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Michael A. Fricano, 85, passed away Sept. 22, 2011 at the New York State Veterans Home in Batavia.

He was born on Aug. 5, 1926 in Batavia, New York, to the late Joseph and Concetta (Boncinello) Fricano.

Mr. Fricano attended Batavia High School and a became journeyman printer working for the Democrat & Chronicle/Times Union newspaper. He was a member of Ascension Parish -- St. Anthony’s Church, the Holy Name Society, Our Lady of Loreto Society and life member of the former St. Nicholas Club.

Mr. Fricano was a World War II veteran and member of the VFW. He loved to golf and recorded a hole-in-one, and he was an avid outdoorsman who loved to fish.

He is preceded in death by brothers Anthony, Sam and Joseph Fricano; and sisters Rose Patri and Carrie Germaine.

He is survived by his loving wife Pauline B. (LaRussa) Fricano; sons Michael J. (Joan), of Amherst; Gerald A. (Catherine) of Fairport; Paul V. (Vera) of North Chili; Patrick J. (Theresa) Fricano of Houston, Texas; sister-in-law Katherine Fricano of Lockport; 13 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren along with several nieces and nephews.

Friends are invited to call on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Gilmartin Funeral Home & Cremation Company, 329-333 W. Main St. in Batavia.

Prayers will be recited at the funeral home at 9 a.m. on Monday September 26, 2011 followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. at Ascension Parish -- St. Anthony’s Church, 122 Liberty St., Batavia.

Entombment will take place at St. Joseph’s Mausoleum in Batavia.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the New York State Veterans Home Activities Fund, 220 Richmond Ave. Batavia, NY 14020 or to St. Anthony’s Church, 122 Liberty St. Batavia, NY 14020.

For more information or to sign the online guest registry please visit
www.gilmartinfuneralhome.com or call 585-343-8260. Arrangements completed by Gilmartin Funeral Home & Cremation Company, Inc. 329-333 W. Main St., Batavia, NY 14020.

Tonight's seventh race at Batavia Downs Casino, the Open Trot, is named in honor of a great lady that Western New York harness racing fans won’t soon forget. Live racing programs will feature a special insert highlighting some of Mary Ann Sarama-Luce’s harness racing career.

The Mary Ann Sarama-Luce Memorial Trot will be in recognition of a great mother, person, horseman and friend to so many in Western New York. She passed away in July after a long battle with leukemia. She was 73.

Mary Ann was introduced into the business when she met Danny Sarama in the late 1960s. From that point, she and Danny teamed up to own the successful Mardan stable, that included the pacer You Devil You, who won 10 races in a row in 1976.

In the early 1980s, after separating from Danny, she continued on as both a trainer and a driver. Her best year as a driver came in 1983 when she won 21 races. Throughout her driving career she won 109 races. In 1990 she turned the lines over to her son, Carl Surdyk.

On the training side, she conditioned 107 winners, including four this year. Her purse earnings exceeded $334,000. Some of the top horses she trained included Gold Bandit N, Top Dog Alex, Top Dog Nicholas, Easy L-Bar and Guy-Lee Debbie.

Harness racing was her number-one priority and passion,” her daughter Lynette Mcgiveron said. “Her horses were the driving force behind her battle to recover. Even in her final days she worried more about her horses then herself."

"A fierce competitor both as a trainer and a driver,” was the best way Bruce Tubin, president of the Western New York Harness Horsemen's Association, described Mary Ann. “I have fond memories competing against and working with her. She’ll be missed by all."

This information is from Cheri Kolb.

The Batavia Music and Arts Advocacy Group (B-MAA) met Wednesday evening at the GO ART! building on Main Street in Downtown Batavia.

Some points of discussion at this meeting were who we are as a group and our purpose. There was discussion focusing around the possible consolidation of the Batavia Elementary School buildings and how these changes could affect the arts programs within the school district.

We are working to format a plan of action to bring awareness to the community, reach out to the Batavia Board of Education as well as the administration, and engage in advocacy efforts at concerts and school events.

Our next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, again at the GO ART! building.

We invite and encourage anyone who has a love and passion for the arts to join us. If you have any ideas, suggestions, or information you would like to share with our group please feel free to email us at artsadvocacy14020yahoo.com

There will be a FREE violin concert, featuring violinist Kim Angelis, at the Homestead Event Centre on Friday, Sept. 30. The venue is inside the Batavia Country Mall.

This is an event for families and kids looking for inspiration to start playing the violin (as well as just music lovers).

The concert starts at 7:30 p.m.

For more information, contact Roxy's Music at 343-7222.

This information is from a press release:

Dog Crazy Daycare & Spa is a new cage-free facility opening Oct. 3 in Batavia where dogs get to run around and play with toys, each other or just chill on a bed. They will also get lots of love from caring staff that are of constant supervision to give your dogs a safe place to stay while your away.

Our staff is knowledgable with expertise in kennel management, dog rescue, certified training, grooming, and other skill sets that ensure your dogs' utmost safety at our facility.

Daycare is a great training tool. Socializing with other dogs and staff will give your pet an opportunity to get exercise, learn proper social skills and gain confidence. This will result in a happier and healthier dog, and allow them to direct their energy toward good behaviors. We offer both full- and partial- daycare. Drop off starts are 7 a.m. and pick up by 6 p.m.

We will also be offering full-service grooming. Set up an appointment to have the “Works”: bath, blow dry, haircut, and nail trim. Or just bring them in for a nail trim. Other services that will be offered are having your dog’s ear hairs plucked and cleaned and having anal glands expressed.

Dog obedience training services will be offered by a certified dog trainer and a doggie boutique will be opening by the beginning of 2012.

Owners Jen & Melissa are eager to see you stop in and say hello. Pamper your pooch and enjoy our modern services to help your pets remain happy and healthy!

We are located at 1 Mill St. in the City of Batavia. Phone Melissa at 752-4916 or, for grooming appointments, call Jen at 781-0198.

For rates and more information please visit our website at www.dogcrazydaycare.com

"Nature's Spirit: Large Format Nature Landscape Photography" is the title of an exhibit on display at GO ART! in Downtown Batavia from now through Oct. 28.

The works are by Albion resident Walter Jakubowski. There are 16 images primarily inspired by nature in the Adirondack region. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and by appointment. The address is 201 E. Main St.

Jakubowski is a native of Wellsville and is a lifelong resident of Western New York. He says his scholastic studies concentrated on math, science and music but in his spare time he explored various visual artistic media.

After graduating from Alfred State College with a degree in Engineering Science, he briefly attended Alfred University and studied painting and photography.

"The first part of my professional career was spent in the world of corporate design engineering," he writes in a press release. "The last 16 years of this career I changed 'hats' so to speak utilizing my artistic talents working as an industrial design sculptor.

"I created virtual products with 3D surface modeling computer software. As much as I enjoyed this work, I was sculpting forms in a collaborative effort to the satisfaction of the industrial designer. This did not fulfill my creative needs. Photography has been a personal pursuit for my last 36 years."

He says he spent many frustrating hours in the darkroom limited by what can be achieved there, then his interest in the medium was rekindled several years ago with the advent of digital scanning and digital darkroom technologies.

"I now have the tools to bring my visions to fruition," he said.

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,I,C – Batavia) recently announced the overwhelming response to this year’s Summer Reading Challenge. Students from all over the region participated, spending their vacation honing both their reading skills and their minds.

“The students in our area certainly made good use of their time off this summer,” Hawley said. “Children in communities like Albion, Medina, Holley Pavilion, Hilton, Brockport, Batavia and
more learned firsthand the joys of reading this summer.

"Their participation makes the Summer Reading Challenge such a gratifying program, and I thank them for joining me in promoting the joy of literature.”

Children that read for 40 days over the summer wil receive a New York State Assembly “Excellence in Reading” certificate from Assemblyman Hawley.