News

Jim Nigro posted the following article and pictures: It's that time of year when the small woodlots on either side of our property attract a variety of bird life, none more colorful than the Baltimore oriole. Though they didn't arrive as early or in such great numbers as last spring, they did arrive to feast on the small insects among the apple blossoms.

It’s difficult not to feel the passion for the play, “Next to Normal.” Without even seeing it. All you have to do is talk to cast members and the director. Director Patrick Burk: “Really, I’ve just been fortunate to be able to bring this show to Batavia. I feel I’m blessed to have the opportunity to do this and to have such a tremendous cast. People will find it very amazing.”

LE ROY, N.Y. -- You may have heard that Le Roy is birthplace to a famous dessert, but there's much more to the small Genesee County town. JELL-O was created in Le Roy in 1897, and the original inventor sold the rights for just $450. It was eventually moved out of Le Roy about 50 years ago, but the history remains.

Before McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's became household names, locally owned drive-in restaurants were the places to go for fast food. Drive-in eateries came to prominence in the post-World War II era, as people increasingly took to the road in automobiles. The custom of ''driving in'' for a charcoal broiled hot dog, hamburger, sandwich or fish fry became a popular alternative to the traditional sit-down restaurant.

Darien Lake Theme Park is getting back to basics -- entertaining families and celebrating its Western New York roots. Symbolic of that theme was the grand opening today of the 2013 season with a ceremony honoring Paul Snyder, the founder of Darien Lake Fun Country, which was primarily a campground until 1981, when Snyder opened an amusement park.

More than 580 young soccer players -- and their families -- have been in Batavia the past two days for New York State West Olympic Development Program showing coaches what they can do on the field.

BATAVIA — Local Scouts commemorated the coming birthday of the city’s Peace Garden Saturday by leading a ceremonial flag raising and clearing the way for new plantings at the park’s Grove of Nations.

oodward Memorial Library of Le Roy (which is located on Wolcott Street near East Main Street) is definitely a hidden gem of Western New York. It’s never mentioned in the same context as the Jell-O Museum in Le Roy, Albright-Knox Art Gallery of Buffalo — or even Bohn’s Restaurant of Batavia, for that matter. But the Woodward Library is a hidden gem nevertheless.

BUFFALO — Batavia native Brittany Mruczek will be performing two spring concerts in the Buffalo area this spring.

BATAVIA — Lee Johnson wears it well. It’s a white sash trimmed in royal blue that bears the title of Mr. Batavia. The 17-year-old Batavia High School senior is proud to wear it around. He even admitted that, on occasion, he has fallen asleep with it on. It’s all part of the event, he said.

“The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” So began the first presenter for the 15th Annual John Gardner Conference hosted by Genesee Community College organized by Tracey Ford and Charley Boyd of GCC, coordinated by Sandy Hortdahl of Northeast State, Tennessee.

Whether it's the salty, sweet perfection of Cashew Glaze, colorful Christmas Ribbon Candy or the unique regional favorite Sponge Candy, Oliver's offers treats that are handmade, high quality and tasty.

In Tim Call's mind, there's little separation between the success of Empire Tractor and the hard work and dedication of the company's employees. Whether it's sales or customer service, the conversation with Call either starts or ends with praise for Empire's 112 employees at six central and western New York locations. "We have some of the most friendly and knowledgeable people in the industry," Call said.

St. Joseph School has been around since 1873 and currently has an enrollment of 300 students from pre-K through eighth grade. The Catholic elementary school employes 14 full-time teachers, four part-time teachers, six full-time aides, six support staff and two school nurses.

The Batavia Peace Garden commemorating the War of 1812 is stop number 13 of 25 on a 600-mile trail that runs through Canada and the United States. Batavia became the rallying point in the War of 1812. British forces burned 200 homes in Youngstown, many families then relocated to the Batavia area to take shelter.

It's St. Patrick's Day, which seems a appropriate occasion to present an informal history of Batavia's breweries. Factories for the manufacture of beer and ale have long been a part of the Batavia scene.

BATAVIA — A new Civil War Exhibit will open Saturday, April 13, at the Holland Land Office Museum, 131 West Main St. The exhibit will display information and artifacts regarding Genesee County’s involvement in the Civil War. It is free and open to the public.

BERGEN — Two hundred years is a lot of history to celebrate, but it’s only a start, say officials of the town of Bergen.

BATAVIA — Local historical societies, museums, historians and other history agencies will take part in the first Genesee County History Open House, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 6 at Genesee Community College. The event is free and open to the public.

Anyone interested in photography will find a plethora of great work dotting the walls of the Richmond Memorial Library’s gallery room this month. The Batavia Photography Club is holding its annaul members exhibition all through April at the library. Nearly 60 original photos sit on display, showcasing the talents of those who see life through a lens.

Genesee County is so fortunate to have many historical societies and museums in the area. These museums have one goal in common and that is to be a resource where local history is preserved and made available to the public.

class. "I love nature," the Rochester resident said. "I love water and I love fish and it just brings me closer to a peace I don't have in my professional life." Leach was among 30 people who turned out at Godfrey's Pond this morning for a free fly-fishing class with instructors Ron Wickings and Jim Southall While Leach had never held a fly rod before, some of the class members have been fly-fishing for years.

In 1910 Lawrence Byrnes was stopping in Batavia to visit a friend on Exchange Street. His friend worked at the Buffalo Glass Company

There’s a story about a lady from Batavia, who while vacationing in Florida, went into a burger joint and ordered a “beef on ’weck.” They arrested her because they thought it was a drug. (Just kidding.)