WEDNESDAY, JULY 22ND - CHILDREN’S DAY / 4H FAMILY NIGHT

All Day - Wade Henry - Entertainment Tent
9am - 4-H Dairy Goat Show & Showmanship    - Show Ring
9am - Draft Horse Halter Classes - Arena
9am - Regional Tunis/Shropshire Sheep Show - Open Dairy Barn
11am - EXHIBIT HALLS & BUILDINGS OPEN
11:30am - GPS & Solar Fun Fest- Merton Building
12-3pm - MIDWAY OPEN for SPECIAL KID'S DAY $5 Ride Wrist Bands - Amusement Area
12pm - CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES - Exhibition Building
1:30pm - 4-H Sheep Show, Showmanship & Breed Show - Show Ring
  Followed by 4-H Sheep Leadline Classes and 4-H Sheep Costume Class
2-4pm - Balloon Animal Demonstration - Exhibition Building
3pm - Small Fry Tractor Pull - Exhibition Building
5-10pm - MIDWAY Re-OPENS - Amusement Area
5pm - Draft Horse Show Hitch Classes - Arena
6pm - 4-H & Open Swine Breeds & Showmanship - Show Ring
6pm - 4-H Rabbit Show & Sportsmanship - Merton Building
7pm - Beer Tent Opens - Beer Tent
7-11pm - In The House - Band - Beer Tent
7pm - Fair Queen Crowning - Entertainment Tent Stage
  Karaoke (Following Fair Queen) - Entertainment Tent Stage
10pm - EXHIBIT HALLS & BUILDINGS CLOSE
For more information on this year's fair and daily events, please click here to visit our site!

Press release:

The youth football team, the GLOW Fighting Ducks, are running a mini-camp, free to all current Ducks on today, and Thursday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Notre Dame High School in Batavia.

On Thursday after the camp we are planning on showing a token of our appreciation to Notre Dame for allowing us to play on their field by donating brand new "Down Markers" to the football program.

President, Marc Lawrence
GLOW Fighting Ducks
PO Box 1549
Batavia NY 14021
GLOWfightingducks@gmail.com
www.glowfightingducks.com

After returning home from their six-game road trip, the Muckdogs (9-20) lost the opening game of the series and the team's fifth out of the last six games to the visiting Connecticut Tigers (13-16).

On a night where each team was only able to muster six hits apiece, walks and errors were again the downfall for the Muckdogs.

Jordan Holloway and Nestor Bautista combined to walk 10 batters.

“We have to realize we are not in the Major Leagues and there’s a reason why they are all here,” Manager Angel Espada said.

Holloway got the start on the mound and although he did walk six batters in his four innings of work, he pitched much better than his previous starts.

“The kid (Holloway) as you see has a big arm but at the end of the day he is a 19-year-old that needs to learn how to pitch,” Espada said.

The only two runs scored by the Tigers came in the fourth inning after Tanner Donnels reached on an error and Holloway then walked Pat Mackenzie to put two runners on with no outs.

Holloway would strike out Joey Havrilak, but run into trouble when Steven Fuentes tripled to center field, scoring both Donnels and Mackenzie.

Holloway’s night would be over after the fourth inning; he was replaced by Bautista.

Batavia's lone run came in the third inning when Anfernee Seymour singled and later scored on a Alexander Fernandez double.

“You just have to stay positive and trust the process,” Espada said. “You gotta keep working, there is no way around it.”

Matt Hall started on the hill for the Tigers and went a solid three innings before being relieved by Chase Edwards who only allowed two hits over his five innings of work.

The one bright spot for the Muckdogs, not only tonight, but the whole season is the play of Bautista. Coming into Tuesday’s game, he had a record of 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA in 22.2 innings pitched.

On Tuesday he pitched five innings of shutout baseball. He scattered four hits and four walks while striking out five.

Gerson Moreno came in the ninth for the Tigers and worked a perfect ninth inning, picking up his second save of the year.

“Do you want to win games? Yes, you have to trust the process…what is better for these kids,” Espada said. “In five, four years you’ll see some of these kids in the Big Leagues and than you realize how good a job you did.”

The Muckdogs continue their three-game series against the Connecticut Tigers on Wednesday. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m.

From barrel racing to the expansion of the midway and demolition derby, the Genesee County Fair is booming with new and improved attractions this year.

Members of the Genesee County Agricultural Society have been working diligently to grow the fair.

Nick O'Geen, Agricultural Society board member, hopes the community will come and check out all the new events the fair is offering.

"We have added many new attractions this year and made improvements to the fairgrounds," O'Geen said. "This is our largest midway and number of vendors in two decades."

The fair has a total of 18 rides this year. The Vortex is the main ride attraction, O'Geen said. The midway will be open every night.

The Agricultural Society has also expanded the fair's live entertainment lineup to include music from several bands in Batavia, Elba and Pavilion. Bands will play every night in the beer tent.

A modified class has been added to Friday night's demolition derby. The new class will feature decked-out cars with powerful engines.

On Saturday night, Empire State Pullers will run the tractor pulls. After the tractor pulls, Outlaw Pulling Series will hold a new semi-truck and stock pickup truck pulling competition. 

In addition to all the new attractions, return events include a classic car cruise and mechanical bull rides.

A variety of agricultural shows will run throughout the week. The 4-H animal auction will take place Thursday night. The fair runs through Saturday. General admission is $5 per car.

Peyton Yasses with his two pigs.

Steffan Roalsvig washing his sheep.

The Pembroke Town Board is discussing the reformation of an Ethics Committee and appointment of new members.

Supervisor Anne Lawrence brought up the opportunity during a town board meeting on May 28. According to Lawrence, an Ethics Committee composed of three members was established in 2004 but two members are no longer available to serve. One member has died and another member moved out of state. Lawrence asked town board members if they would be interested in reestablishing the committee. The board discussed the matter and considered advertising to fill the two spots.

The town board then revisited the topic at a regular meeting on June 25. During the meeting, Lawrence asked if members knew of anyone who would be interested in serving on the committee and stated she had spoke with two people about the positions. One of the original members, Dave Krueger, has agreed to serve if the committee is reestablished.

In a recent interview, Lawrence said no final decisions have been made. The town board will continue to review the proposal during upcoming meetings.

After an appointment in Darien, I headed down Fargo Road and spotted this barn.

Press release:

The Batavia High School Class of 1955 is planning its 60^th Class Reunion!

There will be a social gathering of classmates on Friday, Aug. 7^th at 8 p.m. at The Polish Falcons of America Nest, located at 123 S. Swan St., Batavia, NY 14020.

There will be a formal get-together with food, desserts, and drinks on Saturday, Aug. 8^th at 3 p.m. at The Dibble Family Center, located at 4120 W. Main Street Road, Batavia, NY 14020.

The committee that put this celebration together is Jim and Connie DiSalvo, Victor Corey, Betty O’Brien, Eleanor Bakos, Rose Suozzi, Joe Gerace, Ralph Hyde, Mary Lou Klein, and Richard Cecere.

For any classmate who did not receive a letter, please contact Jim DiSalvo at (716) 474-4222 or by e-mail at DisalvoJ@gmail.com

Press release:

From friends to followers, tweets to YouTube, Snapchats to YikYaks -- future students at Genesee Community College will one day have the opportunity to study all the nuances of social media marketing. The College's Board of Trustees has approved a new Social Media concentration within the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) Business Administration degree.

With the Board's approval, the program will now be submitted to the State University of New York for approval, and later to the New York State Education Department. The College expects the program to available in the Fall of 2016.

The new concentration will provide GCC students interested in business careers with a third option -- one which focuses on the cutting-edge business, marketing and communication methodologies that predominant in today's global marketplace.

The new 62-credit concentration builds from the existing Business Administration curriculum, which provides a strong foundation in business and marketing principles, professional sales, computer applications and a selection of nine elective credits.

New Communication Technologies (COM120) and Introduction to Creative Problem Solving (CPS101) are among the courses Social Media students will take along with: Principles of Marketing (BUS213), Advertising (BUS203), Entrepreneurship (BUS225), Intro to Computers or Microcomputer Applications (CIS102 or 116), Web Publishing (CIS113) and Web Design and Implementation (CIS204).

"We've seen a number of students opt into courses that provide them the most modernized business program giving them a strategic advantage for a cutting-edge business career," said Kathleen Schiefen, Ph.D., GCC's provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs.

"Built around the same basic business administration coursework, these students will focus on the marketing uses of social media-such as search engines, and become technically competent using the strategic advantage of cutting-edge business degree."

GCC's Business and Commerce division currently includes the following programs: Accounting; Business Administration; Business Administration: Supply Chain Management concentration; Economic Crime Investigation; Entrepreneurship; four Fashion Business programs in: E-Commerce, Event Planning, Fashion Design, and Fashion Merchandising Management; Sales and Customer Service; and Tourism and Hospitality Management. All of the programs are open to new students of all ages, and can begin this fall semester, which starts Aug. 24.

In other business, the Board of Trustees heard a positive report from Kevin Hamilton, vice president for Finance and Operations, on the status of summer construction work for the capital project. Currently, the project involving the complete renovation of the cafeteria at the Batavia Campus and some updates at the College Bookstore is on schedule with completion targeted before the start of the fall semester.

Press release:

The Batavia Improvement District’s Summer in the City festival presents GO ART!’s Chalk the Walk. As part of the bash that is Summer in the City, which is sponsored by the Batavia Improvement District, there will be some extra artistry and competition.

GO ART! will be presenting the second annual Chalk the Walk on Aug. 15th from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Artists, professional and amateur and young and old, will be able to purchase a square section of concrete by the City Center to decorate with chalk pastels. There will also be a children’s section for fun scribbling. Using materials available, artists will follow the theme “GO ART!...Where does art take YOU?” to create inspired pieces for a crowd of at least 2,000 people.

Prizes will be awarded to those whose pieces are most outstanding. Adult First Prize will be $250. People’s Choice Award will be a $20 Alex’s Place gift card, two T-shirts, and two mugs. The Youth Prize will be a basket of goodies worth more than $50.

A jury will select the winners for Adult First Prize and the Youth Prize. People’s Choice will be chosen by the general public by way of donation voting (ie: the art piece that receives the most donation money will be the People’s Choice winner). All donations collected for the People’s Choice Award will go to funding GO ART! youth programming.

To sign-up for this event, people need to register online at http://www.goart.org/chalk-the-walk/ or register in person at GO ART!, 201 E. Main St., Batavia, from Tuesday through Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. People can also sign up and pay the day of the event but it is highly encouraged to do so ahead of time. Remember, no one is officially registered until payment is received.

Fees are $20 for adults (18+) and $10 for Youths (17 & under). Every registered artists will receive a box of chalks and a drink to get them started. There will be a chalk swap area where people can trade out their chalks for other colors they need. Artists are encouraged to bring their own chalks as well.

It is important to assure that each artist and their work, as well as the event itself, is respected, so there will be rules and regulations. These are available on the Web site at at http://www.goart.org/chalk-the-walk/.

People can find updates on Chalk the Walk by going to the Web site: http://www.goart.org/chalk-the-walk/ or by following Chalk the Walk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BataviaStreetPaintingFestival.

Chalk the Walk is currently seeking financial sponsors to make this exciting event happen and those interested should e-mail or call Gena Korn at americorps@goart.org or at (585) 343-9313.

CONTACT PERSON: GENA KORN
PHONE #: 585.343.9313
E-MAIL: americorps@GOart.org

Throughout the morning and early afternoon, the Genesee County Fair has been slowing coming into shape.

A little later this afternoon, the fairgrounds should really be humming.

Here's today's schedule:

2:30pm - 4-H Market Sheep Show & Showmanship - Show Ring
2:30pm - 4-H Meat Goat Show & Showmanship - Open Dairy Building
2-8pm - Mr. Scribbles - Exhibition Building
5-10pm - MIDWAY OPENS - Amusement Area
5:30pm - PARADE LINE-UP, Raceway 5 Pits - Fairgrounds
6pm - 4-H Beef Show & Showmanship - Show Ring
6:30pm - GENESEE CO. FAIR GRAND PARADE through the Fairgrounds
7:30pm - Barrel Racing - Horse Arena
8pm - Fair Queen Part 1 - Entertainment Tent Stage
10pm - EXHIBIT HALLS & BUILDINGS CLOSE 

Genesee County's newest retail business -- it opened Saturday -- is catching the consumer trend toward more authentic and artisanal products.

Stocked with handcrafted, infused olive oils and vinegars, speciality chocolates, handcrafted bath items, gourmet spreads and sauces, and one-of-a-kind gift items, The Divine Tree on Main Street in Le Roy was designed by owner Renee Mancini Johnson to appeal to customers who appreciate quality and healthy alternatives to what you might find in a Walmart Superstore.

"I took a lot of time, honestly, I didn't have a lot of time, but I did my homework," Johnson said. "I wanted to get some items that aren't everyday to everyone. It is unique in this aspect in that not everyone knows what to do with an infused olive oil, but there is so much you can do with them. For instance, the butter olive oil, you substitute for any butter or margin you use in a recipe."

Johnson, a lifelong Le Royan, hopes the store will not only appeal to local residents but help bring people from outside the area to shop in Le Roy.

Located inside of one of Le Roy's old Main Street buildings -- most recently a Radio Shack location -- Johnson completed the purchase of the building in April and immediately got busy with remodelling. The original idea was to find the original interior brick walls and expose them, but after stripping away the existing walls, no brick was found, so brick walls were built. The original ornate brass ceiling was uncovered. It had been painted white, so Johnson had it painted with brass metallic paint to bring back that old-time feel.

"A lot of people come in and say they feel like they're not even in Le Roy anymore, and that's what I want," Johnson said.

July 21st - EMERGENCY RESPONDER NIGHT

All Day - Wade Henry - Entertainment Tent
8am-12pm - Final Set-up of Merton & Kennedy Building - Merton Building

    4-H Club Exhibits in place
    4-H Community Service, Promotional & Project Displays

9am - 4-H Market Swine Show & Showmanship - Show Ring
10am - Open Class Rabbit & Chicken Show    - Merton Building
12pm - 4-H Market Goat Show & Showmanship - Show Ring
2:30pm - 4-H Market Sheep Show & Showmanship - Show Ring
2:30pm - 4-H Meat Goat Show & Showmanship - Open Dairy Building
2-8pm - Mr. Scribbles - Exhibition Building
5-10pm - MIDWAY OPENS - Amusement Area
5:30pm - PARADE LINE-UP, Raceway 5 Pits - Fairgrounds
6pm - 4-H Beef Show & Showmanship - Show Ring
6:30pm - GENESEE CO. FAIR GRAND PARADE through the Fairgrounds
7:30pm - Barrel Racing - Horse Arena
8pm - Fair Queen Part 1 - Entertainment Tent Stage
10pm - EXHIBIT HALLS & BUILDINGS CLOSE 

For more information on this year's fair and daily events, please click here to visit our site!

Brad Crocker. Photo by Howard Owens.

Press release:

America's most celebrated “helpful place” is celebrating the grand opening of its newest lumber yard, located in Le Roy. The new lumber yard is an expansion to the existing Crocker's Ace Hardware Store located 8457 North Street Road in Le Roy. Crocker's Hardware and lumber staff will bring the company's unique blend of nationally recognized customer service and quality home-improvement knowledge and products back to Le Roy and the surrounding area residents.

Crocker's Ace Hardware is owned by Brad Crocker and Dan Diskin. Brad is the third generation from the Crocker family to own a business in the Town of Le Roy  His grandfather, Clarence, owned and operated a feed mill and farm supply store on Selden Road. His father, Judd, continued the tradition with his brothers, James and Louis, and built Crocker's Ace Hardware on the current site in 1969. Dan Diskin, Brad's partner,  is a native Le Royan also. He started working at Crocker's in college. Brad and Dan purchased the business from Judd and his brothers in 1998.

Brad lives on Selden Road in Le Roy with his sons, Ben and Cole Crocker, his girlfriend, Nicole Boyce, and her daughter, Christina Woodrow. He keeps busy around the house with his watercross snowmobile racing team. Their kids are active in four-wheeling with dad, Cub Scouts, swimming, youth soccer and youth volleyball. Nicole is a professional photographer who enjoys capturing everything from racing to senior portraits.

Dan is a village resident. At home on Myrtle Street are his wife, Cheryl, their daughters, Jenna and Alison, and son, Jack. A third daughter, Tess Diskin Ryan, recently married Joseph P. Ryan, formally of Batavia. They reside in Camp Lejeune, N.C. Cheryl is the records clerk for the Village of Le Roy Police Department. Jenna is a LIVES graduate of SUNY Geneseo; Alison works at JC Penney in Batavia and is a GCC student. Jack is junior at Le Roy High School and enjoys band and theater.

Brad and Dan have been planning the lumber expansion for several years.

“A lumber yard is something that LeRoy always has had,” Dan Diskin said. “For a long time, Le Roy had two -- Wickes and Lapp Lumber. When Potter Lumber (the former Lapp Lumber) closed, it was just the spark we needed to bring lumber back to the people of Le Roy!”

Brad and Dan worked closely with Mickey Hyde and the team at Bank of Castile to finance the project.

“We felt that working with our hometown bank was the best way for us to do business,” Brad explained. “Using government tax breaks and promising that we could add so many jobs if we got a loan did not interest us at this time.”

Guy Clark Jr., owner of Cedar Street Sales and Rentals, said that as far as he knows, he has the only test-drive lawn for lawnmowers in the area.

Over a period of months, Clark and his sons Connor (pictured with Guy) and Adam transformed what had just been a strip of weeds next to the store's building into a well-manicured lawn where customers can test drive the complete line of Cub Cadet riding mowers.

Clark went all local in designing and building the test drive area. Jon Ehrmentraut of Le Roy designed the yard. The grass came from Batavia Turf. Tri-County Glass and Armor Building Supply provided materials for a new door from the shop into the yard. Sterling Tent made the awning over the door, and the landscaping was purchased from local nurseries.

Clark figures the little park-like addition to his business will also be suitable for community after-work parties.

A two-car accident, unknown injuries, is reported at the intersection of Gabbey and Alleghany roads. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding along with Mercy medics.

Ali is missing. He is a long-haired golden orange cat and is about a year old and weights 10 lbs. He is not fixed. He's been missing since Saturday on Lake Street in Le Roy. He has a collar. If you find Ali or know his whereabouts, contact Rashea Dukes at rashearaniek1@gmail.com -- or at (585) 752-7056.

(To support a local cause, Bruce Gerould wore a Navy jersey and Mark Proia wore an Army jersey for the "Men of Courage." The organization is a ministry of the Batavia Assembly of God Church that coordinates free hunting and fishing trips for wounded veterans. The ministry set up a Facebook page so people could track their progress and make donations.)

Bruce Gerould, of Oakfield, and Mark Proia, of Pavilion, pedaled more than 4,400 miles from Oregon to Virginia in the 2015 Trans Am Bike Race.

They set out to finish the bike race in 33 days and rode an average of 132 miles per day to accomplish their goal. They crossed the finish line on July 9. 

The race started in Astoria, Ore., on June 6 and ended in Yorktown, Va. The course was composed of all roads and went across 10 states.The race was self-supported so there were no entry fees, official checkpoints or prizes. Participants rode at their own pace and were responsible for their own food and lodging.

The two friends started their journey each day at 6 a.m. During the day, they took short breaks every three hours and a longer break for lunch. Their lunch typically consisted of prepackaged muffins and sandwiches from a convenient store. After lunch, they continued biking until they found a hotel around 11 p.m.

Gerould enjoyed riding through the Rocky Mountains and seeing the scenery of each state.

"It's a good way to see the country and can be very relaxing," Gerould said. "There is so much that you see from a bike as opposed to a car whizzing by at 60 mph. We seen moose and had a bear encounter in Virginia. The people you encounter along the way are great, too."

They were constantly biking through mountains and rural areas. The only time Proia remembered biking on flat land was in Kansas but that even proved to be a challenge due to strong winds.

"One particular day going across Kansas there was a 20-mile stretch where we had to jog south directly into the wind," Gerould said. "It took three and and a half hours to go 20 miles."

They also encountered heavy rain and flooding traveling through Kentucky.

"We would get up in the morning and put on our rain gear," Gerould said. "By midday, if we were lucky, it would stop raining but usually by evening it would start raining again. There was a lot of days we would put the same wet clothes back on and start riding again."

Gerould considers it a huge accomplishment to not only finish the race but to do it within their set goal of 33 days. In the beginning, 41 people were riding in the race but only about half crossed the finish line.

Even though they both extensively trained for the race, they still are recovering from minor injuries. Gerould is recouping from a pinched nerve in his right shoulder and Proia spent a couple days in the hospital on antibiotics for an infected foot blister. They are both resting up before they participate in several local mountain bike races later this summer.