During the eclipse events in Corfu, there was something sweet happening at Sweet Dream Maple Farm on Reynolds Road. Owners Al and Amy Stein had the farm open today for maple samplings, lunch, tours of the farm, and their shop was open for business.

When Al heard that the Darien Lake Hotel was going to be open for the eclipse weekend, he wanted to include their farm with all of the local happenings. 

"It's something for the visitors to do," Al said. "I opened everything as an extension of Maple Weekend." 

Nick and Tina were up here on a family trip from Danbury, Conn., with their three kids, Ben, Nicola, and Samantha. They heard of the events happening in Corfu from their Airbnb host, Amy Stein, and decided to keep their eclipse viewings local. 

Another stop was in the village of Corfu for their eclipse viewing party at Pembroke Intermediate School, which was free for all to attend. Many locals gathered for games of corn hole, miniature golf, trivia, and a cookout fundraiser for the church food pantry. 

Jim and Sara Hall of Corfu were excited to spend time with their kids today. 

"I took the day off of work," Jim Hall said. "It looks like it's going to be a dark one." 

He laughed.

"The three-day event was a great success," said Tom Sargent, the village of Corfu mayor. "It was well attended for a small community." 

He recapped that Corfu had the parade and dance on Saturday, which at one point had 45 people on the dance floor learning to square dance. The craft festival and movie night on Sunday also had great turnouts. 

"The weather definitely affected the turnout today," Sargent said. 

Even though it was a cloudy day for everyone in Genesee County, Corfu was able to catch a couple of glimpses between clouds before the total eclipse.

There was widespread agreement that it was an exciting event even though the actual total eclipse wasn't visible.

On Saturday evening, as part of a weekend of eclipse-related events in Corfu, the village hosted a UFO-themed community parade.

Photos by Howard Owens

Carruba's Chicken BBQ is one of many events happening in Corfu this weekend. 

All they are selling chicken barbecues for $15 each, which includes buttered spuds, coleslaw, and a roll. 

When The Batavian stopped by, Jeromy Fincher said that they are only there until sell-out but they should have enough to last until 5 p.m.

All proceeds raised by this event will help benefit the horses at Cherry Hill Farm Sanctuary. For more information about Cherry Hill, visit their website here.

Corfu's next event is the Alien-Themed Parade starting at 6 p.m. It begins at the fire hall on Route 33 and ends at Pembroke Intermediate School on Route 77.

Photos by Kara Richenberg

Dylan T. Jordan, 22, of Bliss, was arrested on a warrant on Jan. 29.  The arrest stems from an incident reported on Jan. 15. Jordan is accused of engaging in a fight with police officers in the emergency room at UMMC. Jordan allegedly placed an officer in a headlock and attempted to strangle him. Jordan was charged with attempted assault 2nd, attempted strangulation 2nd, criminal obstruction of breathing, obstructing governmental administration 2nd, and harassment 2nd. Jordan was arraigned in City Court and released under supervision.

The University at Buffalo has named 4,017 students to the fall 2023 dean's list.

• Katarina Luker of Alexander
• Jake Pope of Alexander
• Annie Slenker of Alexander
• Aaron Bacon of Basom
• Ryan Dillon of Batavia
• Lydia Evans of Batavia
• Evan Preston of Batavia
• Morgan Reimer of Batavia
• Cameron Carlson of Bergen
• Richard Denson of Bergen
• Tyler Sanders of Corfu
• Jaiden Lefort of Darien Center
• Cole Heaney of Le Roy
• John Panepento of Le Roy

UB is New York State's flagship and the largest and most comprehensive institution in the State University of New York system.

"Announcing our dean's list is always an exciting moment," Ann Bisantz, dean of undergraduate education, says. "These students have worked hard and dedicated themselves to their studies and have demonstrated academic excellence in their pursuit of an undergraduate degree at UB."

UB named 4,017 students named to its fall 2023 dean's list.

To qualify for the dean's list, full-time undergraduate students must demonstrate academic excellence by earning a grade point average of at least 3.600 while completing a minimum of 15 or more UB credit hours, of which 12 are graded (A-F) credits. Students are named to the dean's list at the end of the fall and spring semesters.

198 students from Genesee Community College were named to the President's List. Students honored on the President's List have maintained full-time enrollment and earned a quality point index of 3.75 (roughly equivalent to an A) or better.

• Phyllissa Mitzel of Alexander
• Julia Lennon of Alexander
• Kristian Natalizia of Alexander
• Christian Haller of Alexander
• Brendan Burgess of Batavia 
• Rachel Gelabale of Batavia 
• Alexandra Christopher of Batavia
• Ryan Bowen of Batavia
• Alexander Hunt of Batavia
• Michelle Witherow of Batavia
• Elizabeth Clark of Batavia 
• Danielle Clark of Batavia
• Allison Dent of Batavia
• Christian DeSantis of Batavia 
• Aden Chua of Batavia
• Paul Daniszewski of Batavia
• Duane Kross of Batavia
• Ashley Hightower of Batavia 
• Clara Wood of Batavia
• Amanda Audelo of Batavia
• Stacie Stein of Batavia 
• Joseph Perl of Batavia 
• Hailey Smith of Batavia
• Blake Pahuta of Corfu 
• Alec Skeet of Corfu 
• Isabella Wheeler of Darien Center
• Julia Yax of Darien Center 
• Michael Miller of East Bethany 
• Kyra Rhodes of Oakfield 
• Heidi Burdick of Oakfield
• Tyhler Wood of Oakfield
• Kenneth Kline of Oakfield
• Athena Mitchell of Oakfield 
• Erica Scott of Stafford
• Joan-Marie Gabalski of Byron 
• Sean Whiting of Le Roy 
• Mia Hampton of Le Roy 
• Maverick Blachowicz of Le Roy 
• Makayla Grant of Le Roy 
• Willard Prevost of Le Roy 
• Morgan Beverly of Le Roy 
• Shaun Graham of Le Roy
• Bryn Luckey of Le Roy 
• Matthew Bolton of Le Roy 
• Ian Kepple of Le Roy 
• Colton Dziekan of Pavilion 
• Dylan Wiedrich of Pavilion 
• Lauren Russell of Pavilion
• Alaina Rowe of Pavilion

Leah Filter of Corfu was named to The University of Alabama Deans List for the fall semester of 2023.

A total of 13,950 students enrolled during the fall semester 2023 at The University of Alabama were named to the dean's list with an academic record of 3.5 (or above) or the president's list with an academic record of 4.0 (all A's). These driven students are making waves across UA's more than 70 undergraduate programs and 12 colleges and schools.

Press Release:

The Grange is a fraternal organization based on agricultural principles with a long history of grassroots activism which has opportunities for the whole family. There are four levels of Grange: Subordinate (local), Pomona (county), State, and National. Within those levels, there are 7 degrees. The highest degree a Granger can receive is the 7th degree, which is presented at the National Convention. This year the National Convention was held in Niagara Falls. 

Nine members of the Genesee County Pomona Grange earned the 7th degree. Six members from Corfu; Don Koepf, Corrine Koepf, Karen Bridge, Jan Bencic, Becky Perry, and Aurilla Putney. Three members from East Pembroke; Julie, Alexandria (Jomni), and Colton Tarbell. Jomni, East Pembroke Junior Grange Leader, also received the Agricultural Awareness Award. 

For more information about the Genesee County local Granges, contact Joan Phelps, Pomona President, at 585-762-8503.

There are volunteers throughout the county who remain on their department's active rolls after 50, 60, or even 70 years of service. But they aren't typically responding to calls any more.

At 88 years old, after 70 years of service to the Corfu Volunteer Fire Department, Jim Mallory still attends Monday evening training sessions, turns out to emergency calls, sometimes drives a rescue truck, and remains a member of the fire district's board of commissioners.