Announcements

The Byron Heritage Festival is happening on Saturday, July 25th, with an incredible array of events for the public to enjoy from morning until midnight.  The Festival takes place in the park that is located behind the Byron Fire Hall on Rt. 262 near the center of town.  So please mark July 25th on your calendars, and come to Byron's Fireman's Park for a day full of fun, and dance the night away with live entertainment and beautiful fireworks. 

8:00 - 10:00 AM - Kiwanis Fishing Derby (sign-in begins at 7:30 AM)

9:00 AM - 5K Kid's Race and 10:00 AM 5K Adult Race (sponsored by Boy Scout Troop #13, registration begins at 8:30 AM)

9:00 AM -5:00 PM - Craft and Food Vendors

9:00AM - Garage Sales throughout the town

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM - Cruise In

12 Noon - Chicken BBQ (sponsored by the Byron Fire Dept, til sold out)

11:00 AM - Geoffrey Clough

12:00 PM - Renaissance Man

1:00 PM - Magician James Swatt

2:00 PM - Belly Dancers

2:00 PM - Horseshoe Tournament (sponsored by Sue Fuller)

2:30 PM - Sack Race/Balloon Toss/3 Legged Race

3:00 PM - Ghostriders

4:00 PM - Hot Dog Eating Contest

5:00 PM - Pig Roast (sponsored by the Byron Presbyterian Church, til sold out, tickets $8, take-outs only, served at the Town Park),

5:30 PM - Beautiful Gardens of Byron winners announced

6:00 PM - Savage Cabbage (sponsored by the Byron Hotel)

9:00 PM - Midnight -Bandera

9:30 PM Fireworks

Portions of the day are made possible with funds from the Decentralization program, a regrant program of the New York State Council of the Arts, administered by the Genesee-Orleans Arts Council through the Byron Bergen Public Library.  For more information about the Byron Heritage Festival, please call Debra at 548-7123x10, or look at the town web site:  http://www.byronny.com/. 

BATAVIA -- GeneseExcel Sports is pleased to announce several additions to its roster of coaches for their Premier Soccer Camp with Liz Masterson. According to Ted Hawley, Camp Coordinator, “We’re lucky to have such a high level of coaching staff come in for this camp.” Along with Liz Masterson, captain of the Rhino’s W-League and Elmira College Women’s Soccer Coach, “we have coaches from the Buffalo Flash, from the Olympic Development Program, as well as collegiate stars,” Hawley added. Because of the staff additions, the sign-up deadline has been extended to July 22. “We’re confident that local athletes from the surrounding region will benefit from this unique opportunity to interact with coaches of this caliber.” The camp is scheduled from July 30 through August 1 from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m at the Community Fields Complex, Bank St. Rd., Batavia (at the Saile Dr. intersection). Ages 9 – 22 are welcome. Cost for the 3-day event is $130.00. Pre-registration is necessary; walk-ins will not be accepted. For more information, call 585.343.3329 or email info@geneseexcelsports.com. Staff includes:

Jon Poulakis:
Jon Poulakis is a thirty-year coaching veteran and holds a USSF National license.  He has coached at every level of soccer including Pro-AM, high school, and at the collegiate including the University of Tennessee, Rochester Institute of Technology and William Smith College. He was the Olympic Development Program coach for the State of Tennessee and the Girls’ U-17 coach New York State.  He has coached both travel and premier teams and was one of the founders of the Rochester Spirit, the first Girls’ Premier Club in Rochester. Furthermore, Jon is on the teaching staff at the University of North Carolina for the summer camps with Anson Dorrance He is currently the Director of Coaches for the Irondequoit Soccer Club and the Director of Youth
Development for the Western New York Futbol Club.

Jacquie Lacek:
Jacquie Lacek played 4 years at Central Michigan University from 2003-2006 before joining several W-League teams including the Rochester Ravens, Rochester Rhinos, and West Michigan Firewomen. She is currently rostered on the Buffalo Flash and is the assistant coach for the U-17 Empire Buffalo girls. Jacquie has been a camp facilitator at numerous camps throughout the Western NY region including: Pittsford Mendon, St. John Fisher College, Rochester Ravens, Midland Soccer Club, ODP tryouts in Region III (Michigan), and Assistant coach for the Rochester Jr. Rhinos U-13 Girl’s soccer team in 2004.

Brittany Kinmond:
Brittany began playing for the Rochester Jr. Rhinos before moving up to the Rochester Rhinos at the age of 15. Currently playing for the Rochester Ravens, Brittany will be a senior at Spencerport High School this fall, where she hopes to break the100 goal mark!  Named to the All-Greater Rochester team for the past two years, she was also selected as All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year in 2008.  Brittany will attend Syracuse University this January.

Adam Palumbo:
Adam has served on the coaching staff for several local clubs including Irondequoit Soccer Academy, Western New York Futbol Club, and North West Elite Soccer Camp (Seattle, WA). He was the assistant coach for Rochester Women's Rhinos in 2008. A National D and E license holder, Palumbo played soccer at Nazareth College and was a two-time Empire State member. 

Rachel Kruze:
Rachel graduated from West Virginia University and played in the WUSA for the Philadelphia Charge. She also played professionally in Iceland. As a member of the Rochester Rhinos, she captained that team for two seasons. Rachel coaches Hornell High School’s JV squad and assists with the varsity squad.

Gretchen Hawley:
As a member of the Batavia High School Varsity Soccer team, Gretchen earned 2nd team All-County and was twice recognized for All-Greater Rochester Honorable Mention. She was also singled out as a 1st team All County player. Gretchen captained the squad in her senior year before heading to Elmira College to play for the Soaring Eagles. This year, the 3-year veteran on the varsity squad will be returning for her 4th and final season.  She has received the Unsung Hero award and has started every match but one for the last two seasons. She will graduate in spring 2010 with a degree in Biology.  

Ellie Hamilton:
Ellie graduated from Victor High School this spring where she received All Greater Rochester recognitions as well as Team Offensive MVP (2008). A member of the Doug Miller Soccer Club, she will be attending Elmira College in the fall to join the women’s varsity soccer team.

The City of Batavia is currently seeking nominations for the Community Volunteer of the Year.

This 2009 recognition award will be presented by City Council at the Sept.14, 2009 City Council Business Meeting. 

Nomination Forms can be picked up at the City Manager’s Office or by phone at (585)345-6333. Nominations will be accepted through Aug. 14.

Kenneth Bradt, Ph.D, is one of four inductees for the Oakfield-Alabama High School Hall of Fame ceremony the first weekend in October.

They will be introduced to students at a pep rally Oct. 2 and recognized publicly at that night's football game.

The Hall of Fame honors will take place Oct. 3 at the O-A Middle-High School. Dinner begins at 5 p.m. with the ceremony following.

Bradt has had an illustrious career. To prepare for it, he attended Syracuse University with an interest in chemistry but found he was more intrigued by people’s decisions and behaviors. He quickly switched his major and earned his bachelor's and master’s degrees in psychology.

In 1951, he earned his doctorate in psychology at Illinois' Northwestern University.

After getting his education, Bradt achieved the rank of first lieutenant in the Army Medical Service. He served as chief clinical psychologist at the Army Hospital at Camp Atterbury, Ind., and later became a research psychologist with the Department of Defense in Washington, D.C..

During the '70s Bradt counseled CIA employees coping with unfamiliar, unpredictable and potentially dangerous situations. For his work, he received the Intelligence Medal of Merit from the CIA director for outstanding contributions to agency management.

For 21 years, Bradt shared his knowledge and wisdom with students at George Washington University, the University of Virginia and George Mason University.

In 1981, he was teaching at George Mason University and originated one of the first graduate-level courses in organizational leadership in the country.

In 2004, he was elected Fellow in the American Psychological Association in recognition of outstanding and unusual contributions to the science and profession of psychology. 

The other inductees are Dr. Robert Disasio, Donald Carroll and 1st. Lt. Harmon J. Norton, who will be represented by Joe Cassidy, the Town of Alabama historian. Some previous inductees will also be attending.

Tickets go on sale in late August at the school’s main office or from committee members. The public is welcome.

Darrick Coleman, a Le Roy resident who often shares his photos on The Batavian, has some of his work on display at the Shirt Factory Cafe in Medina now through Aug. 31.

There is an opening reception July 18 at 6 p.m.

The show portrays "the beauty that can be found in many backyards in Western New York through all four seasons, but in particular Mr. Coleman's backyard," according to the press release.

The exhibit, titled "Out of Doors," is sponsored by The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.

The Shirt Factory is located at 115 W. Center Street, Medina.