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Press release:

The second annual Darien Lake Baseball Tournament Series scheduled for June is expected to draw more than 160 teams from across the Northeast and Canada to Genesee County. Each of the first four weekends in June will feature competition between different school-age club baseball teams at a number of local facilities.

The 10 & 11 Under teams kick off the series on June 1-2, with the 14 & Under teams scheduled for June 8-10. The series wraps up with the 12, 13, & 15 Under teams on June 15-17 and the 16 & 18 Under teams on June 22-24.
 
Tournament coordinator Neal Turvey, of Pitch 'n' Hit Events, is excited to build on last year's momentum to create an ongoing "don't miss" event for each of the teams that attend.

"This series features a variety of teams with a high level of competition at quality facilities," Turvey said. "We want each team to have a great experience and walk away already planning to attend next year. We've worked very closely with the Town of Batavia, local school districts, and parks to secure enough facilities that we are able to keep the entire event in Genesee County."
 
Tom Lichtenthal of the Town of Batavia has been instrumental in the planning process through coordinating field locations and layouts as well as connecting the dots between the tourism department of the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce and Pitch 'n' Hit events to ensure that local hotels and attractions are prepared to welcome the influx of visitors.
 
"We're excited to see the economic impact of this event, especially as it's grown from last year," Lichtenthal said. "Events like this are instrumental in showcasing the Town of Batavia and Genesee County as a destination for sporting events and tournaments. The Batavia hotel base and number of sporting facilities across the county make us a great place to host an event."
 
Tournament attendees will arrive in Genesee County each Friday to register and check in at Darien Lake Theme & Water Park who has signed on to sponsor the event.

"We're happy to have Darien Lake back for a second year of sponsorship," Turvey said. "They're a great fit for the event and we appreciate their continued support."
 
For more information and a full tournament schedule visit:  http://www.pitchnhitevents.com

Volunteers for Animals are pleased to announce new co-vice presidents.

Brenda Cromwell and Andre Miller will be sharing the duties, which include assisting Secretary Sylvia Dimick, fundraising, and maintaining VFA Facebook.

Appointed by Kathie Barnard, president, Rich Pearson, treasurer, and Mrs. Dimick, Andre and Brenda fill the vacant vice-president position.
 
The appointments are effective immediately and extend through general elections in November 2013.

Volunteers For Animals is collecting returnable pop/beer/water cans and bottles to help raise money for the animals.

Bring in your empties and we will return them for you. Or you can take them directly to Rob’s Bottle and Can at 214 Ellicott St. in Batavia (Hours are M-F 9-5 and Saturday 9-2) OR Eastown Beverages on East Main Street in Batavia.

In Le Roy, Le Roy Redemption Center at 8 1/2 Lake St. (Route 19) will accept empties for VFA.

Just tell them that they are for Volunteers For Animals and they will do the rest! All of the money collected from the deposits will go directly toward helping the animals at the shelter.

RSVP of Genesee County held its 27th Annual Recognition Event earlier this month. The following winners attended:

Gold Award Winners (500+ Hours)

Edward Corcoran -- 1,932

Donna Rhodes -- 1,239

Emerson Campbell -- 956

Diane Baker -- 826

Maureen Adams -- 803

Beverly Corcoran -- 796

Judith Ridley -- 792

Ray Luzier -- 779

William Parker -- 701

Vernon Rupert -- 605

Rita Hartrick -- 576

Silver Award Winners (250-499 Hours)

Carolyn Dain -- 449

Betty Luperino -- 430

Caroline Weber -- 414

Merrill Weber -- 404

William Haubrick -- 374

Sharon Ziomek -- 373

Anita Rynkowski -- 369

Timothy Richter -- 336

Joanne Muller -- 331

MaryAnn Silvernail -- 314

Pamela Ware -- 284

Vicki Becker -- 284

Joan Wood -- 281

Jennie Starowitz -- 280

Lucille Haubrick -- 275

Robert Eick -- 272

Anne Rupert -- 266

Bronze Award Winners (100-249 Hours)

Sylvia Traxler -- 246

Wayne Judkins -- 243

Loren Adams -- 239

Joan Fluker -- 238

Anne Barone -- 235

MaryFran Pietrzykowski -- 233

Florence Ziarko -- 233

Wallace Kornow -- 205

Kathleen Martin -- 201

Kathryn Wickson -- 190

Edna Wenhold -- 186

Jeanette DiSanto -- 185

Anita Dziekan -- 166

Allan Grehlinger -- 163

Regina Abdella -- 156

Genevieve Mahoney -- 148

Jeanne Graber -- 148

Helen Heale -- 138

Catherine Judkins -- 132

Marjorie Morse -- 129

Opal Phelps -- 128

Tina Kornow -- 128

Jane Grehlinger -- 122

Rita Sidari -- 117

Richard Neth -- 117

Agnes Redinger -- 115

Richard vonBergen -- 113

Janet Luzier -- 110

Terry Weber -- 103

Melanie H. Mosher, of Batavia, was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa Society, the national academic honor society at a ceremony May 18 at Valparaiso University at Valparaiso, Ind.
        
Mosher was graduated summa cum laude from Valparaiso University in December 2011 with a bachelor of arts degree in History and German. She also excelled in the academically challenging curriculum of Christ College, Valparaiso University’s honors college, graduating with its top honors distinction.

Mosher is a 2007 graduate of Alexander High School where she was salutatorian of her class. She studied for two years at Hamburg and Reutlingen, Germany. Mosher is the daughter of Roger and Sherry Mosher, of Batavia.

According to the society, "Only about 1 percent of the arts and sciences graduates in the United States are elected to Phi Beta Kappa membership.” The society added, “The ideal Phi Beta Kappa has demonstrated intellectual integrity, tolerance for other views, and a broad range of academic interests.”

Since inception, 17 U.S. Presidents, 37 U.S. Supreme Court Justices, 1 NFL MVP, 1 Heisman Trophy winner, and 136 Nobel Laureates have been inducted members.

Its mission is to "celebrate and advocate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences" and induct "the most outstanding students of arts and sciences at America’s leading colleges and universities." Founded at The College of William and Mary on Dec. 5, 1776, as the first collegiate Greek-letter fraternity, it is also the oldest honor society for the liberal arts and sciences and among the oldest undergraduate societies in the United States.

Press release:

Officials at Western Regional Off-Track (WROTB), the owner of Batavia Downs Casino announced that wagering handle on the Preakness Stakes was the public benefit corporation's third best ever totaling $920,192. This represented a 3-percent increase over last year. WROTB saw a 16-percent increase on the Kentucky Derby.

It’s been 34 years since "Affirmed" won the Triple Crown in 1978, and not since "Big Brown" in 2008 has there been a horse that has had a chance to win thoroughbred racings elusive Triple Crown. KY Derby and Preakness winner, I’ll Have Another will attempt to become only the 12^th Triple Crown Winner in history.

“I’ll Have Another” has been most impressive, said Todd Haight, OTB’s handicapper and the GM of Batavia Downs Racetrack.

“Not only was he the first horse to ever win from post position 19 in the Derby, but he followed that with gutsy effort in the Preakness when he ran down favored 'Bodemeister' in the final yards," Haight said. "He’s made a believer out of me.”

Western OTB expects big crowds for the 144th Belmont Stakes at its OTB branches, EZ- Bet locations and at America’s oldest lighted harness track, Batavia Downs Casino, on June 9. All OTB branches will open at 11 a.m. on Belmont Stakes Day. Advance wagering on the final jewel of the Triple Crown begins on June 8.

Details on giveaways and radio events at local OTBs and Batavia Downs Casino will be available on visit www.westernotb.com the week of the race.

Press release:

Employees at Genesee Community College once again demonstrated their generous spirit with donations that went beyond expectations during the annual United Way fund drive. Pledges from GCC employees totaled more than $20,000!

Money raised during the two-week campaign provides valuable resources the United Way of Genesee County uses to make a demonstrable difference in solving and preventing the area's most critical social problems. Donors can designate funds to a particular group or agency, or allow it to be pooled with other donations to help member agencies such as All Babies Cherished, the Salvation Army and HomeCare and Hospice provide needed programs and assistance.

Students also had a hand in the generous donation with their annual Ducky Derby. In the month of March, the students' poolside fundraiser collected more than $2,000 by selling numbered rubber ducks that were placed in GCC's pool for a special "race" via a current created by members of the college's swim team, which helped bring the total raised by GCC to $20,102.

To learn more about the United Way of Genesee, visit: http://www.uwgeneseecounty.org/

Press release:

Two members of the Genesee Community College Men's Lacrosse Team have been honored as 2012 All-Americans selections.

Sophomore attackman Connor Latimer (Whitby, Ontario, Canada) was named an NJCAA First Team All-American and sophomore midfielder Spencer Halliwell-Allen (St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada) was named to the second team.

Latimer, a Second Team All-American selection last season and a preseason All-American coming into this season, was also named to the All-Region first team and All-Conference first team this year. He recorded 118 points in 19 games this season, including a school record 66 goals. He finishes his GCC career holding the records for most goals in a single game with nine, most points in a single game with 14 and most career points with 217.

"Connor is a true scorer. Getting a player with his talent really helped put our program on the map," said GCC Assistant Coach Derek Hoover. "He is a hard worker and is always looking to get better. He was a great leader for us this year as a captain and was always looking to get the best from his teammates."

Halliwell-Allen led the nation in assists by a midfielder with 47, the seventh highest total by any position player in all of the NJCAA. He scored 72 total points which was tied for the 13th most in the country.

"For me, Spencer was one of the best midfielders in the country this year. In two years, he became the total package. He is mature, a leader, has high character and developed his game with hard work every day," Hoover said.

Halliwell-Allen was also named to the All-Conference first team and the All-Region first team this year.

The Cougars finished the season with a 15-4 record. They were Western New York Athletic Conference Champions, reached the Region III Tournament Final Four and advanced to the NJCAA National Tournament for the second consecutive season.

Genesee Community College athletics program endeavors to provide a quality and competitive intercollegiate athletics program consistent with the National Junior Collegiate Athletics Association (NJCAA) philosophy and the overall educational mission of Genesee Community College.

Participation in collegiate athletics should be an extension of the total educational experience for the student athlete. The inherent philosophy emphasizes the athletic setting as a classroom used to teach character, commitment, work ethic, respect for differences, and the importance of sacrifice, teamwork, and cooperation.

For further information and pictures go to Genesee's Athletic webpage, which is updated regularly with game results, team rosters, photographs and information about Genesee's overall athletic program. http://www.genesee.edu/athletics

Press release:

The YWCA of Genesee County and Porter Farms are partnering to bring locally grown certified-organic produce to the community.

Anyone can buy a membership through the YWCA for the Community-Supported Agriculture Community Outreach Program. The cost is $330 per membership, and the cost and the produce can be split among families. The cost amounts to less than $1.60 per pound of produce.

Members receive 22 weeks of fresh, organic produce through the growing season. Produce distribution begins in late June and runs through the end of November.

The pick-up site is the YWCA building at 301 North St. in the City of Batavia from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sundays.

For every 15 new memberships signed up through the YWCA, Porter Farms will donate one membership to a family in need.

For more information or to sign up, call the YWCA at 343-5808 or provide your name and phone number to the Y via email at <YWCA_of_Genesee_County_Inc@mail.vresp.com>