's Office is continuing to investigate the drowning.

Family of missing Alexander man looking for help in locating him

By Howard B. Owens

The family of 86-year-old Thomas L. Dufford is concerned about his whereabouts.

Dufford was last seen leaving the residence of one of his daughters on Pratt Road at noon, Friday.

He has not been heard from since, according to another daughter, Bonnie Dufford.

Dufford drives a white Lincoln Continental

"We are worried," Bonnie said. "This is not like him and he needs his heart medication."

She's hoping a reader may have some information to share.

According to Sgt. Greg Walker, law enforcement agencies throughout the state have been notified to be on the look out for Dufford's car, a white Lincoln Continental, model year 1996, with New York registration EDW 3680.

Dufford resides in the northeast part of Town of Alexander.

Walker said the Sheriff's Office has no specific leads on where to look for him since nobody knows where he might have decided to go after leaving Pratt Road.

If you have information to share, call the Emergency Dispatch Center at (585) 343-5000.

UPDATE 1:01 a.m.: Thomas Dufford was been located. He is safe. Dufford was stopped by a Sheriff's unit in Ontario County. His family is in route to Ontario County now to pick up him. He had apparently become disoriented and lost, according to Walker.

Route 20 in Alexander to be closed for three weeks for bridge repair

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

The Route 20 bridge over Tonawanda Creek in the Town of Alexander will close on Monday, Aug. 29, to undergo steel repair work for approximately three weeks. 

The structure is located between Route 98 and Brookville Road. A detour is posted directing motorists to take Route 98 south to Stroh Road to Sandpit Road back to Route 20. All local traffic will be permitted up to the work site on both sides.

Work includes general repairs to the floor-beam connections and other steel components of the structure.

For real-time travel information, call 511 or visit www.511NY.org <http://www.511NY.org>.

Rollover accident reported in Alexander

By Howard B. Owens

There is a one-car rollover accident reported at Sandhill and Shanks roads, Alexander.

There are injuries, but all victims are out of the car.

Alexander Fire Department is responding.

Smoke seen coming from roof of residence in Alexander

By Howard B. Owens

There is reportedly smoke coming from the roof of a residence on Route 20 in Alexander.

There is the smell of smoke in the house.

The residence is being evacuated.

Alexander Fire Department and Town of Batavia's ladder truck being dispatched.

The location is 3076 Broadway Road, Alexander.

UPDATE 6:01 p.m.: The smoke appears NOT to be coming from the residence, but another location. Alexander units being held in quarters and Town of Batavia can return to its hall.


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Accident reported on Attica Road at railroad underpass

By Billie Owens

A motor-vehicle accident, unknown injuries, is reported on Attica Road at the railroad underpass. Alexander Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 12:35 a.m.: The roadway is reportedly blocked.

UPDATE 12:37 a.m.: There is said to be one patient just north of the accident scene.

Photo: Alexander fire truck for sale

By Howard B. Owens

If you're in the market for a used fire truck, the Alexander Fire Department has one for sale. It looks like lights and siren are included.

Photos: Attica Rodeo

By Howard B. Owens

I spent a little time at the Attica Rodeo on Saturday hoping to come away with some pictures of Genesee County residents competing. I came away with two.

Above, Rob Wright of Alexander wrestles with a calf. Below, Tim and Todd Buckenmier compete in calf roping.

Below, a slide show of other photos I took while I was there.

Food store relocating from Alexander to Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

Molasses Hill Bulk Foods is relocating from the Village of Alexander to a building on Ellicott Street.

Owner Shannon Harder said she hopes the new site will be open on Aug. 9.

Harder said moving was a simple business decision. While she had a core group of loyal customers in Alexander, there just weren't enough to sustain the business. She's hoping the bigger customer base of Batavia will help generate the kind of revenue she needs to stay open.

She also pointed out that the outside of the building (formerly Time Bomb Tattoo) will be repainted.

Driver in serious injury accident charged with vehicular assault

By Howard B. Owens

A 21-year-old driver involved in a serious injury motor-vehicle accident on Pike Road, Alexander, is being accused of driving drunk and faces a felony charge of vehicular assault, 2nd.

Wyatt J. Becker, 21, of Sumner Road, Darien, was driving a 1998 Pontiac Bonneville when he allegedly lost control of the car and struck a tree. The incident happened at 12:26 a.m., July 30.

His passenger, Luke M. Taracki, 20, of Rusher Road, Alden, needed to be extricated from the vehicle and taken by Mercy Flight to ECMC with serious injuries.

Becker is also charged with DWI, speed not reasonable and prudent, failure to keep right and refusal to take a breath test.

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