events

On May 22 and May 29, Darien Lake Theme Park, at 9993 Alleghany Rd. in Darien Center, will feature a marching band competition and parade in addition to other "Music Fest" activities, which will last until 5 p.m.

The parade will begin at 11 a.m. For more information -- including admission prices and the duration of the band competition and parade -- please visit www.GoDarienLake.com or call 599-4641.

Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, at Rt. 63 in East Bethany, will be serving a chicken barbeque until 5 p.m. today

The cost is $8 per adult and $4 per child. Adults can also buy the chicken without any sides for $4. Call 343-4537 for more info.

The Genesee Region Independent Living Center will be having a chicken barbecue from 11 a.m. until sold out on Monday, June 14 at Clor's on West Main Street in Batavia.

Cost is $9 and will help support the programs at the living center.

The Batavia Youth Bureau is hosting an Open House from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 12. Families are invited to visit the Youth Center and check out the wonderful free services offered to area youths, ages 10 –20.

The Youth Center is located at 12 MacArthur Drive,  across from Batavia High School.

Master gardener Jan Beglinger invites people to learn how to landscape with edible plants at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Office, at 420 E. Main St. in Batavia, from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 12.

The cost is $10 per person, and participants are asked to make reservations. To do so, call 343-3040, ext. 106 or e-mail Amy Berry at ame29@cornell.edu.

On May 22 and May 29, Darien Lake Theme Park, at 9993 Alleghany Rd. in Darien Center, will feature a marching band competition and parade in addition to other "Music Fest" activities, which will last until 5 p.m.

The parade will begin at 11 a.m. For more information -- including admission prices and the duration of the band competition and parade -- please visit www.GoDarienLake.com or call 599-4641.

Darien Lake Theme Park's "Music Fest" will lhe held from 10:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 15.

The event will feature choral, orchestral, marching band and instrumental music from groups competing for trophies.

The theme park is located at 9993 Alleghany Rd. in Darien Center.

For more details -- including admission prices -- please visit www.GoDarienLake.com or call 599-4641.

Family Primetime Story Hour is for all ages and is held from 6:30 to 7 p.m. nearly every Thursday at the Richmond Memorial Library.

This event includes stories, music and finger plays. Children are welcome to wear pajamas if they wish.

Please contact the library at 343-9550 for further details.

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for Children will host a walk from Batavia City Hall, 1 Batavia City Center, to the courthouse starting at 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, May 27.

There will also be a display at the courthouse featuring 60 life-size cut-outs, each representing a Genesee County child currently in the foster care system.

Information about CASA and other community agencies will be available at the courthouse. There will also be a $1 Jaycee's hot dog stand.

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for Children will hold a fundraiser at Applebee's, at 8322 Lewiston Rd. in Batavia, from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. on Wednesday, May 12.

Ten percent of each check written for meals will go to CASA for Children, which is dedicated to helping children who are in the family court system due to having suffered physical and/or sexual abuse.

For more details, contact Tara Pariso at tpariso@co.genesee.ny.us, or call 344-2550, ext. 2331.

The Woolly BookWorms will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 8 to discuss "The Hundred Dresses" by Eleanor Estes. The book discussion group at Richmond Memorial Library is for students in grades 3-5 and their favorite adult.

Special guest Peggy Thomas will be talking about writing local history and folktales. She is the author of "Joshua the Giant Frog," a funny story of adventures on the Erie Canal.

Beginning at 11 a.m., Sunday, May 2, there will be a hotdog stand set up at the Batavia WalMart to benefit Volunteers for Animals.

The folks at Jackson St. Grill/Belladessa are generously sponsoring the event and providing the food. They will be offering grilled hotdogs, chips and pop with all proceeds going to VFA. The volunteers say they hope you will come out for a dog and drink to help out the animals at the Genesee County Animal Shelter.

The Batavia City School District's budget vote and board election will take place from noon until 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18.

Residency in the school district is required for voting eligibility. Voting will take place at the following sites:

• Jackson Elementary School, 411 South Jackson St.
• Robert Morris Elementary School, 80 Union St.
• Batavia Middle School, 96 Ross St.

Please contact the board office at 343-2480 for more information.

The "Have a Heart" Chinese Auction for little Keegan Delcamp will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 1 at Batavia Downs Racetrack and Casino.

He will turn 3 in July and is tiny for his age because he is among the one in 300,000 children in the nation afflicted with Bland-Garland-White Syndrome.

The Batavia Board of Education will hold a regular meeting in the Board Office Conference Room, 39 Washington Ave., beginning at 8 p.m., Monday, May 24. All are welcome to attend.

At 7 p.m., an hour prior to the public meeting, the board will meet in closed session.

For more information, please contact the board office at 343-2480, ext. 1000.

The Batavia Board of Education will hold a budget hearing in the Jackson School multi-purpose room, 411 South Jackson St., beginning at 8 p.m., Monday, May 4. All are welcome to attend.

At 7 p.m., an hour prior to the public meeting, the board will meet in closed session.

For more information, please contact the board office at 343-2480, ext. 1000.

EaGeR is a support group for the families of special needs children. Its monthly meeting will be from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, May 7 at the Northgate Free Methodist Church's North Campus, 8160 Bank Street Road. The topic of this session will be CSE (Committee on Special Education) meetings.

All parents and families of special needs children of all ages are welcome and encouraged to attend.

For more details, contact:

Melody McMaster -- 343-4707, or e-mail <samcmaster@juno.com>

The Natural Parenting Network is hosting a May Day party beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 1 at 50 Clinton St in Batavia.

Children will get to do crafts, like creating May Day baskets and have fun.

And some local organic/natural food producers will be there, too, with their goods, including Porter Farms and Beam'n Farms, which is donating grass-fed beef for the party.

Community Action of Orleans & Genesee will hold its annual Community Appreciation Luncheon beginning at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, May 17 at the American Legion Hall in Albion.

The hall is located at 131 S. Main St.

The luncheon will highlight accomplishments of Community Action as well as services provided to residents of Orleans and Genesee counties. It will also provide an opportunity to say 'thank you' by recognizing individuals and organizations for their continued support and generosity.

Please RSVP by April 30 by calling 589-5605.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County’s Master Gardeners will host the annual Garden Gala from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 22.

It will be held at the extension, 420 E. Main St. in Batavia. The plant sale will start promptly at 10, featuring indoor and outdoor plants, a chance auction, free soil pH testing and gardening advice by certified Master Gardeners. Refreshments will be available for a nominal fee.

Don’t miss your chance to pick up some great plants for your own garden.