Announcements

The residents of 400 Towers kicked off their guest speaker season on a sweet note. Bob Pacer from Oliver's Candy is the first in the series to discuss the history of Batavia businesses. Mr. Pacer took the residents on a trip to the equator to show where the cocoa beans are grown and discussed the journey embarked by that bean to it's final destination to Oliver's Candy.

Oliver's Candy has been part of the Batavia landscape for 75 years. It started as a small business selling it's product door to door in the village of Batavia. Today, Oliver's can boast of a large mail order business shipping to the four corners of the globe.

The residents learned about the candy making process and which candies are still made by 'hand' and which are made using modern technology.

This year's series is a business tour of the City of Batavia. Speakers from established businesses and those who recently chose to call the city the home of their new ventures will be featured between now to May, 2009. Invitations to the series are currently in the works. Any business who would like to be included on the calendar can contact Bea McManis, 400 Towers Residents' Council Activities Coordinator at 585-297-5512.

The Kiwanis Club of Batavia will be hosting its annual Pancake Day on Saturday, October 25, 2008 from 7:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. It will be held at the First Presbyterian Church Service Building on the corner on East Main Street and Liberty Street in Batavia. 

The tickets are $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for children (Under 10) and $3.00 for senior citizens (62 and over). Tickets will be available at the door or from any Kiwanian.

The Kiwanis Club of Batavia has been dedicated to service in our community since 1923. The money raised through this fund raiser and others our reinvested into many community service programs. For more information on Kiwanis and their activities, go to www.bataviakiwanis.com

From United Memorial Medical Center:

New York State Senate Majority Leader and President Pro Tem, Dean G. Skelos, Senator Mary Lou Rath and United Memorial Medical Center CEO, Mark C. Schoell will announce New York State Senate support of the Hospital’s planned renovation of the former St. Jerome Hospital.

The former St. Jerome Hospital will be repurposed to a 37-unit affordable senior housing project, revitalizing an important area in downtown Batavia, providing jobs and improving access to healthcare.

United Memorial Medical Center was formed by the merger of Genesee Memorial and St. Jerome hospitals in January 2000. Following the merger, the majority of healthcare services were consolidated at the North Street campus, leaving the St. Jerome facility underutilized and vacant.

During the summer and fall of 2007, the former St. Jerome Hospital Emergency Department and Ground Floor were renovated to create a comprehensive outpatient diagnostic center, primary care and occupational medicine services. The housing project would address the upper four floors of the main physical plant.

WHO: Senator Dean Skelos, NYS Senate Majority Leader and President Pro Tem (9th Senate District), NYS Senator Mary Lou Rath (61st Senate District), and Mark C. Schoell, President and CEO, United Memorial Medical Center

WHEN: 5 pm on Thursday, October 23, 2008

WHERE: United Memorial Jerome Center, Bank and Washington Streets, Batavia

CONTACT: Colleen Flynn, Community Relations, United Memorial (585)344-5415 or email to: cflynn@ummc.org

From United Memorial Medical Center:

The United Memorial Medical Center League is planning an Open House for Thursday, October 30, 2008 from 2 to 4 pm in the Snack Shop and Gift Shop at the Hospital’s North Street campus. Free cake and punch will be available to the public. The League recently completed renovations to the Snack Shop by investing $2,000 in refurbished décor and new counter stools.
 
The Gift Shop will offer a 40% discount on all Halloween items purchased that day and 10% off all additional gift ware. The UMMC League operates both the Gift Shop and Snack Shop at the North Street campus with all proceeds directly benefitting United Memorial. The League has given over $1 million in support since their inception. This year’s charitable contributions will be earmarked for new equipment in the Maternity Unit.
 
The League is open to new members and volunteers. For information on becoming a volunteer, please contact Karen Tennity at (585)344-7465.

Genesee County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is accepting proposals from local farmers for cost-sharing projects for funding under Round 15 of the Agricultural Non-point Source Abatement and Control Program (Ag NPSACP).  $13 million in program funds is available statewide for non-point source abatement and control projects that plan or implement agricultural Best Management Practices on New York State farms.  The cost-sharing program is designed to help farmers address and prevent water pollution from agricultural activities by providing financial and technical assistance.  All projects must consist of activities that will reduce, abate, control or prevent non-point source pollution originating from agricultural sources.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County has announced events through the end of the year. Check the Extension website at http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu for more details about these and other programs.
 
Tuesdays, November 4 through December 16- Positive Parenting Series – 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County, 420 East Main St., Batavia.  Nutrition and Parenting Educator Mariellen Woodward-DeFelice will teach the following classes: Anger in the Family, Responsibility and Your Children, Disciplining Your Children, Setting Limits and Expectations, Winning Ways to Talk with Kids, and Family Enrichment. The series is offered at no cost to Genesee county residents and at a nominal fee for residents of surrounding counties. The next series will begin in 2009. For more information or to register contact Mariellen by phone at 343-3040, ext. 105, e-mail mew33@cornell.edu, or stop by the Extension Center located at 420 E. Main Street in Batavia.
 
Thursdays, October 2 through November 13 - Positive Parenting Series – times vary. Held at the First Baptist Church - 5 East Main St. in LeRoy .  Nutrition and Parenting Educator Mariellen Woodward-DeFelice will teach the following classes: Anger in the Family, Responsibility and Your Children, Disciplining Your Children, Setting Limits and Expectations, Winning Ways to Talk with Kids, and Family Enrichment. The series is offered at no cost to Genesee county residents and at a nominal fee for residents of surrounding counties. For more information or to register contact Mariellen by phone at 343-3040, ext. 105, e-mail mew33@cornell.edu, or stop by the Extension Center located at 420 E. Main Street in Batavia.
 
November 1st from 9 am to 2pm - New York Agriculture In The Classroom “Food, Land, And People Educator Training”. Held at the Buffalo Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Avenue in Buffalo, NY. Food, Land & People (FLP) is a nonprofit organization committed to helping people of all ages better understand the interrelationships among agriculture, the environment, and people of the world. Food, Land & People’s science-and social-science-based curriculum, “Resources for Learning”, currently serves Pre-K to 12th grade students with 55 hands-on lessons, developed and tested be more than a thousand educators. Attendees will  receive Food, Land and Peoples Resources for Learning CD-Rom (includes 55 lessons), Various NY Ag in the Classroom Materials including lessons plans, book lists, brochures, and more. Four hours of professional development credits and a participation certificate are included in a fun-filled day at the Buffalo Botanical Gardens (including lunch and tour of the gardens). If you are interested in attending or would like to learn more about the program contact Barb at 343-3040 ext. 122, visit the Cooperative Extension website at http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu or stop by the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County office at 420 E. Main Street in Batavia.
 
November 6 at 6 p.m. - Coffee and Dessert Series: “Winter Birds”.  Held at the Extension Building. This presentation is back by popular demand. Did you know that there will be different birds at your feeders during the winter months?  Do you know that to feed them or how to identify them?  Let our “birding” expert, Jan Beglinger give you in-depth information on this subject, while you enjoy coffee and dessert. Cost is $10 per class and limited to fifteen participants per class. Pre-register at the Extension Center, 420 East Main Street in Batavia, visit our website at http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu, or contact Gail Culver at 343-3040, ext. 132 for more information.
 
November 10 at 5:30 p.m. – Board of Directors Meeting. Held at Cornell Cooperative Extension, 420 East Main St., Batavia.  For more information call 343-3040, ext. 112.
 
November 10th, November 12th, November 17th, November 19th, November 24th from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Spanish For (Ag) Working People. Instructed by Camy Sorbello. Learn enough Spanish in ten hours to improve communication with your Spanish-speaking agricultural employees. English-speaking managers & co-workers learn enough job-oriented basic Spanish that allows them to greatly improve job performance, workplace quality & business functioning. Camy's teaching method is suited to people who have little time to learn Spanish, as she uses simple phrases & a non-grammatical approach, with an emphasis on the words & language customarily used in each specific business or job function. Camy is a professional Spanish translator. To ensure the best learning experience, we will have a maximum of 20 participants. Cost is $125 per person (includes handouts). Register by November 3rd by calling 585-343-3040 ext 126 or stopping by the Extension office at 420 E. Main Street in Batavia.
 
November 20 from 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm - Feed Dealer's Meeting. Byrncliff Resort & Conference Center, Varysburg, NY. For more information contact Cathy Wallace at 585-343-3040 x 138 or by email at cfw6@cornell.edu.

December 4 at 6 p.m. Holiday Greens Workshop.  Join Consumer Horticulture Educator Gail Culver and the Master Gardeners for a fun-filled hands-on holiday greens workshop. Participants will  be able to make a Holiday Wreath or Holiday Centerpiece. This workshop will be held at the Kennedy Building on the Genesee County Fairgrounds on Route 5 in  Batavia. Cost is $20 per person and pre-registration is required. Contact Consumer Horticulture Educator Gail Culver at (585) 343-3040, ext. 132, stop by the Extension office located at 420 East Main St. in Batavia or log on to http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu/.
 
December 8 at 5:30 p.m. – Board of Directors Meeting. Held at Cornell Cooperative Extension, 420 East Main St., Batavia.  For more information call 343-3040, ext. 112.
 
December 9 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. - Agribusiness Economic Outlook Conference. Held at Cornell University, Kennedy Hall - David L. Call Alumni Auditorium. This year's conference will explore the theme of improved market access for New York farmers. The opening session, which will begin at 10 am, will examine emerging trends toward demand for local and regional food systems and emerging marketing and business opportunities in more distant markets. The theme of this portion of the program is Market Access for NYS Producers: Local and Long Distance Dimensions. For more information contact Jan Beglinger at 585-343-3040 ext. 126 or stop by the Extension office located at 420 East Main St. in Batavia.
 
December 9 - 11 Northeast Region Certified Crop Advisor Training. Holiday Inn, Waterloo, NY (Just off I-90 exit 41, south on Rt. 414) New Crop Advisers: Individuals seeking certification should attend CCA Basic Training to prepare for the regional and international certification exams. Basic Training does not include exam registration. Basic Training registration is for all three days.  The 3-day training event costs $225, and includes all coffee breaks, 3 lunches and one dinner. Register before November 8 for early discount! Next CCA Exam Date: February 6, 2009. Registration Period: October 1 - December 12. For registration materials, visit https://www.certifiedcropadviser.org/become-certified/exams/registration/ . Contact: Jeanette Marvin at 315-986-9320, jmarvin@rochester.rr.com
 
2009 Agriculture Enrollment - This service provides subscribers with up-to-date information on trends in the agricultural sector by utilizing research-based knowledge from Cornell University. Included in this service, at no charge, are direct mailings of “emergency information” for commodities of interest to you and voting privileges at the Extension Association’s annual meeting to determine organization leadership. The deadline for enrollment in the 2009 agriculture information service is February 1, 2009.  Call Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County at (585) 343-3040 ext. 126 or visit the Extension Center located at 420 East Main St. in Batavia for more information and enrollment packets.
 
4-H Participants - Please check the Extension website and refer to the monthly calendar for new and on-going events and deadlines. If you are interested in joining the 4-H program contact Amy at 343-3040, ext. 106 or stop by Cornell Cooperative Extension, located at 420 East Main St. in Batavia.
 
Eat SMART New York – This free, confidential program for food stamp participants and limited income individuals and families explores parenting strategies, healthy meal options, and ways to stretch food dollars.  For more information and to schedule an appointment, call the nutrition and parenting education program at 343-3040, ext. 134 or stop by Cornell Cooperative Extension, located at 420 East Main St. in Batavia.
 
Master Gardeners – Get answers on everything from landscaping to pest management.  Free service. Call 343-3040, ext. 127, 10 a.m. to Noon, Monday through Friday or e-mail geneseemg@cornell.edu, or visit the Master Gardener Office at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County, 420 East Main St., Batavia.
 
Master Gardener Home Diagnostic Service – Genesee County Master Gardeners conduct on-site visits to diagnose plant and pest problems, test soil pH, advise homeowners on gardening practices and more.  Cost is $25 for the first hour and $15 for each additional hour.  Fee includes informational packets, soil testing and diagnostic results. To schedule an appointment, contact Gail Culver, Consumer Horticulture Educator at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County, at 343-3040, ext. 132, e-mail gac11@cornell.edu, or visit the Master Gardener Office at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County, 420 East Main St., Batavia.
 
Master Gardener Speakers’ Bureau – Providing talks on a variety of topics, such as wildlife, local bird life, organic gardening, landscaping and more.  Programs can be tailored to meet audience needs.  Fee is $50, or $25 for non-profits in Genesee and surrounding counties.  For more information call Gail Culver, Consumer Horticulture Educator, at 343-3040, ext. 132, e-mail gac11@cornell.edu or stop by Cornell Cooperative Extension, located at 420 East Main St. in Batavia.

Here are the resolutions that will be voted on at the Batavia Town Board meeting Wednesday. That meeting will be held at Town Hall, 3833 W. Main Street Road.

The final shows for Holiday Hollow in Corfu will be this weekend, Oct. 25 and 26.

Shows run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Accoding to the Holiday Hollow web site, the show is the only "Halloween Shire" in the U.S., and has been featured on CBS and HGTV.

For more information, visit the web site.

Rotary Club of LeRoy

20th Annual

APPLIANCE

RAFFLE

Sunday, November 2nd, 2008

1 - 5pm

LeRoy American Legion

Food & Beverages Included

$10 donation - Only 1,200 Tickets Sold

The Kiwanis Club of LeRoy Pavilion Stafford will host its 4th Annual Election Night Pancake Supper on Tuesday, Nov. 4 at the Stafford Fire Hall, Rte 5, Stafford from 4:00-7:00 PM.  The cost is $6 for adults and $3 for children.  Proceeds will go toward support of the club's community service projects.

Notre Dame High School will hold an open house for prospective students on Thursday, October 23, 2008 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on the high school’s campus located at 73 Union Street in the City of Batavia. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

From Genesee Community College:

Genesee Community College at Arcade is hosting a photography exhibit entitled "Lines Through The Lens" presented by photographer Bonita Chimes and the local chapter of VIEW FINDERS. The exhibit will open on November 2, 2008 with a reception from 4:00 - 6:00PM. The show will be on display through November 28 and is open during normal Campus Center hours (Monday through Thursday, 9:00AM - 9:00PM, and Friday, 9:00AM - 4:00 PM).

Bonita Chimes has more than 20 years of photography experience, including work with nature, photojournalism, television and commercial photography. She has been published in newspapers, magazines and books.

Since 1994, Bonita has been working on a project called "Little Towns Are Not Forgotten", which is an ongoing effort to document rural towns. She has completed five volumes to date which can be seen throughout WNY and Central California. In addition, Bonita supplied all the photographs for the guidebook "Somewhere To Go On Sunday", introducing both residents and visitors to the natural beauty of WNY and Southern Ontario.

Bonita is the founder of VIEW FINDERS, a group of professional and amateur photographers with chapters in WNY and Sacramento California. The group participates in photography tours and will be traveling to Alaska and Norway to hone their skills while having fun. Bonita conducts photography workshops, both on tours and locally.

The Arcade Campus Center of Genesee Community College is located at 25 Edward Street in Arcade, NY. For more information, or if you are interested in having a show at the Arcade Campus Center during 2009, please stop by or call 585-492-5265.

From the Cornell Cooperative Extension:

Food, Land & People (FLP) is a nonprofit organization committed to helping people of all ages better understand the interrelationships among agriculture, the environment, and people of the world.  Food, Land & People’s science-and social-science-based curriculum, “Resources for Learning”, currently serves Pre-K to 12th grade students throughout the United States. The curriculum consists of 55 hands-on lessons, developed and tested be more than a thousand educators.  The subjects range from environmental science and stewardship to human populations and land use issues.  Twenty of the lessons are available in Spanish.  FLP’s mission is to develop citizens literate about the relationships between agriculture, the environment, and human populations.
 
There will be an educator training on November 1, 2008, from 9:00 a.m. –  2:00 p.m. at the Buffalo Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo, NY 14218.  Phone: 716-827-1584, Website: www.buffalogardens.com .  Attendees will  receive Food, Land and Peoples Resources for Learning CD-Rom (includes 55 lessons), Various NY Ag in the Classroom Materials including lessons plans, book lists, brochures, and more. Four hours of professional development credits and a participation certificate are included in a fun-filled day at the Buffalo Botanical Gardens (including lunch and tour of the gardens).
 
If you are interested in attending this workshop contact New Your State Agriculture in the Classroom, 106 Kennedy Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853; call 1-607-255-9253; Fax: 607-255-7905; or e-mail: hed24@cornell.edu.  You can also check out the Ag in the Classroom website at: wwwnyaged.org/aitc.
 
As of December 31, 2006, 30,292 educators have been trained to use Food, Land & People’s lessons in twenty-seven states.  It is estimated that they have reached over 6.5 million students since 1998. New York Agriculture in the Classroom is the state affiliate agency for Food, Land, and People in New York.  They have aligned the 55 lessons with New York State Learning Standards in all curriculum areas. 
 
If you are interested in using Resources for Learning, or would like to learn more about it, contact Barb at 343-3040 ext. 122, visit the Cooperative Extension website at http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu or stop by the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County office at 420 E. Main Street in Batavia.

From GCC:

Pick up a pencil. Start with a line. See where it takes you. This is both an invitation, and the instructional challenge offered by local artist Diana ("Di-Di") Martin, who is leading a three-week, three-part drawing series at the Medina Campus Center intended for artists of all persuasions and levels of experience. From the novice to more experienced artist, the program will travel the road of the artistic masters while taking side trips for experimental techniques that provide creative freedom and flexibility to explore and expand individual skill and interest in drawing.

Among the topics Ms. Martin will introduce are: proportion; gesture drawing; composition principles; positive/negative space; Chiaroscuro; color; drawing what is seen versus drawing what the mind sees; visible ideas; and exploring the masters. Each class includes a demonstration as well as hands-on projects with plenty of assistance from the instructor. The artistic media choices include ebony pencils, or pastels, watercolors, or color pencils provided by the participants.

Part I of the three-part, three-week session starts Monday, November 17, and continues on Wednesday, and Friday, November 19 and 21. Part II is scheduled Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, December 1, 3, and 5, and Part III is Monday, Wednesday and Friday, December 8, 10, 12. All classes run from 9:30 to 11:30 AM. Each weekly part is just $10, or $30 for the entire program. Participants may register for one, two or all three parts. Advanced registration is requested, but not necessary.

Diana Martin is a local artist who spent a good part of the past two decades doing commissioned artwork, including a series of 36 baseball cards for Chicle Fantasy Company that was featured in Sports Illustrated. She teaches drawing and painting both privately and through organizations such as the Keenan Arts Center and GCC. Diana's studio, "The Drawing Room" is located at 936 Gwinn Street, just a short stroll from the Medina Campus Center.

Through her interest in taking computer classes from Genesee, a serendipitous arrangement of also teaching drawing developed. "There is such a wonderful group of people at the Medina Campus Center and the atmosphere is so positive that I am happy to be offering drawing classes and helping people with their own way of seeing the world," Diana said. "Sharing a vision of the world is a fantastic learning and growing experience for everyone."

For further information, or to pre-register, call the Medina Campus Center at 585-798-1688.

You can download the agenda for the Bethany Town Board meeting here.

From St. Cecilia Parish:

St. Cecilia Parish, 56 Maple Ave. Oakfield is holding our 1st Annual Oktoberfest, on October 25th, from 6:30pm until Midnight. There will be a theme basket auction, pig roast, live DJ, and beer tent. For more information, please contact the parish office, at 948-5344.