Stories from

The Zoomobile from the Seneca Park Zoo will visit the Genesee County Park & Interpretive Nature Center on Saturday, June 4.

It will showcase critters with dry scales and slimy skin, also known as snakes, lizards and salamanders.

It will take place from 10 to 11 a.m.

Cost: $5/person, $10/family. Pre-registration is required by calling 344-1122.

The nature center is located at 11095 Bethany Center Road in East Bethany.

From 3 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 11, there will be dinner, a Chinese auction and raffles to offset the medical expenses for a Bethany firefighter battling cancer.

It's at the Bethany Fire Department Recreation Hall, located at 5253 Old Telephone Road in East Bethany.

Tickets are $15 per person. Call 356-5440 or 703-9410 for information or tickets. There will also be tickets available at the door.

The website is at http://www.bethanyvfd.com

Can you find Dewey the Dragon?

Dewey the Dragon is traveling around Batavia to spread the word to all children and families about the Summer Reading Club at Richmond Memorial Library.

Each week Dewey will travel to a different local business. Weekly clues to the places Dewey may be visiting can be found on the children’s page of the library’s website ( <http://www.batavialibrary.org/> ) or by visiting the Children’s Room.

Send us a picture of Dewey at each new weekly location via email*, Facebook, or show it to the Children’s Room staff to be entered to win weekly prize drawings. (email: kmarc@nioga.org *please put Dewey in the subject line)

Dewey moves to his new location Saturday afternoons. He will return to the Richmond Memorial Library by June 27 for the beginning of the "You are Here ... BookLand!” Summer Reading Club.

The library is located at 19 Ross St. in the City of Batavia.

The Town of Batavia Republican Committee Picnic is set for Friday June 24 and will run from 5 p.m. until dark in the Kiwanis Batavia Town Park. It is located at 3808 W. Main St. Road.

Tickets $10 for Adults, $5 for children and free for children under 5.

Tickets are available from committee members or calling or emailing Sharon at 356-5306 or sharon.09@vzw.blackberry.net

Menu includes hotdogs, macaroni salad, baked beans, chips, lemonade, coffee and assorted desserts. Entertainment will be provided by the Fraterrigo Family.

The 2011 Community Citizen Award will be made at the picnic. Many door prizes will be given out, too.

This is open to the public – everyone is encouraged to attend but please reserve your tickets.For more information, please call Kathy Jasinski 762-8239.

(About the Fraterrigo Family: Ranging in age from 6 to 13, the Fraterrigo Family children thrive ontheir love of music. Under the guidance and leadership of their mother, Stacey, they have put together a wholesome musical experience with mother/daughter harmony and instruments such as the banjo, mandolin, fiddle, guitar and upright bass. Although most of the children are being classically trained, their show consists of bluegrass, folk and traditional American music. The Fraterrigo Family has been performing publically for four years in Western New York.)

The Genesee County Agricultural Society, Inc., is holding its annual County Fair July 19-23. As part of the fair’s annual tradition there will be a Genesee County Fair Queen chosen on July 22.

The pageant is open to girls that live in Genesee County and are ages 15 to 18. They have to be in 10th, 11th or 12th grade starting the 2011-2012 school year.

For information regarding the pageant or to get an application please feel free to contact the Genesee County Fair Queen Pageant coordinator at 813-5570 or by email at vrictoriarippel@yahoo.com.

All forms must be received no later than Friday, June 24.

The 30th annual Donald R. Carroll Run/Fun Walk will be held at 5 p.m. sharp on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011 as part of the activities scheduled for the 2011 Summer in the City.

Registration will take place from 2 p.m.. until 4:50 p.m. in Jackson Square the day of the run/walk. Registration forms will be available online at doncarrollrace.com. The entry fee is $20 prior to the run/walk and $25 the day of the event.

The race/walk will start and end at Wendy's on Main Street in Batavia.

The first 200 individuals with paid registrations will receive race/walk T-shirts. A post run/walk party will be in Jackson Square following the event where participants will be treated to a chicken bbq, hot dogs, fruit, munchies, water and soda.

Friends and guests may also attend the run/walk post party by making a $5 donation. Music and dancing will also be available.

Proceeds from the run/walk will go toward Don Carroll's Toys for Kids campaign. Anyone interested in volunteering the day of the race may contact Don Carroll at donaldrcarroll@yahoo.com.

A Spring Ghost Tour is planned at the Historic Batavia Cemetery on Saturday June 4.

It will highlight the women -- "some of the finest ladies who ever graced the community."

The guided ghost walk costs $10 and includes iced tea and cookies. Tickets are available at the cemetery gate, located on Harvester Avenue, on the day of the event.

Tours begin at 2 p.m. and run every 15 minutes. The last tour begins at 4 p.m.

All proceeds benefit the cemetery.

For more information, call the history department at 344-2550, ext. 2613.

Children and teens interested in honing their soccer skills are encouraged to attend the Genesee Lancers Camp offered by New York Premiere Soccer.

It provides full-time professional, licensed coaches from around the world; primarily UEFA B licensed coaches from the United Kingdom and Ireland. NYPS also has a full-time technical department responsible for curriculum development and player education.

Coaches will conduct a comprehensive week-long program with your team. They will work in conjunction with the team in many of the following areas: team building, team fitness, SAQ work, team shape, team tactics as well as individual player techniques.

NYPS coaches will meet with the local coaches prior to camp to assess what areas of the game they want to work on. A curriculum will be tailored for this week based on the feedback from the coach.

Date: July 11-15

Times: 9 a.m. to Noon (Open Camp); 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Team Camp -- minimum of 10 players)

Cost: $50 Open Camp; $600 Team Camp

Location: Batavia Sports Park, 8069 Bank St. Road, Batavia

Age Group: 6 to 12 years old for Open Camp; 13 to 18 years old for Team Camp

To register visit: www.newyorkpremieresoccer.com

Contact information:

New York Premier Soccer

3195 Brighton Henrietta Townline Road

Rochester, NY 14623

Phone: 292-0788

Email: info@newyorkpremieresoccer.com

Genesee Community College will hold its second annual summer youth camp focusing on health and wellness July 18 – 29.

The Genesee Sport and Wellness Experience is geared toward middle school aged-students  and will take place at the college's Batavia Campus.

The summer program includes instruction and skill development in the areas of golf, tennis, soccer and volleyball targeted specifically for local middle-school students. While the program includes plenty of hands-on instruction and experiential learning on the field, courts and gymnasium, there is also a variety of wellness topics such as nutrition, fitness, stress management, peer pressure, and drug and substance abuse issues to be presented and discussed.

"Today's sport and wellness education goes far beyond knowing the rules and regulations of each sport by embracing a holistic approach to the human body's total performance," said Becky Dziekan, director of GCC's Health and Physical Education department and the coordinator of the program.

"We are delighted to spend two weeks introducing these young people to healthy living opportunities and practices that are fun yet informative, which hopefully will last a lifetime.

Students in grades six, seven and eight are invited to attend the two-week program, which runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. The cost is $140 and includes lunch every day and a T-shirt.

For the general flyer and registration form for Genesee Sport and Wellness Experience go to: http://marketing.genesee.edu/images/Sport_Wellnessflyer 2011.pdf

For further details, please contact Becky Dziekan, director of Health and Physical Education at 585-343-0055 x6424 or rldziekan@genesee.edu <http://rldziekan@genesee.edu>. You can also go to the webpage: http://www.genesee.edu/gcc/wellness/

Second annual citywide Community Yard Sale to be held in front of your house June 11. Rain date will be June 18. Time is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 344-0276 with your house number and street address.

There is always something out there for everyone. Something new this year -- if you do not want any of your items after the sale they will be picked up by Kathy Stefaniak for the Saint Joseph's Mammoth Sale  to be held next year.

You must call to be placed on our list of house numbers and streets. The phone number is 344-0276.

The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council is hosting the 8th Annual Genesee-Orleans Student Art Show. The exhibits are on display now through Friday, June 3 in two galleries in Genesee County.
 
GO ART! Bank of Castile Main Gallery, Seymour Place, 201 E. Main St., Batavia

Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and by appointment.

Batavia High School

Claudia Germuga, Grade 12
Nicole Crossett, Grade 12
Andrew Brudz, Grade 12
Aimee Hurlbut, Grade 12
Danielle Siebert, Grade 12
Ashley Hill, Grade 12
Bethany Garbriele, Grade 12
Cassandra Bartz, Grade 12
Petra Dietrich, Grade 11  
Steven Larken, Grade 10     
Megan Jacques, Grade 11

Byron-Bergen Central School

Elizabeth Phelps, Grade 11
Jasmin Elsner, Grade 12

Le Roy Jr./Sr. High School

Emily Carlie, Grade 12
Tara Kelly, Grade 10
Justin Kantz, Grade 10
Katelyn Cooper, Grade 7
Kristen Slaven, Grade 8
Kyle Hobart, Grade 8
Julianna Lauricella, Grade 9
Krystal Pernesky, Grade 10
Bekah Miller, Grade 10
Ali Weaver, Grade 9
Kylynn Arthur, Grade 10

Pembroke High School

Dustin Pratt, Grade 12
Caitlin Neeland, Grade 12
Dan Manhardt, Grade 12
Dolly Tran, Grade 12
Logan Buck, Grade 12
April McMillion, Grade 12
Kelsey Milks, Grade 12
Samantha Sobczak, Grade 11
Katie Nice, Grade 10
Joshua Duttweiler, Grade 12
Kelly O’Shea, Grade 12

GO ART! Batavia Satellite Gallery, Genesee County Senior Center, 2 Bank St., Batavia

Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.

Byron-Bergen Central School

Christine Burke, Grade 9
Ramitar Burasai, Grade 12
Courtney Oderkirk, Grade 9
Amanda Kay Sands, Grade 12
Melissa Barnard, Grade 9
Katie Fonda, Grade 7
Justin Singer, Grade 7
Cassandra Hartman, Grade 7

Elba Central School

Jenna Brown, Grade 11
Sydney Gallup, Grade 11
Aryal Smith, Grade 12
Taylor Doty, Grade 11
Anna Dorman, Grade 10
Alyssa Prince, Grade 11
Madison Dentino, Grade 11
Alexis Aratari, Grade 11
 
Artists from both counties volunteered their time as judges for the student art show again this year. The local art show winners are:

Genesee County

Danielle Siebert (Batavia), 1st Place in BOTH Student Art Show and Congressional Student Art Competition for “Untitled”
Taylor Doty (Elba), 2nd Place for “Together Forever”
Sydney Gallup (Elba), 3rd Place for “Still Life”
Claudia Germuga (Batavia), Honorable Mention in BOTH Student Art Show and Congressional Student Art Competition for “The Chameleon”
Elizabeth Phelps (Byron-Bergen), Honorable Mention for “Buddha”
Sydney Gallup (Elba), Honorable Mention for “Portrait”
Katie Nice (Pembroke), Honorable Mention for “Untitled”
Caitlin Neeland (Pembroke), Honorable Mention for “Becca Reading”

Congratulations to all who participated. GO ART! exhibits are made possible, in part, with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts. For more information, contact GO ART! at 585-343-9313, info@GOart.org or visit www.GOart.org.

Volunteers for Animals will hold its fourth annual Garage Sale to benefit the animals at the Genesee County Animal Shelter next week.

It runs Thursday June 2 through Saturday, June 4.

The address of the garage sale is 37 E. Main St. in Corfu, Route 33.

Beginning today, donations for the garage sale will be accepted. You can drop off at the shelter during adoption hours. If you have large items, please email VFA first for other arrangements.

The shelter is located at 3841 W. Main St. Road in the Town of Batavia. Phone is 343-6410. Adoption hours are:

1 to 3 p.m. -- Sunday through Friday, but closed on Thursday

7 - 9 p.m. -- Wednesday

11 a.m. -1 1 p.m. -- Saturday

Volunteers For Animals

http://www.vol4animals.org

The Batavia Lions Club presented its annual scholarships and awards to several local students at a ceremony earlier this week.

Each spring, several graduating seniors at Batavia and Notre Dame high schools apply for these scholarships. They are interviewed by a committee of Lions Club members, and are chosen by the committee to receive $1,000 scholarships.

In addition, selected students from both schools are awarded the Arthur Roth Fine Arts Award and the Bill Cook Scholar-Athlete Award.

A final award is the Batavia Lions Club Award in Communications, which is given to a Genesee Community College student in memory of two former Batavia Lions and local media legends – Paul Bostwick, the former managing editor of the Batavia Daily News and James H. Gerrety, the former news director of WBTA.

During the high school football season each fall, members of the Batavia Lions Club sells snacks at the games. The proceeds are used exclusively for the scholarship and awards program.

This year’s Lions Club Scholarship winners are Kayleen Kelley, BHS, Danielle Siebert, BHS, Bethany Gabriele, BHS, Shannon Schmit, BHS, Justine Saraceni, ND and Lucy Norton, ND.

GO ART! announces winners of poetry contests

The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO ART!) has announced the winners of the Genesee County Poetry Contest, presented in conjunction with Present Tense Books in Batavia. All winning poems may be found online at www.GOart.org.


Grades K-3

1st Place: Chloe Shuskey, Grade 3, Bergen, “Bright and Beautiful”
 
Honorable Mention: Lindsay Augello, Grade 1, Elba, “Untitled”
 
Honorable Mention: Joe Gagne, Grade 3, Batavia, “Green”
 
Grades 4-6

Honorable Mention: Briana Janes, Grade 5, Batavia, “Outside”
 
Grades 10-12

First Place: Faith Finnin, Grade 11, Batavia, “Wrong”
 

Thanks to all who participated and to Present Tense Books for partnering with GO ART! on this program.

GO ART! is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that initiates a broad range of opportunities for artists and cultural organizations, and facilitates cooperative efforts among the cultural, business, service and educational communities for the people who live in and visit Genesee and Orleans counties.