Announcements

Press release:

Calling all eighth- through 11^th-graders, the Genesee County Youth Court is recruiting new members!

Youth Court is a voluntary alternative for young people who face disciplinary action through school or law enforcement. Youth who are referred admit to the charge and appear before a court of their peers. Three youth judges listen to both sides of the issue and determine an appropriate disposition. The goal of youth court is to improve youth citizenship skills and decrease problematic behavior.  

Youth Court members learn about the judicial process & law enforcement; develop group decision making, leadership and public speaking skills; participate in all roles of the courtroom: judge, prosecution, defense, and bailiff.  

Genesee County eighth- through 11^th-graders who are interested can go online to download an application from the website www.co.genesee.ny.us , where you will find a link on the Youth Bureau page. Applications are due by Aug. 19. Interviews of potential candidates will take place during late summer/early fall with the training to begin in October.  

For more information on the Genesee County Youth Court, please contact Chelsea Elliott at the Genesee County Youth Bureau, 344-3960.

Press release:

In celebration of its 200th anniversary next year, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1 E. Main St., Le Roy, is sponsoring a Photo Contest open to all ages.

Considered the most photographed building in Genesee County, St. Mark’s has a beautiful natural setting above Oatka Creek with architecture in the English Gothic style.

The sanctuary of St. Mark’s Church will be open to photographers for interior photos from 9 to 10:30 a.m. and again from 3 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 16, during Le Roy’s Oatka Festival.

The sanctuary will again be open to photographers from 1 to 3 p.m. on on Saturday, Dec. 17, when the church will be decorated for Christmas.

Photographers may enter up to two photos of the interior or exterior of the church. Photos may be black and white or color, may be digitally enhanced and must be received in an 11 x 14” frame, ready to hang. The photographer’s name must only appear on the back of the frame.

Photo entries will be received at 58 on Main, Le Roy, from Jan. 2 through Jan. 7.

A wine and cheese reception will open the show of photographs at 58 on Main at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31. Photographs will be on display at 58 on Main until Saturday, Feb. 4, and then will move to the Woodward Memorial Library in Le Roy from Feb. 6^th through March 31^st. At both locations, people will have a chance to vote on their favorite photograph.

The show of photographs will be on display in St. Mark’s during the month of April.

Prizes will be awarded in two categories. The Judges’ Prize will be selected by a panel of three judges, and a winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to Rowe Photo and a 16 x 20” custom print by 58 on Main. The Peoples’ Choice Award will be chosen by ballots available at 58 on Main and the Woodward Memorial Library, and the winning photo will be used on commemorative ornaments to be sold by St. Mark’s during the anniversary year. The winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to D&R Depot restaurant along with three ornaments.

Complete contest rules will be posted on St. Mark’s website at www.stmarks-leroy.org

Information and complete details about the contest will be available at www.stmarks-leroy.org, at the Oatka Festival, and in the church.

Press release:

Batavia’s premier consumer-run human service and advocacy agency for people with disabilities, Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) will hold an ADA Picnic to celebrate the 26^th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Open to the general public, and offering FREE food, fun, and games, the event will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 26, at Kiwanis Park, 3808 W. Main Street Road, Batavia.

To ensure that we have enough, if you plan to attend, please R.S.V.P. to Donna Becker at (585) 815-8501, ext. 411.  

At the time the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed in 1990, a patchwork of laws existed to protect the civil rights of citizens with disabilities only in certain situations, such as access to airports, fairness in housing, and non-discrimination by federally funded institutions.

The ADA broadly bars disability-based discrimination in employment, telecommunications, by state and local governments, in places of public accommodation such as stores, restaurants, banks, theaters, hotels, and stadia, among other protections. This has made it the single most important body of law for a particular population, the disability community, since the protections for racial and ethnic minorities and women of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which inspired some of the ADA’s provisions.

Athletes Edge Summer Baseball Camp will be held July 11-14 for children ages 5 to 12 at the Batavia Little League Complex near Dwyer Stadium. The address of the complex is 299 Bank St.

This camp will be assisted by Batavia High School Varsity Baseball players.

Cost is $90 per camper. Registration deadline is July 7. Each camper will receive a camp T-shirt.

Age groups are:

• Group 1: 5- and 6-year-olds
• Group 2: 7- to 9-year-olds
• Group 3: 10- to 12-year-olds

Times are 9 a.m. to noon every day.

Mail payment with a piece of paper containing the player's name, age, address, and phone number, along with T-shirt size to:

Athletes Edge Summer Baseball Camp

8487 Violet Lane

Batavia NY 14020

Contact is Ben Buchholz via email  athletesedgebatavia@gmail.com

or call his mobile phone at (716) 982-8259.

Press release:

Attention all golfers! The Batavia Blue Devils Football program will hold its 4th Annual Golf Tournament on Saturday, July 23rd, at the Batavia Country Club. Alumni are encouraged, but anyone who likes to golf can get a foursome!

The cost is $80 per golfer and it includes 18 holes of golf, cart, lunch, dinner, beverages, goodie bag and T-shirt.

Tournament registration time is between 7 a.m. and 7:30 a.m., with a shotgun start at 8 a.m.

Those interested can send their team members' names, T-shirt sizes, and money to:

Blue Devils Touchdown Club
306 South Jackson St.
Batavia, NY 14020

Checks made payable to: Blue Devils Touchdown Club.

You just be 21+ to play. Registration deadline is July 8th.

Any further questions you can call or text 585-409-5557.

Press release:

Batavia Downs Gaming’s second annual “Taste @ the Track” will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 26^th on the inner track at Batavia Downs Gaming and Racetrack. This outdoor food festival highlights local restaurants, breweries and wineries in Western New York.

“We had great success before the rains came last year,” said Ryan Hasenauer, director of Marketing of Batavia Downs Gaming. “We had over 200 people in just two hours with everyone knowing rain was in the forecast. With beautiful weather expected on Sunday we’re looking forward to putting on our event again to showcase local eateries, wineries and breweries.”

Area restaurants include: 34 Rush, Big Pauly’s Pizza, Center Street Smokehouse, Indian Falls Log Cabin, 58 Main Smokin’ BBQ (of Brockport), Yancey’s Fancy Cheese, Batavia’s Original, Schwab Farm Market, and NY Chips will all have food. For those 21+, beer and wine while sampling will be offered, courtesy of Heron Hill Winery, Southern Wine, Casa Larga, Black Button Distillery and CH Wright. (Note: Most wineries accept cash only.)

Kids' activities include a bounce house (all day), face painting, cartoon/caricature drawings, balloon art and other family friendly activities. There will also be sno-cones, Jason the Juggler (11 to 1), Pringles the Clown (12 to 2), and Mr. Scribbles (2 to 4).

Admission and parking are free. There will also be live music throughout the afternoon from the Coupe De Villes (11 to 2) and Up2Somethin’ (2 to 5).

For more information go to: facebook.com/tasteatthetrack

The Genesee County AmeriCorps Program, in collaboration with the Genesee County and Batavia Youth bureaus, is planning the annual Safe Summer Children’s Carnival.

It is open to the public and will take place on Thursday, July 28, from 10:15 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Falleti Ice Arena, 22 Evans St., in Batavia. One dollar buys a ticket to play 10 games, and children can win “funny money” to redeem for prizes.

Entertainment by “Charlie and Checkers” is scheduled from 10:15-11 a.m. and the games will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a 30-minute lunch break. Folks from the community should plan to bring a bagged lunch or plan to leave for lunch.

There will also be several community agency booths. There will be a grand prize which consists of two Darien Lake Theme Park Admission Tickets that can be won by visiting the booths.

For more information on the carnival please contact, Cara at the Genesee County Youth Bureau at 344-3960.

The Batavia Blue Devils Youth Football Camp will be held from 9 to 11:30 a.m. on Monday and Tuesday, July 18 and 19, behind Batavia High School, located at 260 State St. in Batavia.

The camp is for children entering grade two through grade eight. All school districts are welcome.

It is hosted by Head Coach Brennan Briggs and the Batavia High School football coaching staff. Plus current BHS football players and members of the two-time Section V Championship teams will speak to, and work with, the campers.

Cost is $40. Deadline to register is July 8.

Bring shorts, T-shirt, cleats, and a bottle of water.

Campers will get a T-shirt and pizza after Tuesday's camp.

The camp will feature offensive and defensive position work.

There will be speed challenges; flag football games at the end of each day.

What they'll work on (All drills will be modified for age group):

Quarterbacks -- Hand placement, 3-step, 5-step, footwork drills, throwing mechanics, ball handling drills;

Wide Receivers -- Stance, start, footwork drills, hand drills, route running;

Running Backs -- Stance, start, footwork drills, run blocking, pass blocking;

Offensive Line -- Stance, start, run blocking drills, pass blocking drills;

Linebackers -- Stance, start, footwork drills, tackling form drills, run stopping, pass defending;

Defensive Backs -- Stance, start, footwork drills, man coverage, zone coverage, pass defending;

Defensive Line -- Stance, start, 1 v. 1 drills, speed and quickness off the ball.

Make checks ($40) payable to:

Blue Devils Touchdown Club, 306 S. Jackson St., Batavia, NY 14020

Mail check with a piece of paper that includes:

• Name of camper
• Grade the camper will enter this fall
• Emergency contact and phone number
• Offensive Position
• Defensive Position
• T-shirt size

Stacey Ziminski is continuing on with the Batavia citywide yard sale that started last year with the help of the now-defunct community booster group Vibrant Batavia.

Vibrant Batavia supplied Ziminski with a map of around 80 yard sale participants and some advertising.

Ziminski plans to run the yard sale as an annual event that will take place the last Saturday and Sunday of June starting at 9 a.m. and ending at 5 p.m. each day.

"I'm scrabbling around to throw it together...I'm looking to get as much help as I can...," Ziminski said.

​She doesn't have a dedicated website for the yard sale yet, but she does have a Facebook page, which boasts more than 800 likes; she plans to use it to list addresses of all the yard sales in Batavia this weekend. 

To register your yard sale in the Batavia citywide yard sale, go to their Facebook page and submit your address and yard sale.

The weather should be nice and hot.

Press release:

Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming Public Health Advisory

Keeping Wild Animals – Unsafe, Illegal and Inhumane! 

RABIES ALERT! STOP! and THINK! Do NOT touch! It can kill! Any mammal is able to get rabies, it is very important to get your pets vaccinated and not to touch or handle any stray or wild animals including baby animals and bats.

“The Health Department has had several cases where people have taken in wild animals (babies) and / or played with stray cats and dogs which have led to unnecessary post exposure treatments and/or having to put the animals down (euthanize) them to be tested," stated Paul Pettit, director of Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

"Because rabies is in New York State ALL wild and stray animals that come in direct contact (bitten or scratched with broken skin and saliva exchange in open wounds or mucous membranes – eyes, nose, and mouth) with humans and domesticated animals are assumed to have rabies...even if they don’t.

"The only way to know is by testing the animal, which means it has to be euthanized. Whether the animal has rabies or does not, it is dead. Not only are you putting your family and friends at risk of a deadly disease, those who think they are ‘helping’ an animal could be giving it a death sentence."

Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Infected mammals can spread rabies virus to humans and other mammals through the saliva and spinal fluids. Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.

Pettit notes, “It is illegal to possess any wild animal that naturally lives in the state. Not only do these animals have the potential to spread rabies, but they often carry parasites, or may carry diseases that can be spread from animal to human.

"It is important to leave wild animals alone! More times than not baby animals are not orphaned but are kept hidden while the parents can hunt for food or stay away to protect them from predators. Nature will take care of nature. Wild animals have had to be put down because humans have interfered in their lives.”

The best way to keep pets safe from rabies is to vaccinate them and keep their shots up-to-date.

By avoiding contact with stray or wild animals, saving the bat / animal that may have had contact with humans / domestic animals, and reporting an incident to your local Health Department, we may be able to avoid unnecessary medical treatment that averages over $3,000 per person.

Take note of the upcoming FREE anti-rabies immunization clinics for dogs, cats and ferrets. The animal must be three months of age or older. Additional clinics can be found by checking the web sites or calling your local Health Department. Check your county web site for pre-registration instructions. Each dog, cat, and ferret must be accompanied by someone who can control it:

• Genesee County: Thursday, Aug. 18, at the Genesee County Fairgrounds, 5031 E. Main St., Batavia. The clinic runs from 4 to 7 p.m. Dog, cat and ferret vaccinations are free for Genesee County residents. A $5 voluntary donation per dog, cat, or ferret, is appreciated to offset clinic expenses. Non-county residents must pay a mandatory $5 fee for each dog, cat, and ferret immunized. Speed up the registration process during the clinic by registering your pets ahead of time! To pre-register your pets visit: http://www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/health/click_here_to_pre-register.html
• Wyoming County: Wednesday, July 20, at the Attica Town Highway Department, Route 98, Attica. The clinic runs from 6 to 8 p.m. (Registrations until 7:45 p.m.) This is a FREE clinic to Wyoming County residents ~ Donations are gratefully accepted! Out of county residents will be charged $10 per animal.
• Orleans County: Saturday, Aug. 27, at the Shelby Highway Department, 4062 Shelby Basin Road, Medina. The clinic runs from 9 to 11:30 a.m. You must arrive no later than 11:30 to ensure that you will be served. Clinic staff reserves the right to decline service to late (after 11:30) arrivals. To pre-register go to https://apps.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/ this site will have an Orleans County button/link before the scheduled clinics.

• For information on Health Department services contact,

• Genesee County Health Department at: 344-258,0 ext. 5545 or visit their website at www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/health/index.html. Visit Facebook at Genesee County Health Department and Twitter at GeneseeCoHealthDept.

•  Wyoming County Health Department at: 786-8890 or visit their web site at   www.wyomingco.net/health/main.html. 

•  Orleans County Health Department at: 589-3278 or check out our website at: www.orleansny.com/publichealth.

            Visit Facebook and Twitter: the user name for both is OrleansCoHealth.

Children ages 5 to 12 years old are invited to join the Batavia High School cheerleaders at their premiere cheer camp Friday and Saturday, July 29-30, at Vandetta Stadium. The stadium is located at 120 Richmond Ave. in Batavia.

Both days are mandatory. Cost is $40 and will include a camp T-shirt and pizza on Saturday.

Camp on Friday is from 1 to 5 p.m. On Satruday, it's from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a performance for parents at noon.

There will be a cheer merchandise booth for the participants to purchase extra apparel and bows.

Registration is due by July 8.

Questions? Call Melissa Swinehart at 202-6504 or Sherri Wahr at 356-0639.

****************

Mail registration fee, payable to Batavia Cheer Boosters, along with a piece of paper with the cheerleader's name, age, name of parent or guardian, phone number, and shirt size to:

Batavia High School

Attn: Cheer Booster

260 State St.

Batavia, NY 14020

Press release:

The Batavia Concert Band’s 91st season of music making will run again this year with free public concerts in Batavia’s Centennial Park on June 29; July 6, 13, 20, 27; Aug. 3 and 10, as well as the ever-popular July 4 "Picnic In The Park" sponsored by GO ART!

In addition, the Band will be featured at Birchwood Village Apartments' "Light the Night" concert on Tuesday. Aug. 2. The Aug. 3 concert in Centennial Park will feature sections of the Band and soloists.

The Batavia Concert Band’s repertoire is wide ranging in origin, period and style: marches, Big Band and swing numbers, popular songs from musicals and movies, rock favorites arranged for band, classical adaptations, fun songs for kids of all ages, and everything in between.

The Band consists of 45-55 brass, woodwind and percussion players ranging from talented high school students to 60-year veterans. Many have professional experience; the rest are advanced amateur musicians. All love to play.

This year’s conductor will be John Bailey, instrumental music director at Lyndonville Central School. The June 29 and July 4 "Picnic In The Park" concerts will be conducted by Joshua Pacino.

Founded in the early 1920s, the Batavia Concert Band has brought musical pleasure to the region every year except during World War II. The Band currently enjoys support from GO ART!, concert sponsors, program advertisers and individual patrons. The City of Batavia supplies chairs for musicians. The Band also sponsors 50-50 raffles at every concert, bake sales and other low-key fundraisers. Individuals or businesses interesting in supporting the Band should contact a Board member at any concert.

Downbeat for regular season concerts is 7 p.m., Wednesday evenings, in Centennial Park, Batavia. (*In the event of rain, concerts will move to Genesee Community College’s Stuart Steiner Theatre. Notices will be posted at the northwest corner of Centennial Park, announced on in local media, on the Batavia Concert Band’s website http://bataviaconcertband.net, and the Band’s Facebook page.)

Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, Inc., is looking for additional vendors and crafters for its upcoming Vendor Blender to be held on Saturday, Oct. 8, in Batavia.

Please e-mail Kim for more information at kgloskowski@caoginc.org. 

Community Action Of Orleans & Genesee

5073 Clinton Street Road

Batavia, NY 14020

Press release:

A 2016 Summer Basketball Camp will be held July 18-22 in the Batavia High School Auxiliary Gym. 

It will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Monday-Friday.

The camp is open to boys and girls entering grades 3-8 in the fall. Cost of the camp is $65 and includes a camp T-shirt. Participants are asked to bring their own basketball every day and have their name on it.

The camp will feature Coach Jim Fazio, Batavia Jr. Blue Devil Youth Director, coaching intern Antwain Richardson, youth coaches, and current and former Blue Devil players.

Camp benefits: The camp will focus on the offensive fundamentals of the game including shooting, passing, dribbling, and ball handling, with a major emphasis on shooting. Sportsmanship, fair play, and safety will be emphasized all week. There will be daily contests with full and half court games.

Batavia City Schools are not responsible for injury that may happen during camp. Please enter and exit the high school in the front circle.

Make checks payable to: Batavia Boys Basketball Boosters.

Mail to: Jim Fazio 5190 Ellicott Street Road, Batavia, NY 14020.

Also, provide this information:

• Name
• Address
• Town
• Age
• Grade entering in Fall
• School
• Phone #
• Medical concerns
• T-shirt size (Youth S-XL; Adult S-XL)
• Parent/Guardian signature

Press release:

Independent Living of the Genesee Region will be holding a series of FREE Chronic Disease Self-Management workshops for the community beginning June 20^th.

Those who attend will be shown practical steps to gain control of their daily health concerns. Participants will learn about healthy eating, problem-solving, action plans, medications, weight management, physical activity, sleep, and relationship communication skills.

The workshop information is relevant for those experiencing chronic conditions such as: Arthritis, Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD), Cystic Fibrosis, Diabetes, and Eating Disorders. The workshops are taking place from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the Independent Living of the Genesee Region, 113 Main St., Suite 5, Batavia, over six Mondays, but skipping the Independence Day holiday. 

The actual dates are June 20^th and 27^th; July 11^th, 18^th and 25^th; and Aug. 1^st.

Registration priority is given to Medicaid recipients, but Medicaid eligibility is NOT required for attendance. Pre-registration IS required. You can receive more information, and sign up for the workshops by contacting Patricia McAllister at pmcallister@wnyil.org or (585) 815-8501, ext. 402. Again, please be sure to RSVP if you are interested!