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Area restaurants partcipating in local restaurant week

By Howard B. Owens

Personally, I find eating at a locally owned restaurant more satisfying. The menus items are generally more interesting, the food preparation more unique, more flavorful and more of my money is staying in the local community.

Starting tomorrow, it's the Greater Rochester Area Local Restaurant Week.

Sponsored by by LocalFoodService.com and the Greater Rochester Chapter of the New York State Restaurant Association, the week is designed to raise awareness of local restaurants, with participating restaurants offering special discounts.

In Genesee County, participating eateries are: Alex's Place, Sunny's Restaurant and Lounge, D&R Depot Restaurant and Red Osier Landmark.  A complete list of participating restaurants can be found here.

Whether a participating restaurant or now, Genesee County is fortunate to have dozens of outstanding locally owned, independent restaurants. So this week, eat out at least one evening and skip the chains. Pick a local restaurant, maybe one you've never been to before, and treat yourself.

And look on The Batavian this week for Deals of the Day from Larry's Steakhouse, T.F. Brown's and Main St. Pizza Company.

Kiwanis Spaghetti Dinner Tonight!

By Patrick Weissend

Tonight from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. the Kiwanis Club of Batavia will be hosting a spaghetti dinner at the YWCA, 301 North Street in Batavia.

Tickets will be available at the door and are $8 for adults and $4 for children (12 and under.) People attending dinner or take out dinners will receive one door prize ticket.

Proceeds are used to support various youth organizations in the community.

For more information: www.BataviaKiwanis.com

Rural learning network conference

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Rural Learning Network conference

The conference promotes regional assets for community and economic development and will take place Wednesday, May 13 at the Radisson Hotel in Corning.

Goals include: Highlighting the regional assets of western/central New York; articulate the comparative advantages of the region; encourage communities to build unique niches in a regional context; and explore symbiotic relationships among assets and their multiplier effects.

Regional assets are key building blocks in sustainable regional revitalization efforts. These include the skills of the workforce; the vitality of community organizations; the resources of public, private and non-profit institutions; and the physical and economic resources of local places. 

To register go to http://www.regonline.com/regionalassets or contact Beverly L. Mancuso, Executive Director Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County at
http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu <http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu/> or phone 585-343-3040, Ext. 110. 

GCC's annual fashion show May 1

By Billie Owens

From left to right are: Courtney Smith, Alyssa DelPlato, Katie Norton, Professor Rick Dudkowski, fashion show alumna and Walmart representative Rhea Hewitt, Hannah Wheeler, April Cipolla, Erica Weidner and Danielle Collins.

Press Release:

Genesee Students Count Days to Annual Fashion Show

Students in Genesee Community College's Fashion Merchandising program will display their talents Friday, May 1 with this year's production of Recherché.

Shows are at 3 p.m. and again at 7 p.m.

With numerous models and 11 scenes, this year's production lives up to the meaning of Recherché - lavishly elegant, exquisite and refined. Walmart has once again donated $1,000 to this year's production.

Recherché features several local clothing stores such as Walmart, who has donated children's fashions for Scene III- Amuseruent tallie Mode or "Fun Size Fashion." This year's production also features two new contributors including Buckle, a retailer of designer denim for men and women located in the Galleria Mall as well as Embrasse-Moi, a fine lingerie store in Pittsford.

Several students are designing and making their own outfits and accessories for this year's show. Arielle Orlikowski and Julie Maurer will display their original designs in the first scene, Fora Beleza or "Outside Beauty." Tatiana Fisher will also display her original designs in Scene VII: Mix Madness.

A new addition to this year's production is a pre-show musical performance by InnerLoop, a contemporary a cappella group from Rochester. They will be performing approximately 20 minutes before each show. For more information, visit their web site www.innerloopmusic.com <http://www.innerloopmusic.com> .

Tickets are available pre-sale for $5, or $7 at the door. For tickets, please call 585-345-6830.

Tourism Industry update

By Billie Owens

Press Release:

Second Annual Tourism Industry meeting

The topic "Social Media --What it is and how it can grow your business" will be the focus of the second annual tourism industry meeting.

It will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. at O'Lacy's Irish Pub on Thursday, May 14. Light snacks and refreshments will be served.

Social media expert Jessica Wander of Manzella Marketing Group will guide you through this often confusing topic. Learn who's using it and how to make it work for you.

A tourism update will immediately following the guest speaker.

Please R.S.V.P to Dawn at 585-343-7440 ext. 32 by May 11th. Space is limited.

Advance Access: Present Tense Staff Review Upcoming Books

By Darrick Coleman

The publisher is billing this book as fatherhood for dummies, and that about sums up this honest and funny memoir. Lewis decided to keep a written record of what actually happened immediately after the birth of each of his three children. This book is his record; it is an account of ordinary family life recorded from the man’s point of view. Lewis finds himself expected to feel things as a father that he doesn’t feel, and to do things that he can’t see the point of doing. At first he feels guilty but then he realizes that many other fathers share the same feelings. The humor and writing is very similar to a Bill Bryson book complete with brash, witty jokes. A good Father's day gift for Dad!

--Darrick

Present Tense Books - www.presenttensebooks.com

101 Washington Ave. Batavia, NY

 

Release date May 18th.

Some of the May programs offered by Cornell extension

By Billie Owens

Press Release:

The following events are planned for May at Cornell Cooperative Extension in Genesee County.

May 1 - Deadline for 4-H Giant Pumpkin Contest
The contest is open to any 4-H'er/4-H Family in Genesee County.  If you want to have fun, learn about horticulture, and challenge yourself, join 4-H'ers who will grow a giant or tiny pumpkin in spring/summer (125 days to grow) in home gardens or in container gardens all over the county. 

We will be using giant and small seeds. The Giant variety is "Dill's Atlantic Giant" or tiny pumpkin varieties includes "Baby Boo" or " Jack-Be-Little".  You can buy your own seeds or we can provide you with them. Educational materials will also be provided to each participant. Weigh-in will be in September (location to be determined).

Register by May 1st.  If you are interested in more information or to register, please contact Amy Berry at (585) 343-3040, ext. 106 or stop by the Extension office at 420 E. Main Street in Batavia.


May 2 or May 18 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Chainsaw Safety and Tree-Cutting Productivity Training – Level 1

Held at Cornell University's Arnot Forest, 611 County Road 13, Van Etten in Schuyler County. These are small-group (maximum 10) hands-on classes with a certified instructor that cover safe chainsaw use, chain and engine maintenance, and tree-felling (participants personally fell a tree under the instructor's guidance). 

No experience is required for Level I participants.  Pre-registration and pre-payment are required. Cost is $152 per day (there's a discount for NYFOA members) and spaces are filled first-come, first served. 

Details, including on-line registration or mail-in registration, can be found at: http://www.dnr.cornell.edu/ext/forestconnect/GOL.html  Please direct questions to the Cornell Department of Natural Resources at 607-255-2115 or cce-nat-res@cornell.edu.


May 4 and May 11

ServSafe Food Manager Certification Class
CCE-Monroe County is offering the Level 1 nationally recognized ServSafe Food Manager Certification Course at the CCE-Monroe County Office at 249 Highland Ave. in Rochester on May 4 and 11. The 2 day course is from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on each of these days and the cost is $150 per person.

The registration form may be found on our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/monroe <http://www.cce.cornell.edu/monroe> . Questions may be directed to Jane Botelho at 585-461-1000 ext. 232.

May 13

Promoting Regional Assets for Community and Economic Development 
Regional assets help build sustainable regional revitalization efforts. They include: the skills of the workforce; the vitality of community organizations; the resources of public, private and non-profit institutions; and the physical and economic resources of local places.

The conference will explore how different assets in the region assist and support one another. Also to be explored is the relationship between capacity building and the promotion and development of assets. This one-day conference will be held at the Radisson Hotel in Corning from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Agenda and registration information can be found on the CaRDI website at www.cardi.cornell.edu <http://www.cardi.cornell.edu/> .
May 14 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Coffee & Dessert Series - Invasive Species
This program will take place at Cornell Cooperative Extension -- Genesee County. Cost is $10. Pre-registration is required. Judy Spring, environmental educator from Genesee County Soil and Water Conservation District, will talk about invasive species.

New York faces an onslaught of invasive species from other regions and countries.  These non-native plants, animals, and pathogens displace native species, disrupt ecosystems and recreational activities such as fishing, boating and hiking. They also damage commercial agricultural and aqua-cultural resources. For a brochure or more information, please contact Gail at (585) 343-3040, ext. 132 or via e-mail at gac11@cornell.edu.

May 16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Garden Gala
The Gala will take place at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County. No early birds. There will be an indoor and outdoor plant sale, chance auction, gardening activities for youth, door prizes, free handouts and soil testing, gardening advice, and free refreshments. If interested or need more information, please contact Gail Culver at (585) 343-3040, ext. 132 or Amy Berry at (585) 343-3040, ext. 106.

Scholarships offered to students with epilepsy

By Billie Owens

Press Release:

Applications due for Epilepsy Foundation College Scholarship Program

High school students in Genesee and surrounding counties who have epilepsy
are invited to apply for the Stephen A. Segar Scholarship. Applications must be postmarked no later than April 30.

Stephen A. Segar, an attorney and founding partner of the Rochester law firm
of Segar and Sciortino, did not let epilepsy stop him from achievement in
college, law school and beyond, and now he wants to help others in pursuit
of learning.

Three $1,500 scholarships are available for high school seniors in the areas served by the Epilepsy Foundation of Rochester-Syracuse-Binghamton.

High school seniors with epilepsy who plan to college or a technical or vocational school may apply.

"Young people with epilepsy are capable of achievement and excellence in
virtually any field," says Segar. "Having epilepsy should never be looked
upon as a limitation. It is my hope that this scholarship program, in some
measure, will encourage students with epilepsy to pursue their dreams."

Contrary to myth or stigma, people with epilepsy are intelligent, capable,
and high-achieving, and Steve Segar is a primary example, says Epilepsy
Foundation executive director David W. Milliman.

"His commitment and leadership will no doubt inspire and motivate young people with epilepsy," Milliman said.

Criteria for selection are academic performance, obstacles and successes
described in an essay, writing skills, and overall merit. Winners will be
decided by the Epilepsy Foundation¹s Scholarship Committee.

To download an application form, go to the Epilepsy Foundation website at
www.epilepsy-uny.org or request a form by calling (800) 724-7930.



 

Poetry contest winners named

By Billie Owens

Press Release:

Genesee's Library Poetry Contest Awards Seven Student Poets

BATAVIA -- The Alfred C. O'Connell Library at Genesee Community College has awarded seven student poets in its eighth annual student poetry contest.

The seven winners include a diverse set of students, from many campus centers and age groups. They are Terra Bartlebaugh, Daniel Branciforte, Michael Hoerbelt, Ricky Howard, Andrea Louis, Nathan Palmer and Sadie Waala.

Taking top honors in the contest was Nathan Palmer of Dansville whose poem "Blackberry (Not Just an Electronic Promotion of Capitalism) reads":

White bud in June
Bright red in July
Purple bloom in August
Sharp thorns in your side
Maroon branches don't cost us
Because you're outside and wild
Not planted by me years ago
But by great grandma as a child
Alongside the barn they grow and wait
Seeds fall to the ground
Wind blows up their fate
Bugs fly all around, too quick
Bees land to pollinate
Each summer they're picked
Those thorns I hate cause me to bleed
With buckets in my hand
To the woods I leave
On top of hills I stand to look for Blackberries

When asked what he wanted to convey when writing the poem Nathan noted, "I'm worried that the world won't know what a real blackberry is. I asked my sister what a blackberry was and she replied 'a phone!' I ultimately wanted to comment on the state of our world."

Second-place poet and ACE Student, Sadie Waala of Batavia entered the contest with her poem entitled "Self-Portrait." A student at Batavia High, Sadie will be attending St. Rose College in Albany this fall.

Tied for third place were Terra Bartlebaugh of Alden with her weather-inspired poem "Spring" and Daniel Branciforte of Batavia with "Bubbled," a journey poem that originally started as a class assignment.

Honorable Mention for Body of Work was awarded to Lancaster, NY native Mike Hoerbelt.

This year's contest also included two math-themed winners. Winning the Math X category was Ricky Howard of Arcade and the Math Y category winner was Andrea Louis of Waterport.

All the winners were awarded a variety of gifts and prizes donated by Darien Lake Theme Resort, the Genesee Country Village & Museum, the Red Osier Landmark Restaurant, and the Campus community. They also were given their own journals and a certificate of recognition.

For copies of each poem, please contact Anita Whitehead at 585-343-0055 x 6231 or at awhitehead@genesee.edu.

Chicken BBQ

By Cheryl Anziano

Immaculate Conception Church, 5865 Ellicott St. Rd., East Bethany welcomes everyone to their second Chicken BBQ on May 17th from 11am till sold out.  Adults $8, Childrend under 12 $4, Chicken Only take out $4.  Come early to be sure to get your dinner!

Spring into Nature

By Jan Beglinger

 

Spring into Nature 2009
Saturday, April 25     9 am to 4 pm
 
Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
1101 Casey Road
585-948-5445
 
Exhibits
FREE Activities for Children
Friends of Iroquois NWR, Inc.
Paint-A-Bird
Lower Great Lakes Fisheries Office
Build a Bluebird Nest Box
Genesee Co. Master Gardeners
Animal Track Casting
NYS Bluebird Society
Coloring Table
Betsy LaMere - Artist
Make a Pine Cone Feeder
NYS Parks/Recreation
Incredible Journey (Project WET)
Custom Flies - Ron Pastor
Kid's Birding Check List
Retriever Demos - Jim Beverly
Make and Owl Mask
Bird Identification - Marv Jacobs
Face Painting
Buffalo Audubon Society
 
Fire For Wildlife - US Fish & Wildlife Service
 
Bird Banding Demonstrations
 
Blue-Angel Artworks
 
Tonawanda Reservation Historical Society
 
Niagara County Trappers Association
 
Buss-Saw Bob - Chainsaw Sculpture
 
Alabama Volunteer Fire Department
 
Native American Artifacts - Stanley Vanderlaan
 
 
FREE Programs in the Auditorium:
9:30 am - Wendi Pencille - Rehabilitation of Raptors
11:00 am - Wild Wings - Birds of Prey
12:30 pm - Wendi Pencille - Rehabilitation of Raptors
2:00 pm - Hawk Creek - Myths, Magic and Mystery of Mammals
All programs above have live animal ambassadors.
 
PLUS
Sign up for Bird Walks
Door Prize Drawings
Used Book Sale
Bald Eagle Watch at Cayuga Overlook, Rte 77
 
FOOD
First Baptist Church of Medina - Hot dogs & hamburgers
Alabama/Basom United Methodist Church - Bake Sale

Let Your Light Shine Praise Night and Benefit for Brady Williams

By nancy baxter

Benefit for Brady Williams - 2 year old with neuroblastoma cancer

May 16th

7:00 pm

Oakfield United Methodist Church

2 Main Street   Oakfield

Exciting night of fun, praise music and drama

featuring incredible talent from area churches.

Reception immediately following to meet and greet the family

Free Will offering will be taken for the Williams family to help with travel and medical expenses.

Road repairs under way

By Billie Owens

Press Release:

Road repairs now under way

The state Department of Transportation will be working on I-490 between Route 259 (Union Street, exit 4) in the Town of Chili and Route 19, exit 1, in the Town of LeRoy. Traffic will be reduced to a single lane from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. so pavement repairs can be made.

Ramps will not be affected.

The highway workers will begin at Route 259 and work in the westbound direction. The work zone will be approximately one mile in length. The speed limit will be reduced to 55 mph when workers are present.

This preventative maintenance work started Monday, April 20 and is expected to take about a month to complete. Once repairs are made, the same section will be resurfaced by a paving crew.

Motorists are advised to travel slowly and carefully through the work zone area.

GCC offers summer art programs

By Billie Owens

Press Release:

Summer Art Programs Available at Genesee Community College

Batavia -- Genesee Community College's fine arts department is again offering the Performing Arts Experience this summer and a new Summer Studio Fine Arts Workshop. Both programs are available to GLOW area children and young adults.

The Performing Arts Experience is a three-week theatre workshop, targeted for children and young adults ages 8-16, that runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 6-25, Monday through Friday at the College's Center for the Arts.

It introduces the fundamentals of theater in an engaging way for children and young adults fascinated by stage and live performance.  Students learn acting, dance, voice lessons, movement, audition techniques and scene study. The cost for this three week program is $250 and registration is required. Registration deadline is June 6.

The workshop will culminate with all participants giving two live musical performances on stage in the state-of-the-art Stuart Steiner Theatre. They will be open to the public. Performances are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, July 24-25. Admission is free.

The Summer Studio Fine Arts Workshop debuts this year. This week-long art workshop is open to children ages 9-14 and features drawing, mixed media, pottery, painting, sculpture and more.

The fine arts workshop will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 3 - 7 in the ceramics and painting studios at the Batavia Campus. At the conclusion of the week, the art work will be on display in the Stuart Steiner Lobby Art Gallery. There's a reception scheduled for 3 p.m. Aug. 7.

Genesee art instructors Moi Dugan and Margaret VanArsdale will oversee the workshop. Cost is $150 and the registration deadline is June 6.

For more information or to receive a brochure, please contact the Genesee Center for the Arts office at (585) 343-0055 x6438.

For tickets to any of the performances held July 25-July 26, contact the Box Office at (585) 343-0055 x6814 or by email to BoxOffice@genesee.edu.

City celebrates Earth and Arbor days

By Billie Owens

Press Release:

City of Batavia Celebrates

City of Batavia will celebrate both Earth Day and Arbor Day from 9 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 25.

The event begins at Lions Park on Wallace Street in the City of Batavia with a presentation on “The Benefits of Gardening and Composting” by the Batavia Youth Bureau. There will be a tree planting ceremony by a local Girl Scout troop, a seed-starting display by the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Master Gardeners and a proclamation by City Council. 

Volunteers will then be assigned a city park or downtown Main and Ellicott streets area to pick up debris. The volunteers will regroup at Lions Park at 11:30 am for the door-prize drawing. Every volunteer will receive a chance to win a tree.

The trees for the planting ceremony and door prize have been donated by a local Girl Scout troop through a special deal provided by Pudgie’s Lawn & Garden.  The Girl Scouts will donate a tree and so will Pudgies.

The ARC is also donating services and supplies and Tim Horton’s is donating coffee and TimBits for volunteers. Kiwanis is also helping out with a donation of supplies.   

This event will take place rain or shine.  The city is seeking volunteers and there are additional hours available for students interested in earning community-service credit.

If there are questions, please contact the city manager's office at 345-6330 or email
jfreese@batavianewyork.com.

Local surgeon certified in sports medicine

By Billie Owens

Press Release:

Local Doctor Certified in Sports Medicine

Dr. Matthew J. Landfried, a United Memorial Hospital medical staff member and orthopaedic surgeon has received certification in the subspecialty of orthopaedic sports medicine from the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Inc.

Dr. Landfried is a partner in the Genesee Orthopaedics medical practice with locations in Batavia and Perry. He is a graduate of Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia and is board certified in orthopaedic surgery.

He is also chair of the surgical department and chief of surgery at United Memorial. He lives in Batavia.

Sports medicine relates to the care of injuries resulting from athletic activities. Orthopaedic sports medicine specialists are proficient in addressing conditioning, training and fitness for athletic performance. This includes: the role of dietary supplements, pharmaceuticals and nutrition in the short- and long-term health of athletes; coordination of medical care with trainers, physical therapists and physicians.

They provide on-field evaluations with their knowledge of soft tissue biomechanics, injury healing and repair. They coordinate treatment options, both surgical and non-surgical, and understand athletic equipment and orthotic devices used in the prevention and management of athletic injuries.

Cultural Fest to be held

By Billie Owens

Press Release:

Cultural Fest 2009

The Genesee County Youth Bureau AmeriCorps and Reality Check programs are
gearing up for the 2009 Cultural Festival. 

This free event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 25 at Batavia Middle School. Along with booths, displays and local craft sellers, there will be food and live
entertainment by a number of groups including McMahon¹s School of Irish Dance and TNT Productions.

If you would like more information on the Cultural Festival or to register your
organization or business to for a booth or performance, please call 344-3960. 

You can also visit the Youth Bureau page at www.co.genesee.ny.us for
registration forms.

BID Awards Luncheon Friday

By Billie Owens


Press Release:

Batavia Business Improvement District
 Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon

Batavia –  The Batavia Business Improvement District will hold its annual luncheon meeting at 11:45 p.m. on Friday, April 24 at the Homestead Event Centre (former Roxy’s Music Store), 4 Batavia City Centre, in downtown Batavia.

The agenda includes a review of the B.I.D.’s accomplishments in 2008-2009 and the announcement of the newly elected members to the Board of Directors. Also, the “Spirit of Downtown” Business Award will be given to O’Lacy’s Irish Pub and the “Spirit of Downtown” BID Volunteer Award will be given to Jeffrey Gillard.    

Cost is $15. To make reservations and payment contact Don Burkel, B.I.D. Director, at 585-344-0900 or fax 585-815-0233.

New scholarship for firefighters and their families

By Billie Owens

Press Release

New Scholarship to Benefit Volunteer Firefighters and their Families

Batavia -- Genesee Community College Foundation is creating the new Ben Franklin Scholarship, believed to be the first of its kind in New York.

Named after Benjamin Franklin, the founder of the first volunteer firefighting company in the United States, this scholarship will be made available to GLOW (Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming) region volunteer emergency responders and their immediate families.

Twenty $500 scholarships will be awarded to full-time Genesee students who apply and meet the Ben Franklin Scholarship selection criteria.

Awardees must be involved in a volunteer fire or ambulance department for at least one year, or be the immediate family member of a volunteer who has been active for more than one year. Scholarship applications are available online at www.genesee.edu/foundation/programs.cfm <http://www.genesee.edu/foundation/programs.cfm>.

Assemblyman Stephen Hawley is scheduled to participate in the scholarship awards ceremony.

This event will take place at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 24 at the Batavia Campus in the Clock Tower Plaza, weather permitting. In the case of bad weather, the location will be moved to the North Lobby of the Conable Technology Building.

For further information, please contact Richard Ensman, director of Development and External Affairs at 585-343-0055 x6534.

FOUND young orange tabby

By Rachel Oshlag

FOUND: Young orange tabby (most likely under 1 year) with amber eyes. Very friendly. North Spruce area.

Please sign my guestbook if you have any information!  Thank you!

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