Announcements

VA Western New York Healthcare System announced the selection of Terri Julian, Ph.D., clinical psychologist, for the position of Health Behavior Coordinator (HBC) at VA Western New York Healthcare System, Buffalo site.

Julian was program manager of the Batavia VA Jack Wisby Jr. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment Center.

During her 10 years of service at the PTSD Program, she contributed to the expansion of the men’s residential program, the establishment of the women’s residential program, and the currently planned women’s program expansion.

She also gained national recognition for her work establishing a peer-support program and partnerships with veterans' service organizations. She contributed to PTSD research literature with peer-reviewed publications and served as local principle investigator in a collaborative research project with the National Center for PTSD in Palo Alto, Calif.

In addition, Julian serves on the Department of Veterans Affairs Central Office’s National Disaster Management Senior Leadership Team, Mental Health Component.

Here's a news release from United Memorial Medical Center.

United Memorial Medical Center celebrates its 10th anniversary with a Health Fair and Chicken Barbecue from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 21 at the Jerome Center, 16 Bank St., Batavia. The celebration has been planned to coincide with the City of Batavia’s “Summer in the City” event.

Proceeds from the Chicken Barbecue will benefit the Surgical Expansion Project at the Hospital’s North Street Campus. Tickets are $8 each and are available at the Hospital Cashier’s office or by phoning (585) 344-5415. Tickets may be purchased using cash, check or major credit card.

The barbecue will run from 12 noon until sold out. Dinner includes grilled barbecue chicken, potato salad, vegetable, roll and beverage. They will be packaged for take-out but tables and chairs will be available under the tent where guests can enjoy live music performed by the local band, Buffalo Road Show from 12-2:30 p.m.

Rochester radio’s WBEE 92.5 FM will host a live remote with on-air personality Billy Kidd from 3-5 p.m.

This is an opportunity for the community to celebrate United Memorial’s 10th anniversary and learn about current and future hospital projects such as the surgical expansion, housing renovation, physical therapy facility and urgent care service.

The project to renovate the top four floors of the former St. Jerome Hospital is nearing completion and guided tours of the senior apartments will be offered.

The Health Fair will feature free screenings, within the Jerome Center, provided by United Memorial’s Healthy Living Department for total cholesterol, blood pressure, body fat analysis, and blood glucose. (Please fast for two hours prior to the blood glucose test for accurate results.)

Outside, under the tent, several community partners will offer information, free giveaways and have a Child Safe ID booth.

Participants include the YMCA, the Genesee County Sheriff's Department, City of Batavia Police Department, HCR Home Care, Cancer Services Partnership of Genesee and Orleans Counties, Batavia Ophthalmology, Genesee Hospitalists, Conifer Realty, Lake Plains Community Care, GCASA, and The Justice for Children Advocacy Center.

Batavia Players, Inc. presents "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," their 2010 Summer Youth Theatre production.

The play will be performed at Batavia High School, at 260 State St. in Batavia. Show dates are Thursday, Aug. 19, Friday, Aug. 20 and Saturday, Aug 21. All performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. and last about 90 minutes.

"Seven Brides..." is the story of Adam Pontipee, a backwoodsman living in 1850s Oregon. He brings a new wife home one day and then, all of a sudden, his six brothers want to get married, too!

Filled with energetic dance numbers, great music, colorful costumes and the performances of 54 youth from Genesee, Livingston, Wyoming, Monroe and Seneca counties (ages 4 to 21), this play is sure to please. Don't miss it!

Tickets are $10 for general admission, $8 for students and seniors. For more information, please call 343-9313, ext. 31.

Here's a news release from Assemblyman Steve Hawley.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley has announced his third annual Patriot Trip for veterans to tour Washington, D.C. This special trip is scheduled for Sept. 23 through 26.

“The Patriot Trip is a very special and memorable event every year,” Hawley said. “As the Ranking Member of the Assembly Veterans’ Affairs Committee, a veteran, and the son of a veteran, it is one of my top priorities to support veterans across New York State.

"In addition to my legislative support, this trip is part of my personal commitment to honor these brave men and women. I’m looking forward to this year’s trip and extend an invitation to all veterans of the 139th Assembly District.”

Patriot Trip III will include round-trip, private-coach transportation from Western New York to Washington, D.C. and accommodations at Fort Belvior Army Base in Virginia. The trip also includes tours of the WWII, Vietnam, Korean and FDR memorials as well as the nation’s Capitol, Arlington National Cemetery and the Udvar Hazy Aerospace Museum.

Cost is $325 and most meals are included.

For more information about the trip and its details, pricing, or to sign-up for the trip or mailing list, please call Assemblyman Hawley’s District Office at (585) 589-5780.

The ninth annual Batavia Blue Devil Athletic Hall of Fame dinner is set for Saturday, Sept. 25th at Terry Hills Restaurant & Banquet Facility. This year's inductees include a contingent of former standouts reading like a who's who from the annals of Blue Devil sports. The inductees include:

Don Cerefin                    1947

Sharon Leising               1964

Barry Sheldon                1967

James Briggs                 1969

James Dzierzanowski    1969

Bruce Beswick               1970

Ernest Found Jr.            1970

Matthew Doward            1986

Teal Fowler                     1989  

Social hour for the event will begin at 5 p.m. followed by a dinner at 6. The cost of tickets is $30 and are available at the athletic director's office at Batavia High School. For more information please call 585-343-2480, ext. 2003.                                                                                                                         

Join the Fun! Save the Date! Register Now!

On your mark, get set, GO! Plans are underway for Genesee ARC’s Annual Friends & Family 5K.  The 6^th annual event is scheduled for September 25 in Elba.  The 5K raises money for disability services and helps fund the Genesee ARC Mary Anne Graney Memorial Scholarship.  Mrs. Graney was a dedicated parent, a long-time supporter of Genesee ARC, and a strong advocate for persons with developmental disabilities.

The Friends & Family event is made up of a 5K certified course, 5K Walk and a Fun Walk, with the route beginning near and ending at the Genesee ARC Day Habilitation Center, 4603 Barrville Road, Elba. Pre-registration for participants in the 5K is $15.00 by September 12 or $20.00 on the day of the 5K. Fun Walkers pay $10.00 before September 12 and $15.00 on September 25.

The “out and back” course will begin on Barrville Road, head west, then turn, heading east on Bridge then north on Luddington to the end, then back to the ARC Day Habilitation Center. Affected roads will be closed while runners are on the course. ARC is working with Town of Elba, Highway officials and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department to ensure a safe, fun time for everyone.

Prizes will be presented to the overall male and female runners, with medals awarded to the male and female first and second place runners in the following age categories: 8–12, 13–18, 19–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69 and 70+. Medals will be awarded to the top three 5K Walkers (regardless of gender). The first 150 registered runners and walkers will receive a Friends & Family 5K t-shirt. PCR Timing returns this year as the official race timer. 

After the Run/Walk, participants will be treated to a post race party, with music provided by The Buffalo Road Show. Kid-friendly activities include a bounce house, face painting and Magician, Adam Michael. Again this year, to go along with the country theme, event organizers are planning to showcase the produce from Elba area farmers in a “Taste of Elba.”

Title sponsor of the Friends & Family 5K is the Buffalo Law Firm of Webster Szanyi LLP.  Organizers are also welcoming MVP Health Care as the Health & Wellness sponsor.  Promotional support is being provided by Media Sponsor, WBTA, and the T-shirt sponsor is Genesee Valley Penny Saver.   T.F. Brown’s and Clor’s Meat Market have volunteered to help by providing food for the post race party.

For a registration form or information on the Genesee ARC Friends & Family 5K, call Sandy Konfederath at ARC at (585) 343-1123 ext. 226, or email sandyk@rochester.rr.com. You may also pick up a  form at 64 Walnut Street, Batavia and several area locations including WBTA, the Elba Town Hall and post office.

The Batavia Lions Club is sponsoring a raffle for a Bryant HOME STANDBY GENERATOR (8/7 kW LPG/NG) or $2,000 in cash.

All proceeds will be used to help fund several current and future community projects.

Current include: Lions Night at the Ball Park; holiday decorations in downtown Batavia; Christmas dinner at T.F. Brown's; Christmas baskets of food for local families; the annual college scholarship program for students from Batavia and Notre Dame high schools; and most importantly, numerous vision initiatives to assist local residents.

Future projects will include: “Project New Hope”; and the “Lions Hearing Conversation Society”; and the upcoming Batavia Lions Club Bicycle Tour on Aug. 21.

“Project New Hope” assists veterans and their families face the challenges of transitioning from military to civilian life. The “Lions Hearing Conservation Society” helps community members afford quality hearing aids.

For more information about the Batavia Lions Club’s activities, please visit our website at <www.clubrunner.ca/batavialions>.

This Bryant home generator will allow you to automatically power essentials in your home in the event of a power outage. It operates on natural or LP gas. It will power such items as your lights, sump pump, refrigerator and heating system.

It automatically starts, transfers power from the unit to your home circuits, and transfers it back to line power when the emergency is over. It offers security to your family and protection for your home during those times when the Western New York weather has done its best to shut us down!

The Batavia Lions Club wishes to thank Turnbull Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc., for providing the generator.

The drawing will take place on Oct. 25. Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased from a Batavia Lion or through the mail. If purchasing your tickets through the mail, please make your checks payable to:

Batavia Lions Club
P.O. Box 456
Batavia, NY 14020
Attn. Tickets

Please include a posted, self-addressed envelope with your order and a name, address and telephone number for tickets to be returned.

Thank you and good luck from the members of the Batavia Lions Club!

On Friday and Saturday, Aug. 6 and 7, The City Church in Batavia is having a "motorcycle event" at the Holiday Inn.

This is an annual event through STAR Touring and Riding. The charity of choice through STAR is "Feed the Children."

On Friday, Aug. 6, a tractor-trailer from Feed the Children will be coming to the Holiday Inn, Batavia, around noon. The hotel is located at 8250 Park Road.

From there, bikers will escort the truck to The City Church parking lot on Center Street. City Church will then distribute goods to families in need.

The Oakfield Rod & Gun Club will commence “Open Trap Shooting," starting Saturday, Aug. 14 and continuing each Saturday thereafter.

It runs from 2 to approximately 7 p.m., weather permitting. The club is located at 3199 Maltby Road in Oakfield.

Prepare for your fall hunting. The public is welcome.

BATAVIA – Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County will be offering the popular Master Gardener Training series from 5:45 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday evenings, Sept. 8 through Nov. 17.

Participants will also be required to attend an additional session from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30.

Pre-registration by Aug. 27 is required. No walk-ins are allowed. The fee for the series is $200 per person and includes a NYS Master Gardener Manual on a CD.

Sessions will be held at the Kennedy Building located on the Genesee County Fairgrounds on Route 5 in Batavia.

Master Gardener Training teaches participants about: garden botany; growing fruit at home; herbs; insects; perennials and annuals; organic gardening; pruning; soils and fertilizers; turf grass; vegetable gardening; weed identification; woody plant materials; and how to diagnose plant diseases/problems.

Graduates of the program are eligible to become “Certified” Master Gardeners by completing volunteer work at their local Extension Office.

More information can be found on the extension website at <http://genesee.shutterfly.com/gardening>.

To register, contact Amy Berry at (585) 343-3040, ext. 106, or stop by the extension office located at 420 E. Main St. in Batavia.

Here's a notice to all Oakfield Rod and Gun Club members.

The OR&GC will hold a meeting at 7 p.m., Monday, Sept. 13, 7 p.m., at which time the club will discuss and vote on amending Article XVII of the OR&GC bylaws.

This Article involves Honorary Members and members attaining age 65 being exempt from dues.

Former Batavian Barry Bower and Batavia Daily News reporter Virginia Kropf will explore the mysterious disappearance of aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart next week at the invitation of GO ART!

The event is part of the regional arts council's popular Salon Series.

Titled "The Cryptographers: Barry Bower & Virginia Kropf," it will take place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 10 in the Gathering Room of the Shirt Factory Cafe, located at 115 W. Center St., in Medina.

A contribution of $20 for non-members and $18 for GO ART! members is requested. Reservations are required and can be made by phone at (585) 343-9313, e-mail at info@GOart.org, or by stopping in to GO ART!, Seymour Place, 201 E. Main St. in Batavia (open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays).

Amelia Earhart disappeared July 2, 1937. She became the first woman to win the Distinguished Flying Cross after being the first woman to solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

Earhart worked to inspire and help women interested in flying careers and formed the Ninety-Nines, an organization for female pilots. She disappeared over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to circumnavigate the world. Her mysterious disappearance has been a source of speculation and conspiracy theories ever since.

Barry and "Ginny" will share what tantalizing clues they have uncovered in their quest to decrypt this riveting legend. Barry is a former City of Batavia councilman who now resides in Pennsylvania and devotes most of his time to researching Earhart's disappearance. When not working for The Daily News, Ginny has also devoted a lot of time piecing together clues of this famous mystery.

This Salon is paired with a themed dinner that includes "airline" chicken, fresh fruit and bread and dessert. Refreshments, wine and beer included.

Limited edition posters of Roz Hayes' original painting that depicts Amelia Earhart will be available for sale!

The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO ART!) is a private nonprofit organization, which believes that art and culture enriches, inspires and educates, while strengthening a community's identity.

Therefore, GO ART! initiates a broad range of opportunities for artists and cultural organizations, and facilitates cooperative efforts among the cultural, business, service and educational communities for the people who live in and visit Genesee and Orleans counties.

Thirty Batavia students have been awarded a Back-to-School Shopping Spree from Target and The Salvation Army.

They are among the more than 12,000 kids nationwide who will each receive an $80 Target GiftCard to buy school supplies.

From 8 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 30, the local students will have the opportunity to visit the Batavia Target on Veterans Memorial Drive. They will get to buy backpacks, calculators, pens and pencils, art supplies, binders, clothing and other must-have supplies just in time for back-to-school.

Each child will also be given a reusable Target shopping bag and be paired with a volunteer chaperone for their fun day of shopping.

Genesee County CASA for Children is having a Chicken BBQ on August 13th from 12pm-6pm in the parking lot of the CourtHouse at 1 West Main St. Batavia, NY.  All proceeds to benefit the abused and neglected children in Genesee County that are served by dedicated volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).

Tickets are $8.00 pre-sale and $8.50 at the event.  Dinners include chicken, salt potatoes, coleslaw, baked beans, and rolls.  This event is being catered by Tom Roviso Catering of E. Pembroke.  Tickets can be purchased by stopping in to CASA at the Courthouse (inside Family Court waiting area), by calling Tara Pariso at 344-2550 ext. 2331, or from any CASA board member or volunteer.

Please show your support for the hard work that CASA does to ensure that all children find safe, permanent homes.

The City Church in Batavia is going to have a "Back-to-School Giveaway" this Sunday, Aug. 8, at its 10 a.m. service.

A readers writes: "I am so thrilled that an organization is finally realizing that school supplies are such a burden come the time that school starts!

"With a family that has more then one child, it is so hard to afford everything they need for the coming school year."

The church plans to give away folders, binders, pens, pencils, crayons, highlighters... everything needed for going back to school.

The nondenominal church is located at 210 E. Main St. in Downtown Batavia.

For more information, call the church at 343-6895.

The Indian Falls Fire Department will hold an open house, and dedicate a new fire truck, on Saturday, Aug. 21.

It will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. at the fire department, located at 8030 Alleghany Road, in Pembroke, at the corner of Akron Road.

There will be FREE hotdogs, hamburgers and fun and games for the whole family.

Plus, there will be blood-pressure checks, first-aid demonstrations for adults and children and an automobile extrication demonstration.

There will also be a 50/50 raffle.

In an effort to keep our community safe from crime and drugs, GCASA and the City of Batavia Police Department will host the sixth annual National Night Out event at Austin Park in Batavia.

The event is 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 3 with a family friendly movie shown afterward.

National Night Out is a collaborative effort to promote neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships.

This year’s event will feature various agencies in the community such as the City and County Youth bureaus, Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, NYS Troopers, Mercy EMS, Genesee County Emergency Management, City of Batavia Fire Department, Care-A-Van Ministries, Genesee County YMCA, GCASA’s SafeHomes Program and the Drug-Free Marshals.

There is no cost to attend. Concessions will be available at a minimum cost.

There will also be a featured performance by singer Lisa Barrett and various activities for kids. Prizes will be given away around 8:15 p.m. with a free movie sponsored by Genesee County Reality Check starting at dusk.

National Night Out is a smoke-free family event. Come join us for some fun! For more information about National Night Out contact Kevin Keenan at 815-1875 or Rich Schauf at 345-6312.

The Festival of Fur is noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 31 at Genesee Feeds and Needs, located at 3860 W. Main St. Road in the Town of Batavia. (Across the street from the animal shelter.)

It is a good time for pet people, former residents, new residents, supporters of the Genesee County Animal Shelter and families to get together and talk pets, have some BBQ chicken and all the fixins (sold until sold out), get Fido microchipped, etc.

The Amazing Kayden will demonstrate his prowess catching freestyle discs. Microchipping dogs and cats is available for $30. There will be fun raffles and a 50/50 drawing.

If you'd like a caricature of your pet, bring a photo. In addition to Genesee Feeds, the event is sponsored by Dave's Ice Cream, which is giving away free doggie ice cream cups (only one per pooch!). There will also be T-shirts for sale.

This event takes place rain or shine. Come on over with Rover! All proceeds benefit Volunteers for Animals.