Due to the moderate drought conditions present throughout Genesee County, starting Monday Dec. 4, the Town of Pembroke will fill approved water containers for town residents by appointment between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Town Highway Garage, located at 1145 Main Road.
If you’re a Town of Pembroke resident and in need of water, please call the Town Clerk at 585-599-4892, Ext. 102 or 103 and please leave your name and phone number to schedule an appointment.
Dr. Nick Ryan, Dr. Tom Mazurkiewicz, Theresa Wlazlak, and Pastor Ryan Macdonald. Photo by Howard Owens.
Chiropractors Tom Mazurkiewicz and Nick Ryan are sponsoring their annual toy drive in support of City Church's efforts to spread Christmas cheer to local children.
Donors who bring a new, unwrapped toy will receive a complimentary adjustment during their next scheduled visit. The offer is open to new patients. The office at 184 Washington Ave., Batavia, is accepting donations through Dec. 15.
All donations benefit families in Genesee County who may not otherwise be able to receive a gift this holiday due to economic hardship.
The toys will be distributed by City Church at St. Anthony's on Liberty Street on Dec. 19 from 6 to 8 p.m.
A donation of four pallets of drinking water by Eric Santos, second from left, of Casella Waste Systems, arrives at Bethany Town Hall Friday morning for residents who have been struggling without water. Submitted Photo
As town officials and residents work through a water shortage brought on by drought, all of them have said it has been the worst they have ever seen since living in Bethany, many of them for decades. Fill dates are being scheduled week by week from a tanker that was provided by the state Office of Emergency Management.
Santa came early again for a visit Friday morning, in the form of a donation of four pallets of bottled water all ready to be distributed to residents, Supervisor Carl Hyde Jr. said. Operations Manager Eric Santos of Casella Waste Systems had heard about Bethany's plight and showed up with his crew and the much-welcomed donation of water at town hall, Hyde said.
"The town of Bethany will start distributing these cases to the residents on the list whose wells have gone dry on Tuesday morning during normal office hours during the week and on Tuesday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. during tote fill time and Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m.," Hyde said.
Bethany residents in need who have not yet called the town hall for help are asked to call 585-343-1399, Ext. 202 to leave your name, phone number and address to be put on the list for the town supervisor.
At least 100 residents -- though some people have claimed it's far more than that through social media postings -- have been without water due to their wells being dry, and they have had to transport water from other areas up to the tanker being delivered this past week.
Hyde said that more dates will be scheduled soon, as the plan is to continue to fill residents’ totes until the tanker is empty, get that refilled by the county, and then repeat for as long as the town has the tanker.
2019 File Photo of Elba Central's production of Beauty and the Beast. The stage is to be transformed this weekend by Rochester City Ballet during a performance of "The Nutcracker Suite" on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Photo by Howard Owens
Not only will the Elba community be hosting Rochester City Ballet for a seasonal treat of “The Nutcracker Suite” this weekend, but the students have already been able to nibble on portions of the professional troupe’s theatrics while preparing for its debut at Elba High School’s auditorium, Superintendent Gretchen Rosales says.
After GO Art! Executive Director Gregory Hallock found out that his other venue option was booked for the show earlier this year, he reached out to Elba because of its beautiful stage and venue at the school, Rosales said. When she was asked whether she’d consider hosting Rochester City Ballet, it was a most definite yes.
“The arts are a wonderful addition to any community, and I’m very proud of our school, and so, to be able to host them here was an easy decision. And it’s been so fun for our own kids to see how a big production like this takes place. So it’s been great, and it’s been super fun,” Rosales said. “They’ve been here all week (rehearsing) and been in and out the past month or so. Their technical director met with our technical director. (Dancers Shannon Rodriguez and Megan Kamler) did a presentation to our student body, they showed them snippets of the dance but also read the Nutcracker story to them. It was super, it was interactive and a lot of participation from the audience.”
For anyone unfamiliar with that story, it features Clara, a young girl who ventures from her bedroom into the wondrous realm of The Land of Sweets. In this magical wonderland, there are graceful waltzing flowers, twirling snowflakes, and a captivating transformation of enchanted toys.
The Nutcracker and Tchaikovsky’s hypnotic score go hand in hand for a timeless piece of choreography and a classic tale told through leaps and bounds in a mesmerizingly colorful, and graceful, yet athletic, performance.
There are no Elba Central students in the performance itself, but some of them will be supporting the tech people, and about a handful will be ushers during the shows, Rosales said.
“For me, it was important to be able to say yes, we would host them. We’re not charging for rehearsal space, we’re not charging them for the time in which they’ve been in the building, because this is a big opportunity for the community to be able to support in that way and just say yes, we have this ability," she said. "And they loved it. They said, you really have the most beautiful school, you have such a beautiful auditorium. And it's really breathtaking to see the backdrops that they've put up for their presentation and to see how our space was transformed for something of this professional capacity, so it's been great, a great experience.
“There’s been a lot of excitement for it. Students were able to see a part of the presentation ahead of time and said to their parents, get me tickets!"
All students, from universal pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, were invited to participate in the presentation, and learn how props are brought in and managed, and how backdrops and sets are put up, she said. Other lessons have included make-up and costumes, which might just come in handy for Elba’s own upcoming spring show, “The Little Mermaid,” in March.
It has been a special opportunity for “those that have been bitten by the acting and performing bug,” to be watching in the wings, excited to see what a different kind of production looks like, she said.
Elba students met students involved in ballet who are in the show, and they have talked to one another about the different elements involved in such a production and asked questions about how they got involved in dance, she said.
“So it’s been a neat cultural experience,” she said. “It’s just been a great experience overall.”
This event was funded in part by the Oliver G. And Sarah Sloan Bauman Fund for the Arts through the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, facilitated by GO Art! Performances are at 6 p.m. Friday, 2 and 6 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the school auditorium, 57 S. Main St., Elba.
SayDah might have something to say, she is, after all, Siamese, and we know how Siamese kitties like to talk. She might not be the talk of the town, though, because she is a bit shy.
She wandered from her home on Walnut Street near South Main, and her human, Rick, is concerned that she hasn't returned in a few days. He's offering a $100 reward for her return/recovery.
In May, we launched a program that enables our readers to help support local journalism.
It's called Early Access Pass and enables members to read selected stories before non-members. Currently, selected stories require a membership to read during the first four hours of publication.
In order to enhance the value of an Early Access Pass membership, starting Jan. 1, members will get the first crack at buying Deals of the Day coupons.
During the first four hours of a Deal of the Day post, only Early Access Pass members will be able to purchase Deal of the Day coupons.
To ensure you don't miss out on valuable discounts, sign up for Early Access Pass today by visiting
Use the Discount Code DOD10OR15 for either 10 percent off on the first year of an annual membership or 15 percent off each month for six months of a monthly membership.
December 2022 File Photo of Le Roy Winterfest Photo by Howard Owens
Le Roy Winterfest is set for noon to 5 p.m. Saturday with pop-up vendors, store specials, a visit from Santa Claus, plenty of children's activities, holiday decorations and oodles more, according to organizers' schedules.
Other activities include:
Free zero gravity massage chair sessions and posture scanning at Genesee Country Chiropractic
Tastings, raffle and specials at Mill Street Liquor, and a raffle, coupons and cookies and refreshments at Picture This Photography
A thrift sale at First Baptist Church, and vendor blender and food for purchase at Le Roy First Presbyterian Church
An open house at Le Roy House and Jell-O Gallery, Town Hall trees, where Lynne Belluscio will be discussing the barn quilt trail
Santa and a craft show at Le Roy Moose Family Center
A scavenger hunt and free hot chocolate and cookies at Save-a-lot
Free kids craft and face painting at The Art of Mandy
Bounce house and kids activity at Le Roy Fire Hall
Christmas story times at 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. at The Hope Center of Le Roy
Hot chocolate, doughnuts and pictures with your dog at VIP K9
Buddy the Elf and Jovie and fill out a postcard to Santa at Farmers Creekside
Face painting, balloon animals, crafts and kids games at Living Waters Church
Sunshine Nursery School hosting selfies with Santa at BeyonDriven
Kids crafts and take home cookie decorating kit at Woodward Memorial Library
The Genesee County 4-H Program is now accepting registrations for its 2024 4-H Youth Tractor Safety Program. The program is open to youth aged 14 and over and covers farm safety, tractor safety, tractor operation, and other related topics.
This program is a part of the National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program, which is a certification program that allows youth ages 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 April at farm machinery dealerships throughout Genesee County. The fee for the program is $25 and youth must also be currently enrolled 4-H members. Registrations are due Jan. 27. To register for the program or receive more information, please contact the Genesee County 4-H Office at genesee4h@cornell.edu or (585) 343-3040 ext. 101. Registration forms are also available online at http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu/4htractorsafety.
The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) are alerting residents to rising cases of syphilis and congenital syphilis. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that is most often spread through sexual contact. Congenital syphilis is a preventable disease that occurs when a mother with syphilis passes the infection on to the baby during pregnancy.
In 2020, there were 12.1 confirmed cases of syphilis per 100,000 population, and to date in 2023, there have been 33.3 cases per 100,000 population, which include confirmed cases and probable cases pending investigation. With a rise in cases, particularly among women, GO Health has also seen a rise in congenital syphilis cases.
Syphilis and congenital syphilis can lead to serious health complications, but they are preventable with screening, early detection, and treatment. “Syphilis is caused by a bacteria that enters the body during oral, vaginal, or anal sex. It can also enter through broken skin that is exposed to the syphilis bacteria”, stated Brenden Bedard, Director of Community Health Services for GO Health. “Newborns can get congenital syphilis before birth or during vaginal delivery if the mother has syphilis.”
Signs and symptoms of syphilis may or may not be noticeable. They may include a painless sore on the genitals, anus, or mouth; a rash on the body; tiredness; fever; sore throat; headaches; swollen glands; loss of appetite; weight loss; patchy hair loss; muscle aches, and fatigue. Oftentimes the signs of syphilis go away and the person does not have it checked out.
If not treated for syphilis, an infected person even without symptoms can still infect others, including an unborn baby. Having syphilis once does not protect you from getting it again, even after successful treatment. A person can get it many times, so that is why people and their partner(s) must get tested and successfully treated. If your sex partner(s) does not get tested or treated, you may get syphilis again. The longer the person waits to be treated, the more damage the disease causes to the body.
Syphilis can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, neonatal death, blindness or deafness, bone abnormalities, skin lesions, developmental delays, and other serious health problems to a developing baby. The best way to protect babies from congenital syphilis is to get screened throughout the pregnancy and just prior to delivery.
Here are some ways to prevent the spread of syphilis:
Not having sex (abstinence) is the only sure way to avoid infection.
Limit sex partners, especially if pregnant.
Use latex or polyurethane condoms each time during oral, anal, or vaginal sex.
If you or your partner have any sores on the genitalia, anus, or mouth, or unexplained rashes on the body, talk with your healthcare provider and get tested. Do not have sex until both partners are fully treated.
Get tested often for sexually transmitted infections/diseases.
If you are pregnant, talk with your healthcare provider about being tested to protect your baby.
If you know someone who is pregnant, encourage them to get tested.
For more information on Syphilis and other Sexually Transmitted Infections, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
For more information on Health Department programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org or call your respective health department at:
Genesee County: 585-344-2580 ext. 5555
Orleans County: 585-589-3278
Follow GO Health on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at GOHealthNY.
Batavia Police responded to a shots fired incident in the area of Oak and North Lyon Streets on Wednesday at approximately 5:25 p.m. in the city of Batavia. It was reported the shots came from a black SUV that was last seen heading north on Oak Street.
The incident appears to have been targeted, police said in a press release. There have been no reported injuries. No further details will be released at this time due to the ongoing investigation.
Anyone with information about the case may contact Detective Matthew Wojtaszczyk at 585-345-6357, or the Batavia Police Department at 585-345-6350, the confidential tip line at 585-345-6370 or online.
Christmas in the City parade in 2021. Photo by Howard Owens.
Press release:
Join us in the holiday spirit at the annual Christmas in the City celebration on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 2 to 6 p.m. with the Downtown Holiday Parade starting at 6 p.m.
Christmas in the City activities include pictures with Santa, holiday crafts, cookie decorating, chili, hot cocoa, face painting, sleigh rides, family portraits and more! Several downtown businesses will be offering activities, crafts, and in-store specials. For a full listing of activities, go to www.bataviabid.com.
The parade begins promptly at 6 p.m. at Wendy's and makes its way down Main Street east toward Liberty/Summit Streets.
Join us in our scavenger bunt bingo throughout Downtown, exploring and and supporting our small businesses. Bingo begins at Iburi Photography at 35 Jackson St. and ends at GO ART!, 201 East Main St. There are 22 business bingo stops.
This Friday begins the 3rd Annual Shared Open Houses for two locally owned small businesses – Norton’s Chizzelwood and JP Designs, Plus.
Their gift shops are full of products for your holiday shopping, offering many handmade and specialty items.
Are you looking for wood-burned American flags, laser-etched and stitched items, shelves, side tables, cupboards, and wooden flower arrangements? How about a special home décor item, outdoor poly furniture set, primitives, Buffalo Bills item? You’ll find all of these and more throughout these two shops.
Located at 4309 Gilhooly Road in Alexander (Norton’s Chizzelwood) and 4096 East Main Street Road, Attica (JP Designs, Plus), these businesses are only 4 miles apart. When you stop in at each location, a slip will be validated to enter you into the grand prize drawing for the “Basket of Joy” valued at approximately $100. Make a purchase, and you’ll be entered twice into the drawing.
Hours for the Shared Open Houses are this Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Why not submit a Wish List for yourself once you shop? The owners will then reach out to family members of your choice and suggest items that YOU might “wish” for. Stop in and enjoy some refreshments, hot cider and special savings!
On behalf of both Fran and Bobbi at Norton’s Chizzelwood and Joe and Judy at JP Designs, Plus – thank you for supporting small businesses throughout the year and have a safe, happy and healthy Holiday Season.
The air is crisp, the trees are bare, and there is an anticipation of the season of thanks, peace, and joy all around. With this change of season, it is once again time for the “Quiet Fund’s” gentle reminder. The Twenty-five Neediest Children’s Fund, Inc. is once again reaching out to our community for compassion and financial support as we continue to help children in the Batavia City Schools.
The Twenty-five Neediest Children’s Fund, Inc., was begun during the Great Depression. It was the aspiration of the school physician at the time, Dr. Dexter Pierce, to establish a fund that would help the children of the Batavia City School District when a need arose that was greater than what their parents could manage. The initial problem was that many children needed to have their tonsils removed. The physicians involved graciously waived their fee, but the surgery involved an overnight stay which cost families $7.50 per night. For many, the cost of the overnight stay was too much for their families. Thus, the Twenty-five Neediest Children’s Fund, Inc. was created. Now, we continue solely for the same purpose as was identified in 1933.
To assist those who “fall between the cracks”; the working poor; and those who just have no other means to provide what their child needs. The Twenty-five Neediest Children’s Fund, Inc. assists with medical care, dental care, prescription drugs, mental health care, clothing, coats, shoes, sneakers, eye exams and glasses, counseling, beds, backpacks, requirements for BOCES classes (cosmetology kits and steel toed work boots), fees for AP classes, and fees for GCC courses, and other educational needs and educational toys.
As students’ needs are identified by teachers, their school nurse, school counselors, or school social workers, the concerns are conveyed to Nancy Haitz, R.N., C.P.N.P, Batavia City School District’s Office of the Coordinator of Health Services.
Mrs. Haitz then contacts child’s parents, and if it is determined that they are in need of assistance, the Quiet Fund steps in to help. The parents select what care is to be provided, and by whom, in order to provide a remedy. The Twenty-five Neediest Fund simply pays the bills without red tape or publicity. The fund committee remains unaware of the identity of the child or parent so as to preserve the dignity of the family. For the past ninety years our fund has helped thousands and thousands of students. We feel fortunate that we have never turned away a student who was in need, nor have we ever run out of funds.
The Twenty-five Neediest Fund has been nicknamed the “Quiet Fund” or the “Quiet Charity” as we only make one annual appeal at the Holiday Season. Furthermore, we seek no public acknowledgement or fanfare for the work which is done for the children of the Batavia City School District. Yet we have found that people of this good community, and beyond, must feel as we do. For they remember and contribute to help the students. We are ever grateful for all of you who contribute primarily during the holiday season, but we are also blessed with gifts throughout the year.
A significant feature of the Quiet Fund is that all donations are turned into benefits. We are proud to act as a true charity without any administrative costs! All funds collected by the Quiet Fund are used to assist the children. Every gift is a gift of love and is an affirmation that no child should go without.
Anyone interested in contributing to the Quiet Fund may make their check payable to the Twenty-five Neediest Children’s Fund, Inc. to be sent to Nann K. Zorn, 12 River Street, Batavia, NY 14020. To assist a child, and their parent, in this way is a wonderful and immeasurable gift. On behalf of the children, and their parents, helped by your generosity and gifts of love, we extend to you a most sincere thank you and warm holiday wishes.
The Twenty-five Neediest Fund Committee, Nancy Arras, Benjamin J. Bonarigo Jr., Esq., Nancy Haitz, Sara Zorn Schroeder, Virginia Tiede, Nann K. Zorn
Tee's Golf Sim, the first and only indoor golf simulator facility in Le Roy, is excited to announce its grand opening at 12 Main St., 2nd Floor, Le Roy. Since its opening on Nov. 15, Tee's Golf Sim has been offering a unique and immersive golfing experience to local enthusiasts, inviting them to enjoy their passion for golf all year round.
At Tee's Golf Sim, golfers of all skill levels have the opportunity to play on world-renowned courses without leaving the comfort of their hometowns. The facility currently boasts one high-end simulator featuring hundreds of courses, with plans to expand and add a second simulator station in the near future. This state-of-the-art technology not only provides an incredibly realistic golfing experience but also offers players the chance to analyze and improve their game regardless of the weather outside.
Understanding the busy schedules of modern golfers, Tee's Golf Sim has made booking sessions as convenient as possible. Tee times can be easily scheduled directly through their website, teesgolfsim.com, ensuring that golf enthusiasts can fit a round into even the most hectic schedules.
Owner Antonio Calabrese, says, “We’re thrilled to bring this unique golfing experience to LeRoy. Our goal is to create a space where golfers can practice, play, and enjoy the game of golf year-round, regardless of the weather.”
Tee's Golf Sim is not just a facility; it's a community hub for golf lovers. Whether you're looking to escape the cold, improve your game, or simply have a fun outing with friends, Tee's Golf Sim offers an unparalleled indoor golfing experience.
For more information or to book your tee time, visit teesgolfsim.com. Stay updated on our latest news and offers by following us on Facebook at facebook.com/teesgolfsim and Instagram at instagram.com/teesgolfsim.
Genesee County Economic Development Center officials have severed their ties with Savarino Companies and asked for more than $1 million of tax benefits back, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications Jim Krencik says.
“This action includes cancellation of the lease leaseback agreement, the tax agreement (payment in lieu of taxes) and the sales tax exemption agreement, and have returned the three parcels involved back to the taxable side of the tax rolls,” Krencik said Tuesday.
The EDC officials sent Ellicott Station LLC and Ellicott Station Commercial LLC related legal notices due to their “lack of curing of the default on our local tax agreement,” Krencik said.
He referred The Batavian to an explanation CEO Steve Hyde gave The Batavian in an Aug. 23 article.
“To clarify, the majority of the GCEDC financial agreements for the project are termed over 30 years that start following the completion of the project. These are structured as performance-based. Additionally, the project was notified in July that it is in default of its GCEDC financial agreements and is currently in a cure period to meet the goals of a workforce housing project,” Hyde said in the August article. “In light of the news yesterday, the project being in default to our financial agreements enables the GCEDC to have a greater role in ensuring a positive solution as we work with all parties involved. We continue to work with the City of Batavia towards this goal."
On Tuesday, Krencik said, “Additionally, we have issued a demand letter to Savarino Companies demanding repayment of the sales and mortgage tax benefits enjoyed by the project to this point, and we are attempting to claw back $1.1 million of those benefits.”
One of Savarino’s Ellicott Street properties was also fined for neglected property maintenance, along with a number of others, to the tune of an extra $30,000 for city cleanups of grass, weeds and debris, City Manager Rachael Tabelski said this week.
During Monday's City Council meeting, Tabelski asked council for a budget amendment to increase the expense line for “multiple grass, weed, and debris violations” this year. While 85 percent of the time, residents will take care of the issue once they’re cited, she said, other times, “we do have to go in and either cut the grass ourselves or remove debris.”
Tabelski gave The Batavian a list of citations for Savarino Companies earlier this year that included lack of property maintenance, including overgrown weeds, debris on the premises, and rank vegetation, for Ellicott Station and not securing the partially finished apartment complex on Ellicott Street. Savarino halted work on the project this summer after shutting down his company due to financial issues.
Councilman Bob Bialkowski asked her if the city can recoup the expense of cleaning up these properties, which also included a larger site of the defunct Days Inn at 200 Oak St.
“We bill them at 30 days, we bill them at 60 days, and we bill them at 90 days. And we will bill them again until it's time to put it onto the tax bill. At that time, Heidi's office, the city clerk, will go ahead and levy that amount onto the tax bill,” Tabelski said. “And a lot of times, it'll get paid in conjunction with the late tax bill. So we need to increase the expense line this year by about $30,000. And we are done, with snow on the ground, for grass, weeds and debris. So I don't feel like this will go any higher than where it is this year.”
December 2022 File Photo of Christmas in the City Photo by Howard Owens
Christmas in the City — an annual festive tradition that happens the first weekend in December — will be bringing the usual favorites of Santa Claus, hot cocoa, a parade down Main Street and cheery carolers, along with some new additions of a three-set train display and Serendipity Swing at the new Main St. 56 Theater, Pat Burk says.
Of course, the main event at Batavia City Centre runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and will offer gift-giving shoppers plenty of options with 42 vendors and 64 tables so far throughout the concourse, Burk said. (Vendors may register up to Saturday. For more information, go to bataviaplayers.)
“We have more than last year,” he said. “There will be Christmas decorations, wood designs candles, a lot of handmade stuff and Christmas-themed items. I think people are looking for places to exhibit their things, and I think people are realizing December starts this Friday.”
The Great Lakes and Attica Regional Railroad model train club will be joining the action this year. The club will have three train boards set up with various displays, including a Christmas village and town theme.
At one end of the concourse, near Hawley’s Insurance, there will be a jolly fellow awaiting visits from kids to whisper their Christmas wishes in his ear. Yes, Santa will be there from 1 to 5 p.m.
Two groups of Batavia Players will be singing holiday favorites at downtown shops and along the streets from 1 to 5 p.m. as well, Burk said.
That’s not all that will be happening in Downtown Batavia on Saturday. Beginning at 2 p.m., there are several activities scheduled, including: portraits and ornament crafts at Iburi Photography, cookie decorating at Eden Cafe, a Kids Zone at Tonawanda Valley Federal Credit Union, face painting at The Spa at Artemis, a live nativity, hot cocoa and doughnuts at EverPresent Church, letters to Santa at The Coffee Press, chili tasting at Adam Miller Toys & Bicycles, T-shirt coloring at T-Shirts Etc., sleigh rides at 6 Center St., adult tastings at The Yngodess Shop, cookies and cocoa at Releve Dancewear Boutique, Grinch at GO Art!, brass band and photo booth at Center Street Smoke House, tree lighting at Crossroads House, a scavenger hunt bingo that begins at Iburi Photography and ends at GO Art!, champagne and kisses at My Cut.
Several of the downtown shops will also have holiday specials from 2 to 6 p.m. when the parade is set to begin.
The Business Improvement District has also borrowed an outdoor ice skating rink from Genesee County for use at the parking lot near Alva Place. Deputy Highway Superintendent Paul Osborn said that a rink can be made with just a couple of inches of water, but the temperature needs to be at least 32 degrees, so here's hoping this wintry weather will stick around for some old-fashioned outside skating.
There will also be plenty to do indoors, which he looks forward to, Burk said.
"For us, it’s a tremendous event, the theater will be open for tours — they’ll have to enter from Main Street for theater tours. We like to see the support, we like to see people come in. I love to have all the kids here, the kids make my day. It’s a nice community event, and we have a tremendous amount of crafters and vendors that participate and help support the theater,” Burk said. “I mean, that’s the big thing. Right now, every single cent we can make is supporting our new facility and improvements we have to make here. We’re fortunate that every single show that we’ve done since we’ve ben in the new theater has been either sold out or close to it. Extremely well received, but what people don’t realize is shows cost money, so everything we can do to make sure we can solidify our season for next year, including the fundraising events and everything that happens over Christmas, is a big plus for Downtown Batavia with our theater.”
He likes the idea of having the Buffalo-based “little big band” Serendipity Swing at the outermost edges of the evening to cap off and “stretch out” a full day of festivities. The show goes on at 7:30 p.m. in Main St. 56 Theater.
Serendipity Swing is an eight-musician dance ensemble plus a female vocalist that reflects “a musical style from an era of famous dance halls, glamorous ballrooms, classy supper clubs, hot jazz joints and the most elegant of private parties,” the group’s website states.
“Our music is from the Golden Age of the American Songbook through more current favorites. Our music library, with over 400 titles, contains selections that explore and mirror the beauty of the music elements: melody, harmony and rhythm,” the site states. “It is music that is artful, fun, graceful, whimsical, listenable, danceable and enjoyable to hear. The melodies are memorable. The harmonies are soothing and rich in texture. The tempos, and rhythms, are danceable and toe-tapping.
On Friday, Dec. 1 the Genesee Amateur Hockey Association Ramparts Mite Division (8U) will host their first annual “Merry Mitemas Tournament at the David McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena on Evans Street, Batavia. The Opening game will begin Friday, Dec. 1 at 5 p.m.
Eighteen teams from the Rochester and Buffalo area are participating. Also featured during the Tournament will be a Basket Raffle and 50/50 Drawing on Saturday along with donut sales, and T-shirt sales on Saturday and Sunday (until sold out). The teams participating in this Mite Tournament will be playing half-ice; there will be two games played at the same time. This will be a fun event featuring the youngest players within the Association. Many of these young skaters move up throughout the Association to play on the local high school team.
Volunteers are still needed to run the time clock, keep score and all the other chores that pop up here and there. If you’d like to volunteer please contact Allyson Valyear at Avalyear5@gmail.com.
