Announcements

Elba Volunteer Fire Department has canceled Bingo until further notice.

The Great Batavia Train Show scheduled for 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 29, at the Richard C. Call Arena at Genesee Community College has been canceled due to coronavirus restrictions intended to reduce crowds and the spread of the virus.

The fall show is scheduled at the venue on Sunday, Nov. 15.

For information about table availability for the fall show, contact the Genesee Society of Model Engineers:   bataviatrainshow@gsme.org

Visit their website here.

Press release:

March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month (#PGAM). The Western Problem Gambling Resource Center (nonprofit) has training and awareness opportunities for the WNY region!

Please contact us at westernpgrc@nyproblemgambling.org to schedule our staff to come to your organization, FREE of charge, to increase awareness of problem gambling and find out about ways to help those struggling and their families. Here to help.

Jeffrey Wierzbicki - Western Team Leader 716-572-5017.

For additional resources, visit the New York Council on Problem Gambling here.

Press release from the trustees of St. Paul Lutheran School:

St. Paul Lutheran School in Batavia would like to thank all the corporate sponsors for their donations to our annual auction.

With your donations our auction was a huge success!

Thank you to:

• Baldwin's Country Store
• Batavia Garage Door
• Batavia's Original Pizzeria
• Cinquino's Pizzeria
• Frank Morse Lawncare
• Home Depot
• Pizza 151
• Pudgie's Lawn & Garden
• Settler's Restaurant
• Sport of Kings Family Restaurant
• State Street Animal Hospital
• Tiffany Gill Photography
• Town & Country Restaurant
• Toyota of Batavia
• Valle's Jewelers
• Willow Group Inc.
• Promised Land CSA
• Center Street Smokehouse
• Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle
• Southside Deli
• Phillips Oil

We would also like to thank Ben Paratore, Mark Snyder (auctioneer extraordinaire,) folks of St. Paul Church Leadership Team, St. Paul Lutheran School staff, and all of the St. Paul Lutheran Church and School families.

Billie and Howard Owens of The Batavian, and Brian Quinn and Mark Gutman of The Batavia Daily News also helped to make our auction a success, THANK YOU!

Our school is blessed to have all of your loyal support!

St. Paul Lutheran School is accepting registrations for the 2020-2021 school year. St. Paul offers Christ centered education with small class sizes, individual attention for your child, and a child friendly environment with a committed and dedicated staff. We offer 3- and 4-year-old preschool through fifth grade.

We are located at 31 Washington Ave. in the City of Batavia. You can also contact us at (585)-343-0488 or at stpaulbataviaprincipal@gmail.com.

Press release:

Registration is now open for the 2020 Genesee County Incubation and Embryology Program.

The program is open to classrooms and school groups throughout Genesee County.

Students and teachers that participate in this hands-on program will learn all about the process of hatching a chick.

To register or receive more information, please contact the Genesee County 4-H Office at genesee4h@cornell.edu or (585) 343-3040, ext. 101.

More information about the program is also available here.

(Top, artist Laura Kemler's work "Kids at Theater.")

Press release and submitted images from Batavia Society of Artists.

The Batavia Society of Artists is hosting artist Laura Kemler on Tuesday, March 10th from 7 to 9 p.m. at GO ART!/Seymour Place, 201 E. Main St., Batavia. She will be doing a demonstration on gouache -- an opaque watercolor.

Nonmembers welcome for a $5 fee.

For more information, call Teresa Tamfer at (585) 506-2465.

Genagon (inset photo left) grew up in Elba under the training of Bernice Yunker, along with talented teachers in school. As she grew in the visual arts, she attended Genesee Community College on a full art scholarship as well as the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.

She has designed and illustrated for Liz Claiborne, the University of Pittsburgh, the Wyoming County Tourism Association and many others. Genagon has also taught art for Hillside, Forrestel Farm & Riding Camp, Bergen School of the Arts, as a guest teacher at a private school in Bradford, England and at many workshops throughout her 28-year professional career in art.

Genagon has also had the opportunity to illustrate a children's book titled "My Grandma's Kitchen Window" available on Amazon. Currently, she owns "Laura Loxley Vintage Inspired Goods" in Albion, where she hand dyes fabric and creates coiled rope baskets and other handmade gift items.

She continues to illustrate and get her hands into all facets of the visual arts. Laura and her husband, Kevin, along with her five children reside in Albion.

Laura Loxley Vintage Inspired Goods

45 N. Main St., Albion NY 14411

www.lauraloxley.com

www.etsy.com/shop/LauraLoxley

lauraloxleyvintage@gmail.com

(Below Kemler's "Gossip Girls")

Press release:

Genesee County 4-H youth are invited to register for "Bovine, Sheep and Swine -- How Divine!” -- Animal Crackers 2020, which will be held on Saturday, May 2, on the Cornell University campus in Ithaca.

Mark your calendars for one of the most exciting animal science programs of the year!

It is offered by the Cornell University Department of Animal Science and will highlight dairy, beef, swine and sheep topics for 4-H youth 9-12 years old, or those with beginner to intermediate knowledge of those species. Interesting, educational, hands-on activities are planned to make Animal Crackers a memorable learning event.

Participants will have the opportunity to learn about dairy or livestock care, biology, and management while having fun participating in a variety of interactive activities with 4-H members from across New York State.

There is a $15 fee per youth to attend the program. Adult chaperones are free and each group must have at least one chaperone. Attendees are asked to bring their own lunch.  

Additional information is available on the Animal Crackers website.

Registration for the event must be done through your local Cornell Cooperative Extension Office and must be completed no later than April 24.

Youth must be enrolled in 4-H in order to participate. New 4-H members are always welcome to join the Genesee County 4-H Program. To register or receive more information, please contact the Genesee County 4-H Office at genesee4h@cornell.edu or (585) 343-3040, ext. 131.

As a result of last year’s plastic bag ban, Wegmans announced that they would eliminate the use of plastic carry-out grocery bags on Monday (Jan. 27th.) The ban goes into effect statewide on March 1. Paper bags will still be available for a fee.

While reusable shopping bags are already widely used, many residents do not have or do not wish to purchase reusable bags for one reason or another. As such, my office has a limited supply of reusable bags available free of charge.

If you are interested in a free reusable bag please stop by my office at 8203 Main St., Suite 4, Williamsville, or contact my office by phone at (716) 631-8695 or (585) 454-0322 (Monday-Friday, 9-5) and we would be happy to get you a bag. Supplies are limited and bags will be made available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Submitted photo and press release:

AUCTION! St. Paul Lutheran School will host its annual Live Auction and Basket Raffle at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1.

Doors will open at 3:30. Auction will feature new items, gift certificates, baked goods, handcrafted items, themed baskets, and much more! Refreshments will also be available.

For more information or to donate an item, contact (585) 343-0488. St. Paul Lutheran School is located at 31 Washington Ave. in the City of Batavia.

The Alexander Fire Department is hosting their annual Valentine’s Steak Dinner & Dance on Saturday, Feb. 15^th, at their Recreation Hall at 10708 Alexander Road, Alexander. 

There will be an open bar from 6:30 to 9 p.m. with dinner at 7 o'clock.

Music by a favorite local band Red Creek!  

Tickets are $25 per person or $45 per couple.

Tickets are limited and must be reserved by calling Heidi at 585-813-6598.

The Alexander Fire Department will be hosting monthly All You Can Eat Firemen’s Breakfasts on four upcoming Sundays at their Recreation Hall, 10708 Alexander Road, Alexander.

Time is from 8 a.m. to noon on these dates: Jan. 26, Feb. 23, March 29, and April 26.  

Buffet-style breakfast will include: pancakes, French toast, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, home fries, biscuits with gravy, fruit, real maple syrup, coffee, tea, juice and milk.

Adults $11; children 5-12 years $6; under 5 free.  

Fun for the kids will include an indoor bounce house with themed activities: January “Hawaiian”; February “Mardi Gras”; March “Breakfast with Bunny”; and April “Carnival."

Bring your family and enjoy a relaxing Sunday breakfast!

Press release:

The Genesee Valley Educational Partnership will hold an Open House from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 22, for anyone interested in learning more about upcoming classes for the Licensed Practical Nursing or Certified Nursing Assistant programs.

The Open House will be held at the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership’s Batavia Campus at 8250 State Street Road, Batavia.

LPN and CNA Instructors will be available to meet and speak with potential students.

The Genesee Valley Educational Partnership School of Practical Nursing has been in existence since 1994. It is a 1,200-clock-hour program, certified by the New York State Education Department, and is designed to prepare graduates for the NCLEX-PN Examination for licensure as a Licensed Practical Nurse.

Every student who enrolls in the Licensed Practical Nursing Program receives a Chromebook computer as part of their tuition fees. This computer becomes the property of the student and it is used for many purposes. Course curricula includes a broad scope of topics including foundations of nursing, human growth and development, obstetrical and pediatric nursing, human anatomy and physiology, pharmacology and more.

The CNA Program is also offered at the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership. This course is no less than a 150-clock hour program, approved by the New York State Education Department, and designed to prepare graduates for immediate employment following successful mastery of the post-program certification testing.

The LPN Program is offered at three different site locations: Batavia, Rochester Tech Park in Gates, and Mount Morris. The CNA Program is offered at two different locations, Mount Morris and Batavia.

For more information or any questions, please call 585-344-7788.

About the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership

It operates as a Board of Cooperative Educational Services offering shared programs and services to 22 component school districts located in Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston and Steuben counties in New York State.

Press release:

The Genesee County 4-H Program is looking for volunteers to help evaluate speakers at its upcoming 4-H Public Presentations Program.

The 4-H Public Presentations Program gives 4-H youth an opportunity to expand their public speaking skills in a fun, competitive format. 

The presentations program would not be possible without volunteer evaluators! Evaluators watch 4-H youth participants give presentations and provide them with constructive comments to help them improve their public speaking skills.

The 2020 4-H Public Presentations Events will be held on Saturday, Feb. 15th, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.; Thursday, Feb. 20th, 3 – 5 p.m. and Wednesday, Feb. 26th, 3 – 5 p.m. at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Office in Batavia.

If you are interested in serving as a volunteer evaluator, please contact the 4-H Office at genesee4h@cornell.edu, or 585-343-3040, ext. 101.

If you like John Edwards and "The Long Island Medium" then you will probably enjoy a "Psychic Gallery Event" with Steven Albert at Blue Pearl Yoga Studio in Batavia on Friday, Jan. 31.

Time is 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Tickets cost $35.

Many people are astonished at the detail in his readings.

If you have a mystery around a death -- come let him look into it and tell you the "real story" of what happened. Albert claims he is often able to channel loved ones who have passed.

His passion is bringing forth what needs to be said to help with healing of the people left behind.

The yoga studio is located in the Masonic Temple building, third floor, at 200 E. Main St. -- the southeast corner of Main and Center streets Downtown.

To learn more, visit www.stevealbert.net

Questions can be emailed to: KBREBS@HOTMAIL.COM

Press release:

The Genesee County 4-H Program is now accepting registrations for the 2020 4-H Tractor Safety Program. The program is open to youth age 14 and over and covers farm safety, tractor safety, tractor operation and other related topics.

The National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program is a certification program that allows youth age 14 and 15 to be certified to legally operate farm equipment for hire. After completing the training course, youth will need to pass a written knowledge test and driving test to receive the certification.

The program is scheduled to run Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., January through March at farm machinery dealerships throughout Genesee County. The fee for the program is $10 and youth must also be currently enrolled 4-H members.

Registrations are due Jan. 24.

To register for the program or receive more information, please contact the Genesee County 4-H Office atgenesee4h@cornell.edu or (585) 343-3040, ext. 131.

Submitted photo and press release:

The Batavia Society of Artist is hosting Artist Terry Weber from 7 to 9 p.m. on Feb. 11th at GO ART! in Seymour Place, 201 E. Main St., Batavia.

She will be having a hands-on felting demonstration of a resting rabbit. Non-members welcome for a $5 fee.

The demo will actually be a hands on class where you'll make your own soft sculpture that you get to take home with you.

About Terry Weber

I studied Art at Saint Mary University in Leavenworth, Kan. My concentration was in Pottery, with a Secondary Education minor. I taught in Denver for three years, grades three though eight, before moving back to New York in 1982.

After eight years in the hotel business, I opened up my own shop where I did a bit of everything, selling beer and lottery tickets, ice cream and tacos, gifts and antiques. I closed it in 2005 and started a revival of my life as an artist.

I've dabbled in many mediums and textiles, from watercolor to silk painting. I started needle felting eight years ago. There are many artists working worldwide in this relatively new medium. Some use it to embellish clothing, others make works of art fit for any museum.

The process relies on the nature of wool, which has many scales on each strand. When pushed together, either through heat and agitation, such as in wet felting, or the action of barbed needles in needle felting, the strands bind to one another quite strongly to make felt.

The soft sculptures that can be created have a warmth that you don't get through other mediums like stone or clay. A cuddly sculpture, that's very attractive and hands on.

Wool naturally repels dirt and water, a bit of vacuuming once in a while is the only care required.