Sponsored Post

NOTE: This is the same offer I posted earlier in the week. We had a good response. We have two sponsors for our basketball coverage, two; but, it would be helpful if a couple of more new members joined. Thanks to those who have stepped forward to support The Batavian.

Part of the premise of The Batavian Club is your membership helps support what we do. Well, here's a chance to directly help what we do in a way that will have immediate benefit.

Both Batavia and Notre Dame are playing state championship games this coming weekend. I plan on trying to do the impossible and cover both teams (the games don't overlap, which helps).

I estimate the cost of coverage will be about $400. You can help us cover that expense by joining at an annual membership level.

Each new member who joins at an annual level while this post is on the home page will receive a free 13x19 inch print on matte paper of the basketball photo of their choice from the 2012-2013 season. The retail value of the unframed photo is $35 and you'll receive it for free along with more than $300 in gift certificates to local businesses.

After joining via PayPal, e-mail me, howard@thebatavian.com, and let me know what picture you would like me to print for you. Or if you use the downloadable form and send in a check or credit card number (or phone your membership in), write down (or tell us), which picture you would like.

This offer applies only to pictures that I've taken. We'll need to receive your request in one way or another in order to fulfill this offer.

TO JOIN: Use PayPal buttons below, or to pay by check (annual only) or credit card, click here to download form. Or call (585) 250-4118 to pay by credit card.

Monthly Single Membership - $5 per month
Includes membership card and bumper sticker, package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Monthly Household Membership - $10 per month
Includes two membership cards and two bumper stickers, one package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Annual Single Membership - $50 per year
Includes membership card, bumper sticker, package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Annual Household Membership - $100 per year
Includes two membership cards and two bumper stickers, one package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Annual membership, one payment of $60
Includes membership card, bumper sticker, package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Annual household membership, one payment of $120
Includes two membership cards, bumper sticker, one package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Call IR Systems for more details 1-800-319-2129

Part of the premise of The Batavian Club is your membership helps support what we do. Well, here's a chance to directly help what we do in a way that will have immediate benefit.

Both Batavia and Notre Dame are playing state championship games this coming weekend. I plan on trying to do the impossible and cover both teams (the games don't overlap, which helps).

I estimate the cost of coverage will be about $400. You can help us cover that expense by joining at an annual membership level.

Each new member who joins at an annual level while this post is on the home page will receive a free 13x19 inch print on matte paper of the basketball photo of their choice from the 2012-2013 season. The retail value of the unframed photo is $35 and you'll receive it for free along with more than $300 in gift certificates to local businesses.

After joining via PayPal, e-mail me, howard@thebatavian.com, and let me know what picture you would like me to print for you. Or if you use the downloadable form and send in a check or credit card number (or phone your membership in), write down (or tell us), which picture you would like.

This offer applies only to pictures that I've taken. We'll need to receive your request in one way or another in order to fulfill this offer.

Any businesses interested in sponsoring our basketball coverage should call us at (585) 250-4118.

TO JOIN: Use PayPal buttons below, or to pay by check (annual only) or credit card, click here to download form. Or call (585) 250-4118 to pay by credit card.

Monthly Single Membership - $5 per month
Includes membership card and bumper sticker, package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Monthly Household Membership - $10 per month
Includes two membership cards and two bumper stickers, one package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Annual Single Membership - $50 per year
Includes membership card, bumper sticker, package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Annual Household Membership - $100 per year
Includes two membership cards and two bumper stickers, one package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Annual membership, one payment of $60
Includes membership card, bumper sticker, package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Annual household membership, one payment of $120
Includes two membership cards, bumper sticker, one package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Over the next couple of days, we will start sending out membership cards and $323 in gift certificates from 34 local businesses to our first 125 members.

A few days ago Francis Collins (aka Jimi Jamm) and wife Margot Collins came in to pick up their membership cards and gift cards.

Jimi and Margot were excited to get their packages and Jimi said he joined to help support The Batavian.

The Collins' joined as household members, so they both got a membership card.

The Club is all about giving the readers who love the The Batavian a way to support local journalism directly. As a thanks for the support, we send out gift certificates to local businesses, so you're also helping to support the local business community.

The Batavian provides you with free local news, free classifieds and information about the top local businesses in the county. Your membership will help us improve what we do. Please join today.

TO JOIN: Use PayPal buttons below, or to pay by check (annual only) or credit card, click here to download form. Or call (585) 250-4118 to pay by credit card.

Monthly Single Membership - $5 per month
Includes membership card and bumper sticker, package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Monthly Household Membership - $10 per month
Includes two membership cards and two bumper stickers, one package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Annual Single Membership - $50 per year
Includes membership card, bumper sticker, package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Annual Household Membership - $100 per year
Includes two membership cards and two bumper stickers, one package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Annual membership, one payment of $60
Includes membership card, bumper sticker, package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Annual household membership, one payment of $120
Includes two membership cards, bumper sticker, one package of gift certificates to local businesses.

1. Residential - Free In Home Cost Analysis
2. Commercial - Hotel/Restaurant/Small Business
3. Trade Shows, Festivals, Events - All Year Long
4. Affinity Partnership - Great for Business - Call for details
5. Referral System - Tell your friends & family & save money

Today the YNGodess celebrates our 1st anniversary! We've been blessed with over 16,000 customers as we continue to grow. Our wine selection is unique and expanding weekly. We also support New York State wines with pride.

I'd like to thank the community and our friends for welcoming us and showing their support. It's been a beautiful experience getting to know everyone. I can't thank my wonderful staff enough, including my mom and sister, for all their continued hard work and customer service.

We'd also like to thank The Batavian for helping us grow our business over the past year.

Pictured above, from left, the YNGoddesss staff: Sandy Nixon, Theresa Kershner, Jack Kershner, Alisa Dickson. Not pictured: Jill Panipento, Amy Luckenbach, Denise Garrett.

To download the app to your iPhone, click here.

To download the app to your Android, click here.

Book your Valentine's Day reservations today! Salsa & Curry is offering drink specials, a dinner for 2 special & a selection of mouthwatering desserts.

Our Valentine's Day Specials include:

• Dinner for 2 menu! Featuring an appetizer, entree & dessert.
• Buy 1 combo, get the 2nd FREE, with any beverage!
• Drink specials - Sangria, served with fresh fruit, bottle beers, wines, & margaritas.
• Dessert specials: Xangos, a flour tortilla with cheesecake filling, topped with whipped cream, chocolate, cinnamon and cherries. Flan -- a Mexican custard, topped with whipped cream, chocolate and cherries. Fried Ice Cream, topped with whipped cream, chocolate and cherries. Sopapillas, served with strawberry ice cream.

Call today to book your reservation - 585-219-4231. Like our Facebook page for a chance to win a FREE MEAL for 2! https://www.facebook.com/SalsanCurry?fref=ts

Naturally, I loved this e-mail I got from Mark Lewis, of the Mark Lewis State Farm Agency:

You really could charge for these (help wanted ads). I don't know another medium that delivers results locally like help wanted ads in The Batavian.

Yes, our help wanted ads work, and so do our "buy, sell and trade" ads. I know because Billie and I post ads ourselves and Mark isn't the first person to tell us about how well the ads work.

And they're free.

And it's my intention to keep it that way.

Our news is free, and I intend to keep it that way, too.

But that doesn't mean we don't need your assistance in helping The Batavian grow and become more sustainable.

We can't do all we could to provide you with the best news coverage possible without more help. We've pretty much grown as much as possible just with advertising.

Newspapers get by on advertising revenue and subscription revenue, but people don't want to pay for online news. Up until now that's left online news sites trying to survive on advertising alone.

I also personally believe that for a news outlet to be most effective it should reach the widest possible audience, and requiring somebody to buy a subscription (either for print or online) limits an audience for important public service news.

Rather than charge for a subscription, we're asking you to join The Batavian Club. Yes, we're asking you to pay some money to support The Batavian, but we're also giving you something of value back: Gift Certificates.

If I walked up to you on the street and said, "Here's $303 dollars, please give me $50," would you turn me down?

That's essentially the bargain here. We're asking you to support The Batavian for $50 a year (in our most popular membership tier) and giving you $303 in gift certificates to local businesses.

So help us help you, become a member of The Batavian Club.

Join before 5 p.m. today as an annual member (paying either on a recurring payment of $50 per year, or pay $60 for this year and we'll bill you again next year), and you'll receive a bonus gift from The Batavian: one of our gift certificates to a local restaurant worth either $20 or $25.

If you want to sign up for a monthly recurring payment of $5 per month through PayPal, join before noon today, and you'll also get a gift certificate. (Reminder, when you sign up for $5 per month, you're signing up for a one-year membership.)

Monthly Single Membership - $5 per month
Includes membership card and bumper sticker, package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Monthly Household Membership - $10 per month
Includes two membership cards and two bumper stickers, one package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Annual Single Membership - $50 per year
Includes membership card, bumper sticker, package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Annual Household Membership - $100 per year
Includes two membership cards and two bumper stickers, one package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Annual membership, one payment of $60
Includes membership card, bumper sticker, package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Annual household membership, one payment of $120
Includes two membership cards, bumper sticker, one package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Here's your chance to win an iPad Mini from Zebra Reach and The Batavian.

If you haven't done so already, download the Zebra Reach app for your smartphone (iPhone here / Droid here), then visit five of the participating merchants listed below and earn a point.

The first 500 Zebra Reach users who earn points at five local, participating businesses will be entered into a drawing to win a FREE iPad Mini.

The drawing will be held March 15.

Don't have a smartphone? No problem. Visit any participating merchant and obtain a Zebra Reach card. Become a registered user and then use the card to earn points in the stores of participating merchants. Earn points in five businesses and you're automatically entered to win.

Here's the "no purchase necessary" option: Download this form and follow the instructions on the form.

What is Zebra Reach?

We're all familiar with loyalty cards -- buy five lunches, get the sixth free, buy nine books get the 10th free. A lot of businesses run these sort of programs, but they usually come with flimsy paper punch cards that either get lost or crammed in your wallet with a dozen other cards.

Zebra Reach makes loyalty reward programs digital and easier to use -- one app stores all of your purchase points for multiple participating businesses.

Here are the participating businesses and initial offers (and of course, we're looking for more businesses to participate):

Adam Miller, 8 Center St., Batavia
Model Club Rewards -- $5 off your next purchase. For every dollar spent earn 1 point. Earn 50 points, receive $5 your next purchase.

Alex's Place, 8322 Park Road, Batavia
1 Free sandwich.
Buy any 5 sandwiches, get 6th free.

Charles Men's Shop, Inc.,  200 E. Main St., Batavia
1 Free tie.
Buy 3 shirts, get 1 free tie.

Dog Crazy Daycare, 1 Mill St., Batavia
Earn points toward a free doggy overnight stay.
For $25 spent, earn 1 point toward the doggy overnight. New clients receive 2 bonus points.

Fastec Automotive, 7184 W. Main Road, Le Roy
Free NYS inspection with an oil change and tire rotation.

Fisher Sports, 412 Main St., Batavia
10% off hockey equipment, For each visit you'll earn 5 points.
Earn 25 points -- you'll receive 10% off your next purchase of any hockey equipment purchase.

Glass Roots, 12 Center St., Batavia
1/2 off glass. Buy 2 pieces of glass, get 1/2 off the 3rd.

Lambert's Design Jewelers, 375 W. Main St., Batavia. One point for every $10 spent on purchases.
Earn 25 points and receive $10 off your next purchase.

Main St Pizza, 206 E. Main St., Batavia
Free small pizza with 1 topping.
Earn 15 points and redeem your free small pizza with 1 topping. Earn points with any purchase.

RW Vapors, 224 Ellicott St., Batavia
Buy 5 bottles of E-Liquid, get the 6th free.

Salsa & Curry, 15 Jackson St., Batavia
Buy 1 lunch, get the 2nd for 1/2 off.

Sweet Ecstasy Bakery, 6173 Main Road, Stafford
Free cookie, cupcake or muffin.
Purchase any 10 bakery items and receive a free cookie, cupcake or muffin.

Sweet Pea's Cupcakery & Cafe, 23 Jackson St., Batavia
Free cupcake. Buy 11 cupcakes, get the 12th free.

Terry Hills, 5122 Clinton St. Road, Batavia
Free lunch. Buy 5 lunches, get the 6th free.

The Detail Shop, 3875 W. Main St. Road, Batavia
Free deluxe wash. Buy 5 deluxe washes, Get the 6th deluxe wash free.

Valle Jewelers, 21 Jackson St., Batavia
Free Chamilia bead. Buy 3 Chamilia beads, get 1 free.

Settler's Restaurant, 353 W. Main St., Batavia
Buy 5 dinners, Get one free.

Spirits, 78 Lake St., Le Roy
Buy 10 lunches, get the 11th free.

T.F. Brown's, 214 East Main St., Batavia
1 free lunch. Buy 5 lunches, get the 6th free.

The Cutting Edge, 15 Bank St., Le Roy
Visit us twice for any service and receive $10 off any service on your third visit.

West Main Mini Mart, 3845 W. Main St. Road, Batavia
Buy 7 pizzas, get one free.

Local business owners: To sign up for Zebra Reach, contact Lisa Ace (lisa@thebatavian.com or (585) 250-4118). 

SHOPPING LOCAL HAS NEVER BEEN SO REWARDING!

It's a Deal of the Day grab bag -- join The Batavian Club now and we'll mail you a free, bonus gift certificate from a local restaurant. We'll randomly select a gift certificate from what we normally sell for deal of the day.

The value will be either for $20 or $25.

This is savings to you on top of the $303 in gift certificates you'll receive in your membership package.

If you would rather phone in your credit card information to (585) 250-4118, the noon deadline applies. If mailing a check or your credit card information, the membership form must be received no later than Saturday's mail drop at our office.

TO JOIN: Use PayPal buttons below, or to pay by check (annual only) or credit card, click here to download form. Or call (585) 250-4118 to pay by credit card.

Monthly Single Membership - $5 per month
Includes membership card and bumper sticker, package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Monthly Household Membership - $10 per month
Includes two membership cards and two bumper stickers, one package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Annual Single Membership - $50 per year
Includes membership card, bumper sticker, package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Annual Household Membership - $100 per year
Includes two membership cards and two bumper stickers, one package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Annual membership, one payment of $60
Includes membership card, bumper sticker, package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Annual household membership, one payment of $120
Includes two membership cards, bumper sticker, one package of gift certificates to local businesses.

St. Joseph Catholic School kicks off Catholic Schools Week with an Open House at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 27th. Prospective families are encouraged to visit and learn more about its academic standards and Christian values. No registration is required.

The school, currently serving about 300 students in 13 districts from pre-K to eighth grade, has several events scheduled for Catholic Schools Week.

On Monday, parents will join students for Lunch and Bingo, along with Crazy Hat and Hair Day. On Tuesday, students will be allowed to dress up as their favorite storybook character, while Wednesday is Movie and Pajama Day. Students will visit the YMCA and the ice rink on Thursday. Jump Rope for Heart activities will take place on Friday, followed by a Family Dance on Friday night.

Other upcoming events at St. Joe’s include the Penny Carnival, which will be held on March 16th at the school, and the Super Mammoth Sale, which is scheduled for April 6th.

Currently, 60 percent of families attending St. Joseph School receive some type of financial aid and nearly 20 percent are non-Catholic.

To find out more, call 343-6154 or visit www.sjsbatavia.org