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Starting July 23: Three evenings of Mars and Beyond VBS at Alexander United Methodist Church

By Tracy Eisele

The Alexander United Methodist Church will be holding its 2021 Vacation Bible School from July 23-25. Registration begins at 5:45 p.m. and the program runs until 8:30 each evening. The church is located at 10540 Main St., Alexander.

The theme for this year's Vacation Bible School is "To Mars and Beyond." Kids entering grades K-6 are invited to "Blast Off on an Amazing Adventure" to learn about Jesus through Bible stories, games and crafts. 

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Vintage Christmas Event at Northgate

By Allison Lang

Northgate Free Methodist Church invites the community to a ‘Vintage Christmas’ event, on Saturday, December 8th, from 5-8pm.  Enjoy a festive Christmas tractor hayride through our community prayer walk, complete with carols and a retelling of the Christmas story.  Come roast marshmallows around our bonfire, eat s’mores, drink hot chocolate, while the children are invited to create ornaments for the tree.

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Mothers Of Pre-Schoolers (MOPS) Kick-Off

By Allison Lang

Mothers of Preschoolers or MOPS are groups of women who gather together twice a month to share and support each other in the remarkable journey that is motherhood. Meetings consist of relevant speakers, fun crafts, supportive conversations and fellowship.

There is always hot coffee and free childcare provided at all MOPS meetings. Moms can choose from a 9am morning group or a 6:30pm evening group. MOPS is open to all moms with children from birth to their youngest child finishes kindergarten.

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Photos: Fun in the mud

By Steve Ognibene

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Have you heard of Dirty Girl? How about Tough Mudder? Well, the second annual John Kennedy School “Sons and Mudders” event kicked off last night. More than 300 sons and moms participated in the half-mile obstacle course. Some of the course events consists of sprinklers, tug-of-war, slip-'n'-slide to name a few, but most of the entertainment happens when they go through the mud crawl, said Allision Chua who is co-chair of tonight’s event.

David Chua came up with the “Sons and Mudders” name last year when they had 225 participants.

“It’s to promote and improve fitness for all age levels and to have some fun with our sons," said Allision Chua. "We have our annual father-daughter dance in February and our JK parent group got together to come up with some ideas with Jennifer Houseknecht who co-chaired the event last year and thought this would be a big hit and tonight showed it."

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Three different time slots were broken up by grades from second to fourth to accommodate everyone.

Allison said, "We could not do it without our sponsors."

Muller Quaker, donated the yogurt and Artic Refrigeration, the ice and water for after each group finished. 

T-Shirts Etc. printed the shirts and nearly 30 local businesses donated toward the costs of the event. 

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Dave Fisher runs the “Mud Crawl” and if you don’t get mud on you, he makes sure you do. AD Call & Sons helped with the covering costs for the dirt used for the event.

For more photos and to purchase go to: Steve Ognibene Photography

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Free Community Yoga Class to be Offered at Blue Pearl Yoga

By Patricia Hawley

FREE COMMUNITY YOGA CLASS OFFERED AT BLUE PEARL YOGA IN BATAVIA

 

BATAVIA…Blue Pearl Yoga will offer free yoga classes to the community on Friday, February 21 at 6:00 p.m. These classes are suitable for all ages and skill levels. A DJ will provide music for this fun event. Light refreshments will be served following the class.

 

Karen Reisdorf, owner of Blue Pearl Yoga and recent recipient of the 2013 City of Batavia Business of the Year award announced that she will teach a yoga class as a way to say thank you to the community for the support they’ve shown during her 14 years in business. “Independent business owners owe everything to their customers, especially when you live outside an urban center,” Reisdorf said. “This is a way for me to give back and show my appreciation to all of the people who’ve supported me and helped me grow Blue Pearl Yoga.” 

 

A class for adults will be held on the 3rd floor of her yoga studio located at the old Masonic Temple on Main Street in Batavia. A special class for families will be held on the fourth floor; both classes begin at 6 p.m. “We’re committed not only to the health of our families but the health of our community,” said Reisdorf. While this is the first time that a free yoga class has been offered community-wide, Blue Pearl Yoga can often be found at local community agencies like the Mental Health Association and the YWCA teaching yoga to their clients.”  

 

A class for families will be held simultaneously on the 4th floor of the studio. Maryanne Skye will teach a class designed for fun and suitable for adults and children of all ages. Participants can expect light stretching and simple yoga poses that create a delightful flow of energy to an upbeat soundtrack.

 

No special equipment is required but participants should wear light, comfortable clothing. Yoga mats will be provided by the studio or you can bring your own.  Blue Pearl Yoga is located at 200 East Main Street in Batavia. For more information please call Karen Reisdorf at 585.230.5430 or email [email protected]

 

Weeklong Vacation Bible School begins

By Pamela Klotzbach

A Little Bit o' Talent  July 22 -26 Vacation Bible School

Free meal for the whole family begins at 5:30. The program begins at 6:15. From nursery age through 6th grade PLUS discussion format for youth and adults.

Come and join the talent show of Biblical characters who shared their talents for God.

Transportation available:  343-4708 or 716-560-0290

Batavia: First United Methodist Church

8221 Lewiston Rd

Batavia

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The Young Americans visit Attica High School

By Rick Franclemont

 

From October 9th through 11th, The Young Americans International Music Outreach Tour visited Attica High School culminating in a full two hour concert / show that included students from grades 4-12 attending from local school districts.

The Young Americans are a company of 40 staff, singers and dancers. The college age members of the Young Americans are from many countries around the world.

 

The Young Americans main purposes are:

  1. To encourage music in our nation's schools
  2. To train young people in performance
  3. To stengthen character

The workshop was aimed at providing an experience that brings every student enjoyment and benefit. 

The first two days were filled with classes, staging and rehearsal excercises (the students were placed into groups for ease in teaching and learning on appropriate levels).

On the third day, the students performed with the Young Americans on stage in a concert for the community, featuring students and their personalities, talents, and newly discovered abilities.

 

 

Many more pictures from the event can be found here

 

 

Lions Club of Batavia raffles bikes, treats vets and seniors to night at the ballpark

By Rick D. Franclemont

The Lions Club of Batavia gave out more than 100 tickets to kids attending the Muckdogs game Monday night for a bike raffle and giveaway. Two bikes were given away, one to a girl and one to a boy.

Lions Club President John Murray throws out the first pitch at Monday night's second game of the Muckdogs double-header.

Lions Club President John Murray with drawing winners, 11-year-old Joe Biaselli, of Lyndonville, and 8-year-old Olivia Costley, of Batavia.

Press release from the Lions:

On Monday, Aug. 22, members of the Batavia Lions Club gathered at Dwyer Stadium in Batavia for its 36th annual Lions Night at the Ballpark as the hometown Muckdogs played the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

The evening featured several highlights including a free raffle for two brand-new bikes to two lucky local kids holding the winning tickets and an opportunity for several seniors and veterans to attend the game and be treated to hotdogs and refreshments -- all free of charge and paid for by the Batavia Lions Club.

The Lions Club invited several senior citizens from local area nursing homes, which included the federal and New York state veterans facilities located in Batavia. Each attendee was treated to a hot dog or hamburger, fries and a soda. They also had the special treat of watching a double-header on a beautiful summer evening.

Lion Gerry Maley was again responsible for all arrangements with the ball club and, along with Lions Dave Cutitta and Dom Lovria, for the bike raffle. Lion Dr. Ross Fanara and his wife, Shirley, made all arrangements with the five nursing homes/veterans’ facilities to bring more than 50 seniors to the ballpark.

The Batavia Lions Club would like to thank all of the Muckdog staff, especially General Manager Travis Sick and Ticket Manager Mike Ewing along with the activities directors from the Batavia VA Medical Center, New York State VA Nursing Home, Genesee County Nursing Home, Batavia Nursing Home, and the Le Roy Village Green Nursing Home for helping make this a very enjoyable evening for all. 

See you next year at the ballpark!

JOIN THE GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT

By Jan Beglinger

 

Count for Fun, Count for the Future
New York, NY and Ithaca, NY—Bird and nature fans throughout North America are invited to join tens of thousands of everyday bird watchers for the 12th annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), February 13-16, 2009.
 
A joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, this free event is an opportunity for families, students, and people of all ages to discover the wonders of nature in backyards, schoolyards, and local parks, and, at the same time, make an important contribution to conservation. Participants count birds and report their sightings online at www.birdcount.org.
 
“The Great Backyard Bird Count benefits both birds and people. It’s a great example of citizen science: Anyone who can identify even a few species can contribute to the body of knowledge that is used to inform conservation efforts to protect birds and biodiversity,” said Audubon Education VP, Judy Braus. “Families, teachers, children and all those who take part in GBBC get a chance to improve their observation skills, enjoy nature, and have a great time counting for fun, counting for the future.”

 
Anyone can take part, from novice bird watchers to experts, by counting birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the event and reporting their sightings online at www.birdcount.org. Participants can also explore what birds others are finding in their backyards—whether in their own neighborhood or thousands of miles away. Additional online resources include tips to help identify birds, a photo gallery, and special materials for educators.
 
The data these “citizen scientists” collect helps researchers understand bird population trends, information that is critical for effective conservation. Their efforts enable everyone to see what would otherwise be impossible: a comprehensive picture of where birds are in late winter and how their numbers and distribution compare with previous years. In 2008, participants submitted more than 85,000 checklists.
 
“The GBBC has become a vital link in the arsenal of continent-wide bird-monitoring projects,” said Cornell Lab of Ornithology director, John Fitzpatrick. “With more than a decade of data now in hand, the GBBC has documented the fine-grained details of late-winter bird distributions better than any project in history, including some truly striking changes just over the past decade.”
 
Each year, in addition to entering their tallies, participants submit thousands of digital images for the GBBC photo contest. Many are featured in the popular online gallery. Participants in the 2009 count are also invited to upload their bird videos to YouTube; some will also be featured on the GBBC web site. Visit www.birdcount.org to learn more.
 
Businesses, schools, nature clubs, Scout troops, and other community organizations interested in the GBBC can contact the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at (800) 843-2473 (outside the U.S., call (607) 254-2473), or Audubon at [email protected] or (202) 861-2242, Ext 3050.
 
The Great Backyard Bird Count is made possible, in part, by support from Wild Birds Unlimited.

Reflection and Time

By Lori Ann Santini

     There has been alot of discussion this week over issues and incidents. Clearly, opinions have differed. Some in support and some against.  People in this country have the blessing of freedom of speech. Sometimes we take it for granted. When the storm of comments wained, one thing became clear. We need to focus on the important things. Our health, our loves and our life.

     I had time to take a breathe and plan my attack. Instead of wonder how much worse this could get, I changed direction. I went to the local stores and searched for plant seeds. Spring was about to come to my little house. The weather might have different plans but I didn't care. This is a way to focus and plan.  To plot where every plant would go and to wait for the results.

     My kids are an integral part of the planning. First, are there truly kid friendly plants out there? The answer of course is yes. Kid friendly isn't the issue actually. Peas, carrots, corn and the occassional fresh tomato meet with the occassional "Mom can I have another one?" I  have concerns about their welfare however as I imagine  my 17 month old re-inacting Godzilla scenes through the rows of plants.  Things are going to get crushed like the city blocks leveled in the movies.

     For the girls in my life, the pick was flowers. "Mom can we get this one?" or  "OHHHHHHH, thats soooooooo beautiful."  I prefer the sunny disposition of sunflowers myself.(I can't lie, I love johnny jumps ups and crocuses too.) They are rugged and friendly. These guys could survive my son and his antics. For my son, I picked peas and beans. I have never met a kid more crazy about his vegetables. This kid could eat a whole can of green beans at one sitting if given half a chance.

     Just imagine his delight when they are fresh from the garden. Picked as the dew drips from the leaves. Mmmmm. I can taste it now.  The peas will never make it to the kitchen.

     Seeds are a cheap fix to anyones woes. A couple dollars can buy you healthy snacks that will last all summer long. Especially if they happen to be in patio pots filled with Cherry Tomatoes. Yum.

     This year we are going for some larger and more exciting prospects. We have a huge lawn now. My plans for the garden will probably  start small but will end up  taking over an acre or so. Just kidding!! I want to try potatoes, bright lights swiss chard, corn and pumpkins. I have made attempts in the past to try some of these but I never had the right soil or location. This year it will be perfect.

    I can see that the hose will need to be ready and available at all times. Bath time for the babes. I'm not talking plants either. In the past my  daughters have been knee high in the soil and mud. Now I have three that I need to keep  out of trouble. Guess what, the hose will be alot easier.

     I look forward to the joy on their faces as the seedlings emerge from the ground. We will care for them, nurture them, and weed them. ( I have a feeling it will only be me weeding them though.) The kids will rig devices to protect the new plants from the rabbits and other critters. Then we will wait. Wait for the first of the crops. We will share them with friends and neighbors. Ahh. I feel better already.

P.S. Does anyone have a rotor tiller I can borrow? :) This is going to take some help.

Not everybody hates the weather today

By Brian Hillabush

 Five-year old Andrew and two-year old Kate Ricupito didn't mind the storm Western New York was hit with today.

Here are the two youngsters enjoying some good old fashioned sledding at Centennial Park in Batavia.

 

Plenty to do at the library this fall

By Philip Anselmo

Whether your child is still crawling, still drooling, scampering, talking, coloring or crooning, Richmond Memorial Library has an autumn reading program that will suit them. Story time sessions are designed for "pre-walkers" through five-year-olds and up.

"The best way to prepare your child for school is to introduce books at an early age," says Children's Librarian Sandra Gillard.

Take your pick from:

  • Baby Bounce: Tuesdays at 9:30am (pre-walkers)
  • Toddler Time: Tuesdays at 10:30am (walkers: up to 36 months)
  • Moms & Moppets: Wednesdays at 10:00am (1-3 years)
  • Preschool Party: Thursdays at 10:00am (3-5 years)
  • Pajama Primetime: Thursdays at 6:30pm (all ages)

Registration for all story time sessions begins on September 2. Sessions begin the week of September 15. All activities are free and open to the public. Folks are encouraged to register early as space is limited.

Call the library at (585) 343-9550 ext. 4 for more information. Or stop by the Children's Room during library hours (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: 9:00am to 9:00pm; Friday and Saturday: 9:00am to 5:00pm.

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