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Sponsored Post: Dwyer to be honored at 54th Popcorn Ball, with food and wine theme of 'Corks & Forks'

By Lisa Ace

John Dwyer will be honored at 54th Popcorn Ball with the theme of "Cork & Forks" focusing on food and wine pairings!

St. Joseph Catholic School is pleased to announce that John Dwyer will be recognized with the Outstanding Alumni Award at the 54th Popcorn Ball to be held on Oct. 26th.

This year’s theme will be “Corks & Forks” and will feature food provided by Alex’s Place of Batavia paired with wine from Heron Hill.

The menu will include a salad course, paired with dry Riesling, followed by Chicken Piccata paired with Heron Hill’s signature Eclipse White. Pork Tenderloin will be served with a Pinot Noir, followed by a flank steak complemented with a Cabernet Franc. A fruit and cream dessert served with a Late Harvest Vidal Blanc ice wine will finish the meal.

In addition to honoring Dwyer, the school will recognize Michael Falcone with the “Spirit of St. Joe’s Award,” and Tim and Wendy English will be named “Volunteers of the Year.”

John Dwyer is a 1946 graduate of St. Joseph’s School, a 1955 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, and a veteran of the Army. He is the former president of Thomas & Dwyer Shoe Stores and the former chairman and later, the executive director of the Genesee County Industrial Development Agency. Mr. Dwyer has chaired dozens of boards and advisory committees, including, the Genesee United Way, the Notre Dame H.S. Board of Trustees, founder and president Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, and four foundation boards including Children’s Home, Genesee Community College, St. Jerome Hospital, and the Notre Dame HS Educational Foundation. He has been a staunch supporter of Catholic Education and the Church, supporting not only St. Joseph’s School, but Notre Dame HS and Genesee Community College. Mr. Dwyer served as a trustee of the Diocesan Catholic Charities Board for nearly 30 years. He has been a trustee and finance chair for both St. Joseph’s and Resurrection Parish. Mr. Dwyer was awarded the 2012 Outstanding Regional Director by the University of Notre Dame Alumni Association for his leadership on the UND Senior Alumni National Board of Directors.

Michael Falcone is a 1930 graduate of St. Joseph School and operated Falcone’s Electric in Batavia for more than 60 years before retiring at the age of 92. Mr. Falcone learned the value of hard work at an early age and after graduating from Batavia High he starting working with his mother to transport farm workers. He would start his route at 6:30 a.m. with his last stop wrapping up around 11 p.m. Mr. Falcone has been a strong supporter of the Church, St. Joseph School, Notre Dame High School, Genesee Community College and Christ the King Seminary.

Tim and Wendy English are co-owners of the local Subway franchise and have donated hundreds of hours to the school. Wendy has served on SOS or Supporters of St. Joe’s and has worked on the Walk for Education and the Penny Carnival. Tim has spent many hours assisting with the Mammoth Sale, making numerous pick-ups on the weekends for the fundraiser. The couple has three children, Emily (SJS Class of 2014), Aaron (SJS Class of 2017), and 2-year-old Avery.

The 54th Annual Popcorn Ball will be held on Oct. 26 starting at 6 p.m. at the school. Tickets can be purchased at the school or at Alex’s Place and are $35/person or $60/couple. A table of 10 can be purchased for $250. Ticket prices include food, wine, beer, soda and coffee. There will be a $500 cash raffle, Chinese Auction, and 50/50 drawings.

For more information call 343-6154 or visit www.sjsbatavia.org.

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