Christmas

Downtown merchants, through the Business Improvement District, hosted their annual Christmas in the City Parade on Saturday evening.

Photos by Philip Casper.

Alexander held a Christmas parade on Saturday afternoon.

Photos by Philip Casper.

As part of Christmas in the City on Saturday, EverPresent Church in City Centre hosted a live nativity.

Submitted photos.

Northgate Free Methodist Church in Batavia held a Vintage Christmas celebration on Friday evening.

The church will host another Vintage Christmas event from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday. 

It includes a nativity walk through the woods with live animals, food, tree lighting, s’mores roasting over an open fire, Santa and outdoor Christmas movies.

Photos by Allison Lang.

The lights are up, the air is crisp, and it's time for Santa to make his rounds to hear from all the good little boys and girls about what they want for Christmas.

One of Santa's stops again this year is at 150 State St., Batavia, the home of Angelina Pellegrino.

Santa will be at Pellegrino's house from 5 to 7 p.m. on Dec. 9 and 10.

"Santa and Mrs. Claus will be outside our home in front of the light display, ready to meet and take photos with the children," Pellegrino said. "We will use the parents' phones to take the photos so they may also participate and be in the photo as well! Also, we will have doughnuts and hot cocoa available for purchase."

Photo: File photo by Howard Owens

Press release:

The Morganville United Church of Christ, 8466 Morganville Road, Stafford, is hosting a Christmas Hymn Sing on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 3 p.m.

The public is invited. 

We will have an organ accompanist to lead us through some of the old, familiar hymns we love to sing.  A light soup and dessert supper will be held after in a former one-room schoolhouse.  It’s a great opportunity to invite a friend to join you. 

Submitted photo: Gracia Leavy, Cheryl Hale, Marianne Garigen and organist Carin Wade.

Press release:

The City of Batavia will be picking up Christmas trees in the month of January and will continue through the end of the month as weather and operations permit.

Important information regarding Christmas tree removal:

• We can only pick up real trees.  No artificial trees.
• Residents are to place trees in the parkway near the curb. Keep trees out of the roadway and clear of sidewalks.
• Residents placing trees out will need to strip the trees of all decorations, lights, stands and bags. These items damage chipping equipment. Contact your waste disposal company for information on the proper disposal of these items.
• If high winds are forecasted, delay putting trees out until after winds have subsided.  Trees in the road and across sidewalks are a hazards to motorists and pedestrians.
• Keep trees free of snow and ice so they are visible and do not become frozen to the ground.
• Please, have trees out for pick-up before January 31 (Last day of pick-up February 1).

The Oakfield Betterment Committee has announced the winners of its annual home Christmas Decorating Contest.

First place, top photo: Becky Chatt, 50 Drake St.

Photos and info submitted by Jamie Lindsley

Second place, Jerry Bliemeister- 32 Oak St.

Third place, Matt & Amanda Kastelic - 30 Webber.

Volunteers along with their family members at T. F. Brown's on Christmas Day for the restaurant's annual free Christmas Day Dinner for the community.  This year, the meal distribution was drive-thru with about 300 meals distributed.  This year, the toys donated for community children were distributed by City Church.

Photo and info submitted by Joe Teresi.

For the first time this year, the Oakfield Betterment Committee installed Christmas decorations for the first time this year in Memorial Park, 17 Main St.

The "Winter Wonderland" light display is a walking tour on the paved paths of the park.

"This is OBC’s gift to the community for their support of Labor Daze and other events," said committee member Jamie Lindsley. "We hope to make this an annual project and would like to undertake even more projects to improve our community for all."

Dewey Dilcher, on North Byron Road, Byron, decided some Christmas cheer to racing fans this holiday season with a tricked out stock car in his yard.

Photo submitted by Melissa Dilcher.

Residents throughout the county proudly display their Christmas trees in front windows so every passerby might enjoy the Christmas spirit.  Here are a few such trees in Batavia.

North Darien Bible Church- Candlelight Christmas Eve service at 6:30 p.m.

St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, Christmas Eve 12/24
East Pembroke Site 4 p.m. - in the Hall. Corfu Site Midnight - Church. Christmas Day 12/25, Corfu Site 8:30 a.m. - Church, East Pembroke Site 11a.m. - Church 

Oakfield-Alabama Baptist Church- Christmas Eve Service on 12/24 at 7:00 p.m.

St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Stafford- Christmas Eve on 12/245:00 p.m. Lessons & Carols

St. Mark's Episcopal Church, LeRoy- Christmas Eve on 12/24 at 7:00 p.m. Family Oriented Candlelight Holy Communion Service

Indian Falls United Methodist Church- Christmas Eve Candlelight Service on 12/24 at 7 p.m.

East Bethany Presbyterian Church- Christmas Eve Candlelight Service on 12/24  at 7 p.m.

Everpresent Church- Christmas Eve Candlelight Service on 12/23  service at 7 p.m.

Emmanuel Baptist Church- Pajama Christmas Eve Service on 12/24 at 7p.m. @ 190 Oak St.

Please send updates to olivia@thebatavian.com

Click here to join our Eve of Christmas Eve services online.
Click here to join our Christmas Eve services online.

Press release:

Students at Jackson Primary worked very diligently on ornaments for festive Christmas trees that were purchased by the Jackson Parent-Teacher group in every community.

Our teachers Jessica Kolb and Mallory Flanagan helped to create these beautiful decorations for the trees. The students based their ornaments on a themed book. Community 1 read “The Smiley Snowman”, Community 2 read “Santa Bruce”, and Community 3 read “The Library Gingerbread Man.” 

After the students completed the ornaments they were hung on the trees for everyone to see. Teachers participated in a hallway decorating contest with students to showcase their theme. The students created work that complimented their themes. There were pictures of snowflakes, running gingerbread men, and festive sweaters with students' faces on them.

Every staff member and community participated in this holiday wonderland.  Students strolled the halls to see the beautiful and creative scenery all throughout Jackson Primary. 

On December 14th, three community members; Michelle Humes (Batavia Board of Education Member Assigned to Jackson Primary), Firefighter Tedford (Batavia Fire Department), and School Resource Officer Miah Stevens, visited Jackson Primary to be the judges of the Hallway Decorating Contest. 

It was a very tough decision due to the creativity in every hallway, but they decided after a long deliberation that community 3 (Gingerbread Men) was the most creative community in the school. 

Teachers in Community 3 are: Mrs. Amerine, Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Ellingsworth, Mr. Ferri, Mrs. Koukides, Ms. Mattice, Mrs. Peterson, Mrs. Reeves, Mrs. Restivo, Mrs. Wolff, Mrs. Richenberg, Mrs. Sprague, Mrs. Wohlers, Mrs. O’Campo, Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Wolff, Mrs. DiMartino, Mrs. Conroy, and Mrs. Grasso. The students in that community won a Timbit party donated by Tim Hortons on East Main Street.  All teachers and staff won a pizza party from the administration for their camaraderie and team-building efforts as a Jackson Family.

Photos by Howard Owens. Top photo: Principal Maureen Notaro, left, and Nancy Okoniewski, far right, with students in a UP-K class.