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Robert J. Kane Pace entries close Wednesday

By Billie Owens

By Tim Bojarski, Batavia Downs Racing Media Relations

Horsemen are advised that Batavia Downs will be accepting entries for the $50,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace through Wednesday morning (Sept. 30) at 9 a.m. The race will be held Saturday (Oct. 3) on one of the richest cards ever offered at the oldest lighted harness track in America.

Known as the Downs signature event, The Robert J. Kane Memorial is named for the former Chairman of the Board of the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation, owner of Batavia Downs. The race has had three millionaires win it, including Foiled Again ($7.1M), who won it twice; Bolt The Duer ($1.8M) and Aracache Hanover ($1.7M) who set the all-time track of 1:51.1 in 2011.

Other premium racing opportunities that night include the $12,500 Brian Schroeder Memorial Trot and a $10,000 Open pace. Also scheduled are two $50,000 New York Sire Stakes 2-year-old consolation races.

Entries or inquiries can be made by calling the race office at 585-344-6161.

About 250 first responders statewide attend Barry Miller's funeral service in Chili

By Billie Owens

Robert Hilchey and his 2-year-old grandson Parker.

About 250 first responders from throughout New York State are at the funeral service in progress for Bergen's Barry Miller. The private, closed service is under way at Pearce Memorial Church on the campus of Roberts Wesleyan College in Chili. Because of the number of attendees, a closed-circuit television is set up inside the Cultural Life Center for viewing the service.

After opening remarks from Pastor Matthew French, the song of hope "I Will Rise" was sung by Craig Deats, followed by a prayer by Pastor Wally Fleming. Then they sang "Amazing Grace" and read Psalm 23, followed by a Gospel lesson offered by Pastor Michael Merry. The sermon is being given by Pastor Matthew French. Witnesses to the life of Barry Miller will speak, including Don Cunningham, Julie Donofrio, Scott Schmidt and Kevin Finacune.

Another song of hope "My Tribute, to God Be the Glory" is to be performed by Sonya Catalano. Pastor Dan Finch will say a commendation prayer and a prayer of Thanksgiving. The Lord's Prayer will be said, followed by "The Firefighter Song" with PJ Cummings. "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" will close the service, followed by a dismissal blessing offered by Pastor Matthew French.

Free Dementia Care Conference to be held in Batavia Oct. 20, registration required

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Family members and professional health care providers who provide care for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia are encouraged to attend a free Dementia Care Conference in Genesee County in October.

The Western New York Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association is sponsoring the seminar on the afternoon of Oct. 20. The Genesee County Nursing Home at 278 Bank St. in Batavia will host the seminar from 1-4 p.m. Topics will include:

  • Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease
  • Relationship Changes 
  • Behavior & Communication
  • Care Options & Safety

The conference is free, but registration is required by calling: 1.800.272.3900. Information about Alzheimer’s disease, community resources and other educational programs is available on the Chapter’s Web site: alz.org/WNY.

Local Batavia Edward Jones Branch Office supports Salvation Army Food Drive

By Billie Owens

Local residents and businesses may help those less fortunate in the community by bringing in items to the Edward Jones branch office during regular business hours from Thursday, Oct. 1st to Thursday, Nov. 19th.

The items needed for the food drive include: canned and boxed items such as cereal, pasta sauce, peanut butter -- of which they are currently low in stock. Canned fruits, vegetables, gravy, soups, pasta and canned meats are always needed. potatoes, pasta, desserts, and gravy.

The branch address is 7 Jackson St. Batavia, NY 14020.

Edward Jones, a Fortune 500 company, provides financial services for individual investors in the United States and, through its affiliate, in Canada.

Green Genesee Smart Genesee to host open house at Senior Center Oct. 6

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Green Genesee Smart Genesee (GGSG) will present an Open House taking place at the Genesee County Office for the Aging, Senior Center on Oct. 6 beginning at 4:30 p.m. and featuring refreshments, kids activities and informational handouts.

The purpose of GGSG is to create tools and provide resources that help guide land and energy use in Genesee County. This will allow continued development of viable and lasting economies and strong, vital communities.

The GGSG project is supported by community and science, guided by a group of diverse stakeholders including municipal leaders, farmers, business owners, lawmakers, residents, environmental professionals, and students.

Ours will be among the strong and vital communities of the future – where people will want to live, where businesses will want to locate, and where others will want to visit.

Stop in between 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. to learn more about Green Genesee Smart Genesee and make your voice heard regarding the future of Genesee County!

To read more about Green Genesee Smart Genesee visit http://www.co.genesee.ny.us/GreenGeneseeIndex/index.html.

Annual meeting of Cornell Cooperative Extension set for Oct. 20 at Terry Hills, RSVP by Oct. 13

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County will host its annual meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 20. The meeting is open to the public and will begin at 5 p.m. at Terry Hills Restaurant, 5122 Clinton Street Road, Batavia.

We will be honoring Master Gardener Volunteer David Russell with the “Friend of Extension” Award and appropriate tropical attire is optional.

Anyone planning to attend can RSVP by Oct. 13 to Samantha Stryker at sls428@cornell.edu or (585) 343-3040, ext. 123.

Insulation on fire under house on Swamp Road, Byron

By Billie Owens

A caller reports insulation is on fire under a house at 7014 Swamp Road. Bryon and South Byron fire departments are responding, along with mutual aid from Bergen, Elba and the Town of Batavia's Fast Team. A second engine from Bergen is requested to fill in at Byron's fire hall. The location is between Hessenthaler and Pococks roads.

UPDATE 9:12 p.m.: Byron command is holding the assignment to Byron, Sotuh Byron and Pavilion. Elba and Town of Batavia are put back in serivce. They are calling for a thermal camera.

One-car accident with injuries reported on Ellicott Street Road, Bethany, Mercy Flight dispatched

By Billie Owens

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A one-car accident is reported in the 5400 block of Ellicott Street Road, Bethany. Bethany Fire Department is responding along with Mercy medics. The car is off the roadway. Mercy Flight is called to the scene. Alexander fire personnel will set up the landing zone and be the helicopter's ground contact.

UPDATE 8:11 a.m.: Mercy Flight #5 out of Batavia has landed. The location is between Clapsaddle and Mayne roads.

UPDATE 8:19 a.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne and headed to Strong Memorial Hospital.

UPDATE 8:31 a.m.: The transport via helicopter was done primarily as a precaution. The female driver fell asleep at the wheel. She suffered a cut on her head but was conscious and alert when help arrived.

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Cobble Beach wires the field in Batavia feature

By Billie Owens

(Photo of Cobble Beach with driver John Cummings Jr., courtesy of Paul White.)

By Tim Bojarski, Batavia Downs Racing Media Relations

Cobble Beach was in full command the entire way as he put a circle around the five-horse field in the $9,000 Open pacing feature at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Sept. 26).

Leaving from post four, Cobble Beach (John Cummings Jr.) shot right to the lead and took instant control of the race. While about five lengths back, prohibitive betting favorite Fireyourguns (Mike Caprio) got away fourth and was content to stay there until the half.

After hitting that station in :56.4, Caprio unleashed Fireyourguns and advanced as far as second at the three-quarter pole. But the assault creased when the gelding faded uncharacteristically around the far turn. From there, Cobble Beach paced home in a speedy :27.4 to win by three-lengths in 1:52.4.

It was the eighth win of the year for Cobble Beach ($4.70) and the fourth top-class victory for him at Batavia Downs. The winners share boosted his bankroll to $67,565 for owner Leonard Segall and trainer James Clouser Jr.

Saturday was a night of multiplicity for several horsemen. The driving/training team of Dave McNeight III and Dave McNeight Jr. scored a hat trick with Goldstar Thumper ($3.50), Maple Leaf Matt ($14.20) and Outoftexas ($7.30) while the driving/training team of John Cummings Jr. and James Clouser Jr. registered a double with Bad Bad Boy ($3.40) and Cobble Beach ($4.70). Shawn McDonough, Jack Flanigen and Ray Fisher Jr. also had driving doubles as well.

The next card of live racing will be Wednesday (Sept. 30) at Batavia Downs with post time set for 6:35 p.m.

BZ Glide scores an easy victory in Batavia Downs trot feature

By Billie Owens

(Photo of BZ Glide with driver Mike Caprio, courtesy of Paul White.)

By Tim Bojarski, Batavia Downs Racing Media Relations

BZ Glide ($6.10) made a change in race strategy pay off by going wire to wire in the $9,500 Open trot feature at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Sept. 25).

In what seemed to be a race from a parallel universe, nothing that is known to normally happen, occurred. BZ Glide (Mike Caprio), who almost always comes from off the pace, went right for the lead. And habitual frontrunner, Lutetium (Kevin Cummings), settled in the garden spot, opting to let someone else dictate the race.

In the end the contrary methodology of one paid off while the other, not so much.

BZ Glide performed like a well-oiled machine on top, covering scads of ground with his long, fluid stride. He controlled the field by a loose length the entire race under a passive hand-drive by Caprio, setting fractions of :28.2, :58.4 and 1:28.4 before rounding the final turn.

As they headed down the stretch, Cummings directed Lutetium off his cover and tried to gain momentum on the pylons, but their attempt was ineffective as BZ Glide trotted home without issue in 1:57.4.

It was the sixth win in 15 starts for BZ Glide this year and the winner’s share of the purse boosted his earnings to $42,695 for owner Caprio LLC. The 6-year-old Yankee Glide gelding is trained by Alana Caprio.

Grass fire reported on Sanders Road, Stafford

By Billie Owens

Stafford Fire Department is called "to assist law enforcement with a grass fire" at 8620 Sanders Road.

The location is Scofield Transfer & Recycling.

Two-car accident with injuries reported on Lewiston Road

By Billie Owens

A two-car accident with injuries is reported at 1246 Lewiston Road. Alabama Fire and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 1:37 p.m.: Mercy medics are transporting a patient to Strong Memorial Hospital. The Alabama assignment is back in service.

Batavia woman arrested after allowing her dog to bark for more than a half hour, was 'previously warned'

By Billie Owens

Toni M. Drake, 34, of Vine Street, Batavia was arrested on Sept. 21 at 7:18 p.m. and charged with allowing her dog to habitually bark for more than a half hour.

Drake is to be arraigned in City Court at 1 p.m. on Tuesday.

According to the Batavia PD report, her arrest came after she allegedly left her dog chained to a tree in the back yard unattended, allowing it to bark continuously for more than 30 minutes.

"Drake had been warned in the past not to allow her dog to bark continuously," says the report written by Sgt. Eric Bolles and released today.

Grand Jury: Three people indicted on multiple counts of fraudulent credit card use

By Billie Owens

Monta H. Little is indicted for the crime of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, a Class D felony. On April 3, in the Town of Batavia, Little allegedly knowingly used a Visa credit card that was not hers, thus intending to defraud, deceived or injure another. In 21 additional counts, Little is accused of the same crime, using various credit and debit cards of the same victim.

Nelson Grant Jr. is indicted for the crime of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, a Class D felony. On April 3, in the Town of Batavia, Grant allegedly knowingly used a MasterCard debit card that was not his, thus intending to defraud, deceive or injure another. In nine additional counts, the defendant is accused of the same crime using various credit cards.

Robert T. Assing Jr. is indicted for the crime of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, a Class D felony. On April 3, in the Town of Batavia, Assing allegedly knowlingly used a Visa debit card that was not his, thus intending to defraud, deceive or injure another. In six additional counts, he is accused of the same crime while using a different debit card in each instance.

Terrance L. Falk is indicted for the crime of criminal mischief in the third degree, a Class E felony. On Dec. 29, 2014, Falk allegedly intentionally damaged the property of another person in an amount exceeding $250, when he had no right to do so nor any reasonable grounds to believe he had such a right. It was a glass window on a door on West Main Street in the Village of Le Roy.

Possible CO problem reported on Watson Road, Elba

By Billie Owens

All available manpower from Elba Fire Department and an engine from Byron are called to respond to a possible CO detector problem at 5393 Watson Road, Elba.

There was a CO problem at the address and a man was admitted to UMMC with some degree CO detected. A female at the address was scheduled to visit the hospital today and did not show up and can't be reached, prompting concern.

UPDATE 3:09 p.m.: Residents are safe. Firefighters are working to correct the problem and a code enforcement officer is responding.

James A. Toal

By Billie Owens

James A. Toal, 62, of Trenton, Fla., passed away from a stroke at North Florida Hospital in Gainesville, on September 19, 2015.

Jim was born June 26, 1953, in Batavia, to Joyce Brown Toal Covert and the late Wayne Toal. He graduated from Pembroke High School in 1972 and worked in the dairy business for many years. Jim moved to Florida in the 1980s and worked as a herdsman and prison guard. He attended Santa Fe Community College to become a Cardiovascular Technician and worked at Sacred Heart Hospitals in Pensacola and Destin, Fla.

Jim courageously fought desmoid tumors and other health issues for many years before experiencing a debilitating stroke on May 20, 2014.

Jim loved his family above all else. He is survived by his mother, Joyce (Wilson) Covert; his wife, Michelle Romito Toal; his children, Kevin (Roxanne) Toal of  North Chili, Duane (Nicole) Toal of Oakfield, Pamela (Eric) Pangrazio of Oakfield, and Michael and Tyler Toal of Tenton, Fla.; grandchildren, Luke Toal, Logan Toal, Elizabeth Toal, Austin Pangrazio, Terry Pangrazio; step-grandchildren: Mitchel Pangrazio; Ethan and Evan Putney; siblings, Linda Toal and Kevin (Pamela) Covert; step-siblings: Chris (Bob) Ralston, Carolyn (Gary) Dawson, Kathy (Randy) Alexander, Cyndi (Tony) Lewandowski, Mike, Jim and Mark Covert, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Jim had a special relationship with his Aunt, Janice Kjeldgaard Boyd.

In addition to his father, he was predeceased by his son, James Wayne Toal, and step-brothers Andrew H. Covert and John A. Covert; sisters in law: Lisa Covert and Debbie Covert.

There will be a Celebration of Jim’s life for friends and family, Sunday, October 18, 2015 at the Indian Falls United Methodist Church at 2 p.m.

Memorials may be made to the family to help cover medical expenses. Please send to Linda Toal, 5 Woodrow Road, Batavia, NY 14020.

Just a reminder: UMMC holds multi-agency mass casualty drill today

By Billie Owens

United Memorial Medical Center will host a multi-agency mass casualty incident drill today, Sept. 25, at approximately 2:30 p.m. Visitors to the hospital at 127 North St., Batavia, during this time should expect to see several emergency vehicles, first responders, and increased activity.

This drill will test communication skills during a crisis across several agencies and caregivers. Additional staff will be brought in for the exercise and patient care will not be impacted.

United Memorial frequently performs drills to test and maintain skills needed to safely address true, large-scale emergencies. The patience and understanding of our visitors is greatly appreciated.

Please contact the Community Relations office at United Memorial at (585)344-5415 or by e-mail to contactus@ummc.org with any questions or concerns.

Fire by woods in area of Linwood and Harris roads, Le Roy, property owner says it's a controlled burn

By Billie Owens

Le Roy Fire Department went to a report of a possible grass fire in some woods in the area of Linwood and Harris roads. They inquired if it was a controlled burn. Dispatch said there was no record of a controlled burn called in for that location. The property owner became irate and insisted that a controlled burn was called in at about 8 a.m. today.

The landowner insists no one should be on the property; he wants firefighters to leave. A deputy is called to the scene and the Department of Environmental Conservation is contacted.

UPDATE 8:04 p.m.: The chief on scene says a resolution has been reached with the farmer. Responses from a Sheriff's deputy and the DEC are cancelled.

UPDATE 8:10 p.m.: The Le Roy assignment is back in service.

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