The residents at 5645 Ebb Road, Byron, found something creative to do with the piles of snow plowed and piled up next to their driveway -- they built a snow dragon.

For the second time this year, hockey fans filled the Falleti Ice Arena for the cross-town matchup between the Ice Devils and the Fighting Irish. The Devils were out for revenge after losing the first matchup and succeeded, upsetting the Irish 4-2.

"It felt great to beat a really good team going into sectional play," said Batavia senior captain Tim Finnell. "Now we have momentum to build off of."

The Irish got on the board first as Tyler Kessler set up Brett Perfitt in front of the net, where he put the puck past Batavia goaltender Adam Kurek.

Freshman Rich Francis then put Batavia on the board to even the game at 1-1. Joe Saraceni was credited with the assist.

Conor Holvey beat ND goalie Tom Dehr for his first of two goals to give Batavia the lead off an assist from Trevor Powers.

Zach Blew and Dylan Versage set up Josh Johnson to tie the game for the second time at two goals each to end the 2nd period.

Heading into the 3rd period tied 2-2 was a familiar scenario for both teams. Last time the two teams faced off it was the same situation, and Notre Dame made the most of the 3rd period by scoring 4 goals to win 6-2.

"Last game we got too hyped up going into the 3rd and we came out flat. When a couple bounces went their way we started to hang our heads because things weren't going our way," says Batavia forward Josh Marr. "This time we stayed calm and knew what had to be done in order to win this game...we had no room to take any shifts off."

Finnell led Batavia into the final period as Holvey and Trevor Schimley set him up to beat Dehr right side.

Holvey sealed the win for the Ice Devils, netting an empty net goal as the buzzer sounded to end the score 4-2.

Both Kurek and Dehr made 17 saves for their respective teams.

A car fire has been reported on the Thruway in the area of mile marker 387 in the westbound lane.

Town of Batavia Fire being dispatched.

UPDATE 7:20 p.m.: There's been only one call reporting the fire. Mile maker 387 is about 2/10ths of a mile east of the Byron Road underpass.

UPDATE 7:31 p.m.: A chief on scene reports no flames showing. Engine 21 is returning to quarters.

UPDATE 7:32 p.m.: Engines 23 and 24 arriving on scene. The fire appears to be out.

UPDATE 7:38 p.m.: Mechanical problems. Town of Batavia Fire back in service. The actual mile marker was 387.9.

Linda Tyczka never expected Minty Wellness to receive the kind of praise it has from meat eaters in Genesee County and beyond.

Among locals, "they're probably our biggest client base," Tyczka said.

Why wouldn't meat eaters embrace the gourmet restaurant inside the upscale hotel and spa in Darien Center?

Well, there's no meat served at Minty Wellness. It's an entirely vegan and raw food establishment.

Since opening last May, more and more local residents have been discovering Minty Wellness and telling their friends about the food.

"There are so many local people coming," Tyczka said. "We have a group reservation from a local bank. None of them are vegan. They just heard it’s a nice place and the food is good. We’ve taken the vegan menu past granola and beans. We try to do a little gourmet and it’s working well.”

The story of Minty Wellness begins more than three years ago at a raw food seminar in Maine. There, Tyczka met Mary Minihane, who makes her home in Ireland. The two women struck up a friendship and Mary suggested opening a vegan and raw food resort.

Her initial idea was to open it in Costa Rica, but after the women travelled there they couldn't find a suitable location, so Minihane started looking in California and Arizona.  Then she sent Tyczka information on property in the Poconos.

At that point, Tyczka said, "Hey, what about my place."

Tyczka and her husband David own 100 wooded acres in Darien. Minihane researched the market, liked its proximity to Buffalo, Rochester and Toronto, and agreed to back the construction of the facility.

The entire hotel, spa and restaurant are brand-new from the ground up. The eight hotel rooms are each unique, though the entire decor of the hotel is sleek contemporary with a touch of retro modern. The spare, uncluttered environment inside is immediately relaxing, which Tyczka said was the goal all along.

"I'm all about environment," Tyczka said. "It doesn't matter where I go, I want to be in a nice environment. We didn't just want to have a vegan hotel and just plain rooms. We wanted that experience to carry up into the rooms so people would be like, 'I can't wait to get to my room.'"

Some of what the spa offers includes Swedish massage, hot stone massage, soothing soak, Vichy massage and colon hydrotherapy. Laura Koepp is also on staff to offer Naturopathic therapy.

For those looking for an overnight or longer retreat, besides relaxing in the hotel, there are four golf courses within 15 minutes, plus nearby Darien Lake, as well as the wood areas for hikes or snowshoeing.

Overnight stays include a vegan breakfast.

As for the lunch and dinner menu, it features such delectable-sounding dishes Cajun Mayo Avocado, Linguini Alfredo, Tomato Dill Nori Roll and a vegan taco dubbed the "best taco ever."

"It's awesome to be acknowledged by the locals," Tyczka said. "It's one thing to pull people from Rochester, Buffalo and Toronto, but to be recognized by local people is just a really gratifying thing."

For the past seven months, the staff at Gillam-Grant Community Center on West Bergen Road, Bergen, has been hosting members of the community -- a dozen at a time -- for a tour and information session about the 30-year-old center.

The "Growing Gillam-Grant" programs provide insight into what Gillam-Grant is about through the stories of the seniors, adults and children who have benefited from and contributed to Gillam-Grant.

"We share the stories so people understand what we do," said Peggy Swapceinski, executive director.

It's also a chance for members of the community to provide feedback on programs and services so Gillam-Grant can evolve, Swapceinski said, and continue meeting the community's needs.

Gillam-Grant provides programs that vary from adult education and senior meals, to children's day camps and crafts. The current newsletter also promotes an upcoming theater performance, bus trips and fitness classes.

Growing Gillam-Grant sessions are by invitation, but open to anyone who is interested in learning more about the center. To request an invitation to a future event, call (585) 494-1621.

Photos: Above, Loren Penman explains some of Gillam-Grant's programs, and below, Shirley Wade tells the story of a Gillam-Grant patron.

Regional GOP leaders expect to name a candidate to run in a special election for Chris Lee's former seat within eight or nine days, said Nick Langworthy, Erie County GOP chairman following a two-hour meeting of county chairs at Batavia's South Beach Restaurant.

"We need to nominate somebody in short order because we believe the election will be held some time in the next six to eight weeks," Langworthy said.

Added Monroe County Chairman Bill Reilich, "Governor Cuomo is not Governor Paterson. He knows we need representation in Washington."

Last year, residents of the 29th Congressional District went eight months without representation because Gov. Paterson refused to call a special election. In that case, Democrats feared losing the seat to Republicans. In this case, some Democrats think they have a fighting chance to take the 26th District.

The GOP county chairs said candidates for the Republican nomination will be interviewed in one week by 21 GOP leaders from throughout the region.  

Any candidate who wants to be considered, Langworthy said, should contact his or her county chair and provide a letter of intent and resume.

"All candidates will be considered," Langworthy said.

Also attending today's meeting were: Mike Norris, Niagara County; Ed Morgan, Orleans County; Gordon Brown, Wyoming County; and Don Read, representing Genesee County while chairman Dick Seibert is on medical leave.

The Batavia Players present:

...an original play, written and directed by Patrick D. Burk. 

Starring:

Nikki Lanich as the Young Girl

Nick Russo as the Southern Preacher

Brittaney Lang as the Emily Bronte Girl

E. Jane Burk as Mrs. Davenport

Shellene Bailey as the Jane Austen Girl

Norm Argulsky as Mr. Fisher

Caryn Burk as Honourine

Tiffany Widrick as Nancy Reagan

Ben Liebrand as the Young Boy

Matthew Mayne as Russell

Amanda Taylor as the Dance Hall Girl

Burk as the Older Man

Jeffrey Fischer as the Movie Man and Pianist

and David Porter as Robert

See Gretel Kauffman's article, "A romantic debut for the Harvester Theater," for background.

This first Batavia Players performance at the new Harvester 56 Theater kicked off Valentine's Day weekend with a series of monologues on a variety of experiences with love and infatuation.

With memorable dialogue and well-developed characters, "Love Lines" takes a look at ideas about and experiences with love and lust across time -- from Shakespeare to Jane Austen, Emily Bronte, love letters from the 1940s and modern day text-messaging.

It also spans the age spectrum, from a teenage boy and girl -- who attend an all boys' and all girls' school, respectively, of course -- meeting on a bus to an old man whose marriage is "not the same anymore...but what the heck? It's still love."

As the play opens, all of the characters gather on the set, each taking a seat. As the show progresses, relationships among the characters are revealed, attesting to Burk's talent as an imaginative playwright.

The actors did a superb job, especially considering the short time they had to memorize lines and rehearse.

Just a couple caveats:

• The theater's three-quarter round space and black-box format require some getting used to, depending on where you're sitting. It isn't like the typical theater experience, where everything is laid out before your eyes no matter where you're sitting.
• As can happen with plays for adults, there are some moments, words and opinions (expressed by characters) in the show that might upset people's moral sensibilities. 

All in all, "Love Lines" was a pretty impressive freshmen effort on the part of the Players as they settle into their new home.

A snowmobiler was injured this evening in the area of Transit Road, east of Dublin Road.

The accident was reported at 9:20 p.m.

The injured rider was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital by Mercy Flight.

Bethany Fire responded with mutual aid from Alexander and Stafford.

UPDATE: The Sheriff's Office has released additional information: The rider was Steven L. Klien, 41. He was ejected from his snowmobile for an unknown reason while traveling in a southern direction on a marked trail. Klien was then struck by a snowmobile operated by Michael K. Owens, 39. Klien suffered a cut on his leg and a possible broken leg. The investigation is continuing, but alcohol is not considered a factor.

My route back from the Snowbox Derby included Bliss Road, above, and Pekin Road, below.

Nearly 100 people showed up at Veazey Hill on Lockport Road in Oakfield today for Genesee County's inaugural "Snowbox Derby."

The rules are pretty simply -- you build a cardboard sled (you can use only cardboard, glue and duct tape -- and then ride it down the snow-covered hill.

Prizes were given out for fastest and most creative. 

There were dozens of entrants.

Some cardboard sleds were fast and quickly made it to the bottom of the 150-yard-long hill. Others barely made it past the starting line.

The event was organized by Sarah and Kevin Veazey.

To purchase pictures from today, click here.

More pictures after the jump:

More than 200 concerned residents -- not all from Alabama -- turned out Thursday night for a more than two-hour presentation on a proposed high-tech manufacturing park.

The park, known as WNY STAMP (WNY Science & Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park) may be the Genesee County Economic Development Center's most ambitious project yet.

And while the handful of residents who spoke may have asked skeptical and probing questions, nobody at this meeting really spoke out against the proposal.

The 15-year-build-out plan calls for the creating of more than 9,000 new, permanent jobs in 6.1 million square feet of manufacturing space. There will also be 180,000 square feet of retail space and a new town hall and museum in the southeast corner.

GCEDC officials pitched the project as one that would create good-paying, 21st Century jobs (average annual wage, $58,000), reduce the brain-drain of youths leaving WNY, provide new revenue for community services, enhance the local infrastructure and potentially reduce property taxes.

Of course, these jobs and all of this new revenue in the community is only created if businesses decide to build new high-tech manufacturing plants -- such as flat screen monitors, computer chips and solar cells -- in STAMP.

Some residents wanted to know why GCEDC thinks -- especially with the seemingly slow adoption of Buffalo East by new companies coming to town -- that any manufacturers will set up shop in STAMP.

Mark Masse, project manager for GCEDC, explained that in the past couple of years, GCEDC has fielded a few inquiries about appropriate locations from the types of businesses that use STAMP, but because STAMP hadn't even completed the earliest of approval processes yet, the companies had to look else where.

"What they're interested in is 'speed to market,'"said Roger Pearson, lead consultant on the project.

He said they need to know that they can get their new plant open in 12 to 18 months, and right now, if a business committed to the park, it would take much longer than that before they could open.

That speed to market was a concern of John Hatch, too. He's a UB student from Amherst and he wants to work in the kinds of industries STAMP will hopefully attract.

"I'd like to see this happen so I can stay in the area," he said.

Macomber Road resident Mark Williams wanted to know if GCEDC had a guarantee from the New York Power Authority for the cheap hydro power these companies will want for their operations.

Masse said, "There's no guarantees in life. ...But, "if we had a significant client come in, the New York Power Authority is will to work with us to ensure power."

Others wanted to know who was going to pay for the infrastructure development that needs to take place to attract these businesses.

Pearson explained that a project like this is really "shovel ready lite." The goal is to get all of the permits and environmental review processes completed, decreasing the amount of time it takes to build a new manufacturing facility. Much of the infrastructure, he said, wouldn't be built until it was needed and those costs would be covered by developers.

Pearson warned that the project plan presented Thursday is still evolving and some aspects may change as it goes through the planning and permitting process, and some of the changes will be based on feedback from the community.

A draft environmental review is expected to be completed by the end of March, with the final review completed by the middle of July.

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries has been reported on Route 63 between Clapsaddle and Bethany Center roads.

Bethany Fire Department is responding.

There are two cars involved in an accident on Route 20, Alexander, near Silver Road. At least one of them struck a cow.

Both drivers are complaining of back pain.

Alexander Fire and Mercy EMS are responding.

An off-duty trooper is on scene and reports several cows in the roadways, most of them on Silver Road. The owner of the herd is responding to the scene.

UPDATE 6:56 p.m.: There's a second, non-injury accident in front of Alexander's rec hall.

UPDATE 7:21 p.m: The cows are back in the barn and the roads are clear.

A two-car, minor injury accident is reported at Lake Street near West Bergen Road.

Le Roy Fire Police requested to the scene to shut down traffic on Route 19.

Le Roy Ambulance responding.

A slew of vehicle accidents are reported back-to-back on Route 77, south of Indian Falls Road.

"I've got cars blowing through here, going into the ditches in front of me," says a frustrated fire chief.

There are numerous injuries. Multiple ambulances are called.

"We've got a mess here Batavia," says a responder.

Corfu Fire Department is called to shut down the Thruway interchange with Route 77. Alabama Fire Department is shutting down Akron Road at Route 77. Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy medics are also responding.

The initial call was for a one-car rollover accident with minor injuries at 8155 Alleghany Road. The vehicle was on fire but that was quicky doused. The driver was said to have a minor injury.

Then, as if instantly, the pile-ups started.

"Like my brother says 'Welcome to the money store! Come on in and take what you want!'" says a responder.

State Troopers are on scene.

UPDATE 3:45 p.m.: Two victims have neck injuries and a total of five people need to be transported. A fourth ambulance out of Akron is called. A separate accident scene, involving one vehicle, is called further south on Route 77 over the Thruway overpass. Five tow trucks are called to Route 77.

UPDATE 4:14 p.m.: Patients being transported out, tow trucks coming into the scene.

UPDATE 4:25 p.m.: Corfu back in service.

UPDATE 4:58 p.m.: Pembroke and Indian Falls clearing. There is a report of another car off the road about a mile north of the scene.

A one-car rollover accident with four victims is reported at Route 19 and Court Road in the Town of Covington. Pavilion Fire Department, Le Roy Ambulance and Mercy EMS are responding.

The accident occurred "at the curve" there. Pavilion-Warsaw and Court roads are being shut down to traffic.

One of the victims has back pain.

More cars have crashed at the same location as an earlier incident in Basom. It's in front of the Alabama Tee Off driving range, 6655 Alleghany Road.

Callers are not sure if this is a four-car accident or two accidents each involving two cars. Injuries appear to be minor. One person is said to have back pain.

Alabama Fire Department and Fire Police are called along with Mercy medics.

Traffic is being shut down at Judge Road and Route 77 and Ham Road and Route 77.

UPDATE 2:47 p.m.: The roads are reopened. The scene is clear. Alabama units are back in service.

A car is reportedly on fire at 6744 Mud City Road in Byron. It was inside a detached garage, but was moved outside, apparently before igniting the building.

Fire crews from Byron, South Byron are called in. Town of Batavia's Fast Team was cancelled.

The location is between Mill Pond and Cole roads.

A head-on motor vehicle-accident is reported at 6655 Alleghany Road in Basom. It involves two or three vehicles. There are minor injuries. Victims are walking around. One of the cars rolled over.

Alabama Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. It's in front of the Alabama Tee Off driving range.

UPDATE 12:47 p.m.: Fire police are shutting down traffic at Judge Road. They are also at Lewiston and Alleghany stopping southbound traffic on Alleghany, which is blocked. There are three victims, one of whom needs extrication.

UPDATE 12:50 p.m.: One person has suffered serious arm lacerations.

UPDATE 12:58 p.m.: A third ambulance is requested from Oakfield.

UPDATE 1:01 p.m.: The Oakfield assignment is cancelled.

UPDATE 1:08 p.m.: All traffic is shut down on Alleghany Road, between Judge and Ham roads. Two victims are being transported to Medina Hospital.

UPDATE 1:28 p.m.: The third victim was extricated and is en route to ECMC.

UPDATE 1:45 p.m.: All Alabama fire units back in service.