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BMS students deliver thank-you goodies during holiday give-back to community

By Joanne Beck
Students from Batavia Middle School give back to services in Batavia.  Photo by Steve Ognibene
Students from Batavia Middle School stop to visit the City of Batavia Fire Department on Thursday.
Photo by Steve Ognibene
Each year at Batavia Middle School, staff and administrators coordinate a Give-Back Day for students, and this year's event took them to several local places to spread a little seasonal cheer.
 
"Every student in our building creates gifts for community agencies and businesses that support our school, and then we personally deliver them the next week to show thanks and appreciation," Middle School Principal Nate Korzelius said. "It is a wonderful experience for our students and they enjoy this opportunity to give back."
 
They had a full itinerary on Thursday, dropping off thank-you treats, visiting and caroling at The Manor House, Richmond Memorial Library, the Department of Social Services, Tim Horton's, WBTA, the city fire and police departments, Probation and Child Protective Services, Family Court, STEP, Genesee County Sheriff's Office, Pizza 151, YMCA, Mancuso Bowling Center, Genesee County Animal Shelter, Cinquino's Pizza, the city school's administration office, and Miss Batavia, which also included lunch. 
Batavia Fire Department staff receiving gifts.  Photo by Steve Ognibene
Batavia Middle School students deliver some thank-you goodies to City of Batavia Fire Department staff.
Photo by Steve Ognibene
Batavia Fire Department staff receiving hot drinks.  Photo by Steve Ognibene
City of Batavia Fire Department staff receive hot drinks from BMS students during the give-back day.
Photo by Steve Ognibene
Caroling at Tim Hortons.  Photo by Steve Ognibene
Students from Batavia Middle School break out their best vocals for seasonal caroling Thursday at Tim Hortons in Batavia.  Photo by Steve Ognibene
WBTA 1490 staff excited that students stopped by to give back to community.  Photo by Steve Ognibene
Staff members from WBTA in downtown Batavia, including new company owner Jim Ernst, center on right, share in the excitement of a visit from BMS students during their give-back tour throughout the community on Thursday.
Photo by Steve Ognibene
Batavia Police department welcomed students who brought gifts.  Photo by Steve Ognibene
Batavia City Police officers welcome BMS students Thursday as they deliver thank-you gifts to the police station.
Photo by Steve Ognibene

Reel Discussions at Richmond Memorial Library

By Olivia Bailey

Press Release:

Come view the movie and join us for a group discussion afterward. On Wednesday, February 2nd at 6:00 p.m., we will be showing the 1954 version of “Sabrina”.
Chauffeur's daughter Sabrina returns home from two years in Paris and immediately catches the attention of David, one of her father's rich employers. David woos and wins Sabrina, however their romance is threatened by David's older brother. For more information, call the library at 343-9550 or log onto www.batavialibrary.org.

Event Date and Time
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Genesee County's YMCA kicks off its Annual Strong Communities Campaign

By Press Release

Press Release:

Part of the Y’s charitable mission is the philosophy that we never turn away someone with an inability to pay for membership or programs. To that end, we raise funds annually through the Strong Communities Campaign to help subsidize scholarships for youths, teens, adults, families and seniors in our community.

 Our goal is to raise $50,000
 Our campaign runs from January 18 th – June 13 th
 We want to positively impact at least 800 people’s lives in Genesee County.

Charitable gifts from YMCA donors help provide financial assistance for children, adults and families to participate in Y programs. This makes it possible for kids to have a safe place to learn and build confidence after school and over the summer; for families to reconnect and grow together; for seniors to have a safe and supportive place to gather to stay socially and physically engaged; and for kids and teens to have access to education and training to reach their full potential in and out of the classroom. More importantly, 100-percent of donations stay in the local community, having a direct impact on resident’s right in your own neighborhood.

We need your help! Please consider a gift to support us in achieving this goal and making our community stronger for all.

To make a gift, contact Jeff Townsend, Executive Director at (585) 344-1664 or online at www.glowymca.org under the “giving” tab.

Batavia Soccer Club opens registration

By Press Release

Press Release:

Is your child interested in playing one of the most popular sports in the world?  Are they looking to get out of the house this summer and spend time with their friends?  Are they looking to meet new friends and improve their physical fitness?  If so, soccer may be the perfect summer sport for them!

Batavia Soccer Club has served Genesee County for over 40 years.  We have soccer programs available for every age – from 3+.  No prior soccer experience is necessary. All practices are held on our beautiful fields at the Batavia Sports Park on Bank Street Road in Batavia. Parking, concessions, and bathroom facilities are available at the fields. 

 

Please visit our website at www.bataviasoccerclub.com for details on our programs for each age group. 

2003 – 2013 birth years:  1/28/22 registration deadline

2014 – 2019 birth years:  3/20/22 registration deadline

 

Sign up now to reserve your spot and get ready for your best summer ever!

1,400 items collected at Pembroke annual December Drive

By Press Release

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Press Release: 

The students, teachers, and staff at Pembroke Intermediate School participated in their annual December Drive which benefits the Corfu Food Pantry. This year, almost 1,400 items were collected! Student Council members, 5th grade students, and 6th grade students delivered the food on Friday, December 17.   

“This is one of the Intermediate School’s favorite holiday traditions. The entire school and community comes together to help those in need,”  said student council and 6th grade teacher Arron Brown.

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Confirmation candidates presented at morning Mass

By Press Release

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Confirmation candidates from Resurrection Parish with their parents and sponsor at Mass this morning at St Joseph’s Church. 

Candidates are:

  • Aiden Anderson 
  • Dominic Grillo
  • Maylee Green
  • Alex Johnson 
  • Olivia Shell

They will be confirmed this June on Pentecost Sunday.

First Penance at St Joseph’s Church

By Press Release

Congrats to Ben and Lillian Coggiola on making their First Penance at St Joseph’s Church.

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Deacon Henry Moscicki leading a Penance service

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Teacher Jane Balbick in red.

Starting July 23: Three evenings of Mars and Beyond VBS at Alexander United Methodist Church

By Tracy Eisele

The Alexander United Methodist Church will be holding its 2021 Vacation Bible School from July 23-25. Registration begins at 5:45 p.m. and the program runs until 8:30 each evening. The church is located at 10540 Main St., Alexander.

The theme for this year's Vacation Bible School is "To Mars and Beyond." Kids entering grades K-6 are invited to "Blast Off on an Amazing Adventure" to learn about Jesus through Bible stories, games and crafts. 

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Photos: Batavia Downs Family Fun Day and Wiener Dog Races

By James Burns

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Batavia Downs had its annual “Family Fun Day” this afternoon, with the highlight being the Wiener Dog races.

Eighty dogs had entered for 10 heats with one final race, that was again this year, a photo finish.

Dallas owned by Kristy Hody (Dallas is pictured below) came from behind and won the Dachshund Dash by a nose in a near three-way tie. 

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Dallas is a first-time winner of the race. He had a little light trainng in the days preceding the event and is seen here with his favorite treat, a carrot.

Apparently Dallas’s athletic training regiment will not allow for him to have a higher calorie snack even after a victory. 

There was also face painting, games, magic, and pony rides for the kids during the normal Sunday harness racing meet. 

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Fall of Batavia

By Michael S. Cole

I have Batavia on my mind this12th day of October. (officially,Columbus Day)

The Fall Colors, Leaves falling, Burning Wood, Pumpkins, Corn Stalks, Blue Devils Football, Olivers Candies, The Red Barn, the Checkerboard Restaurant,Batavia Downs Race Track,The Pok-A-Dot, WT. Grants,JJ Newberrys,Buster Brown Shoes,The News Store,Montgomery Ward,Pontillo's Pizza,The YMCA,Charles mens Shop,O-AT-KA Milk,Miss Batavia Diner. 

The memories will live inside forever, the friendships forged, the ones we lost along the way, for those that still reside in this wonderful community" stay blessed" as no one knows of the wonderful gem of a community that it truly is.

A Batavian Forever!

 

Photos: Sunday morning at the Oatka Festival

By James Burns

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The Oatka Festival continues today, in Le Roy, until 6 p.m. This morning started with a 30K bicycle race and a fishing derby.  The festival concludes with the Vietnam Veterans' Annual “Duck Derby” at 5 p.m. 

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Fishing judge Paul Campbell.

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Sisters Mackenzie and Kelsey.

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Jackson waiting for the big one.

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Another Mackenzie with her fish.

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Batavia City School District holds 'Data Café' to reveal community survey results

By Traci Turner

Diane Reed with a group of faculty and members from the community.

The Family Engagement Survey results from 2014 were presented at the Batavia High School Library during their "Data Café" Tuesday night.

Diane Reed, Ph.D., the Batavia City School District’s outside educational expert and associate professor in Educational Leadership at St. John Fisher College, shared the data from the community survey taken by families and other Batavia residents last fall. Reed is certified by the New York State Education Department to work with Focus Districts to help determine school effectiveness and discuss strategic plans with faculty and community members to improve it.

The community survey is one of three that make up the Data Triangle Survey. It was based on six tenets to measure effectiveness which include District Leadership and Capacity, School Leader Practices and Decisions, Curriculum Development and Support, Teacher Practices and Decisions, Student Social and Emotional Developmental Health, and Family and Community Engagement. The survey was composed of 50 statements and participants answered using a Likert scale. The total number of people who took the survey was 374. According to Reed; the low response rate is typical.

The overall data total results for the district showed that 75 percent or more of participants answered each of the 22 statements with either strongly agree or agree. These results are considered an asset.

For each of the other 28 statements, 50 to 74 percent of participants answered strongly agree or agree. These results are considered an emerging strength.

The overall data total results for the district also revealed no fewer than 50 percent of participants answered strongly agree or agree to any of the statements. These results show no possible risks for the district.

When breaking the statement results up by schools, the Batavia High School showed minimal possible risks.

“The Batavia City School District should be very proud because many responses are in the green asset area,” Reed said. “It is not too often with schools I work with to show strengths in a lot of the areas.”

Faculty members and parents divided into two groups to discuss the district’s strengths and weaknesses based on the survey results. Both groups came to the conclusion the district could improve on providing the community with more training on Common Core learning and positive engagement with students outside the classroom.

Jean Berry, mother of two boys who attend Batavia Middle School and Batavia High School, really enjoyed how teachers sent home postcards when her children were doing well in school. One suggestion she had was to use lexiles -- reading level measurements -- more effectively.

“When we have the Scholastic Book Fair, the books should be labeled with lexiles so I can buy the appropriate books for my sons’ reading level,” Berry said.

Moving forward, the district will consider hosting additional Common Core informational nights to help the community understand the standards especially at the secondary level. They also will encourage teachers to make positive calls home to help motivate students. 

Free Community Dinner at Indian Falls United Methodist Church

By Maggie Nichols

Free community dinner at Indian Falls United Methodist Church 7908 Alleghany Rd.  Corfu.  For more information call (585)762-9105. All are welcome.

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Le Roy's Annual Winterfest 2014

By lucie griffis
Le Roy's Annual Winterfest 2014

Saturday, December 6th 10am-6pm

 

LET US COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY THIS HOLIDAYS SEASON!

SAVE TIME. SAVE GAS. CATCH UP WITH FRIENDS.

 

COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING & CAROLING 6PM

ALL ARE INVITED TO CAROL!  HOT CHOCOLATE SUPPLIED BY SPIRITS!

 

All businesses will be offering in-store specials and gift certificates!  Wrap up the savings shopping and supporting local!

 

Care-A-Van 2014 Free Community Cookouts

By Michele Lawson

Care-A-Van Ministries, Inc., a community-based street ministry, has just ended its 2014 cookout season at Austin Park.

These free cookouts were held every Thursday night from May 15th until September 18th and encompassed nineteen cookouts and totaled 6,426 free meals served during the summer. The number of free meals served this year increased substantially over 2013 when 4,936 meals were served. These meals, funded by the generous donations of the supporters of Care-A-Van Ministries, helped feed many children, families, and individuals throughout the summer.

Each week a different Pastor from a local church delivered an inspirational and encouraging message of hope and salvation from the Word of God. These messages were a blessing to those attending and many were able to receive prayer and spiritual support from these pastors and the various church/ministry organizations present at Austin Park.

Also in attendance during these cookouts were The Salvation Army, Living Waters Apostolic Ministry, Eagles Fountain Fellowship, United Methodist Church, Smoke Free NOW, Syd’s Characters, Total Freedom, PC Publications, MSCF, Elba Baptist Soccer, SNAP, Ride2Recovery Ministries, the Mental Health Association, GCASA , Truth Ministries, Fidelis Care, and the YMCA who generously provided a bounce house at the cookouts.

The Care-A-Van Band, composed of community members and members of a variety of church worship teams, performed classic and contemporary worship songs and melodies; additionally, the cookouts were also blessed to have local worship teams and musicians stop by and lend their musical talents to these events.

Volunteers from different churches and individuals from the community supported the cookouts by providing invaluable manpower to staff the food tables, grills, and assisted in the setup and teardown at these events.

The ministry wishes to thank the City Council and City Manager Jay Molino for supporting our cookouts at Austin Park and the work of the ministry in the community as a whole. We would also like to thank the City of Batavia Fire Department whose firefighters were always friendly and helpful during their weekly inspections; the City of Batavia Police Department officers whose professional attitude is a testament to their department; and the City of Batavia Building and Grounds department who always ensured that the pavilion, bathrooms, and gates were ready for our use.

Together we can make a difference in our City and the ministry looks forward to the 2015 cookout season and hopes that everyone had an opportunity to stop by this summer.

Care-A-Van Ministries continues to be out in the community every Thursday night during the winter in different neighborhoods of Batavia with our bus ministry; on Saturday mornings with our prayer, food, and clothing distributions; and Monday through Thursday mornings with our bus prayer and encouragement ministry. Stop by to see us if you are in need or would like to see the ministry in action!!!!

For more information on Care-A-Van Ministries, please visit our website at www.cavministries.org or visit us on Facebook.

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