Announcements

Press release:

Genesee County Master Gardeners will be hosting their annual Fall Garden Gala from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday, Sept. 17, at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County, 420 E. Main St. in Batavia.

There will be a plant sale featuring hardy perennials, house plants and local field grown mums. Fall is a good time to plant many perennials as they will have several months to grow a strong root system. There will also be a Chance Basket Auction, free soil pH testing and plenty of gardening advice from Master Gardeners.

There will be a “Flower Arrangements from the Garden” demonstration at 11 o'clock. Learn how to artfully arrange fresh flowers from your garden. A variety of fresh flower arrangements created by Master Gardeners will also be available for sale.

Don’t miss your chance to pick up some great plants for your garden! Plant sale starts promptly at 10. No early birds please. Due to the drought, the number of plants we have to offer this fall may be limited. The Chance Auction drawing will begin at 12:30 p.m.

For more information contact Brandie Schultz at CCE of Genesee County, (585) 343-3040, ext. 101, stop by the Extension office at 420 E. Main St. in Batavia, or visit our new CCE website http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu/gardening or Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CCEofGenesee.

Press release:

Genesee Community College’s Accelerated College Enrollment (ACE) Program and the Genesee County Youth Bureau are partnering to offer local sophomores, juniors and seniors the Genesee County Youth Lead Program. 

We are currently recruiting our fifth class and are looking for 15 youth representing our nine high schools who would like to improve their leadership skills and expand their knowledge on the community and resources therein.

Genesee Youth Lead is designed to help our youth assess their strengths, weaknesses and potential for personal and intellectual growth. We provide the opportunity for students to develop their leadership skills by being a part of a team, the community and by hands on learning within the county.

This fall students were able to take field trips, speak directly with government officials, and so much more. The areas of the community to be explored during the fall program are Government & Law Enforcement, Health & Human Services, and Agriculture.

The Youth Lead Program will take place at GCC & Genesee County Youth Bureau beginning Oct. 15^that GCC with a Meet & Greet and then class to follow. The class sessions are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays:

• Oct. 15, 22, 29
• Nov. 5, 12, 19;
• Dec. 3 and 10.

The program costs $55 and students will earn one college credit through GCC. If there is an economic hardship please contact the Genesee County Youth Bureau. 

Applications for the program will only be accepted until Sept. 21 and can be found at: http://www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/youthbureau/.

Please contact Chelsea at the Genesee County Youth Bureau with questions at (585)344-3960 or at Chelsea.Elliott@co.genesee.ny.us.

Press release:

RTS Genesee announced it has resumed its Friday night service to connect Genesee Community College’s (GCC) College Village to the business district. The route will once again connect the Walden Estates and Woodstock Gardens apartment complexes to businesses on the west side of town. The service is designed to connect customers with retail, entertainment and dining destinations.

The new Sunday service is called the “34 Rush Bus” and will make it easier for residents looking to catch the Buffalo Bills game at 34 Rush at Batavia Downs.

The “Friday Night Fun Run,” kicked off on Friday, Aug. 26 and will run through May 5. The Friday night service begins at 7:30 p.m. and ends at 12:20 a.m. 

The “34 Rush Bus” will run from Sunday, Sept. 11 through Dec. 11. The Sunday service will begin at 12:15 p.m. and end at 6:10 p.m. As there are some dates the service will not run, customers are encouraged to see the schedule for dates of operation.

“Thanks to the partnership of Genesee Community College and Batavia Downs, we are able to continue improving the service we provide to the community," said James Mott, regional manager for RTS Genesee and RTS Orleans. “This service will help meet the demand of customers who want more access to these popular destinations.”

The standard fare of $1 for a one-way ride will apply for both the Friday and Sunday services.

The schedule for the Friday Night Fun Run and the 34 Rush Bus are available on the RTS website.

Genesee, Orleans & Wyoming Public Health Column

Press release:

September is National Preparedness Month! In our area we generally think of snow and ice-related emergencies, however it is also important to be ready for threats caused by flooding, high winds, earthquakes, fires, chemical spills and infectious diseases.

Thankfully, getting prepared for all types of emergencies is made easier with the assistance of Mobile Apps like Ready Genesee, Orleans Aware and FEMA. These apps are similar in nature in that all connect consumers to weather alerts, planning features and information on available shelters. Apps like these are user-friendly and give consumers the tools to take part in their own preparedness, which will positively impact the outcome of any emergency.

If you live, work, or visit Genesee or Orleans Counties download the Ready Genesee and Orleans Aware Apps, available on apple and android devices, as well as in English and Spanish, too.

“The Emergency Management Offices’ and Health Departments’ in both counties teamed up to have these apps made available in an effort to have a local focus," said Bill Schutt, deputy coordinator of Emergency Management Services. "County officials can use this app not only to get information to users before, during, and after emergencies in a more direct and modern way but also to share knowledge on a regular basis, too.

"Since Ready Genesee and Orleans Aware became available to download earlier this year, the counties have utilized the apps to notify users of road closers, a boil water notice, a gas leak, rabies clinics, as well as sharing of informational articles on the recent drought, Zika virus, Lyme Disease and lighting safety. If you don’t travel to either county, the FEMA app is a good, reputable option, too, but it is important to note that users will not receive notifications or general information from their county officials."

Features of Ready Genesee and Orleans Aware Mobile Apps

My Plan

By answering five simple questions, the app will create a customized emergency supply checklist and plan based on your family’s needs, including pets and relatives with special needs.

Alerts
Get information from the National Weather Service and local county officials.  Local officials can instantly inform you of situations including, but not limited to, road closers, evacuation notices, boil water notices, gas leaks, an active shooter or missing persons.

My Status

With the push of a button let friends and loved ones know “I’m Safe” or “I Need Help.”

EvacMap& Shelters

Find evacuation routes and shelters with on and offline mapping.

Need to Know

E-books on various topics including Public Health Emergencies, Need to Know Preparedness for Pet Owners, Emerging Infectious Diseases, Floods  and Fire Safety.

Services

Have contact information to services helpful in an emergency.

“The full potential of these new apps will be recognized more so as different emergencies arise and I predict at that utilization will increase too,” stated Al Cheverie, Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for Genesee and Orleans. “After downloading your App, please take the time to collect the emergency supplies for your home and car.

"Being ill prepared for a situation where you are unable to leave your house or car can be dangerous if certain supplies such a necessary medications, blankets, food and water aren’t on hand."

To download the apps visit:

Ready Genesee or Orleans Aware: http://eocready.com/counties

FEMA: https://www.fema.gov/mobile-app

For information about Health Department services contact:

• Genesee County Health Department at: 344-2580, ext. 5555, or visit their website at www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/health/index.html.  Visit Facebook at Genesee County Health Department and Twitter at GeneseeCoHealthDept.
• Orleans County Health Department at: 589-3278, or check out our website at:  www.orleansny.com/publichealth. Visit Facebook and Twitter: the user name for both is OrleansCoHealth.
• Wyoming County Health Department at: 786-8890 or visit their website at www.wyomingco.net/health/main.html

Little do-gooders, from left: Lindsay Heimlich, Lily and Miley Stalica, and Sundae Duyssen.

The girls man the booth and help customers.

Grown-ups Laura and Paul, with Volunteers for Animals, with the team of fund-raising children and their goods for the shelter animals.

Some fresh, cold lemonade would probably taste delicious about right now, with all the humidity and a temperature hovering around 86 degrees. A couple of cookies would pair nicely with that.

This is exactly the kind of weather a foursome of little girls took advantage of recently to raise money for Volunteers for Animals and the Genesee County Animal Shelter. 

Sundae Duyssen (Le Roy School), Lindsay Heimlich (Le Roy School), and Lily and Miley Stalica (Byron-Bergen School) ponied up a whopping $1,000-plus in money and donated goods for the homeless animals by hosting a roadside bake sale and lemonade stand in Bergen recently.

"The shelter was kind enough to give the girls a tour, and tell them about the ways that their donation will be used to help save animals lives," says Lindsay's mom, Crystal Heimlich.

They really enjoyed the project, she said, and they plan to do the same thing next year for a different worthy cause.

(Photos submitted by Crystal Heimlich.)

Press release:

As summer winds down and we head into fall, there are still three more “Garden Talk” programs this year!

Taught by Master Gardeners, programs will be held once a month, during the “lunch hour” from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. Bring your lunch to the Cornell Cooperative Extension Office (420 E. Main St., Batavia) and join us. This series is free and open to the public. Registration is not required.

Sept. 6 will be a follow up to our May herb program. After growing your herbs all summer, what can you do with them now? We’ll give you some ideas of things you can use your herbs for.

On Oct. 4, get ready to feed your backyard birds as we’ll offer tips and answer questions about Winter Bird Feeding.

Nov. 1 will be a demonstration on how to make a beautiful holiday swag to decorate your home.

Need a Garden Talk schedule? Contact Brandie at 585-343-3040, ext. 101.

Future topics and other Master Gardener events will be posted on the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County website at http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu/ and also on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CCEofGenesee.

Batavia Society of Artists is hosting artist Mike Killelea from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 13th, at Go-Art/Seymour Place, 201 E. Main St., Batavia He will be doing a watercolor demonstration along with journaling.

The cost is $3 for non-members. All are welcome!

Sleds of Stafford Snowmobile Club will host its 10th annual Vintage Snowmobile/Outdoor Show on Sunday, Sept. 18, at BW's Restaurant / DC Meadows Golf Course in Pavilion.

It is located at 11070 Perry Road. The show starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m.. It will feature new and used equipment, accessories and trailers. The entrance fee to the show is $3 per person. Door prizes will be announced at 2 p.m.

There will be refreshments available for purchase as well as breakfast and lunch.

Tickets ($5 donation) for Progressive 50/50 raffle and steak dinner will be available at the show and the winner will be drawn at the steak dinner.

This nonprofit, all-volunteer organization is also selling trophy sponsorships to help pay for the show's trophies. They are $35. 

Sleds of Stafford members will be on hand for club membership renewals. Also, a GC DMV rep will be available from noon to 3 p.m. for registration renewals.

For more information, contact Kelly Cordell at 356-9150.

The fourth annual Wiener Dog Race held yesterday at Batavia Downs Gaming brought thousands of families to cheer, laugh and smile for a fun-filled afternoon of free entertainment.

Pictured above is Pablo, the winner of today’s race with owners Jon Wright and Adrienne Penders from Pavilion.

“This is the first race we have won in the three years of racing,” Adrienne said.

Last year Pablo came in second but shined in the final race.

More than 60 dogs participated in today’s race. There were nine heats of seven to eight dogs per race. 

Winners of each heat race are:

1. #4 Skittles
2. #5 Pablo
3. #4 Minnie
4. #6 Frank
5. #3 Maximus
6. #3 Ruby
7. #7 Mickey Zoom
8. #4 Piglet (who won the 2015 race)
9. #2 Nibbles

Winners overall were: First Place -- Pablo, Second Place -- Nibbles; and Third Place -- Minnie. Each owner took home a winning free play certificate and various prizes.

Press release:

The City of Batavia is considering applying for Federal grant assistance to help income-eligible, owner-occupied, single-family homeowners with essential home improvements.

If you own a single-family home in need of repairs, please download the survey from the City’s “Useful Links” tab on the City’s homepage at www.batavianewyork.com. Click on Residential Rehabilitation Survey. Or you may pick up a survey in the City Manager’s office at City Hall.

Grant money would enable homeowners to make home repairs with grant and low-interest loan funding.

The City of Batavia is requesting your full cooperation to help us obtain housing rehabilitation grant funding. Please complete and mail in or drop off the surveys to the City Manager’s Office, One Batavia City Centre, Batavia, New York, 14020.

If you have any questions please contact the City Manager’s office at 585-345-6330. 

Photo courtesy of Batavia Downs. Pictured is last year's winning wiener dog, "Piglet," and his owner, Heidi Kaiser.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

The "Dog Days of Summer" at Batavia Downs means it's time for the annual Genesee Feeds Wiener Dog Races. That popular event is once again happening this Sunday afternoon (Aug. 28) with post time for the first Dachshund race scheduled for approximately 4:20 p.m. after the completion of the live 11-race live harness racing card.

Last year, Heidi Kaiser’s Dachshund, “Piglet,” made his third Downs appearance and cruised to a comfortable victory defeating nine other fleet-footed Wiener-racers in the championship final.

On Sunday, seven heats will be contested with each heat winner scoring a $25 free play voucher to Batavia Downs Gaming. The heat winners will then return for a championship race where the winning owner getting $100 in free play, second place finisher gets $75 in free play, and the third place finisher receives $50 in free play. The owners of the top three finishers will also get two complementary buffets in the Batavia Downs clubhouse.

All entrants will receive doggie bags for their athletes from the official sponsor of the Wiener Dog Races, Genesee Feeds of Batavia.

The Wiener Dog Races are one of the biggest promotions of the season at Batavia Downs and the main event of "Family Fun Day" at the races.

"Family Fun Day is one of my favorite live racing days,” said Director/General Manager of Live Racing, Todd Haight. “The kids always have a great time. You can bring the whole family out because there is something for everyone and you can eat, drink and enjoy everything going on for the entire afternoon and it costs next to nothing.”

Treat the kids to a fun, affordable day out with $1 Sahlen's hot dogs, soda, and snow cones and free pony rides from 2-4 p.m., sponsored by Castilone Chrysler, Dodge, Ram and Jeep of Batavia. There will also be special appearances by Pringles The Clown, Mr. Scribbles, Jason the Juggler and other fun activities for kids of all ages. And everything is presented in a clean, safe environment where they can just enjoy themselves.

Admission and parking are free and live harness racing action begins at 1:15 p.m.

Press release:

The Richter Family Foundation runs a program that gives books to children under age 5 through The Dolly Parton Imagination Library. It has been in operation since 2004 and the Oakfield-Alabama, Elba, Pavilion, and Pembroke school districts participate in the program. Recently, Byron-Bergen was added to the program.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a set of books beginning with the children’s classic "The Little Engine That Could." Each month a new, carefully selected age-appropriate book will be mailed in your child’s name directly to your home. Best of all it is a FREE GIFT! There is no cost or obligation to your family.

To be eligible in the Byron-Bergen School District, the child must live in the Byron-Bergen School District and must be between the ages of birth and his/her 5th birthday.

A committee representing the Byron-Bergen School District, the Byron and Bergen Communities, and the Byron-Bergen Library is partnering with the Richter Family Foundation to bring the Imagination Library to the children.

If your zip code is 14020, 14021, 14058, 14143 or 14482, the only way to register is to fill out a registration form and mail it to the address indicated on the form. The forms can be found at the Byron Town Hall, the Bergen Town and Village Offices, the Byron-Bergen Library, and the Byron-Bergen Elementary Office.  

If your zip code is 14416, 14422, 14428, 14429 or 14470, you may fill out and send in a registration form or, you may register online at www.imaginationlibrary.com by clicking on the box “register my child” and following the directions.

The Byron-Bergen Imagination Library Committee consists of: Nancy Bailey, librarian, Bergen Public Library; Anna Marie Barclay, Village of Bergen mayor and retired teacher; Donna Gerrard, Byron resident and a mom and grandmother; and Brian Meister, Byron-Bergen Elementary School principal.

They know that you, the parents and your children, will love the Imagination Library and encourage you to sign up your children today. A family can register several children within the household as long as they are under age 5.

Press release:

Don’t miss out! Spots for the GLOW’s 2016 Household Hazardous/Pharmaceutical Waste Collection Event are going fast. Residents who want to dispose of materials at the Saturday, Sept. 17, collection in Batavia must have an appointment in order to attend.

GLOW accepts a wide range of household chemicals, oil base paint, home computers (NOTE LIMIT OF TWO (2) CRT TVs AND/OR MONITORS PER REGISTRANT), propane tanks and canisters, vehicle batteries and other materials. Microwave ovens and for the seventh year, thanks to the assistance of the Genesee County Sheriff’s office, pharmaceuticals (unwanted, outdated, unusable and over-the-counter medicines) will be accepted. These materials are accepted FREE OF CHARGE. There is a nominal fee for tires.

Funding is provided by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), GLOW’s county contributions and Covanta Energy.

This is a great opportunity for residents to dispose of household chemicals and medicines they no longer want or need. Past collections have resulted in the safe and legal disposal of thousands of tires, thousands of gallons of solvents, cleaning products and paint, not to mention vehicle batteries, propane tanks and computers. Whenever possible materials collected are recycled.

The collection is open to residents in Genesee, Livingston and Wyoming counties. To make an appointment residents are asked to call the GLOW office at 585/815-7906 or 800/836-1154, or email glow@co.genesee.ny.us

Genesee County Master Gardeners will be hosting their annual Fall Garden Gala from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17, at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County, 420 E. Main St. in Batavia.

There will be a plant sale featuring hardy perennials, house plants and local field grown Mums. Fall is a good time to plant many perennials as they will have several months to grow a strong root system. There will also be a Chance Basket Auction, free soil pH testing and plenty of gardening advice from Master Gardeners.

There will be a “Flower Arrangements from the Garden” demonstration at 11 a.m.  Learn how to artfully arrange fresh flowers from your garden. A variety of fresh flower arrangements created by Master Gardeners will also be available for sale.

Don’t miss your chance to pick up some great plants for your garden! Plant sale starts promptly at 10 a.m. No early birds please. Due to the drought, the number of plants we have to offer this fall may be limited. The Chance Auction drawing will begin at 12:30 p.m.

For more information contact Brandie Schultz at CCE of Genesee County, (585) 343-3040, ext. 101, stop by the Extension office at 420 E. Main St. in Batavia, or visit our new CCE website http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu/gardening or Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CCEofGenesee.

Press release:

Genesee County STOP-DWI Coordinator Matt Landers announced this week that the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, City of Batavia Police Department and the Village of Le Roy Police Department will participate in a special enforcement effort to crackdown on impaired driving.

While we spend the Labor Day holiday and the end of summer celebrating with our loved ones, law enforcement officers across New York State will take to the roads in an effort to stop impaired driving, prevent injuries and save lives. The statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown efforts start on Friday, Aug. 19^th and will end on Monday, Sept. 5^th. New York State Police, County Sheriff and municipal law enforcement agencies across the state will be out in force.

Research shows that high-visibility enforcement can reduce impaired driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent. Sobriety checkpoints play a key part in raising awareness about the problem.

During the 2014 Labor Day holiday period, 83 percent of drunk-driving crash fatalities occurred between 6 p.m. and 5:59 a.m.. Among the drivers between the ages of 18 and 34, who were killed in crashes over the Labor Day holiday period in 2014, 51 percent of those fatalities involved a drunk driver with a BAC of .08 or higher.

The STOP-DWI Labor Day Weekend Crackdown is one of many statewide enforcement initiatives promoted by the New York State STOP-DWI Association with additional funding from our STOP-DWI Foundation and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. Throughout the remainder of the year the Statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign will also target Halloween and the national Holiday Season in December.

While STOP-DWI efforts across New York have led to significant reductions in the numbers of alcohol and drug related fatalities, still too many lives are being lost because of crashes caused by drunk or impaired drivers. Highly visible, highly publicized efforts like the STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving. Have a safe and happy Labor Day Weekend!

Press release:

The Jerome Foundation and United Memorial Medical Center Foundation are jointly seeking nominations for the 32^nd annual Health and Humanitarian Award of Genesee County. Nominations should be submitted on or before Sept. 6.

The award recognizes outstanding men and women whose volunteer efforts have improved the physical, emotional or spiritual well-being of the greater Genesee County area.

“We are fortunate to have many caring and committed volunteers devoted to the sick or to those in need, and helping to build a stronger, healthier community for all of us,” said Justin Calarco-Smith, president of The Jerome Foundation.

He noted the accomplishments of John Dwyer, the 2015 Health and Humanitarian Award winner. For more than 60 years Mr. Dwyer has given his support and leadership to numerous organizations involved in health care, job creation, education and charitable causes.

Nomination forms are available from UMMC Foundation Office at 127 North St., or by calling 585-344-5301, or online at www.ummc.org.

Organizations or individuals may nominate candidates. Consideration will be given to actual accomplishments achieved through volunteer service and subsequent improvements to quality of life. 

The 2016 award winner will be honored at a luncheon on Friday, Nov. 4, at Terry Hills Restaurant.