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Crossroads House receives donation from Pay It Forward initiative

By Press Release

Press release:

Pay It Forward is a unique initiative at Bell Bank, putting dollars into the hands of our Bell team members every year so they can give where they see the most need. This tradition has empowered millions of dollars in grassroots giving and impacted tens of thousands of lives. The Bell Bank PAY IT Forward program has existed for 12 years with 12,000 stories and $17 million in giving. Bell Bank is proud to Pay IT Forward with this donation to Crossroads House in memory of activist Jeremy Tjhung.

Dash Hamblin, a mortgage loan officer with Bell Bank Mortgage requested this donation. He is a former resident of Horseshoe Lake in Batavia.
Jeremy’s sister Vinnie (pictured) was Mr. Hamblin’s special education teacher to his adopted son Matthew. He now resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Founded in 1966 and headquartered in Fargo North Dakota. Bell Bank is the largest privately-owned local bank in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota. Bell Bank has 2000 employees at its 16 locations, with assets totaling over $12 billion. While many companies focus solely on net profits, Bell

Bank and Bell Bank Mortgage’s “bottom line” statement is unusually simple: “Happy Employees! Happy Customers!”

We believe that if we create a great environment for our employees, who in turn give outstanding service to our customers, we will build stronger communities.

Arctic Refrigeration and Mager family make $2,300 donation to Crossroads House

By Howard B. Owens

Arctic Refrigeration Co. of Batavia and the Mager family delivered a $2,310 donation today to Crossroads House.

Half of the money came from family members, a donation in lieu of Christmas presents to each other, and half came from the proceeds of the annual Henry J. Mager Memorial Scholarship Golf Tournament.

After a two-year hiatus because of the pandemic, the golf tournament, founded in 2010, will return this September.  Named after the founder of Arctic Refrigeration, proceeds from the tournament are used to fund scholarships for students from Batavia High School or GVBOCES who are intent are pursuing a career in a trade, such as construction engineering, architecture, HVAC, automotive, building, agriculture, or energy.  

Fundraising has been more difficult during the pandemic, said Diane Sia, a staff member at Crossroads House, and donations by families and businesses such as the Magers set an example for what others can do to help organizations in the community.

"That is huge in our books," Sia said.

Photo by Howard Owens. From left, Emily Crawford and Diane Sia, with Crossroads House, and Jon Mager and Teresa Tamfer.

Whittier Memorial Triples No-Tap at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion kicks off busy bowling tournament schedule

By Mike Pettinella

Genesee Region USBC bowlers have plenty of tournaments to choose from over the next couple months, starting with this weekend’s 9th annual Scott Whittier Triples No-Tap Memorial Tournament at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion.

The event lists four squads – 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. today and Sunday – and offers at $600 first prize. The entry fee is $75.

Proprietor Randy Hanks reports that today’s squads are nearly full, but there are many openings tomorrow. To enter, call 589-6900.

More information can be found on the Oak Orchard Bowl website – www.oakorchardbowl.com/tournaments.

Other tournaments are as follows:

  • Feb. 4-6 – Help-R-Hero’s 4-Person Handicap No-Tap, Le Roy Legion Lanes. Entry fee is $100 per team. First place is $1,000, based on 40 teams. Squad times are 7 p.m. Feb. 4, noon and 3 p.m. Feb. 5 and 2 p.m. Feb. 6. Call 585-409-6459 to enter.
  • Feb. 5-6 – GRUSBC Youth Team, Oak Orchard Bowl, Albion. An entry form can be found at www.bowlgr.com.
  • Feb. 13 – Super Bowl Handicap Singles, Mancuso Bowling Center, Batavia. Entry fee is $45. One squad at noon. Call 716-474-7960 to enter.
  • Feb. 19 – GRUSBC Doubles No-Tap, Mount Morris Lanes. An entry form can be found at www.bowlgr.com.
  • Feb. 25-27 – 20th Anniversary Ron Riggi Memorial, Le Roy Legion Lanes. Four-person handicap. Call 585-409-6459 for squad times and availability.
  • Feb. 25-27 – 26th Annual Betty Ellison Memorial Strike Out for Crossroads House fundraiser, Mancuso Bowling Center.  Squad times are 6 p.m. Feb. 25, 3 and 6 p.m. Feb. 26 and 1 p.m. Feb. 27. Entry fee (five person team) is $125. To enter, call Cindy at 585-993-0584 or Tara at 585-409-0136 or go to www.crossroadshouse.com/upcoming-events.
  • Feb. 27 – Tommy Kress 60-and-Over Tour, Brockport Bowl. Qualifying squad at 11 a.m. Entry fee is $50. Walk-in are accepted (registration starts at 10 a.m.).
  • March 4-6, 11-13, Bertram Memorial No-Tap, Mount Morris Lanes.  Entry fee is $125 for a five-person team. First place is $1,000. To enter, call 585-658-2540.
  • March 5 – King & Queen Mixed Doubles Handicap, Mancuso Bowling Center. Entry fee is $50, with a $500 first prize, based on 60 entries. Squad times are noon and 2 p.m. Call 716-474-7960 to enter.

Photos: 'Musical Memories' at City Church

By Howard B. Owens

Past and present came together Saturday night at City Church in a 15th-annual "Musical Memories" concert in support of Crossroads House in Batavia.

This year, the free concert honored COVID caregivers and honored victims and survivors.

Performers this year included: The Rochester Hitmen, The Park Avenue Brass, St. Joseph’s Batavia Brass Ensemble, The Hamburg Kingmen Drum Corps, and Mighty St. Joe’s Drum & Bugle Corps.

Photos by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service.

 

 

Mark Your Calendars: Crossroads House annual Garage Sale is July 28 to 31

By Press Release

Press release:

Crossroads House volunteers are moving full steam ahead as they prepare for their annual Garage Sale at 11 Liberty St. in Batavia.

Donations of items are being accepted on Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The sale will be on Thursday, July 29th from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday, July 30th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, July 31st from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

There will be a presale on Wednesday, July 28th from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Admission for the presale is $5 per person aged 16 years or older.

We have a wide variety of new, next to new, and vintage treasures for your shopping enjoyment, and all items are priced to sell!

For more information on donations to our sale, please call Jackie at (585) 734-0125. (No early birds, please.)

Spring Basket Raffle presale and fundraiser for Crossroads House is next month

By Press Release

Press release:

The Annual Spring Basket Raffle fundraiser for Crossroads House will take place on Saturday, June 5th from 12 to 4 p.m. A presale will be Friday, June 4th from 4 to 6:30 p.m.

This event will be hosted at the Arc Community Center, 38 Woodrow Road, behind Notre Dame High School in Batavia.

There will be more than 100 baskets! In addition, we will have mega raffle prizes which are valued at $100 or more.

Masks will be required, and social distancing maintained.

This will be a “walk-thru” raffle, so you will be notified by phone on Saturday if you have won.

We’re sorry, we won’t be serving lunch this year, but we know that you’ll be amazed at the variety and high quality of our baskets.

We look forward to seeing everyone and are so grateful for the support of our wonderful community. We could not do what we do without you!

Crossroads House Car Wash Memorial Fundraiser is going on now until 8 p.m. at Classy Chassy on Veterans Memorial Drive

By Press Release

Submitted photos and press release:

Is your vehicle ready for a bath? Might we suggest the best wash in town? Thank you so much to Ellen Greene-Gruttadauria of Classy Chassy Car Wash, and Kim Pangrazio, for planning a car wash fundraiser to support Crossroads House!

This will be in memory of Kim's mother, Carol, who was our resident back in 2018. Carol was a local gal and made her way deep into the heart of our community. The event will take place Tuesday, May 11th at the 4120 Veterans Memorial Drive location ONLY (across from Walmart).

Now until 8 p.m., you pay only $5 per Eco Tunnel Wash, which the Classy Chassy is donating back, along with their generous match of $5, to bless us with $10 per car! This is their best wash, the Eco Tunnel Bath, an $18 value for only $5!

Show your car some LOVE on today and thank you for supporting Crossroads House!

Below, Kim Pangrazio, left, and her late mother, Carol.

Licata Chiropractic and Wellness Center in Batavia donates $1,000 to Crossroads House

By Billie Owens

On Thursday, Nov. 19, money raised locally from selling homemade face masks along with donations and some matching funds were presented to Jeff Allen, executive director of Crossroads House.

Donations totaling $716 from patients at Licata Chiropractic and Wellness Center and their families and friends, plus some matching funds from chiropractor Sandra A. Licata were given to the nonprofit hospice house in Batavia -- $1,000 all together.

The fundraising effort began after Licata purchased the property at 542 E. Main St. in Batavia and she and business partner Michael Grasso LMT moved there in February.

The chiropractor and licensed massage therapist have both been in practice for 22 years, working together since 2001.

The new location's private parking and a bright new cheery office helped seal the deal.

They made the move in March, then COVID-19 struck.

The Wellness Center staff fixed up the “542” and worked seeing patients on an emergency basis through the end of spring. Unfortunately, massage therapy was closed for three months.

At the same time, Benay Chamberlain was trying to find a way to help others. She was among the vulnerable population and feeling helpless. Her daughter sent a pattern of masks and a video to Anna Fenton, who printed it and showed Chamberlain, who took it from there.  

Material, thread and elastic were hard to come by at first. Through connections and donations the two women came up with enough to make some masks. Initially, Chamberlain made 37 masks and said “that’s enough.” But now they're at 245 and counting!

They decided to ask Licata if she would make them available in her office to help raise money for Crossroads House and Licata happily agreed.  

The team at the wellness center has been able to see patients normally and safely with some new COVID-19 protocols in place and they've been steadily busy since.

Allen of Crossroads House said the donation will go to operational needs. He is thankful to all who donated and says he's truly amazed how people can come up with wonderful fundraising ways to help Crossroads House.  

Chamberlain says she will continue to make masks until they are no longer needed. Masks are on display at the “542.”

Anyone wishing to make donations to Crossroad House can do so at : P.O. Box 403, Batavia, NY 14020.

Licata and staff thank all who helped make that donation last week possible and hope to raise more money to donate by spring.

To inquire about a mask call Licata Chiropractic and Wellness Center at 343-5311 or email:  licatachiropractic@gmail.com

Top photo: Crossroads House Executive Director of Crossroads House, left, receives $1,000 check from chiropractor Sandra Licata. Her business partner Michael Grasso LMT is in the middle.

Sponsored Post: Crossroads House to host Christmas Garage Sale this weekend

By Lisa Ace


Crossroads House will be having our annual Christmas Sale again this year. It will be a downsized version from the last couple of years and take place right in our garage.

The “Comfort Foods” Cookbook will be available at the sale or you can purchase online at www.crossroadshouse.com.

We will be observing standard safety precautions including masks, social distancing, and sanitizing. Enjoy great gift and collectible shopping while supporting comfort care in your neighborhood. We'll see you this weekend!

Mark Your Calendar: Crossroads House to hold pop-up garage sale Nov. 27 and 28

By Press Release

Press release:

Mark your calendars and be sure to stop by Crossroads House on Black Friday and Saturday! We will be having a “Pop-Up” sale on Friday, Nov 27th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Saturday, Nov 28th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Our garage at 11 Liberty St. in Batavia is bursting at the seams with beautiful Christmas decorations, vintage glassware, collectibles and many other treasures.

Our “Comfort Foods” cookbook will also be available for purchase ($14). This is a hardbound collection of more than 200 recipes including one for a spaghetti sandwich! (Did you ever have one of those when you were growing up?)

We would like to thank the community for coming out to support our mission of comfort care by attending our fundraisers, dropping off items from our “Wish List,” and by remembering Crossroads House with memorial giving and monthly donations. We could not do what we do, without you!

Hoping to see you at our sale! Masks will be required.

Sponsored Post: 'Comfort Foods' cookbook from Crossroads House Family now available for order

By Lisa Ace

Crossroads House is honored to present “Comfort Foods,” a cookbook created in honor and memory of Connie Ficarella and featuring recipes from the Ficarella family and the volunteers and staff at Crossroads House. This beautiful keepsake contains more than 200 recipes as well as pictures and tributes to a life well lived and loved.

Get one for your home and more as wonderful Christmas gift -- 100 percent of the proceeds go to comfort care in our community serving your family, friends and neighbors.

The cookbook is only $14 and can be purchased at Ficarella’s Pizzeria, 21 Liberty St., or at Crossroads House, 11 Liberty St., in Batavia. Please call ahead for pick up at Crossroads House.

You can also order the cookbook online from Ficarella's here or Crossroads House here.

Local delivery of the cookbook is available from Ficarella’s, and anywhere in the United States from Crossroads House.

Crossroads House to hold scaled-down garage sale Oct. 9 and 10

By Press Release

Press release:

Crossroads House will be having an "impromptu sale" in their garage at 11 Liberty St. Although much smaller than our annual garage sale due to restrictions on public gatherings, “the show must go on”!

Volunteers have been busy pricing a wide variety of treasures including glassware, collectibles, household items, and a few pieces of furniture. Garage access will be limited to a few people at a time, social distancing measures will be in place, and masks will be required.

The sale will be held on Friday, Oct. 9th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 10th from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (No early birds, please.)

This sale is to not only help fill the funding gap left by cancelled fundraisers but also move out merchandise that would have sold at our summer sale.

We want to thank our generous community for donating items so we could have this sale. We hope to see you, at the House!

Crossroads House Impromptu Garage Sale

By Lisa Ace

Crossroads House Impromptu Garage Sale [in our garage] at 11 Liberty Street, Batavia, NY 14020.
Although much smaller than our annual garage sale, due to restrictions on public gatherings, “the show must go on!” 
Volunteers have been busy pricing a wide variety of treasures including glassware, collectibles, household items, and a few pieces of furniture. 
Garage access will be limited to a few people at a time, social distancing measures will be in place, and masks will be required. 

Event Date and Time
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Hesperus Lodge marks two decades of Van Hulburt Memorial Golf Tournaments with largest single donation to date

By Press Release

Submitted photo and press release:

A check for $12,125 was presented Wednesday to Crossroads House, the nonprofit hospice care home in the City of Batavia, proceeds from the 20th Annual Van Hulburt Memorial Golf Tournament.

“2020 has been a particularly challenging year in terms of fundraising as most of our events have been cancelled," said Crossroads House Executive Director Jeff Allen. "The record-setting proceeds from this year’s tournament are so timely and go a long way to fill some of our funding gaps."

Allen, golf tournament volunteers and the Crossroads House Board of Directors were on hand to accept the check from members of the Brethren of Hesperus Masonic Lodge #837 in Bergen.

After the check presentation, lodge members, along with Helen Hulburt and other tournament volunteers, took a tour of Crossroads House to see the impact of their longstanding relationship with the mission of comfort care.

Excerpts from a history of Hesperus Lodge & the Van Hulburt Memorial Golf Tournament

“Twenty years ago, at a meeting of the Brethren of Hesperus Masonic Lodge #837, in Bergen, New York members were discussing a way they could honor the memory of their beloved Brother, Mr. Van Hulburt. A suggestion was made by Brother David Liles that they make a donation to Crossroads House in Batavia, in Van's name.

"Further discussion led to the idea of holding a golf tournament to raise the money and also provide a fun way to honor Van, who loved the game of golf. Brother Marty Krause volunteered to organize the tournament, as he has all 20 years. Helen Hulburt, Van’s wife, enthusiastically endorsed the idea along with her family.

"Brother Ralph Marsocci, the owner of Ralph and Rosie's Restaurants, volunteered to supply the lunches for the golfers which he continues to do each year. The Batavia Country Club has hosted the two-decade event and always provides a great course along with superb food and drink.” 

"...Despite the pandemic this is the largest (single) amount given to date ($12,125) thanks to the many dedicated Brethren, volunteers, sponsors and golfers who keep stepping up to the plate for this wonderful organization."

Over the course of 20 years, the Hesperus Lodge has donated more than $130,000 to Crossroads House through the Van Hulburt Memorial Golf Tournament.

Sixty-seven Sponsors Step Up

This year 67 sponsors, both private and corporate, stepped up including: Gold Sponsors Triple-O Mechanical, Ashley Capital (Paul Rubacha Family) and the Jerry Hulburt family. Silver Sponsors were Bergen C-Store, Ralph and Rosie’s and the Schoonmaker Family.

The other 61 donors come from Bergen, Byron, Stafford, Batavia, Rochester and elsewhere.

"We have been and are proud to help support this wonderful group of volunteers and staff who deliver loving and compassionate care for those who are in the end stages of life,” said Donald Keys, Master of Hesperus Lodge #837.

Photo by row, from left:

  • Bottom row -- Hesperus Lodge members Ralph Marsocci, Ted Catlin, Donald Keys and Dave Liles, Crossroads House Member Dr. Mary Obear, golf tournament volunteer Marilyn Liles, Crossroads House Director Jeff Allen, Van Hulbert's widow Helen Hulburt;
  • First row stairs -- Hesperus Lodge Member Marty Krause, golf tournament volunteer Donna Krause;
  • Second row stairs -- Hesperus Lodge Member Bob Seils, golf tournament volunteer Elaine Keys;
  • Top row -- Crossroads House Board members Charlotte Crawford, Kari Wilford, Kathy Panepento, Steve Johnson, Joanne Patri, Wendy Morse, Tom Finn and Jamie Charters.

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