As the Headline Sponsor this year, Alex’s Place will be on site serving up their amazing menu. We are pleased to have with us also this year Batavia’s Original Pizzeria, Yancey’s Fancy, Cheesed and Confused Food truck, Buffalo Brew Fab, The Bavarian Nut Factory, Santiago Cigar Factory, and more!

Tickets are still available at Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle, Angotti Beverage and Batavia Bootery until Friday at 5 p.m., and then available at the event. Get your tickets today for Beertavia this Saturday!

The OHMS Band will be performing live and there will be some great raffles! Click here to purchase your tickets now.

Press release:

Once again the Richmond Memorial Library will be offering a series of computer classes designed for those who are finally ready to take the plunge and learn the ins and outs of computers and those who would like to improve their computer skills. There is no charge.

Registration is required and can be done by stopping at the library or calling 343-9550.

The classes that you can choose from are:

Windows 10 – Introduction to Windows 10, the latest operating system from Microsoft.  Use our machine or bring your Windows 10 machine.

• Wednesday, Sept. 6 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Computer Basic & Internet Basic – Learn to read a computer advertisement and get the one that’s right for you: desktop, laptop, tablet, smartphone. Explore! Discover! Learn! Surf the Internet using a common browser. Find out about websites and links; use search engines to find information you want to know.

• Wednesday, Sept. 6 – 1 to 4 p.m.

Email Start to Finish – Learn about email and sign up for a new account, if desired.  If you already have an email address log into it and let’s get the most from it!

• Friday, Sept. 15 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Gadgets and Gear/Open Access – Bring your questions and gadgets! Ereaders, phones, laptops, tablets!

• Friday, Sept. 15 – 1  to 4 p.m.

Internet Resources: Safety, Security, Fun! – Take your Internet experience to the next level! Examine Youtube, Twitter, Wikipedia, and your Library Catalog! Help keep your computer, yourself, and your loved ones safer while surfing.

• Wednesday, Sept. 27 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Gaga for Google! Cut, Copy, Paste! – Do you use Google? This powerful tool is more than a search engine! We’ll explore some of its many uses. Please note: This class is for people who are very comfortable using the Internet, and also navigating Web pages. We will also copy information from the Internet into the Microsoft Word program.

• Wednesday, Sept, 27 – 1 to 4 p.m.

Facebook Combo – Learn about Facebook and sign up for an account, if desired.  If you already have an account, let’s get the most from it!

• Tuesday, Oct. 3 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Library Downloads – Learn about all the options the library offers – eBooks, audiobooks, movies, music, and magazines.  See what is available, see how to download it to your device.

• Tuesday, Oct. 3 – 1  to 4 p.m.

Windows 10 – Introduction to Windows 10, the latest operating system from Microsoft.  Use our machine or bring your Windows 10 machine.

• Friday, Oct. 20 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Gadgets and Gear/Open Access – Bring your questions and gadgets! Ereaders, phones, laptops, tablets!

• Friday, Oct. 20 – 1  to 4 p.m.

Computer Basic & Internet Basic – Learn to read a computer advertisement and get the one that’s right for you: desktop, laptop, tablet, smartphone. Explore! Discover! Learn! Surf the Internet using a common browser. Find out about web sites and links; use search engines to find information you want to know.

• Wednesday, Nov. 1 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Internet Resources: Safety, Security, Fun! – Take your Internet experience to the next level! Examine Youtube, Twitter, Wikipedia, and your Library Catalog! Help keep your computer, yourself, and your loved ones safer while surfing.

• Wednesday, Nov. 1 – 1  to 4 p.m.

Submitted information and photos (top photo by Kevin Mazur):

Country music icon Clint Black is heading our way – Le Roy to be exact -- to play the Jam at the Ridge on Saturday (Aug. 12^th).

"We’re always excited to come to Western New York," Black said in an email to The Batavian. "I know how great the country fans are up there and we don’t get back nearly enough!"

The multimillion selling country mega-star recently released "On Purpose," his first full-length album of new songs in a decade.

"The show we’re doing on this tour is designed for intimate performing arts theaters," Black said, "but we’re always looking for a chance to take the show to outdoor venues like (Le Roy), so we’re really looking forward to Saturday night!"

The release of "On Purpose" was done on his own terms.

“To me, it’s only a ‘comeback’ in that I’m putting out something new,” says the award-winning singer-songwriter. “As someone who has never stopped working, I don’t see me as having gone away, as I tour extensively, write and produce for television, films as well as other artists."

During his hiatus, Black was courted by the majors (labels). All of them wanted him to sing other writers’ songs, but Black insisted on writing his own, as well as to being his own producer.

“I really don’t want to conform to what other people think I should be doing with my music,” he says, bearing no ill will to major music corporations. “Instead, I’ll take my chances just being me. So I ended up just walking away from those opportunities. Our journey took us to Thirty Tigers Records, where I really feel I can be myself.”

(Thirty Tigers also distributes music by such independent spirits as Marty Stuart, Shooter Jennings, Jason Isbell, Lucinda Williams, The Eli Young Band, Pat Green, Aaron Watson, The Avett Brothers, Chase Rice, Billy Joe Shaver, Sturgill Simpson, Bruce Robison, Jessi Colter, etc.)

Black’s "On Purpose" compiles a strikingly diverse group of his self-produced songs. His ballads “Only One Way to Live,” “Stay Gone,” “Breathing Air” and “The Last Day” have never cut deeper, while his spirited “Beer” and “Better and Worse” are among the most upbeat songs he has ever crafted. “Time For That,” “Doing It Now For Love” and “Summertime Song” are catchy examples of how groove-soaked his music can be.

The lilting “You Still Get to Me” marks Black’s third duet with his wife, actress Lisa Hartman Black. “Calling It News” is a wry, topical statement. “The Trouble” is colored by Australian slang.

These new songs continue a stellar career. To date, Clint Black has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide and racked up 57 charted singles, 31 top-10 hits and 22 number-one smashes. Recordings such as “A Better Man,” “Killin’ Time,” “Like the Rain,” “When I Said I Do" and “Nothin’ But the Taillights” have led to honors from from the Country Music Association, The Academy of Country Music, The Grammys, and the American Music Awards, as well as membership in the cast of the Grand Ole Opry.

Raised in the suburbs of Houston, Texas, Clint Black is the youngest of four brothers. He began performing with brother, Kevin at the family’s backyard barbecues. After high school, he worked construction for a year and spent 10 years on the local nightclub circuit. He auditioned for a Nashville recording contract in 1988. The following year, he led a movement of young talent that transformed country music into a multimillion dollar industry in the 1990s.

“I don’t really feel like I was leading a change in country music,” he said. “It just felt like big success to me. I would hear things like, ‘So-and-so is going to record, and they’re using their own band because you did.’ Or, ‘So-and-so wants to write more of their own songs, because you did.’

"But I don’t feel like I changed anything, other than contributing my work to the big picture. That’s my humble assessment of it. It’s hard to look at myself and see the impact I’ve had. I do know that my songs have touched a lot of people.”

He married fellow Houstonian, and actress Lisa Hartman in 1991, their daughter, Lily Pearl, was born in 2001, and the family subsequently relocated from Los Angeles to Nashville.

Black took on new challenges in addition to producing records, touring and writing songs by becoming an actor and a video director. He has founded several song publishing companies. He has been a musician recording and playing live with Kenny Loggins, Toto, Billy Joel, Jimmy Buffett and others. His vocal collaborators have included Martina McBride, Wynonna, Roy Rogers, The Pointer Sisters, Waylon Jennings, Bruce Hornsby, Eric Idle and Steve Wariner. Among his songwriting partners have been Wariner, Merle Haggard, Michael McDonald, Marty Stuart, Bill Anderson and Jimmy Buffett.

In 2004, he scaled the top of the charts by trading lines with Buffett, Alan Jackson, George Strait, Toby Keith and Kenny Chesney on the Hank Williams classic “Hey Good Looking." He contributed “The Great Mississippi Flood" to the 2005 post-Katrina charity album "Hurricane Relief: Come Together Now." He released albums in 2004, 2005 and 2007.

But his interest in releasing new music waned when his record label closed its doors in 2008. 

“We had great success at Equity breaking Little Big Town as a platinum act, but after the group decided to leave us for a bigger company, Equity closed its doors. Since then, I had interest from major companies to sign deals, but declined."

Black has hardly been idle since then. He’s written and produced songs for Hasbro’s children’s shows, competed for his charity on Celebrity Apprentice, and in 2010 and 2012 starred in the films "Flicka 2" and "Flicka: Country Pride," the latter with his wife and daughter.

In 2013, the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain began marketing an album of Black’s hits, which continues to sell strongly and in early 2015, he collaborated with Joe Nichols on a "Superstar Duets" NBC-TV special for the Academy of Country Music.

In the past, Black has produced records for artists such as Buddy Jewell and Carolina Rain. Clint’s love of finding and recording new talent led to his latest venture, Chideo’s online “Clint Black Dream Recording Session Contest,” the winner of which will be produced by the star. The aim of this endeavor is to bring attention to Chideo.com and to raise funds to find a cure for Rett Syndrome, a neuro-disorder afflicting up to ten thousand children each year. He is the honorary chair for the International Rett Syndrome Foundation’s “Research to Reality: Funding Process,” and his 2015 contest has led to his own primetime TV special, highlighting the charity and the finalists.

“I love producing, and being in the studio. That joy drove the Chideo contest. About a year ago, I came up with the idea for the talent contest for their website and they figured out how they could make it work. As a way to give opportunity to new artists while bringing attention to this devastating disorder, it has far exceeded my greatest hopes. We never know which event will get us past the threshold of discovering a cure for Rett Syndrome, so we push hard for donations and opportunities like these!”

In the midst of this, Clint Black has been crafting "On Purpose." During his years away from releasing records, he says he has accumulated a large backlog of songs.

“For almost every album I have made, I had two or three albums worth of material written,” he said. “I’ve always had an abundance of songs -- probably 30 to choose from for the 10 that I would need to make the best album. For this one, I probably had more like 40 songs to narrow down.”

The new album is dedicated to his father, who died in late 2012.

“My dad was a huge country fan and is the first reason I listen to country music. He is probably the reason I’m a songwriter today. He was my introduction to 'who’s behind the music.' I grew up wanting to be the writer behind the song. That really all started with him. 

“To him, country music was a sacred thing. From time to time, I imagine him out there just beyond the spotlight, listening. So I dedicate this album to him, wishing we could share one more release together but alas, the clock ran out. I’ll just live with the faith that somehow, he’s able to hear it.”

The Volunteers for Animals have outdone themselves with their latest campaign to find home for a gazillion cats that have rained down of late at the Genesee County Animal Shelter.

They are offering "Certified Pre-Owned Cats." And what a deal. "$60 down, 0% financing, and NO payments."*

The missive continues...

"All makes & models -- Standard 4-Paw Drive -- Eco-friendly lap warmer -- 100,000 purr warranty -- Made in New York -- Quality tested, fully inspected"

Get yours today, then start counting the purrs. Don't want to get shortchanged.

What are you waiting for? You can't beat a deal with a 100,000 purr warranty. (We're guessing that's a ballpark figure.)

The shelter is located at 3841 W. Main Street Road, Town of Batavia.

Hours are Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 1 to 3 p.m., Wednesday 1 to 3 and 7 to 9 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., closed Thursdays.

*There is a $35 refundable deposit for cats that are unspayed or unneutered, upon proof of sterilization surgery.

Come on down to the Batavia Muckdogs game and enjoy a safe summer night with us! STOP-DWI Night at the Ballpark is happening on Wednesday, Aug. 16, gates opening at 6 p.m. The Batavia Muckdogs are playing the Williamsport Crosscutters.

(This game was originally scheduled last Friday, Aug. 4, but was canceled due to rain.)

Genesee County STOP-DWI and the Genesee County Youth Bureau are hosting this family event. 

The first 300 youth under the age of 16 get in free and there are Muck Bucks given to the first 200 youth to use toward items in the ballpark. There are an additional 500 giveaways and prizes for everyone. Fun and interactive education booths and displays will be on hand. Participating agencies include the Sheriff’s Office, City Police, Le Roy Police, Probation, the Genesee County Youth Bureau and Genesee County STOP-DWI.

A grand prize giveaway, a youth bike, sponsored by Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle will be on display and drawn that evening. So join us for a great night at the ballpark and the Friday night fireworks!

Sponsors that are helping make this event possible include: Genesee County Sheriff’s Department Assoc., NYS Assoc. of Chiefs of Police, UMMC, Batavia Police Benevolent Assoc., Le Roy Moose Family Center, Batavia Lions Club, Western NY Assoc. of Chiefs of Police, GCASA Prevention, Red Osier Landmark Restaurant, Polish Falcons Nest, Gerace Realty LLC and Tops Friendly Markets.

Pictured above: Matt Landers, STOP-DWI coordinator; ; John Roche, owner of Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle; and Jocelyn Sikorski, STOP-DWI Board chair, and Chelsea Green with the Genesee County Youth Bureau.

Press release:

The Batavia High School Class of 1953 will hold its 64th Reunion Luncheon at the Dibble Family & Event Center, 4110 W. Main St., Batavia, on Thursday, Aug.17th.

Cost of the luncheon is $20 per person, payable at the door. Attendees will gather at 11:30 a.m. for social time and sit down for a buffet lunch at noon.

Please RSVP to Mary at 343-8549, Corky at 343-5864 or Bette at 344-1255 by Monday, Aug.14th. Hope to see you there!

A car crashed into a tree at 5038 Clinton Street Road near Stringham Drive. Unknown injuries. Town of Batavia firefighters and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 12:44 p.m.: One person inside is conscious and alert but may need extrication.

UPDATE 12:49 p.m.: The driver struck a couple of parked vehicles as well. Mercy EMS is attending to him now. Possible medical issue.

Press release:

Starting at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7, Batavia Middle School will host its annual Open House Program. Parents and students are invited to attend the evening program.

Participants may visit classrooms and other learning areas in a relaxed manner. Parents and students are free to visit any and all of their child’s teachers.

The Open House Program is focused on getting acquainted with one another, and learning about the curriculum that will be the focus for your child this year. Individual conversations about your child should be held at a parent-teacher conference, which can be set up at any time by calling the Counseling Center.

Starting at 4:30 p.m., there will be food trucks in front of the school, where you can purchase dinner before Open House.

There will be refreshments in the cafeteria, along with a Parent Portal table to sign up to be able to view your child’s electronic grade book. In addition, there will be informal tables with information about various clubs.

Fifth-grade Student & Parent Orientation

Batavia Middle School will have a brief orientation program on Thursday, Sept.7, at 4:30 p.m., prior to Open House, in the Batavia Middle School Auditorium for fifth-graders and their parents.

Come and get acquainted ~ Staff looks forward to working with you as your child transitions to middle school. If you have any questions, please call Brian Sutton, 5/6 Assistant Principal at (585) 343-2480, ext. 3001.

Transfer Student Orientation

All students in grades 6-8, who are transferring to Batavia Middle School are invited to attend an orientation program at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 30, in the Middle School Auditorium. The program will include an overview of the middle school and will be followed by a building tour.

School counselors will be available for students and parents.

While there have been concerns in other parts of the nation about police officers suffering carbon monoxide poisoning while patrolling in Ford Explorer Police Interceptors, locally, there have been no complaints, local officials said.

Both Sheriff William Sheron and Batavia PD Chief Shawn Heubusch said neither agency has heard from officers about any exhaust-related problems within the patrol car fleets of both agencies.

National news reports say that there have been officers involved in serious accidents after passing out from exhaust fumes.

Investigators have recently started looking at holes in the vehicle that are used to outfit the vehicles with lights, sirens and other equipment, but Jeff Gillard, who has long outfitted patrol vehicles for the Sheriff's Office (and until recently, Batavia PD), said he doesn't think the problem is anything Ford is doing.

He suggested that in the locations where exhaust fumes have been a problem, some after-market modifications may be the cause of the problem.

"When I first heard about it, I thought something must be going on because those vehicles are closed up so tight you can't get wires through anything," Gillard said.

Press release:

Christina Marinaccio and LoriAnn Santini, members of the Genesee County Emergency Support Unit (ESU) recently traveled to Pueblo, Colo., to attend the FEMA funded Crude by Rail Emergency Response (CBR) training program. 

The program took place on July 24, 25 and 26 and provided the first responders basic knowledge, skills, and abilities to respond to incidents involving crude by rail.

The program, delivered over three days, included more than 60 percent of field exercise. The CBR program covered the history of crude oil, chemical and physical properties of the different crude oil transported, basic site and damage assessment, tank car design and construction.

Additional subjects included: tactical product control methods including the application of firefighting foam agents; water and spill control procedures; planning for crude oil incidents and the environmental impacts.

The practical evolutions include a demonstration of crude oil fires, boil overs, and foam applications as applied to crude oil incidents by rail and advanced firefighting techniques. The practical evolutions culminate in a full-scale derailment exercise.

To date, six Genesee County Hazardous Materials team members have completed the CBR program.

It's been a busy summer in the Batavia City School District, with new teachers and aides being hired, planning for the capital improvement project, custodial staff getting buildings and grounds ready for a new school year, and a search for a new principal for the high school. And after all that, Superintendent Chris Dailey said he just can't wait for the school year to start Sept. 7.

"What I'm really excited about is our kids are starting to come back into school," Dailey said. "It's too quiet in July. Yes, we've had summer school here but it will be nice to have all our kids back soon. We're really excited to get everybody back."

One of the big pending tasks is replacing Scott Wilson as principal of Batavia High School.

Wilson left to become principal in Gates-Chili, where he taught for 13 years. He's maintained a residence just a block-and-a-half from the school.

"He took an opportunity to go back home where he where he started, so that gives us another opportunity to her great educator here at the high school," Dailey said.

The application deadline is Aug. 16 and there's been a lot of interest in the job, Dailey said.

"We've had a flurry of applications in the last week and we're expecting between 30 and 40 candidates," Dailey said. "We will thoroughly vet them, get down to one or two to share with the faculty for opening days and then hopefully have someone in place before September when students come back."

There will also be a new principal at Jackson Primary School this fall, with Kia Evans taking over for Diane Bonarigo. Bonarigo, who retired, is filling in as the interim principal at the high school until a replacement for Wilson is hired.

Fall sports teams start practice on Monday and teachers are already starting to prep their classrooms.  

Students and parents won't see many changes at the schools, other than a lot of new faces among faculty and staff.

"We've had some amazing additions to our faculty," Dailey said. "The impact that will have on our kids is going to be amazing. At the end of this month, we have new teacher orientation and I'm just really excited to get these people involved with our kids."

Photos by Jim Burns.

Write up by Mike Jamil:

A beautiful night finally for softball at Kibbe Park.

Number 6 seed TF Brown's Commissioner's Crew three-peats, pulling off the upset, defeating #4 seeded home team Fava Brothers Lawn Care 14-11.

Fava Brothers Lawn Care had won the two prior matchups (both regular season) but choked away the championship honors in the third contest.

The losing team did receive a participation trophy that states "Congratulations On Another Failed Season," since we're not so worried about soft feelings in The New Batavia Softball League. At least I'm personally not. Play better or you're eliminated. No hedge/handicap here.

The gag gift participation trophy wasn't all they got. They got two complimentary cans of corn as well, which was a symbol representing their crunch time hitting. So they did not go home empty-handed.

Very worthy opponents and lots of absolutely great people on that Fava Brothers team.

Lots of friendly bragging rights needed.

Everybody contributed and played their role for the winning team. Everybody was important and needed.

Members of the championship team TF Brown's Commissioner's Crew are Captain Mike Jamil, Keith Oklevitch, Austin Oklevitch, Chris Densmore, Alex Jarvela, Justin Cooper, Dan Dioguardi, Stefan Krna, Keith Hammond, and Koko Irvin. Ronnie Sumeriski, the normal left fielder, and Michael Greene the normal right fielder, were unable to make it to the big game but were assets all season long as well as the first night of the playoffs.

Forced the commissioner to play defense which can be a very bad idea at times. Very gritty, clutch bunch.

That concludes the 2017 Thursday Batavia Men's Spring/Summer Softball League. Was a great group of people from the teams top to bottom. Very evenly matched. We don't care to be like other leagues. We're Batavia Softball. Signing off.

Press release:

The 2017 New York-Penn League All-Star roster will include three players from Batavia. They will send infielders Lazaro Alonso and Marcos Rivera and pitcher Sam Perez to the game to be held Tuesday, Aug. 15^th at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium, home of the Tri-City ValleyCats.

Alonso, an international free agent signed in 2016, has played in 36 games for the Muckdogs this year and has been one of the Muckdogs best power hitters all season. Alonso has 19 RBIs, which is tied for eighth in the NY-Penn League, to go along with a .240 batting average, five doubles and 25 walks (third in the NYPL).

Marcos Rivera was an international free agent signing by the Marlins in 2014 and has started 36 games at shortstop for the Muckdogs this season. Rivera’s 11 doubles is currently tied for second in the league and his .417 slugging percentage is inside the top 20 in the league. He is currently batting .254 with 19 runs scored, 15 extra-base hits and 18 RBIs.

Sam Perez was selected in the 5^th round of the 2016 draft out of Missouri State. The right-hander has started nine games this season and has compiled an ERA of just 1.88, which is fourth in the league for qualifying pitchers. Perez has a record of 3-1 and has racked up 33 strikeouts in 48 innings pitched.

Batavia currently holds the sixth place spot in the Pinckney Division with a record of 16-30. The Muckdogs sent four players to the 2013 All-Star game, four in 2014, six players in 2015, and two in 2016.

The Sheriff's Office would like to unite a rowboat with its owner after the small craft was found on the Tonawanda Creek in the area of Kiwanis Park and Wortendyke Road.

There's no indication that anybody fell out of it and there's been no missing person report, said Chief Deputy Gordon Dibble, so at this point, Dibble thinks it likely became unmoored from its dock somehow.

The Sheriff's Office is asking that if you're missing a boat and think it might be yours, call Deputy Kevin McCarthy (585) 345-3000, ext. 3237.

Be prepared to provide a detailed description.

The students of St. Joseph School of Batavia are pictured engaging in activities in their classrooms furnished with new “21^st Century Furniture.” Thanks to a generous donation the school has furnished each classroom with 21st Century Furniture pieces that allow teachers to customize learning environments to encourage alternative methods for group collaboration and instruction.

Clusters (or pods) of seating options accommodate interactive and social activities. Pods allow students to work in small groups, to interact directly, see facial expressions and establish eye contact.

In a collaborative learning classroom, the teacher is not fixed at the front of the room. A mobile teacher moves easily from group to group to address questions and facilitate discussions.

The classrooms also provide students with alternative individual seating and workspace choices. Balance ball chairs and standing desks offer students who have difficulty focusing an outlet for their energy.

Studies of the benefits of a chair-less classroom showed improved learning and reduced obesity by making children more active. Researchers found that the ability to move around more while studying made the students more attentive.

St. Joseph School is still accepting fall 2017 enrollments. Interested families may call the school office at 585-343-6154 or email noneill@sjsbatavia.org.

Press release:

Join us at Dwyer Stadium Aug. 30th for our youth baseball clinic!

Kids ages 6-14 will receive a day of on-field instruction from the Muckdogs players and coaches on Aug. 30th from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Children will learn from the pros in the areas of hitting, fielding, pitching, catching, base running and bunting.

Later that evening, campers will be able to come back to Dwyer for a private autograph signing with the team 30 minutes before the gates open (5:30 p.m.) and then be recognized on the field prior to the Muckdogs game vs. the Mahoning Valley Scrappers (Cleveland Indians affiliate).

Campers will also receive a special T-shirt not available in the team store, a clinic photo, two tickets to the Aug. 30th game, as well as lunch, all for only $40.

Registration forms are available at Dwyer Stadium and online at muckdogs.com. Space is limited and all registrations and payments must be turned in by Monday, Aug. 21st.

Press release:

Each year, every student wishing to receive busing to school by Student Transportation of America (STA) must file a new Transportation Request/Change Form with the District Business Office so that routes can be configured.  The form was mailed to all students who received transportation from STA last year but, to date, only 241 of those 1053 forms have been returned to the Business Office. Those 241 families have been called, so anyone who has not received a call from the Business Office confirming transportation still needs to send in the form. Regardless of eligibility, children will not be able to receive transportation services unless a 2017-2018 form is turned in. 

Routes will be established by mid-August, so a Transportation Request/Change Form for each student is needed by this Thursday, August 10, 2017. Forms are available several places: online at www.bataviacsd.org under Business Office/Transportation, at the Business Office in the Administrative wing at Batavia High School, at each school’s main office, or by contacting the Business Office at 343-2480 x 1002. They can be mailed or brought in to Kelly Snyder in the District Business Office, Batavia City School District, 260 State Street. Late transportation requests are accepted and will be processed as time allows, but that could be after the start of school.

Exceptions:

Children who were transported by Attica Bus Service in 2016-2017, and have been recommended for transportion by Attica Bus Service for the 2017-2018 school year, should disregard this message.

New enrollments for 2017-2018 including Universal Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten and transfers, should disregard this message as transportation requests were handled during registration.

Eligibility Guidelines:

Jackson Primary School (Pre-K, K and Grade 1)

Busing is provided for all students whose families request it.

John Kennedy Intermediate (Grades 2,3,4)

Busing is provided for all students who live more than 0.50 mile from school, or who live outside the City limits.

Middle School (Grades 5,6,7,8)

Busing is provided for all students who live more than 1.00 mile from school, or who live outside the City limits.

High School (Grades 9,10,11,12)

Busing is provided for all students who live more than 1.50 miles from school, or who live outside the City limits.

Press release:

Three Batavia natives are giving a nod to the city’s past with an exciting plan they hope will be a cornerstone of Batavia’s future.

Eli Fish Brewing Company will be the official name of a microbrewery currently under construction in the former JJ Newberry Building at 109 Main Street, the brewery’s owners announced today. The name is in honor of Eli Fish, who operated Fish’s Malt House, a brewery located on the corner of Elm and Main Streets in the 1800s. The brewery, which reportedly had the capacity to produce 16,000 barrels of beer annually in 1883, burned many times during Fish’s ownership, with Fish rebuilding it each time at the same location.

Eli Fish Brewing Company is led by Batavia natives Matthew Gray, owner of Alex’s Place in Batavia, as well as Buffalo Brothers Pizza and Wing Co. in North Carolina, Jon Mager, a third-generation owner in Arctic Refrigeration in Batavia, and Matthew Boyd, a partner in both Alex’s and Buffalo Brothers Pizza and Wing Co., who oversees Buffalo Brothers’ five North Carolina locations. The owners expect to open Eli Fish Brewing Company by the end of the year.

“Eli Fish was a renaissance man who played an important role in the development and growth of early Batavia, and his entrepreneurial and rebuilding spirit really spoke to us,” Mager said of the decision to name the microbrewery. “That’s the same spirit and vision we want to bring to this project and bring people back to Main Street.”

The brewery will house 20 taps, featuring ten beers brewed in-house and ten rotating beers from around New York State. Along with New York beers, the bar will also pour craft cocktails and fine wines, all sourced from New York State wineries and distilleries. The brewery operation will be a seven-barrel system, with all brewing performed on site, using locally-sourced ingredients.

Eli Fish Brewing Company will be the cornerstone of a $2.8 million renovation of the Newberry building into a mixed-use development with a restaurant incubator, known as FreshLAB, joining the brewery on the first floor and apartments planned for the second and third floors.

“Newberry’s was a destination for generations of Batavia residents,” Gray said, recalling the store’s lunch counter and creaky wooden floors. “We want to make this building, and the Main Street corridor, a destination again. Jon, Matt and I were all born here. Our families saw the decline of the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s, and we want to be part of Batavia’s next renaissance.”

The FreshLAB restaurant incubator will feature three commercial kitchens, with Eli Fish Brewing Company operating the largest kitchen and serving a menu of locally-sourced seasonal fare, including gourmet salads, sandwiches, soups, platters and bread. The other two kitchens will be available to start-up restaurateurs to develop and grow more dining concepts within Genesee County. The vision is to have tenants occupy the turnkey kitchens for short-term leases of approximately 18-24 months, sharing the food hall dining room during which time they can focus on unique menu offerings, sourcing local ingredients and honing their operational systems, such as ordering product and paying their bills.

“The idea is to help other restaurateurs and entrepreneurs develop their businesses without the financial burden of outfitting their own locations right off the bat,” explained Boyd. “Once they have perfected their operation and their lease matures, the vision is that they will then plant their roots and continue their operations in Genesee County, creating an opportunity for a new eatery to locate at FreshLAB.”

The incubator concept was fueled, in part, by statistics that show local residents spend more than $13 million annually on dining and nightlife outside of Genesee County.

“People want a choice,” added Gray, who labels himself a “serial restaurateur.” “Every eatery at FreshLAB should bring a fresh perspective and their own culinary vision to the kitchens. We’re looking to provide a culinary experience you can’t enjoy elsewhere in the area.”

The partners’ development vision for the Newberry building is being supported by the City of Batavia, Batavia Development Corp., Genesee County Economic Development Corporation, USDA Rural Development, National Grid and New York Main Street.

The announcement of the Eli Fish Brewing Company name comes as beer lovers from throughout the region prepare to celebrate the Beertavia craft beer festival on Saturday, August 12 from 3-6 p.m. at the corner of Bank Street and Alva Place. The event, presented by Alex’s Place, will feature offerings from more than 20 breweries and cideries, as well as live music. Information is available at www.downtownbataviany.com.