The Knights of Columbus presented 40 hams to the Agri-Business Child Development Center, which in turn gave them to the families of the children under its care. The Knights represent nearly 50 members of the local council.

The Catholic men’s organization represents over 2,000,000 worldwide members who promote charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism. The local council uses fundraisers to donate to local charities. 

The children and staff at the Agri-Business Child Development Center on Brooklyn Avenue in Batavia celebrated Juneteenth today with a parade in the playground.

A National Fuel crew is at the Agribusiness Child Development Center at 18 Brooklyn Ave. in the city to fix a slight leak in a natural gas pipeline in the kitchen.

There were no ill effects.

The children in the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start program were dismissed for the day about a half hour ago. 

The faint smell of natural gas was detected in the kitchen, where some work had recently been completed, but city fire's monitors could not get a reading. National Fuel did and it was decided to dismiss the children, rather than have them wait outside until repairs are complete, because of the possibility of rain.

The city fire assignment is back in service and the National Fuel is in charge of the scene.

There will also be a scholastic book fair, and community health and resource fair, and a Thanksgiving-style dinner!

Many community agencies will be available to network with an answer questions.

This event is FREE.

RSVP by Nov. 15 to Kolleen Cassidy by phoning (585) 343-8160, ext. 5, by email at:   kolleen.cassidy@abcdmail.org

This morning Assemblyman Steve Hawley read from a book about farming called "Before We Eat" to preschoolers at Agri-Business Child Development Center on Brooklyn Avenue, Batavia, as part of Ag-Literacy Week.

Students with the Agri-Business Academy from the Batavia CTE assisted in a demonstration with the FFA Mobile Maple Syrup Exhibit at Alexander Elementary Schoool this morning.

About the exhibit:

The New York FFA Mobile Maple Exhibit is an interactive display depicting all facets of the maple industry. Housed in a 28-foot trailer, visitors are offered a firsthand look at: how maple syrup was discovered; how maple sap is collected from maple trees; and how the liquid sap is then processed into pure, sweet maple syrup. The presentation concludes with a sampling of pure maple syrup and/or other maple products.

The presentation is broken into five segments, with the first being a whole-group depiction of the discovery of maple syrup. Visitors are asked to imagine a time when only Native Americans inhabited our lands and how one day the sweet, clear maple liquid was discovered coming from a maple tree. Next, participants learn about tapping a tree, whittling an old-fashioned maple spout, and using a modern tubing system to collect the maple sap.

In these segments, students may have a chance to use a bit and brace to “tap” their own maple tree and install a metal maple spout. After tapping the maple tree, participants help “collect” the sap from metal buckets. In the third portion, students become a mini-forest of maple trees and learn how gravity helps collect the maple sap using a modern plastic tubing system.

As groups enter the trailer, they view an actual scene from our school’s woodlot and imagine a winter’s day in February. Here, we demonstrate how the maple sap is processed into fresh maple syrup by viewing an actual mini maple-syrup evaporator. Learn how the maple sap is transformed from a clear liquid into a sweet, golden syrup.

Our explanations include how water is removed from the sap, how the finished product is graded, filtered and packaged, and how maple syrup is used as a food and natural sweetener. Finally, sample the sweet results of hours of work with a tasting of pure maple syrup or other maple products. 

Above, Assemblyman Steve Hawley takes in the demonstration. Sen. Mike Ranzenhofer had visited the exhibit earlier.

Genesee County AmeriCorps member Steven Kleckler and RSVP of Genesee County Program Director Courtney Iburi presented vocabulary booklets created by volunteers to students at the Agri-Business Child Development Center in commemoration of the Cesar Chavez Day of Service. 

Photo and info submitted by Kathy Frank.

Press release:

In the Fall of 2014, a new program, the Agri-Business Academy, will be available to students at the Batavia Career and Technical Education Center. The Agri-Business Academy is a one-year partnership program between the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership and Genesee Community College. This college-prep program is geared toward highly motivated high school seniors interested in investigating careers in the agri-business field.

Students will explore multidisciplinary professions through meetings with career guest speakers, in conjunction with job shadows and field trips at a variety of agricultural and business locations. Food management science, environmental science, global position systems technology, power machinery, international trade, or agri-tourism, are a few of the areas that will be studied.

At the completion of this one-year program, students will earn 12 SUNY college credits.  The credit hour cost for academy students is $50, which is one third of the regular GCC tuition rate.

Kerri Richardson has been appointed as the instructor of the Agri-Business Academy at the Batavia Career and Technical Education Center. Richardson’s family has deep roots in the farming community.  Her father is a veterinarian who operates his practice on the family farm. She holds a bachelor of science degree from Cornell University. In 2012, she earned a master of science degree in Agricultural Education from Cornell University. Richardson is a lifelong member, competitor, and leader within 4H and FFA. Richardson recently was employed as a Community Educator for the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension.

"The Genesee County area has an impressive, welcoming agricultural community that provides youth with a plethora of opportunities. I am excited begin my career as an instructor of the Agri-Business Academy and provide students with the opportunity to explore and delve into the agricultural community through experiences in agri-businesses," Richardson said.

Applications are now being accepted for this program. If you know of a student who might be interested in this program, please contact Richardson at krichardson3@gvboces.org or 585-344-7711, ext. 2140, or Catherine Bennett at cbennett2@gvboces.org or 585-344-7773.

City firefighters gave out 25 brand-new, American-made coats to children at the Agri-Business Child Development Center on Brooklyn Avenue yesterday. This is the first year City fire participated in this national program, which is part of Operation Warm and Firefighters Coats for Kids.

Information and photos submitted by Adam Palumbo.

Children 6 weeks old to 5 years old receive bilingual, culturally appropriate care, including specialized care for children with disabilities.

Eligible Families:

-Have child(ren) from 6 weeks to 5 years old
-Work in Food Service
-Work in Agriculture
-Collect Social Services (DSS)
-Meet income and employment eligibility guidelines

The program employs a knowledgeable teaching staff who promote a creative curriculum

-Meals provided -- breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack
-Diapers and formula provided
-Full-time nurse health screenings
-Large indoor gymnasium
-Free transportation

How to apply?
Call Batavia ABCD (585)-343 -8160 or go online to <http://www.abcdny.org>