Stories from

The Historic Society of Elba is holding a Barn Dance and Fiddle Competition on Oct. 16 and needs to line up fiddle (violin) players so they can be practicing for the event.

Music will be from "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" by Charlie Daniels, but with a slight modification and will become "The Devil Went Down to Elba."

There has been a good response to this planned event. The Kelly Oldtimers are scheduled to perform and call the dancing. Also planned is a performance of The Ebla High School Jazz Ensemble.

Anyone wanting to be involved in the fiddle competition (young and old ) should contact Ron Komar at 585-757-2590 or ron.komar@gmail.com.

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 the Muckdogs.

The 2010 New York-Penn League All-Star roster included five players from Batavia. They were catcher Audry Perez, infielder Joey Bergman, outfielder Nicholas Longmire and pitchers Justin Edwards and Chase Reid. They played in the All-Star game Tuesday at Richmond County Ballpark in Staten Island.

Perez was an undrafted free agent signing in 2006 and has started 30 games at catcher for the Muckdogs this season. He is currently batting .333 with 44 RBI’s, which is good for 7th best in the league.

Perez has also been solid behind the plate this year and has helped guide the pitching staff to a team ERA of 3.77.

Bergman, a 33rd round pick in the 2010 draft, has been among the league leaders in hitting all season. Bergman currently ranks tenth in the league in hitting, with a .313 batting average, to go along with 8 doubles and 17 RBI’s.

Bergman primarily plays infield for the Muckdogs but was selected as the designated hitter for this year’s All-Star team.

The Cardinals selected Longmire in the 5th round of the 2010 draft out of Pacific University. As the team’s everyday centerfielder, Longmire has enjoyed a stellar rookie season. He is currently batting .286 and his 39 RBI’s is second most in the league. He also ranks in the top ten in both home runs (8) and slugging percentage (.503).

Justin Edwards is in his second year of professional baseball and was a 28th round pick in the 2009 draft. The left-hander is 3-2 with an ERA of 2.57, which puts him in the top 10 of starting pitchers this year. He has also recorded 42 strikeouts in his 49 innings of work.

St. Louis drafted Reid out of Vanderbilt University in the 41st round of the 2010 draft. Pitching primarily as a set up man, Reid is 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA. He has helped opposing batters to a .125 average, and has recorded 30 strikeouts in just 18 innings of work.

Batavia holds the third place spot in the Pinckney Division with a record of 28-21. This marks the second time in three years that the Muckdogs have sent five players to the All-Star game. The Muckdogs sent five players to the 2008 All-Star game and sent three in 2009.

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.

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.

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.

Here's a news release frome the Muckdogs.

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA – The New York-Penn League, a Class-A Short Season league established in 1939, is celebrating its 72nd consecutive season with the naming of their All-Time Team. The players, selected by an online fan ballot, represent more than 70 years of baseball greats.

Sponsored by the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA), voting got under way April 20 and concluded Aug. 1, with fans and experts from all 14 current NYPL clubs, as well as baseball fans around the world.

Most noteworthy is the inclusion of Major League Baseball’s all-time hits leader, Pete Rose, a member of the 1960 Geneva Redlegs, as the team’s second baseman. This is one of the first All-Time teams Rose has been named to after he was barred from entering the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

While Rose is not in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the team does feature several alumni now featured in Cooperstown including Robin Yount, a member of the 1973 Newark Co-Pilots, Jim Rice, from the 1971 Williamsport Red Sox, and Wade Boggs, a member of the 1976 Elmira Pioneers, at third base.

“It’s truly an honor and something I will cherish,” said Boggs of the selection. “It was my first year in professional baseball, straight out of high school, and I celebrated my 18th birthday in Elmira, New York. The entire year was a remarkable experience…a super honor.”

Representing the current stars are perennial All-Stars teammates with the New York Yankees, who started their careers together in 1991 with the Oneonta Yankees: Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte. They are joined by a pair of shutdown closers: 2003 Lowell Spinners pitcher Jonathan Papelbon and Atlanta Braves closer and 1993 Auburn Astros pitcher Billy Wagner.

“It’s a huge honor and a special honor to be named to the NYPL All-Time team, especially being named along with so many National Baseball Hall of Fame players,” said Papelbon. “[The NYPL] will always be special to me as it was my very first stop in professional baseball. I loved playing in Lowell…as it gave me a real taste of what Red Sox Nation was like. This is definitely an honor I will cherish.”

The New York-Penn League represents the first professional stop in the careers of many players. With teams in Vermont, Connecticut, Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland and Pennsylvania, the NYPL is the oldest continually-operated Class-A league in Minor League Baseball. The All-Time Team was unveiled prior to the sixth annual New York-Penn League All-Star Game on Tuesday.

“CSEA is proud to support the New York-Penn League’s All-Time team in the same year that we mark our centennial anniversary,” said CSEA President Danny Donohue. “Whether they’re all-time greats or fan favorites, these are players whose accomplishments stand the test of time.”

A complete listing of the team, along with their New York-Penn League and Major League teams, can be found by visiting CSEA at www.csealocal1000.org. For more information on the NYPL, visit www.newyork-pennleague.com.