Announcements

Do you want to make a difference in your community? One way to do so is by becoming a volunteer for Rape Crisis Service (RCS) and serving as an advocate for victims of sexual assault.

Advocates provide emotional support and information to survivors of sexual assault, significant others and members of their families. Volunteers are on-call for 12-hour shifts, a minimum of four times per month.

Applicants must be at least 19 years old. No experience necessary — all volunteers will complete a training program. Interviews are currently being conducted for our upcoming training in October.

For more information, please call Kathy Pexton at 546-2771, ext. 338, or e-mail at kpexton@pprsr.org.

Genesee Region Insurance Professionals (GRIP) will hold a special networking
event and dinner at Larry's Steakhouse in Batavia on Tuesday, Sept. 28.

It starts at 5 p.m. and features the nationally recognized "rock star" of the insurance industry, Chris Amhrein. He's the co-founder of www.insuranceisfun.com.

To make a reservation, please contact Sherry Ford (sfordtss@aol.com or 716-560-2667).

Larry's is located in downtown Batavia at 60 Main St.

The sign-up deadline for a golf tournament to benefit a little boy with Stage 2 bone cancer has been extended until Sept. 21.

Creamy Creations of Batavia is sponsoring the golf tournament on Sunday, Sept. 26 at Le Roy Country Club, located at 7759 E. Main Road in Le Roy. Shotgun is 1 p.m.

Proceeds benefit Christopher, the son of a colleague of the company's.

Cost is $75 per person and includes 18 holes of golf, use of a golf cart, lunch at noon -- a hot dog or hamburger and a drink, then a buffet dinner afterward.

To make a reservation and/or a donation, contact Selina McJury at 345-4290.

Labor Day weekend may signify the unofficial end of summer, but hardly the end of the summer fun at Batavia Downs Casino.

America’s oldest lighted harness track will host four County Fair finals Friday night, Sept. 3, with purses of $8,000 each.

Saturday is Hall of Fame Night as The Downs inducts three of Western New York’s all-time top drivers - John Schroeder, Jeff Gregory and Clint Galbraith - in ceremonies at the winner’s circle. Gregory and Galbraith will be in the Casino lobby for a Meet ‘n' Greet and autograph session beginning at 5:30 p.m. Also, race fans have a chance to win a set of Galbraith’s colors via a random drawing. Sign up begins at 5 at the Player’s Club.

Monday features the annual Labor Day matinee with a 1:15 post time and the traditional Driver’s Bike Race following the seventh race. Fans will win the eight bicycles used in the Driver’s Bike Race by voting for their favorite driver. Sign up begins at noon in the Casino lobby. The eight bike winners will be drawn at random from the winning driver’s box.

But wait, there’s more! Following the ninth race on Labor Day, three fans will be selected by random drawing to enter the Cash Cube and win up to $1,000 in cash and casino free play. Sign up begins at noon. The names will be drawn and announced after the fifth race.

Upstairs on the casino gaming floor, patrons can win $50 in free play with Hot Seat drawings every half hour from noon to 5 p.m.

Labor Day food and drink specials include a $7.95 buffet from noon to 4 p.m. in the Clubhouse along with $1 Sahlen Hot Dogs, $1 soda and $2 draft beer all day on track and at the refreshment stand inside The Paddock Room.

The Honors Program at Genesee Community College will sponsor a "Break the Silence - End the Violence" 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, Sept. 11.

It's at the Batavia campus. Registration starts at 8 a.m. in the college's Forum; running starts at 9.

Registration is $15 per person if registered before Sept. 4, or $20 after.

All proceeds from the run will be donated to the YWCA of Genesee County's Domestic Violence program. Registration costs include a chicken barbeque lunch after the race. (A vegetarian alternative will be provided.)

This event will kick-off the start of Genesee's Honors Program service projects as well as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which starts in October.

"The domestic violence initiative is very dear to my heart," Lori Mould, Honors student at Genesee said. "We hope that community members come out to support this worthy cause and to spread how important domestic violence awareness is."

Pre-sale registration can be made at the Student Activities office of Genesee Community College by calling 343-0055, ext. 6261 or the Genesee County YWCA at 343-5808.

Interested participants may also contact Lori Mould at <http://lmould@my.genesee.edu>  or

at <http://gknuth@my.genesee.edu>.

Genesee County AmeriCorps, RSVP and the Emergency Management Office are collaborating to host a local event on the Sept. 11 -- National Day of Service and Remembrance -- encouraging people to Remember, Prepare and Volunteer.

Funding is being provided by the Genesee Region Citizen Corps Council. Local emergency response organizations and other service agencies will gather together in the Home Depot parking lot, 4181 Veterans Memorial Drive, Batavia from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. that Saturday to distribute information, answer questions and recruit volunteers.

Fire trucks and other emergency vehicles will be on display and demonstrations of emergency equipment will take place. Home Depot will be conducting a Kids Workshop, too.

Bring the family to meet those who are already serving, learn how to prepare for emergencies, and explore volunteer opportunities.

For more information about this event, please contact the Genesee County Youth Bureau at 344-3960 and speak to Kathy Frank.

Students and faculty from the Genesee Community College and SUNY Brockport summer study abroad in Amsterdam trip will present "Images and Perceptions of Wealth and Poverty in Amsterdam" on Thursday, Sept. 9.

The panel discussion presentation will take place in T102 at the Batavia campus from 12:30 to 2 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

Presenters include: Josephine Kearney, Genesee instructor of Sociology/Human Services who led the study abroad trip; John Condon, Genesee graduate and study abroad participant; Mike Neumire, SUNY Brockport History major and study abroad participant; and Steve Gregory, SUNY Brockport History major and study abroad participant.

"This is an excellent cultural event to kick-off the start of the fall semester," said instructor Kearney. "The students from the study abroad trip are eager to share their knowledge and perceptions of the unique cultural of the Netherlands and the cultural hub that is Amsterdam."

This event, along with many other cultural awareness events, is developed through the Global Education Committee at Genesee. It is dedicated to recognizing, embracing and celebrating the diversity of humanity.

Through its varied activities, the Global Education Committee fosters multicultural awareness, understanding and appreciation, and provides opportunities to demonstrate global citizenship.

For further information, please contact Josephine Kearney at Genesee Community College at 343-0055, ext.6344 or at <http://jbkearney@genesee.edu>.

Press release:

It’s a tribute to the men and women who flirted with harness racing immortality. And the Harness Racing Hall of Fame exhibit will be on display this weekend at Batavia Downs Casino.

It’s called the Drive to Win exhibit and it features drivers and trainers who through circumstance or fate, did not rise to stardom. Their stories are poignant and down to earth and highlight that through adversity, the one shining element that connects them all is their love of and commitment to the great sport of harness racing.

Huge portraits, many provided by The United States Trotting Association and the sport’s weekly magazine Horseman And Fair World, introduce the subjects of the exhibit who were all nominated by racing fans. Each includes the complete story of the individual and what made them noteworthy in the sport.

There are 27 drivers and trainers featured in the exhibit including former Western New York regulars Jim Rankin, Robbie Rankin, George Forshey, and Angus Allen. You will also be able to see the stories of Richard Baker, Hugh Bell, Edwin Bither, Harry Burright, Vernon Crank, Harold R. Dancer, Norman Dauplaise, Alfred “Bucky” Day, Bea Farber, Hilda Heydt, Maxie Lee, Joe Lighthill, Howard Parker, Ervin Samples, Forrest Short, Phyllis Smith Page, Harold Snodgrass, Colby Turner, Sacher Werner, John “Tic” Wilcutts, Lew Williams, and Mildred Williams. Their stories provide an illuminating glimpse into this Great American Pastime.

The exhibit was stationary at the Hall of Fame of the Trotter in Goshen, NY until 2009 when it became a traveling ambassador of the sport. Its presentation here this week was made possible through support from Hanover Shoe Farms and is co-sponsored by Batavia Downs Casino and the Upstate NY Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association. It will be on display in The Paddock Room from 5:30 to 10:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from Noon to 4:00 p.m. Labor Day Monday. Evening post times are 6:40 with a 1:15 matinee post on Labor Day.

We will also have many hand outs from the museum including the colorful and informative Hall of Fame Journal from this past July 4th inductions at Goshen, NY.

Many thanks to Tim Bojarski, President-Upstate New York Chapter of USHWA for making this exhibit possible.

Darien Lake Resort will host the inaugural WNY Emergency Services Appreciation Day on 9/11 -- to honor the heroic contributions of emergency services personnel on that day in 2001.

It will honor fallen heroes and raise funds for charity. Firefighters and their families are invited to enjoy the day together with fun activities and raffles that provide guests with the chance to win amazing prizes.

Free parking is included with each $20 admission ticket, along with delicious food and beverages. Admission includes the theme park and the new SplashTown water park.At 1:30 p.m., a 9/11 Memorial Ceremony will take place to pay homage to the fallen. All proceeds from the event will benefit local charities.

To order tickets or request more information, please call (716) 533-1800 or email webmaster@ecfwire.com. 
 
For those wishing to stay on property, there are special hotel and camping packages available, which include admission to the theme park and water park. This year, Darien Resort is also pleased to offer brand-new Brown Bear Cabins that provide guests with all of the comforts of home.

For more information on WNY Emergency Services Appreciation Day or visiting Darien Lake Resort on Sept. 11, please visit GoDarienLake.com or call (585) 599-4641.

In September, the Richmond Memorial Library is offering a new preschool program called “Eat, Read, Grow." It is in cooperation with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County.

Parents and children will participate in a variety of reading, nutrition/food prep, and gardening activities.

For more information, contact Judy at the Richmond Memorial Library, 343-9550, ext. 1510. A New York State Family Literacy Grant makes this program possible.

A special workshop for small businesses called "Stand out in the marketplace" is set for Thursday, Oct. 14 at the Generation Centre on Center Street in Batavia.

It features nationally recognized marketing expert Rick Segel and is presented by the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce and the Batavia Business Improvement District (BID).

It runs from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. and includes lunch. Cost is $15 for BID and chamber members, $20 for nonmembers.

For more information or to register, call the chamber at 585-343-7440, ext. 26.

This event is "guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat.....REALLY!" (Check out Segal's website:  www.ricksegel.com)

Topics will include:

• Ways to Differentiate and Stand OUT in a Big Box Community
• Creating an environment to gain lifetime customers
• Ways to get customers to NOTICE & FIND YOU
• Using traditional and new media in innovative ways

The Batavia Business and Professional Women's Club meets on the first Thursday of every month from Sept. through June. This month, the group will meet at the Cornerstone Church, at 2583 Main Road (at the corner of Slusser Road) in East Pembroke.

A social hour will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:15. The event is scheduled to last until 9 p.m. 

Dinner costs $10 and includes sliced ham, scallop potatoes, apple sauce, tossed salad, a vegetable, rolls and butter, dessert, coffee and tea.

The event program is "Touching Lives One on One, a training program for home visitations to shut-ins," by Mary Alexander.

For more information or to RSVP by Aug. 30, please call Carol Rowcliffee at 343-3457 or Doris Naegely at 343-2755.

The Genesee County Soil & Water Conservation District wants people to know that more farmers are being “green” by demonstrating "product stewardship" -- recycling. And that in October, there will be pick-ups scheduled for recyclable plastic containers.

Farmers all around Western New York are recycling their triple-rinsed plastic containers from agricultural crop protection products such as specialty pest control, crop oils, surfactants, micro-nutrient/fertilizer, and/or adjuvant products.

USAg Recycling, Inc., offers agricultural producers and custom applicators an environmentally “green” convenient option for disposing of their empty containers.

USAg Recycling, Inc., will be picking up agricultural plastic containers in several locations throughout New York State from Oct. 18-29. The service is free to farmers and provides an environmentally friendly alternative to burning or throwing away agricultural containers.

Last year, USAg Recycling, Inc., collected 46,000 pounds of plastic containers from New York State.

It is a member company of the national Agricultural Container Recycling Council (ACRC), which in 2008 celebrated 100 million pounds of agricultural plastic containers recycled from across the United States.

Today, ACRC averages eight to 10 million pounds collected each year. Collected containers are ground into chips and recycled as corrugated plastic drainage pipe, railroad ties, fence posts, pallets, and many other products.

That’s farmers helping to keep plastic out of the landfills.

Containers accepted are HDPE #2 plastic containers only, ranging from less than one gallon to 55 gallon barrels. Larger containers such as 250 gallon shuttle totes must be cut into 2’x2’ pieces and free of any hardware. Cutting large containers in this manner facilitates proper cleaning and inspection, reduces storage area, and allows for direct feed into the granulation machine.

To be acceptable for recycling, plastic containers must be empty, clean, uncapped and dry. To help store containers until pick-up time, bags that hold up to 50 one-gallon containers are available for free upon registration.

Exact pick-up dates at local sites will be available within the first week of October.

Please contact Elizabeth Bentley-Huber at Genesee County Soil & Water Conservation District at 585-343-2362 or at <Elizabeth.Bentley-Huber@ny.nacdnet.net.> for more information and registration.

Here's a news release sent today from Kevin J. Keenan, coordinator of Smoke Free NOW. One of the group's goals is to have "Tobacco Free Grocery" in Genesee County.

The tobacco industry currently spends more than $12.8 billion to promote their products throughout the United States. This includes payments to licensed tobacco retailers to put their products in the most visible locations inside the store.

As a result, New York State residents, including people under 18, are exposed to a substantial amount of tobacco marketing.

According to Smoke Free NOW, a recent survey of retailers selling tobacco products in Genesee, Wyoming and Orleans counties, found an average of 15 to 18 ads promoting those products in the stores. That range is in keeping with tobacco retailers' ad displays nationwide.

Other facts about the tobacco industry:

• In 2006, tobacco companies spent $12.5 billion nationally on advertising, promotions, and price discounts for wholesalers and retailers. That is more than the amount spent to market junk food, soda and alcohol combined: junk
  food and soda companies spent $4.65 billion, and alcohol companies spent $3.13 billion (2005).
• In New York State, the tobacco industry spends approximately $1.1 million per day to market its products.
• Almost every licensed tobacco retailer displays tobacco product advertising, with an average of 18 ads per store.
• Tobacco companies place most of their advertising where young people
  shop — in convenience stores, where 75 percent of teenagers shop at least once a week.

The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids maintains that such point-of-purchase advertising and promotion directly influences what products and brands kids buy and use.

More alarmingly, point-of-purchase advertising and promotions may have a direct impact not only on what brands of cigarettes kids buy, but also on the number of kids who buy cigarettes.

In New York State, there are too many kids getting hooked on tobacco; in large part due to the influence of tobacco marketing. It’s time to understand the real story, says Smoke Free NOW.

For more information, contact www.TobaccoFreeGrocery.org or call 585-815-1875.

Press Release:

(Batavia NY) --- The always popular Wiener Dog Races will be featured as part of the Family Fun Day matinee at Batavia Downs Casino this Sunday August 29. First post time is 1:15 p.m.

There will be seven heats at the end of the 12-race harness card (about 4:20 p.m.) with a maximum of eight dogs each, followed by a “championship heat” between the winners of the seven qualifying events. The 100-yard event is staged on the track in front of the home stretch.

“The wiener dog races are very entertaining,” said Michael D Kane, Vice President of Operations and Live Racing. “We encourage the entire family to come out for this event on Sunday. It’s the perfect way to wrap up our family fun day of entertainment,” he added.

Mr Scribbles and Pringles the Clown will entertain the children from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in The Paddock Room. There will also be pony rides, $1 snow cones, Sahlen hot dogs and soda. A special clubhouse buffet will be featured for $7.95.

This year’s wiener dog race is sponsored by Petco on Veterans Memorial Drive in Batavia.

The weekend begins with Italian-American Night Friday evening when Oakfield Attorney Raymond Cianfrini is honored by The Downs as its Italian-American-of-the-Year. A special clubhouse buffet with an Italian flavor will be featured along with live music by the Formula Band.

Saturday night, three race fans will be drawn at random to enter the Casino’s Cash Cube and the chance to grab up to $1000 in cash. Sign-up begins at 5:00 at Player’s Club.

Batavia Downs Casino is owned and operated by Western Regional Off-Track Betting, a public benefit corporation.

Here's a news release from the Genesee County Economic Development Center.

Two well-known local artists are being featured on a website designed by the University at Buffalo and sponsored by the New York State Department of Labor.

Bart Dentino and Kevin Huber have been working together as "Bart & Kevin" for more than 20 years and have performed for thousands of school children across the state. They are musical and educational resident artists who have won numerous awards for their work with children.

Now the duo has completed a project which produced nine unique podcasts to help introduce science concepts to elementary students. The podcasts were created by UB and funded in part by the Genesee County Economic Development Center.

“The Sci Guys Show” is a collection of 10-15 minute podcasts that discuss topics like bioluminescence and echolocation in fun and entertaining ways.

“It’s a new style radio show with tons of sound effects and some over-the-top humor to help draw students in,” said co-creator Dentino. “And in the process, they will learn something about the sciences.”

They were piloted at Robert Morris Elementary in Batavia at the end of the school year and were well received by educators and students.

“It was great to hear positive feedback from both teachers and the kids,” said Huber said, who composed all the music heard in “The Sci Guys." The shows are free to download and include a lesson plan that can be used by teachers or parents.

The shows are available for download on the iSciWNY.com website. For more information visit: http://isciwny.com/index.php?cID=173

The First Presbyterian Church of Batavia is holding a Community Clothing Giveaway on Sunday and Monday, Aug. 29 and 30.

Sunday's will be held from noon to 4:30  p.m. On Monday, it will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The church asks the public to drop of clean, gently used clothing at the church, located at 300 E. Main St., from noon to 3 p.m. today and Thursday (Aug. 26). (There were previous drop-offs, too.)

Donations of clothing for infants, boys, girls, men, women are welcome, including shoes, sneakers, purses and hats. Winter clothing and work/business clothes are especially welcome.

For questions or more information, contact the church at 343-0505.

The Batavia Muckdogs will have two back-to-back double-headers on Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 25 and 26 due to wet field conditions on Tuesday evening. Game time is 6:05 p.m. both days with gates opening at 5 p.m.

Any ticket purchased for Tuesday's game can be exchanged for two tickets to any future Muckdogs regular season game.
 
Wednesday is Homer’s Birthday Bash. In celebration, we will be giving out free ice cream bars to the first 250 fans courtesy of Hershey’s Ice Cream.

It’s also Drug Free Communities Family Four Pack where fans can get four general admission tickets, four hot dogs, four 12 oz. sodas and a 2010 Program for ONLY $30. Plus you’ll receive a FREE prize pack courtesy of Drug Free Communities.
 
Thursday offers the Knot Hole Game presented by Turnbull Heating and Air.
 
For tickets, call the Muckdogs Box Office at 343-5454, ext. 1005.

John Hatch, pastor of Batavia's United Pentecostal Church, will be hosting a Chicken Barbeque with Clor's Meat Market, at 4169 W. Main St. Road in Batavia, from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Friday. The proceeds will benefit the family of Matthew Ware, a 22-year-old Oakfield resident who was killed in a car accident earlier in the month.

Ware was a graduate of Oakfield-Alabama High School and a member of the Pentecostals of Genesee in Batavia. His pastor and family hope for a generous response from the community.

The cost is $8.50 per dinner. For more information, please call Clor's at 343-5122 or The Pentecostals of Genesee at 345-0925.