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Comedy show to be held at Slomba Hall in Batavia Feb. 28 to benefit nonprofits

By Billie Owens

A comedy show to benefit four local nonprofits will be held at Ascension Parish's Slomba Hall on Friday, Feb. 28. It is located at 17 Sumner St. in Batavia.

Tickets are $50 each. VIP packages also available -- $500 for a table for eight, includes VIP seating, signage and table wine.

Paul Venier and Nick Marra are the featured performers.

Come and enjoy a fun night of laughs, heavy hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. Food catered by Dibble Party House.

Registration begins at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 o'clock.

Beneficiaries of the event are: Rochester Regional Health; Batavia YMCA; Strong Memorial Spine Center; and The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis.

Make checks payable to:

Spinal Injury Tournament

C/O Ricky Palermo

5159 Sunset Terrace

Batavia NY 14020

Questions? Contact Ricky Palermo at (585) 739-8522 or email him at:   rickypalermo24@gmail.com

About Paul Venier

Venier was born and raised in Long Island and has spent much of his time in New Jersey as he and a few of his friends started a band called STARK NAKED. In the '70s they went on to become number six on the music charts and were the forerunner for groups like Kiss and Alice Cooper. After a fun stint of touring and playing from Florida to Detroit, Canada and everywhere in between, they landed on the New Jersey shore in 1976.

Venier left the band in 1979 and started a solo career as he began a one-man show, he quickly realized that people really enjoyed his music with a very comedic fun combination that led to repeated sellouts and a well-known restaurant in Lafayette, N.J., called Ye Olde School inn. He has opened for and performed with some of the best comedians and musicians in the world, like Phyllis Diller, Don Rickles, Howie Mandell, Cheap Trick, Jethro Tull, Jay Leno, Soupy Sales, Paul Reiser, etc.

He is currently working on acting again and has just released a CD called “BETTER LATE THAN NEVER” with his serious music. You can find his CD on www.comedytornado.com.

About Nick Marra

Nick Marra is from Syracuse and has been entertaining crowds with his down-to-earth company for more than 20 years. Drawing on his experiences from growing up in an Italian Catholic home, to his current family comprised of two sons in their 20s and a daughter (17 years later), audiences easily relate to his quirky observations.

Marra has performed at the “2017 Red Carpet Live ESPY show on ESPN.” Marra is a cousin of local philanthropist Ricky Palermo and has been supporting his events since the inception of his annual golf tournament. He is known to bring more than five teams every year to the golf tournament.

Batavia Downs' premiere Comedy Night featuring Jimmie 'J.J.' Walker was 'Dy-no-mite!'

By Steve Ognibene

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James Carter "Jimmie" Walker Jr., who played James Evans Jr. ("J.J.") from the mid-'70s TV show "Good Times," headlined Batavia Downs' first of many Comedy Nights scheduled this year. Walker has been entertaining people for more than four decades, from TV to comedy acts with his great one-liners, humor and his signature catchphrase "Dy-no-mite!"

He spoke about the era many years ago when TV had a whoppomg three channel and when it got to be very late, the signal went off the air with a beep and lines. Walker was nominated for Emmys, Golden Globes and more. The 68-year-old guy Bronx native entertained a packed crowd with laughter, wit and charm and was well received by Batavia.

Rochester native Todd Youngman opened the show for Walker.

The next Comedy Night at Batavia Downs is Wednesday, May 11th, with Michael Winslow from "Police Academy."

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Pictured below, Todd Youngman.

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