Announcements

For more than 100 years, Western New Yorkers have enjoyed the region’s exciting amusement parks. Author Rose Ann Hirsch captures the sun, fun and thrill of these great parks in her new book, "Western New York Amusement Parks," part of Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series.

She will be signing copies of her book at Present Tense beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 25. The book consists of more than 200 historical images of past times at the amusement parks and contains chronological information on the growth and/or decline of each park.

During the days of trolleys and steamships, area businessmen created Celoron Park, Crystal Beach Park, and other fine local summer resorts. Decades later, lifelong memories were formed for neighborhood Baby Boomers who visited Glen Park and Fantasy Island, as well as one of New York State's finest theme parks, Darien Lake.

Western New York has always been a proving ground for some of the nation's most famous rollercoasters. The terrifying Cyclone, the fast and furious Silver Comet, and the extreme Ride of Steel have attracted the very bravest of visitors.

In the new millennium, the summer tradition of visiting local amusement parks continues with a blend of family orientated parks and theme parks that appeal to all ages. As a Western New Yorker, Rose Ann Hirsch grew up visiting several of the area's parks and spent 31 summers riding the Comet at Crystal Beach. She has written various articles and books on amusement park topics, including "Kiddie Parks of the Adirondacks."

The book signing is free and open to the public. Present Tense, a locally owned, independent bookstore, is located at 101 Washington Ave. in the City of Batavia. For more information call 815-7640 or visit www.presenttensebooks.com.

The Alexander PTA will host its first "Junk-in-the-Trunk" garage sale from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 11 in the Alexander Middle School parking lot.

Vendor spots are still available for $5 to benefit the PTA. Advance reservations not required. Everyone welcome.

The school is located at 3314 Buffalo St. in Alexander. Phone is 591-1551.

PTA contact is Michele Czekala at 547-9393.

On Father's Day June 19, Mercy Flight will host an open house at its Batavia base located at the Genesee County Airport from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Many local emergency service agencies, such as the Sheriff's Department (child IDs), NY State Police (rollover simulator), Lake Plains Community Health Care and Genesee County Emergency Management will be joining us.

It will be a great day to bring dad out for pancakes at the Rotary Club Fly-in Breakfast and then stop over and visit with Mercy Flight and local emergency responders.

In addition to the open house, Mercy Flight, in partnership with The Batavia Downs, will be hosting the first "Cars and Guitars for Mercy Flight" event on July 9. This all-day event will feature a car and motorcycle show in the infield along with four great bands: The Buffalo
Roadshow; the Trolls; The Coupe de Villes, and Savage Cabbage.

Great food will be available and all attendees (over 18) will receive $5 casino free play. Car show pre-registration is available online at www.mercyflight.org

To wrap up the summer, Mercy Flight and Batavia Downs will again be hosting the Hackers for Helicopters golf outing. This will be the third year for the event, which will include golfing at the Batavia Country Club and dinner at Batavia Downs.

Mercy Flight greatly appreciates all the support we receive from the community, without which we could not provide the service that we do. Mercy Flight is always grateful of donations such as raffle baskets, door prizes, gift cards, etc. to use at our fundraising events.

Anyone wishing to donate can contact Bill Schutt, the Batavia base outreach coordinator at 356-2926 or email at wschutt@mercyflight.org

This information was submitted by S. Ognibene.

BHS Class 1981

The Batavia High School Class of 1981 is planning their 30^th Class Reunion August 5-7^th.

The activities will begin with a group mixer on Friday evening at  the Batavia Downs Casino Grandstand Bar & Grill at 8:30 p.m.

Classmates will gather on Saturday from 2-8 p.m. at the Genesee County Park Pavilion D, for a family chicken BBQ .

The weekend of events will conclude on Sunday with a brunch at Terry Hills at 11 a.m.

Alumni are asked to join the Facebook page http://on.fb.me/e2FiaC at Batavia High School Class of 1981 30^th Reunion or call David Penepent for more details at 585-356-4929.

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce will host an informational meeting at 5:30 p.m. on June 29 at the chamber office where you can learn about this year's nine day tour of China.

This is the sixth time the chamber has offered a tour of China. The trip is Nov. 1-9  and costs $2,099. Price includes air fare (from JFK), bus to/from JFK, hotel stays, three meals a day, bus tours (with guides), admission to tourist spots, and airport taxes throughout the trip.

The trip is filling up quickly! Final payments are due by July 20. The chamber believes this trip to be an exceptional value. For more details call Lynn or Melissa at the chamber at 343-7440.

Details on the trip can also be found at www.geneseeny.com/china

This information is from the marketing department at Batavia Downs.

Elba and Pembroke high schools were chosen via a random drawing to participate in this year’s $7,500 college scholarship race to be held at Batavia Downs on Sept. 10.

They will be joining Batavia, Notre Dame and Oakfield-Alabama high schools in the competition.

Each school will be represented by one student who is a senior in the 2012-13 academic year. The schools are allowed to use any criteria they wish to pick their student.

During the summer, the students will attend at least five training sessions at the track with their driver to learn the safety and skills needed to drive a horse.

Then between the fourth and fifth live harness races on Sept. 10, they will line up behind the starting gate to compete in a one-mile dash for cash. Earning scholarships of $3,000, $2,000, $1,200, $800 and $500, depending on where they finish.

Last year, Kaley Falkowski of Batavia High School, with professional Jim Mulcahy sitting alongside, was victorious.

The 65th season of live harness racing at the Genesee County oval begins on July 25.

The Zoomobile from the Seneca Park Zoo will visit the Genesee County Park & Interpretive Nature Center on Saturday, June 4.

It will showcase critters with dry scales and slimy skin, also known as snakes, lizards and salamanders.

It will take place from 10 to 11 a.m.

Cost: $5/person, $10/family. Pre-registration is required by calling 344-1122.

The nature center is located at 11095 Bethany Center Road in East Bethany.

From 3 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 11, there will be dinner, a Chinese auction and raffles to offset the medical expenses for a Bethany firefighter battling cancer.

It's at the Bethany Fire Department Recreation Hall, located at 5253 Old Telephone Road in East Bethany.

Tickets are $15 per person. Call 356-5440 or 703-9410 for information or tickets. There will also be tickets available at the door.

The website is at http://www.bethanyvfd.com

Can you find Dewey the Dragon?

Dewey the Dragon is traveling around Batavia to spread the word to all children and families about the Summer Reading Club at Richmond Memorial Library.

Each week Dewey will travel to a different local business. Weekly clues to the places Dewey may be visiting can be found on the children’s page of the library’s website ( <http://www.batavialibrary.org/> ) or by visiting the Children’s Room.

Send us a picture of Dewey at each new weekly location via email*, Facebook, or show it to the Children’s Room staff to be entered to win weekly prize drawings. (email: kmarc@nioga.org *please put Dewey in the subject line)

Dewey moves to his new location Saturday afternoons. He will return to the Richmond Memorial Library by June 27 for the beginning of the "You are Here ... BookLand!” Summer Reading Club.

The library is located at 19 Ross St. in the City of Batavia.

The Town of Batavia Republican Committee Picnic is set for Friday June 24 and will run from 5 p.m. until dark in the Kiwanis Batavia Town Park. It is located at 3808 W. Main St. Road.

Tickets $10 for Adults, $5 for children and free for children under 5.

Tickets are available from committee members or calling or emailing Sharon at 356-5306 or sharon.09@vzw.blackberry.net

Menu includes hotdogs, macaroni salad, baked beans, chips, lemonade, coffee and assorted desserts. Entertainment will be provided by the Fraterrigo Family.

The 2011 Community Citizen Award will be made at the picnic. Many door prizes will be given out, too.

This is open to the public – everyone is encouraged to attend but please reserve your tickets.For more information, please call Kathy Jasinski 762-8239.

(About the Fraterrigo Family: Ranging in age from 6 to 13, the Fraterrigo Family children thrive ontheir love of music. Under the guidance and leadership of their mother, Stacey, they have put together a wholesome musical experience with mother/daughter harmony and instruments such as the banjo, mandolin, fiddle, guitar and upright bass. Although most of the children are being classically trained, their show consists of bluegrass, folk and traditional American music. The Fraterrigo Family has been performing publically for four years in Western New York.)

The Genesee County Agricultural Society, Inc., is holding its annual County Fair July 19-23. As part of the fair’s annual tradition there will be a Genesee County Fair Queen chosen on July 22.

The pageant is open to girls that live in Genesee County and are ages 15 to 18. They have to be in 10th, 11th or 12th grade starting the 2011-2012 school year.

For information regarding the pageant or to get an application please feel free to contact the Genesee County Fair Queen Pageant coordinator at 813-5570 or by email at vrictoriarippel@yahoo.com.

All forms must be received no later than Friday, June 24.

The 30th annual Donald R. Carroll Run/Fun Walk will be held at 5 p.m. sharp on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011 as part of the activities scheduled for the 2011 Summer in the City.

Registration will take place from 2 p.m.. until 4:50 p.m. in Jackson Square the day of the run/walk. Registration forms will be available online at doncarrollrace.com. The entry fee is $20 prior to the run/walk and $25 the day of the event.

The race/walk will start and end at Wendy's on Main Street in Batavia.

The first 200 individuals with paid registrations will receive race/walk T-shirts. A post run/walk party will be in Jackson Square following the event where participants will be treated to a chicken bbq, hot dogs, fruit, munchies, water and soda.

Friends and guests may also attend the run/walk post party by making a $5 donation. Music and dancing will also be available.

Proceeds from the run/walk will go toward Don Carroll's Toys for Kids campaign. Anyone interested in volunteering the day of the race may contact Don Carroll at donaldrcarroll@yahoo.com.

A Spring Ghost Tour is planned at the Historic Batavia Cemetery on Saturday June 4.

It will highlight the women -- "some of the finest ladies who ever graced the community."

The guided ghost walk costs $10 and includes iced tea and cookies. Tickets are available at the cemetery gate, located on Harvester Avenue, on the day of the event.

Tours begin at 2 p.m. and run every 15 minutes. The last tour begins at 4 p.m.

All proceeds benefit the cemetery.

For more information, call the history department at 344-2550, ext. 2613.

Children and teens interested in honing their soccer skills are encouraged to attend the Genesee Lancers Camp offered by New York Premiere Soccer.

It provides full-time professional, licensed coaches from around the world; primarily UEFA B licensed coaches from the United Kingdom and Ireland. NYPS also has a full-time technical department responsible for curriculum development and player education.

Coaches will conduct a comprehensive week-long program with your team. They will work in conjunction with the team in many of the following areas: team building, team fitness, SAQ work, team shape, team tactics as well as individual player techniques.

NYPS coaches will meet with the local coaches prior to camp to assess what areas of the game they want to work on. A curriculum will be tailored for this week based on the feedback from the coach.

Date: July 11-15

Times: 9 a.m. to Noon (Open Camp); 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Team Camp -- minimum of 10 players)

Cost: $50 Open Camp; $600 Team Camp

Location: Batavia Sports Park, 8069 Bank St. Road, Batavia

Age Group: 6 to 12 years old for Open Camp; 13 to 18 years old for Team Camp

To register visit: www.newyorkpremieresoccer.com

Contact information:

New York Premier Soccer

3195 Brighton Henrietta Townline Road

Rochester, NY 14623

Phone: 292-0788

Email: info@newyorkpremieresoccer.com

Genesee Community College will hold its second annual summer youth camp focusing on health and wellness July 18 – 29.

The Genesee Sport and Wellness Experience is geared toward middle school aged-students  and will take place at the college's Batavia Campus.

The summer program includes instruction and skill development in the areas of golf, tennis, soccer and volleyball targeted specifically for local middle-school students. While the program includes plenty of hands-on instruction and experiential learning on the field, courts and gymnasium, there is also a variety of wellness topics such as nutrition, fitness, stress management, peer pressure, and drug and substance abuse issues to be presented and discussed.

"Today's sport and wellness education goes far beyond knowing the rules and regulations of each sport by embracing a holistic approach to the human body's total performance," said Becky Dziekan, director of GCC's Health and Physical Education department and the coordinator of the program.

"We are delighted to spend two weeks introducing these young people to healthy living opportunities and practices that are fun yet informative, which hopefully will last a lifetime.

Students in grades six, seven and eight are invited to attend the two-week program, which runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. The cost is $140 and includes lunch every day and a T-shirt.

For the general flyer and registration form for Genesee Sport and Wellness Experience go to: http://marketing.genesee.edu/images/Sport_Wellnessflyer 2011.pdf

For further details, please contact Becky Dziekan, director of Health and Physical Education at 585-343-0055 x6424 or rldziekan@genesee.edu <http://rldziekan@genesee.edu>. You can also go to the webpage: http://www.genesee.edu/gcc/wellness/

Second annual citywide Community Yard Sale to be held in front of your house June 11. Rain date will be June 18. Time is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 344-0276 with your house number and street address.

There is always something out there for everyone. Something new this year -- if you do not want any of your items after the sale they will be picked up by Kathy Stefaniak for the Saint Joseph's Mammoth Sale  to be held next year.

You must call to be placed on our list of house numbers and streets. The phone number is 344-0276.

Volunteers for Animals will hold its fourth annual Garage Sale to benefit the animals at the Genesee County Animal Shelter next week.

It runs Thursday June 2 through Saturday, June 4.

The address of the garage sale is 37 E. Main St. in Corfu, Route 33.

Beginning today, donations for the garage sale will be accepted. You can drop off at the shelter during adoption hours. If you have large items, please email VFA first for other arrangements.

The shelter is located at 3841 W. Main St. Road in the Town of Batavia. Phone is 343-6410. Adoption hours are:

1 to 3 p.m. -- Sunday through Friday, but closed on Thursday

7 - 9 p.m. -- Wednesday

11 a.m. -1 1 p.m. -- Saturday

Volunteers For Animals

http://www.vol4animals.org

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce invites the community to attend the Second Annual Pre-Season “PEP-DOG RALLY."

Our Batavia Muckdogs Baseball season is only a few weeks away and we NEED your help!

On Wednesday, June 15, just two days before the Season Home Opener, the stadium will be open to the community. We need YOU to come out and get our Batavia Muckdogs PEPPED up for the 2011 season.

Gates open at 6 p.m. Admission is FREE and there will be fun for the entire family. There will be games for the kids, local Mascots, and food concession for you to get your ball park favorites. The merchandise stands will also be open for you to gear up for the season.

Be the first to meet this year’s players!  They will be available to sign autographs and chat with the fans.  

Prizes and raffles will be given throughout the night, including valuable sports memorabilia such as: an 8x10 autographed picture of Nick Markakis; an autographed bat by Hall of Famer Earl Weaver; autographed baseballs by Ryan Howard, Lou Piniella, Jimmy Rollins, Tim McCarver and many more.

Enjoy the music of "23 SkiDOO," a strolling ragtime band sponsored by the Genesee County Baseball Club.

The season opener is at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 17 at Dwyer Stadium.

The Batavia Lions Club will host its Second Annual Bike Tour on Saturday, June 11. This year there are two tour options from which participants can chose.

In addition to the 32-mile “Tour Ride," a six-mile “Family Ride” will be available.

Check-in time for the 32-mile ride is 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. for the Family Ride.

The 32-mile ride begins at 8 a.m., and the six-mile ride begins at 9:15 a.m.

Check-in and the start of each event will be at the parking lot on the corner of Alva Place and Bank Street in Batavia.

Pre-registration postmarked by Thursday May 26 is $30. After that date, the registration fee is $35. The fee for all children under 10 years old is $15.

The first 50 riders registered by May 26 will receive a gift bag from our sponsors including an “official” ride T-shirt. All entrants must wear an approved safety helmet. All participants must be 16 years of age or be accompanied by a parent, grandparent or guardian.

The tour route winds through the beautifully rich agricultural area of Genesee County that surrounds the City of Batavia. There will again be water and snack stops, help if needed along the way, traffic guides at busy intersections, and emergency roadside assistance. The tour route is flat with very few hills.

The club's address is P.O. Box 456, Batavia, NY 14020. Email is batavialions@yahoo.com. Or contact Dominic Lovria at 343-7198.