Easter

Friends of the family burned out of its home on Maple Street in Batavia on Tuesday held a fundraiser for them today -- photos with the Easter Bunny in the Gazabo next to the Oatka Creek in Le Roy. 

The event was organized by Jenna Read and Ally Scofield.

With Easter Bunny are Lilly, 7 months, and Addison, 11 months.

The GoFundMe campaign for the family, organized by Scofield, has raised more than $7,000 (with a new goal of $9,000).

Melissa Sacheli spotted the Easter Bunny hopping through Batavia yesterday at the corner of Bank Street and North Street.

The Easter Bunny paid a visit to the Village of Bergen today where he and his helpers handed out Easter eggs and other treats in a socially distanced drive-thru Easter egg hunt.

The Easter Bunny was on hand Thursday for a socially distanced Easter Parade at Jackson School.

Press release:

Northgate Church, with two campuses in Batavia, is planning to host the majority of its events live during Holy Week. Palm Sunday, a tradition marking the beginning of Holy Week, will be celebrated at both campuses. Northgate (8160 Bank Street Road) will have services at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 27, and Sunday, March 28 at 9:30 and 11 a.m. Arbor House (Northgate’s South Campus - 350 Bank St.) will be welcoming people at 10:00am on Sunday. 

Thursday, April 1, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., the Northgate Kids program is inviting children, preschool through fourth grade, to their Flashlight Scavenger Egg Hunt. This is a fun, new twist to the traditional Easter egg hunt! Kids will become kid-tectives as they solve puzzles and hunt for clues in the dark, which reveal what – or who – Easter is all about! We are asking that families limit themselves to one parent per family, if they wish to attend with their children. Any questions can be directed to our Children’s Ministry Director, Leah Lennon, at leah@northgatefmc.com 

Also on April 1 at 7 p.m., Arbor House will be co-hosting, with The Salvation Army, a virtual Seder. The Seder is a dinner/service that centers on the story of the Exodus and the Passover. 

Everyone is welcome to join us from their homes for the Seder. The Salvation Army is putting together a box of supplies for those who would like to participate, but you will need to register to receive one of these boxes. Registration will be available until the weekend of Palm Sunday, March 28. The box of supplies will be available for pick up starting at 10 a.m. on April 1. The virtual Seder will start at 7 p.m. on the Northgate, Arbor House, and The Salvation Army Facebook pages. If you have any questions, email Pastor Chris at chris@northgatefmc.com.

Arbor House will offer a Good Friday service in person at 7 p.m. April 2. During this service we will reflect on Christ’s suffering and the price he paid to free us from our sin. All are welcome. 

Saturday, April 3, Northgate will begin Easter weekend, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, with a service at 6 p.m. Sunday, April 4, Northgate’s services at the North Campus (8160 Bank Street Road) will include an outdoor sunrise service at 6:30 a.m., followed by services at 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m. Arbor House will be hosting their service at 10 a.m. 

Weekend services are available to livestream at northgatefmc.com, facebook.com/northgatefmc and facebook.com/arborhousefmc, respectively. 

Everyone is welcome to join and we kindly request that you preregister for the events you plan on attending. Registration is possible by visiting northgatefmc.com, emailing office@northgatefmc.com or calling the office at 343-4011.

All events are free to attend. COVID-19 safety measures are in place at Northgate, and masks are required. We can’t wait to celebrate Easter with you!

Press release:

The Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary of Batavia is sponsoring a Chicken and Biscuit Dinner, Basket Raffle and Easter items table sale on March 20.

The "cash and carry" table sale includes "brand-new" decorative items and children items for $1, $5 or three for $10.

This dinner is take out only from 4 to 6 p.m. or until sold out. The dinner includes mashed potatoes, vegetables and dessert.

Presale tickets for $10 each are available at The Salvation Army, 529 E. Main St., Batavia. Phone is (585) 343-6384.

Tickets are also available from Women’s Auxiliary members or at the door.

Winners of the Basket Raffle will be contacted by phone and can pick up the items at The Salvation Army.

Grandma Carol Sliker, of East Pembroke, was sad about missing Easter Sunday with her grandkids, so the Sliker family organized an impromptu private Easter Parade just for grandma.

Photos submitted by Brittany Riley.

Photo and cutline submitted by Randy McIntire.

Margaret Worthington's family wanted to wish her a Happy Easter on Sunday. Margaret is a resident at Premier Genesee Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation.

They were able to put their wish in chalk while she looked on from her window, while under protective quarantine.  They spoke on the phone where she expressed her thanks and her love for her family.  

As time went on, more and more residents began waving and before we were finished we were wishing a Happy Easter to many onlookers.  

From left are Lisa, Mackenzie and Chris Lavrey, Amy, Kayla, Derek and Randy McIntire, Jeff McIntire and Cindy Reynolds, Randy and Colleen McIntire.

Video: Easter message from Rev. Dr. Roula Alkhouri, Batavia First Presbyterian Church

It was a busy day for the Easter Bunny in Genesee County today, among the stops -- the Village of Alexander, where the Bunny was given a ride and escort by the Alexander Volunteer Fire Department for all the children to see.

Arielle McVay donned a bunny suit today, and accompanied by Tonya Philips, tried to bring a little joy to Batavia residents this afternoon, walking most of the length of Main Street as the Easter Bunny, waving at cars as they drove by, with many drivers answering with a friendly honk.

The Pembroke-Corfu-Darien Kiwanis Club hosted their annual Easter Egg Hunt today in Pembroke Town Park.

The Kiwanis Club of Batavia hosted its annual Easter Egg Hunt this morning at Centennial Park.

NOTE: We have a little problem with the video. My phone didn't save the video of the actual hunt.