Announcements

Take a stroll down Memory Lane with a fun winter concert by the Genesee Chorale on Sunday, March 4 at St. Joseph's Catholic School.

The performance begins at 4 p.m. The school is located at 2 Summit St. in the City of Batavia.

The nonprofit ensemble of 75 members from Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming, Livingston and Erie counties will perform: "In My Life," "Blackbird," "Blowin' in the Wind," "As TIme Goes By," "Someone to Watch Over Me," and Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody."

These and other choral renditions of favorites have been prepared under the direction of Ric Jones. Soloists and small groups will round out the program, which draws from pop, rock, Broadway, film, and even a television series.

Tickets are available through the box office online here for $8 or they may be purchased at the door for $10.

Press release:

The Arc of Genesee Orleans will again be presenting an Art Show & Film Festival in celebration of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

It will be held Saturday, March 17 at the GCC Stuart Steiner Theatre located on 1 College Drive, Batavia.

There will be a collection of artwork created by individuals served at the Arc of Genesee Orleans on display in the foyer at Stuart Steiner Theatre. You will have an opportunity to meet and talk with the artists from 12:30 to 1 p.m. and the Sprout film screening will begin at 1 o'clock.

You can enter to win a beautiful framed work of art courtesy of an artist served by the Arc of Genesee Orleans. Admission is free.

For more informatiom, contact Shelley Falitico at 343-4203 or visit arcgo.org

The Warrior House of Western NY Gun Raffle/Chinese Auction and Spaghetti Dinner will be held starting at 1 p.m. on Satruday, April 7, at Ascension Parish Hall. It is located at 17 Sumner St., Batavia (formerly the Sacred Heart Social Center).

Must be 18 to win prizes and must be able to pass NICS check. Warrior House is not responsible for NICS outcome.

For more information, contact Edward Spence at (716) 560-0697.

The event will last until all prizes are awarded.

They are:

1) Stevens 301 20 ga. shotgun

2) $75 cash

3) Savage A22, 22 long rifle

4) Mossberg 500 20 ga.

5) $100 cash

6) Savage 93-22 mag

7) $125 cash

8) Thompson Center Triumph 50 cal.

9) Winchester 94 Trooper 100 anniversary 30/30

10) $150 cash

11) Springfield Armory M1A 308 Winchester

12) Windjm AR-15 .223/5.56

13) Chiappa M19 9 mm carbine

14) $200 cash

15) Savage Axis II 30.06

Press release:

The HomeCare & Hospice Foundation is gearing up for its 24^th Annual Spring Bouquet Flower Sale, a fundraiser held every March to benefit members of our community facing medical difficulties.

Proceeds from these vivacious yet inexpensive bouquet sales will benefit terminally ill hospice patients and their families throughout Allegany, Cattaraugus, Genesee and Wyoming counties, who will also receive free bouquets complements of HomeCare & Hospice and Western New Yorkers like you. Proceeds will also support services for the frail, elderly, disabled and those recovering from advanced illness.

A traditional bouquet, consisting of nine vibrant floral stems, is an $8 donation while the larger, more lavish Bouquet of Hope, consisting of 18 floral stems, is a $15 donation.

Bouquet orders can be placed at all HomeCare & Hospice offices, online here, and through hundreds of volunteers at workplaces in communities served by HomeCare & Hospice, or by contacting Ellen Brokaw at 585-343-7596 or emailing her at ebrokaw@homecare-hospice.org.

“Last year we raised over $16,000 to benefit our patients,” said Nick O’Keefe, development coordinator for HomeCare & Hospice. “It truly is a wonderful and easy way to benefit the community, and bring Spring to life in Western New York.”

Orders are now being accepted and should be placed by Feb. 7^th. The bouquets will then be delivered during the week of March 5^th. A free delivery service will be provided for those ordering at least four bouquets. Others may choose one of five HomeCare & Hospice regional offices for pickup.

HomeCare & Hospice, a nonprofit United Way agency, provides specialized medical care and social/emotional support for patients and families coping with life-limiting illness in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Genesee and Wyoming counties.

Say "I love you" with a special homemade treat! The Batavia Career and Technical Education Center's Culinary Arts Club will host a pop-up bakeshop from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10.

Handmade scones, cherry pies, cookies, cakes and baked goods of all assortments will be for sale! 

This pop-up shop will be held in the Culinary Arts Dining Room at the Batavia Career and Technical Education Center. The center is located at 8250 State Street Road, Batavia. Use side door 71 and find room a-124-B.

Any questions may be directed to Chef Tracy Burgio at (585) 344-7795 or tburgio@gvboces.org.

This event is open to the public.

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The Batavia Career and Technical Education Center is a program of the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership. The Partnership operates as a Board of Cooperative Educational Services providing shared programs and services to 22 component school districts located in Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston and Steuben counties in New York state.

Press release:

GO ART! is offering the opportunity to participate in the Second Annual Juried Show. The theme is "ELEMENTAL." You can interpret it any way you would like. Any Media. No larger than 3'x3'.

Submissions will be accepted March 1-3.

The exhibit will hang from March 8 - May 5. The reception will be held on March 15, 6-8 p.m. Cash awards will be distributed at that time.

The awards will be based on the amount received from the submission fees.

GO ART! Members may submit up to 5 works for $30. $5 for each additional piece.
Non-members may submit up to 3 works for $30. $5 for each additional piece.

Contracts may be found at www.goart.org/galleries

Press release:

Part of the Y’s charitable mission is the philosophy that we never turn away someone with an inability to pay for membership or programs. To that end, we raise funds annually through the Strong Communities Campaign to help subsidize scholarships for youths, teens, adults, families and seniors in our community.

• This year’s campaign runs from Feb. 1^st  – March 31^st; 
• Our goal is to raise $45,000;
• We want to positively impact at least 800 people’s lives in the Greater Genesee Community;
• Reaching our goal will insure that children and families regardless of their socioeconomic status will have the chance to benefit from the important lessons of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility through YMCA programs and services.

We need your help! Please consider a gift to support us in achieving this goal and making our community stronger for all.

To make a gift, contact Jeff Townsend, executive director, at (585) 344-1664 or online at www.glowymca.org under the “giving” tab.

Press release:

Have you ever thought about the role of a school board? Have you considered running for a seat on your school board? The Genesee Valley School Boards Association (GVSBA) will host two informational meetings for community members to learn more about the roles, responsibilities and election process.

These meetings will be held on March 7 at the Charles G. May Center, 27 Lackawanna Ave. in Mount Morris, and March 14 at the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership, 80 Munson St. in Le Roy. Registration is required; please sign up with your school district board clerk by Feb. 16. Both sessions will run from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Pizza will be provided.

It is important for prospective members to understand that, while the board elections are held in May there are timelines regarding filing petitions that must be met. Details regarding this election process will be explained.

GVSBA Executive Director Tom Cox will present this program based on information provided by the New York State School Board Association. It is vital that prospective members understand the roles and responsibilities and expectations of the position of a board member. There are ample resources provided through various sources to help board members learn and grow.

Taking on the responsibility of a school board member is a tremendous way to serve the students and adults of your community. The time commitment is something that will also be outlined in these workshops.

For more information please contact Tom Cox, GVSBA executive director, at tcox@gvboces.org or Sandra Lee James at sljames@gvboces.org

The results are in for the 2017 Genesee County Comprehensive Housing Needs Assessment and Market Analysis. LaBella Associates will be sharing these results with the public at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 7, at the Old Courthouse, Third Floor, 7 Main St., Batavia.

No reservations necessary.

Attendance may qualify for 1 hour of training credit for planning and zoning board members.

Questions may be directed to Felipe A. Oltramari, director, GC Department of Planning, 815-7901, Felipe.Oltramari@co.genesee.ny.us

Press release:

Please plan to join us for an evening of famous St. James desserts! The church’s Outreach Committee is hosting the first “Just Desserts” event: an evening of sweets and treats to raise funds in support of Community Health and Education for Rural Africa foundation (CHERA).

This project will encourage self-sufficiency through the development of a community maize milling cooperative. 

Press release:

The Batavia Police Department announced on Thursday that it has joined the SafeTrade initiative for safer completion of online transactions.

SafeTrade is a simple program for police and sheriff’s departments to encourage transactions at their facilities; for classified sites to strengthen their safety and security initiatives, and for users to insist on “SafeTrade” by conducting their transactions only at a local police or sheriff’s office.

The Batavia Police Department is excited to partner with SafeTrade to provide a safe location for the residents of Batavia when conducting online transactions. Our goal is to make Batavia a safe community, and to provide unique services to attain that goal. Partnering with SafeTrade is one of those programs. 

The SafeTrade logo can be used (without charge) on any ads posted; by classified websites, newspapers and publications to promote safety and security, and by police departments to indicate they are hosting SafeTrade online transactions.

In the past few months, a number of U.S. police departments have offered to host online transactions, most of them referring to Craigslist as the reason. Participating police departments can now post banners or use logos referring to their facilities as SafeTrade Stations.

Additional information is available at www.safetradestations.com.

Press release:

The 2018-19 school year is fast approaching. Byron-Bergen families with children who have turned 4 or 5 years of age by Dec. 1, 2018 should register them for Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) or kindergarten as soon as possible.

Universal PreK Registration

The Byron-Bergen School District hopes to once again offer a half-day Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) program for the 2018-19 school year. The class will be held at the Byron-Bergen Elementary School, which is located at 6971 W. Bergen Road, Bergen.

Students eligible for the program must have turned 4 years of age by Dec. 1, 2018. If you have a child eligible and are interested in having him/her attend our UPK program, please send a letter of interest by Friday, April 6 with your child’s name, parents’ names, address, phone number, and date of birth to: Brian Meister, Elementary School Principal, 6971 W. Bergen Road, Bergen, NY 14416, by Friday, April 6.

Parents who have already contacted the Elementary School by phone will still need to send in a letter to be eligible for UPK. Please note that if we receive more than our allowed capacity, we will select students using a lottery system.

What are the program goals of UPK at Byron-Bergen?

To meet the NYS learning standards by using a curriculum that is thematically-based and supported using literature, songs and exploration.
To foster an environment that promotes happy, confident children who are willing to take risks, make independent choices, and ask questions.
To create an inclusive community that builds upon the student’s strengths and accommodates his/her needs.

Philosophy of UPK

The UPK program at Byron-Bergen is focused on socialization, learning through play, and self-exploration. Children learn through a hands-on learning environment that includes activities, learning centers, concrete materials, and manipulatives. Students learn through a nurturing environment that is enriching, challenging and developmentally appropriate.

Kindergarten Registration

Children who are 5 years of age, on or before Dec. 1, 2018, are eligible for entrance to kindergarten in September of 2018. New families in the school district should notify the school if they have a child that will enter kindergarten in September of 2018.

Parents may contact the Byron-Bergen Elementary School Office by calling 494-1220, ext. 1301. Information may also be sent to the Byron-Bergen Elementary School, 6971 W. Bergen Road, Bergen, NY 14416.

All children registering for Kindergarten will be scheduled for a screening appointment this summer. The results of this screening will be used to plan for the 2018-19 Kindergarten Program.

The following items are necessary to complete the registration process:

1.       Your child’s Birth Certificate;

2.       Certificate of Immunization—New York State law requires that every child entering school must have received a minimum of five doses of diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine (DPT) and four doses of polio (IPV) vaccine, two doses of MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), three doses of Hepatitis B, and two doses of varicella (chickenpox). Those children born on or after 1/1/2008 must have four doses of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV). Their immunizations must be completed prior to entering school;

3.       Proof of Residency—If this is the first time you have a child entering Byron-Bergen Central School District, please bring proof of residency to your screening appointment. This can be a copy of your mortgage statement, rental/lease agreement or a copy of your tax bill.

Press release:

The Village of Alexander will be hosting a public meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb 1, at the Alexander Rec Hall. The purpose of this meeting is to inform the public about plans for the possible replacement of the entire village water system.

Anyone receiving water from the Village of Alexander is encouraged to attend.

The Rec Hall is located at 10708 Alexander Road (Route 98), Attica.

Press release:

The BEST (Business and Employee Skills Training) Center at Genesee Community College has released its SAT Prep course schedule. The SAT Prep course is designed to prepare students for the English and Math components of the SAT exam.

The course familiarizes students with the format of the exam and provides practice using questions similar to those that will appear on the SAT. In preparation for the English component, course participants will practice critical reading, sentence completion, grammar usage and writing. The Math component practice will focus on pre-algebra, algebra and geometry.

The SAT Prep course costs $149 per participant, which includes the course prep textbook. Participants are required to bring their own calculators.

The BEST Center will offer the SAT Prep course at three locations this year -- Warsaw, Lima and Dansville. Each course will consist of six sessions totaling 18 hours. Participants are encouraged to sign up now for one of the following courses:

GCC's Warsaw Campus Center -- 115 Linwood Ave, Warsaw

Thursday evenings beginning March 1 through April 5 from 6 - 9 p.m.

Register for this session by Feb. 22.

GCC's Lima Campus Center -- 7285 Gale Road, Lima

Tuesday evenings beginning March 20 through May 1 from 6 - 9 p.m.

Register for this session by March 13.

GCC's Dansville Campus Center -- 31 Clara Barton St., Dansville

Thursday evenings beginning April 26 through May 31 from 6 - 9 p.m.

Register for this session by April 19.

To register for any of the SAT Prep courses, please visit www.bestcenter.org or call (585) 345-6868.

Press release:

Tickets are still available for the 16th Annual Celebrate Agriculture Dinner! The dinner will take place Saturday, March 17 at the Alexander Fire Hall. Doors open at 6 p.m. This event is a celebration of Genesee County’s number-one industry – Agriculture.

The highlight is a delicious meal prepared by Penna’s Catering using locally produced foods.

The dinner is open to the public. Tickets can be purchased at the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce (8276 Park Road, Batavia) for $30 each. A table of 10 can be purchased for $275.  Sponsorships are available for $350 which help to support agriculture educational events in Genesee County. Tickets will not be sold at the door.

The Celebrate Ag Dinner is coordinated by the following partners: Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County, Genesee County Farm Bureau and Genesee County Soil & Water Conservation District. Many local farms and businesses sponsor or donate products to this event.

For ticket information contact the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce at 585-343-7440 or email chamber@geneseeny.com.

Press release:

The Pavilion Republican Committee is seeking civic-minded individuals interested in serving as Town Supervisior or Council Person for the Town of Pavilion.

If you have questions or if you are interested in running, please send a letter of intent by Feb. 1 to: Town of Pavilion Republican Committee, c/o Kevin Clary, Box 28, Pavilion, NY 14525 or email kevron1@frontiernet.net.

Asteria String Quartet presents "First Viennese Valentine's" with music from the First Viennese School -- Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven -- on Saturday Feb. 3 at the Dibble Family Center in Batavia.

The chamber recital starts at 7 p.m.

Beforehand, starting at 6 p.m., the quartet will serenade you as you enjoy special hors d'oeuvres, cash bar and also non-alcoholic beverages.

Musicians for the evening are: Kiran Rajamani -- violin; Leighann Howland -- violin; Evie Boughton -- viola; and Shade Zajac -- cello.

Tickets are: $20 per guest; $35 for two guests; $15 for senior citizens.

The Dibble Family Center is located at 4120 W. Main Street Road.

This event is sponsored by Roxy's Music Store, The YNGodess Shop, and the Genesee Symphony Orchestra (www.geneseesymphony.com).