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Sponsored Post: Crossroads House Musical Memories will be held Saturday, October 8th!

By Lisa Ace


The eighth Annual Musical Memories concert will be held on Saturday Oct. 8th, at The City Church, 210 E. Main St. Batavia. Each year the St. Joe’s Brass Ensemble hosts this amazing night of music to benefit Crossroads House.

Highlighting some of the region’s top instrumental musical talent, the Musical Memories evening is always one to remember. This year the St Joe’s Reunion Ensemble and The Mighty St. Joe’s Alumni Drum Corps are celebrating 85 years of entertaining at local, regional and national venues. 

The City Church provides an acoustically stunning setting in the historic former Mancuso Theater. This year the show will be opened by The Batavia Jazz Ensemble. Other bands appearing will be The Hamburg Kingsman Drum Corps, Parkside Avenue Brass and The Hit Men along with The St Joe’s Reunion Ensemble and Alumni Drum Corps.

The concert is always a night of great fun and wonderful entertainment. There will 50/50 and Mega raffles as well so come on out and enjoy a great evening of entertainment for a great cause.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts promptly at 7 o'clock. Advance sale tickets of $5 for general seating and $10 for preferred seating can be purchased at T.F. Brown's, Roxy’s Music Store, Valle Jewelers, The Prospector Restaurant in Attica and Crossroads House. Tickets can also be purchased securely online at https://dailynewstickets.com/e/crossroads-house-presents-musical-memories/tickets

Ticket holders will also get discounts at our ticket partners: Center Street Smoke House, T.F. Brown's, Main Street Pizza Company and Big Pauly’s Pizza. We’ll see you on the 8th!

'Tap Takeover' at Chestnut Hill Country Club on Monday will benefit Crossroads House

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The taps at the Chestnut Hill Country Club will be taken over by the Hamburg Brewing Company from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 26th. A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit the Crossroads House in Batavia. In addition to the various craft beers created by the Hamburg Brewing Company, there will be putting, long drive and closest-to-the-pin contests.

“We thought this was a great way to end our golf season and to thank our customers throughout the year for all of their support, plus we are partnering with a great brewery for a great cause,” said Michael Protos, owner of Chestnut Hill.

Among the craft beers that the Hamburg Brewing Company will serve on tap at the takeover event include:

  • IPA – The breweries' four IPA style varieties includes -- ahtanum, palisade, chinook and magnum. This British-American hybrid also plays host to four different types of malted barley creating a unique orange hue. Additional hops added throughout the brewing process contribute to the floral and piney aromas that mingle well with the distinct malty character.
  • Small Town -- British-American hybrid also plays host to four different types of malted barley creating a unique orange hue. Additional hops added throughout the brewing process contribute to the floral and piney aromas that mingle well with the distinct malty character.
  • Hoppenstance -- an American Double India Pale Ale featuring cascade, centennial, simcoe and magnum hops. Honey malt and North American pilsner malts round out this well-balanced brew to make it so approachable and full flavored.
  • Oktoberfest -- Nothing pairs better with the great fall season than a traditional German-style Marzen lager. With its roots stemming from traditional Bavarian culture, this Oktoberfest is brewed with tons of Vienna-style malts that bring about BIG malty flavor. That big malty flavor then fades away to a clean hop bitterness provided by the Perle hops for a full-flavored and balanced experience.

“The rolling hills of Genesee County and the Chestnut Hill Country Club is a perfect setting to enjoy these great beers,” said John Russo, Jr. the president of Hamburg Brewing Company. “We also are delighted to have the opportunity to partner with Chestnut Hill and their efforts to support Crossroads House.”

Crossroads House is a comfort care home located on Liberty Street in the City of Batavia. It is a home to provide care for those who have a terminal illness and is an alternative to a hospital or nursing home when care can no longer be provided in the patient’s home. Crossroads House serves residents in Genesee, Wyoming and surrounding counties at no cost. For more information about Crossroads House please visit http://crossroadshouse.com/.

Chestnut Hill Country Club is an 18-hole championship golf course based in Darien Center. The Club is known for hosting a number of tournaments throughout the golf season because of its many amenities, including large covered patios overlooking the 9th and 18th holes and a dining capacity for up to 275 people. For more information please visit http://www.chestnuthillgolf.com/.

Sponsored Post: Crossroads House annual garage sale is this weekend! Don't miss this, we have something for everyone!

By Lisa Ace

The Annual Crossroads House Garage Sale will take place July 28th, 29th and 30th. This year’s sale will be the biggest yet and includes something for everyone. We having everything from housewares to collectibles, furniture to kitchenware, tools to toys. You’ll find recliners, desks, dressers, dining sets, rockers, couches, end tables, antique furniture, area rugs, glassware, books, lamps, tableware, small appliances, washers, dryers and more. New items will be out each day of the sale.

New this year is our Preview Day for early bird and hardcore garage sale hunters on Wednesday the 27th from 12:30 – 3:30. On Preview Day, there will be a $10 preview fee and prices will be marked and firm. Regular Sale hours are Thursday and Friday 9‐4 and Saturday 9‐noon. Hot dogs and drinks will be available for purchase courtesy of The First Baptist Church on Thursday and Friday.

Our featured item is the pictured 1987 Yamaha Virago 535 with less than 14,000 original miles! The motorcycle will not be sold before the sale and will be available to inspect during the sale. For more information on the motorcycle visit: http://crossroadshouse.com/yamaha‐virago‐535/ 

Morganville pastor thanks donors who supported bike trip to raise money for Crossroads House

By Billie Owens

A letter from Pastor Jim Morasco, in submitted photo above, of the Morganville United Church of Christ:

I would like to thank all who contributed to my bike ride from Pittsburg to Washington, D.C., raising money for Crossroads House. Your prayers and thoughts of encouragement were warmly felt and supported me as I peddled in the heat and humidity. Together, so far, we raised over $600, and donations are still coming in.

Blessings to you all.

City youth in summer rec program holding can and bottle drive to benefit Crossroads House

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The City of Batavia Summer Recreation Program is well underway and is entering the third week of the six-week program. Each year the program sponsors a Community Service Day for all of the children to volunteer and give something back to their community. This year’s Community Service Project is scheduled for July 19th with all of the parks participating.

The 2016 project is a community-wide can/bottle drive to raise money for Crossroads House.

If anyone would like to contribute to this worthy cause, please feel free to deliver your cans or bottles to any of the parks (Farrall, John Kennedy, Lambert, Williams, Lions) on or before Tuesday, July 19, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. or take them to the Batavia Youth Bureau, located at 12 MacArthur Drive. Program sponsors will make sure the donations are delivered to the parks.

The kids and the Rec Leaders from each park will also visit homes in their park’s neighborhoods on July 19 to solicit donations of cans and bottles.

If you have any questions or would like to help in any way, please call the Youth Bureau at 345-6420. Thank you for your anticipated assistance and support!

Photos: Sixth Annual Jerry 'Rat' Cone Memorial Run

By Howard B. Owens

More than 100 riders came through Batavia today, with a police escort, as part of the sixth Annual Jerry “Rat” Cone Memorial Run to Benefit Crossroads House.

The ride took them down Main Street, with a turn down a driveway that brought them around the Crossroads House and back onto Liberty Street.

Sponsored Post: Crossroads House Basket Raffle is this Saturday at noon!

By Lisa Ace

The Annual Crossroads House Spring Basket Raffle will be held Saturday May, 14th at the ARC Community Center 38 Woodrow Road in Batavia. The event runs from noon to 4pm. We are already over 100 high quality baskets with more arriving. There will be Mega Raffles with a variety to suit everyone!

Additional sheets of 25 basket tickets & side MEGA raffle tickets are available for $5.

Beef on weck, chicken salad wraps, snacks and desserts will be available for purchase. You need not be present to win, so stop on out, drop your tickets and have some lunch. Crossroads House is the areas only free-of-charge Comfort Care Home for the dying, which is why we say, “We are a gift to the Community made possible by the Community."

For questions, please call Call Peg at 585-343-3892. 
All proceed to benefit Crossroads House, located at 11 Liberty St., Batavia, NY. “A comfort home for the dying” that serves residents of Genesee, Wyoming & surrounding counties.

Visit us online at www.crossroadshouse.com

'A Cabaret for Crossroads' is Saturday afternoon at City Church, helps the terminally ill

By Billie Owens

Press release:

St. Joe’s Reunion Brass Ensemble of Batavia will be hosting “A Cabaret for Crossroads” at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 9, at City Church, 210 E. Main St., Batavia.

One group being featured is “The DSP Trio” -- Derek Reiss, Skip Taylor, Pete Marks (the Big Band and Swing Era). The other featured singer is Michael Noce singing the best of the crooners -- Sinatra, Bennett, Martin, Armstrong & others. If you like the musicians along with the singers from the Big Band Era, you will love this music.

The admission is FREE. Donations gratefully accepted to benefit Crossroads House, a comfort home for the terminally ill serving the residents of Genesee & Wyoming counties.

There may possibly be some surprise performers stopping by to share their talent also. Come on out for a great afternoon of music. 

Consider volunteering at Crossroads House

By Billie Owens

Have you thought about being a volunteer?

Learn about opportunities available at Crossroads House? They are hosting five days in the month of April to learn about opportunities for volunteering in a variety of ways including resident care and beyond at Crossroads House!

These are no obligation days! Pick a date and stop by to learn more!
April 2nd – 10am – 11am
April 6th – 6:30pm – 7:30pm
April 11th – 6:30pm – 7:30pm
April 19th – 6:30pm – 7:30pm
April 21st – 1:00pm – 2:00pm

Crossroads House
585-343-3892
11 Liberty St., Batavia NY 14020
Crossroadshouse.com

Crossroads House annual bowling tournament fundraiser continues this weekend

By Billie Owens

The 20th Annual Betty Ellison Memorial "Strike Out for Crossroads" bowling tournament that began last Friday and ran over the weekend will continue this week.

Starting Friday night at 6 o'clock at the Mancuso Bowling Center, 214 E. Main St., Batavia, the fundraising fun continues.

Saturday start times are 3 and 6 p.m.; Sunday 1 p.m.

The team fee is $100.

For additional information call: Cindy (585) 993-0584 or Tara (585) 409-0136.

Crossroads House holds annual bowling tournament

By Howard B. Owens

Crossroads House opened its 20th Annual Betty Ellison Memorial "Strike Out for Crossroads" bowling tournament Friday night at Mancuso Bowling Center, 214 E. Main St., Batavia.

The tournament continues tonight at 6 o'clock and on Sunday runs at 3 and 6 p.m.. The team fee is $100.

For additional information call: Cindy (585) 993-0584 or Tara (585) 409-0136.

UPDATE/CORRECTION: The tournament also continues Friday, Saturday and Sunday this coming weekend -- Feb. 19-21. Friday start time 6 p.m.; Saturday is 3 p.m., and 6 p.m.; and Sunday is 1 p.m.

Sponsored Post: Strike Out for Crossroads House kicks off Friday, February 12th. Sign up today!

By Lisa Ace

The 20th Annual Betty Ellison Memorial “Strike Out” for Crossroads House Bowling Tournament will kick off Friday night, Feb. 12th, at 6 p.m. at the Mancuso Bowling Center. Rick Mancuso and Mike Sputore teamed up with organizers Cindy and Tara Lowder to make this the biggest tournament yet. This year we are offering an extra Friday night shift, live bands, more raffle prizes and as always at Mancuso’s, a top-notch bowling experience. 

The Betty Ellison Memorial Tournament is the oldest running annual fundraiser for Crossroads House. The first two tournaments took place before the house opened its doors in 1998 and was instrumental in funding the launch of this area’s only 24-hour comfort care home for the dying. 

Shifts are available: Friday Feb. 12th at 6 p.m.; Friday, Feb. 19th at 6 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 20, at 3 and 6 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 21st, at 1 p.m.

Five-person teams are $100. Registration forms are available at Crossroads House: 11 Liberty St., Mancuso Bowling Center: 214 E. Main St., or online at www.crossroadshouse.com where you can pay securely with PayPal.

In addition to the bowling will be live bands at T.F. Brown's. On Friday night, Feb.12th, M.A.C. will perform at T.F. Brown's starting at 10 p.m. and the following Friday the 19th, Savage Cabbage will play. Both bands will be available for a $2 cover charge with proceeds going to Crossroads House.

Sign up to bowl or just come out on either Friday night for great music, drinks and food.
For more information call Cindy (585) 993‐0584 or Tara (585) 409‐0136

Crossroads House annual Fall Basket Raffle is Saturday at St. James church

By Billie Owens

Press release:

On Saturday, Nov. 14th, Crossroads House will be having its Annual Fall Basket Raffle. We call it “Race to the Finish” because it is our last public fundraiser of 2015.

In keeping with Batavia’s harness racing history, one of the featured items will be a large vintage Horse and Sulky figurine. The raffle will also include porcelain dolls, wine and liquor baskets, Christmas baskets, handmade afghans and much more. Over 100 baskets will be featured. In addition there will be side raffles for a $100 Money Tree, Fresh Meat Trays, Shop Around Town gift cards, and a handmade quilt.

A $5 entry gets you your first sheet of raffle tickets, complimentary desserts and McCullagh coffee products furnished by Ralph Marsocci. Lunch will be available for purchase including hamburgers, hot dogs, French fries and Gail's famous stuffed pepper soup.

The raffle takes place at St. James Episcopal Church, 405 E. Main St., Batavia. It runs from 12 to 4 p.m. with baskets being drawn at 3 p.m. Winners need not be present to win so you can stop by, get your tickets in, have some lunch then visit some or all of the other great area events in Batavia. Check the events calendar and make an entire day of shopping, eating, and entertainment without ever leaving Downtown!

Crossroads House would like to thank the community for all their support this year. As an organization that relies 100 percent on the support of the area we serve, we are blessed to be able to continue to offer our services free of charge. We are a Gift to the Community, made possible by the Community.

The power and the glory of pipe organ music to be showcased at free concert, with sacred hymns and tunes by The Doors, Led Zep and more

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Crossroads House in conjunction with St. James Episcopal Church is offering a FREE Community Concert at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23, titled “A Showcase of a Local Treasure."

“Our community is fortunate to have such a rare treasure in an acoustical setting second to none," said Crossroads House Executive Director Jeff Allen. "In keeping with St. James' 200th Anniversary and the City of Batavia’s Centennial, this concert is given as a gift back to a generous community that has supported us since 1996.”

This will NOT be your typical organ concert. In showcasing the amazing dynamics and broad range of this historic pipe organ, numbers will include sacred hymns as well as songs by The Doors, The Allman Brothers Band, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and more.

Pipe organs have largely been relegated to Sunday morning worship services for centuries and the gift of their sound is kept to a select audience. 

“I liken most pipe organs to a Ferrari that is only backed in and out of the garage once a week, at this concert, we will take the Ferrari out on the open road and reveal it’s amazing horsepower,” Allen said.

Playing the organ will be St. James organist David Lange who will offer powerful renditions of the sacred hymns and Jeffrey Fischer who will put the pedal to the metal and play the modern rock classics.

Again, the concert is free and no offering will be taken, just come and enjoy. You will love it madly.

Date: Friday Oct. 23rd at 7 p.m.

Place: St James Episcopal Church, 405 E. Main St., Batavia.

Musical Memories to benefit Crossroads House is Saturday at City Church

By Billie Owens

(Kenny Petterson)

Press release:

Kenny Petterson, pictured above, is one of several musicians to entertain at this year’s Musical Memories, the sixth annual event to benefit Crossroads House. It will begin at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3, at City Church, 210 E. Main St., Batavia. Rochester's The Hit Men Brass Band, shown below, just came off winning their DCA World Ensemble championship and are going to be there to show us just what it took to win their fifth world title.

When it comes to tooting his own horn, Kenny Petterson is still at it. He picked up the trumpet in fifth grade and, at 83, regularly practices and performs with musical groups. A resident of Penn Yan visiting family in Florida, he plans to travel north this week to join St. Joseph’s Reunion Brass Ensemble. The Ensemble is part of Saturday's lineup.

“I have been in the drum corps all my life. Music to me is everything. I don’t know what I’d do without it,” Petterson said in a recent interview by phone from Florida. “When you have something like this, it’s important to do. Crossroads is something the people all volunteer to do, and that’s just fantastic.”

Petterson is actually not about tooting his own horn, at least figuratively speaking, organizer Frank Panepento said. Yet he has always been an admired professional as a teacher, performer and mentor.

“This is the guy we were listening to,” Panepento said. “(Kenny) is very unselfish, never condescending, he was always very positive. He’s a teacher you always wanted to have.”

Other featured musicians will be Dave Martin of Rochester’s The Hit Men Brass Band, Steve Cooley of The Hit Men, Jeff Gibbens and Prime Time Brass, the Wendall Brothers with Parkside Avenue Brass. Brad Dewaal, Tommy Cecere, Harold McJury are playing with the Reunion Brass Ensemble. Performers are coming from Pennsylvania, Rochester and Florida for the show.

(Rochester's The Hit Men Brass Band)

St. Joseph’s Ensemble has been rehearsing and is excited to show off some new tunes. “Moon Dance” is a new one for the show. It was arranged by Donny Allen. Listeners will also get his rendition of the “God Bless America” and “Auld Lang Syne,” “Army Medley,” "Never Walk Alone," "Send in the Clowns" among others during the two-hour show.

“It’s very special to have all these guys come from all over to do this,” Panepento said. “This is to raise money to keep Crossroads House operational.”

It costs more than $200,000 a year to run Crossroads House, a home for terminally ill people. The Liberty Street site depends on donations and volunteers to keep the doors open. Musical Memories is an event where the all the proceeds go toward keeping the house open.

Tickets are $5 general admission, $10 preferred seating, and include merchant coupons and a free drink at Center Street Smoke House during the post-event party. They may be purchased at Crossroads House, Roxy’s Music Store on West Main Street, and Valle Jewelers on Jackson Avenue.

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