Stories from

The Batavia Muckdogs and New York’s 529 College Savings Program Direct Plan have announced that they are partnering together with an essay contest for local students and children.

The goal of the essay contest is to have kids submit an original 100-word essay on the topic of "What would you like to be when you grow up?"

The Batavia Muckdogs front office staff will read over all entries, selecting the three most compelling submissions. The three winners and their parents/guardians will then receive complementary tickets to the Sunday, Sept. 2, Muckdogs’ home game at 5:05 p.m.

In addition to receiving a free ticket, the winners will receive a back-to-school backpack with supplies, courtesy of New York’s 529 College Savings Program Direct Plan. The three selected winners will also have the opportunity to throw out the honorary first pitches for the game. 
 
Eligibility: The contest is open to all children who attend a school in the local communities surrounding Batavia. This includes schools in Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston, Monroe, Orleans, Erie, and Niagara counties.
 
Contest Period: Students may enter submissions until Aug. 19. At that point, the Batavia Muckdogs front office staff will begin reading submissions and select the three winners.
 
How to Enter: To enter, participants must submit their essay (100 words) either by mailing it to Dwyer Stadium or dropping it off at the stadium in person.

The mailing address is: Dwyer Stadium, 299 Bank Street, Batavia, NY.

Along with the essay submission, we ask that participants include their: full name; school; date of birth; and telephone number.
 
If there are any questions in regards to this contest feel free to contact the Muckdogs front office staff at (585)-343-5454. Also feel free to check out New York’s 529 College Savings Program Direct Plan at www.ny529plan.com <http://www.ny529plan.com.

Press release:

The necessity for education to procure a job in our society has grown immensely over the recent years and the need for an edge in learning is essential. Preschool is becoming a highly desired pursuit of many parents with the future of their children at the heart of their decision making process.

Genesee Christian Academy, a ministry of Calvary Baptist Church on the Galloway Road, is offering K3 through K5 classes this fall. We will be offering half day, full day and extended day options depending on your desires and needs.

Genesee Christian Academy, with 37 years of educational experience is well qualified to foster your children’s educational experience. They are using a phonetics-based learning system, with the highest national accreditation, which allows your student to gain a solid foundation on which to build an education.

The compassionate staff has the success and well being of your child at heart.

Give a call today for an appointment and interview with a staff that is ready to accommodate you. Openings are limited.

The church office phone is 344-1898.

Two local residents have reserved places as freshmen at SUNY Oswego. Fall classes will begin Aug. 27. They are:

Olivia Griep, of South Street Road in Le Roy (Pavilion Central School).
Connor Clark, of Junction Road in Pavilion (Pavilion Central School).

Also, Katherine Hilburger, of Elba, who last studied at Niagara University, will begin her studies at SUNY Oswego.

Admission to SUNY Oswego is competitive. U.S. News named it among the "Top Public Regional Universities in the North" for 2012, the Princeton Review and USA Today named SUNY Oswego to their 2012 list of 150 "best value" colleges and universities in the nation, and the Princeton Review included Oswego in its 2012 college guidebook "The Best Northeastern Colleges."

A 151-year-old comprehensive college in the State University of New York system, Oswego enrolls more than 8,000 students in its College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; School of Business; School of Communication, Media and the Arts; and School of Education.

Press release:

Local residents and the American Red Cross will join together for a “Community That Cares” blood drive from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 2, at the Clarion Hotel at 8250 Park Road in Batavia.

The blood drive is a Red Cross initiative to help engage local citizens and boost regional blood supplies by enlisting community support.

All presenting donors during the month of August will receive a coupon for a free 57.6 oz. container of any variety of Turkey Hill SunBrew Iced Tea. Additionally, all presenting donors will receive a flier for Bob Evans restaurant in Batavia. For all donors who visit this restaurant on Aug. 2 and redeem the flier, Bob Evans will donate 15 percent of their total bill to the American Red Cross Blood Services.

With extreme heat keeping some donors at home and severe storms forcing the cancellation of dozens of blood drives earlier in the month, the Red Cross continues to have an emergency need for donors of all blood types. Red Cross blood donations are at the lowest they have been in 15 years.

Public support from the organization’s late-June appeal helped temporarily stop a decline in the blood supply. However, the mid-week Independence Day and extreme summer weather have contributed to a decrease in donations lately. Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood.

As the nation’s single largest supplier of blood and blood products, the Red Cross is dedicated to ensuring that every patient who needs a lifesaving transfusion is able to receive one. In fact, the Red Cross must collect more than 17,000 pints of blood each day to meet the needs of patients at more than 3,000 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country.

It is the blood on the shelves today that helps save lives tomorrow. The American Red Cross is urging all eligible donors to help keep the blood supply strong this summer by making an appointment to donate blood today by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767 ) or by visiting redcrossblood.org.

Press release:

Current Ca Ching went gate-to-wire and held off the challenges of Go Jesse Go and the favored Kash N Credit to win the $9,000 Open Trot at Batavia Downs Friday night.

Leaving off the two-hole, Current Ca Ching ($7.40) went the mile in 1:59.1 after posting fractions of :28.3, :57.4 and 1:28 for winning driver Keith Kash Jr.

It was a blanket finish as Current Ca Ching was able to hold off the late charge of pocket sitting Go Jesse Go, who was beaten by quarter of a length at the wire. Kash N Credit, who was parked the entire mile, lost by just a length and a quarter.

It was the seventh win of the season of Current Ca Ching and second in his last three starts. Current Ca Ching is owned by Rocco Stebbins, of Rochester, and trained by Ron Stebbins.

Shawn Gray notched a three-bagger on the night while four drivers all scored doubles, Kevin Cummings, Ray Fisher Jr., Jim McNeight and Keith Kash Jr.

Darrin Monti and Bob Gruber III each had a double on the training side.

Tonight's the kick-off of the 2012 Batavia Downs stakes season when three-year-old trotting fillies taking center stage in three divisions of the New York Sires Stakes. Post is 6:25 p.m. for the 14-race program.

Also carded this evening are five divisions of th Excelsior Series, with each worth more than $12,000.

Racing fans unable to attend the races can watch the all the action from Batavia Downs via streaming video at www.bataviadownscasino.com. Simply click on the “Live Racing” section and then on the “Video” link.

Press release:

Three-year-old trotting fillies will square off in three divisions to open the local New York Sire Stake season on Saturday night, July 28 at Batavia Downs Casino. Post time will be at 6:25 p.m.

The first Saturday night of the annual summer-fall meet will also feature five Excelsior Series divisions, with each division worth more than $12,000.

The New York Sire Stakes will begins in race two, in which $43,980 will be up for grabs. The Credit Winner--Pacific Legacy filly Lima Playmate will start at 5-2 on the morning line for the connections of Ray Schnittker and Lima Playmate Stables.

Lima Playmate ($225,891) will get the services of Steve Smith. Regular driver Ray Schnittker will be at bit tied up, he’s will be at The Meadowlands preparing his world champion filly Check Me Out for the Hambletonian Oaks Eliminations.

New York Sire Stakes action will then move to race four, in which $44,780 will be on the line. The much-improved Kristens Victory (Cash Hall--Treasured Victory), who overcame post seven at Tioga Downs to score at odds of 29-1 in a division of the Tompkins-Geers, might be the filly to beat in this one.

The Karen Garland trainee has really picked up her game since going on Lasix. Owner Steve Smith, who drove her to second place finishes in New York Sire Stakes races at Monticello Raceway and Yonkers Raceway will be back in the sulky.

The last but certainly not least $43.980 New York Sire Stakes division was carded as race eight. As far as being continuous, it really doesn’t get any better with two of the top sophomore trotting fillies in the New York Sire Stakes drawing into the same division.

The Credit Winner--Meadowbranch Mary filly Fortunista will open as the favorite on the morning line at 5-2, basically due to post position; she drew the rail for owner-trainer Gilbert Garcia-Herrera and Barbara and Donald Arnstine.

Fortunista ships to Western New York on quite a form spree, having won her last four starts including New York Sire Stakes legs at Buffalo Raceway, Yonkers Raceway and Monticello Raceway. She sports season’s earnings of $172,001.

The talented Cowgirl Hall (Cash Hall--Britt’s Spirit) won’t go down without a fight. In her nine starts in 2012 she’s won five and has been second in three of them for trainer-driver “Gates” Brunet. She’s earned $144,955 this season for owners Ted Gewertz, M. H. Rosenthal and Jean and Debbie Brunet.

The Excelsior series races were carded as race one, six, 10, 11 and 12.

Racing fans unable to attend the races can watch the all the action from Batavia Downs via streaming video at www.bataviadownscasino.com <http://www.bataviadownscasino.com/> . Simply click on the “Live Racing” section and then on the “Video” link.