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Ride the “Liberty Taxi”!

NOTE: This is The Batavian's first "Ask the Local Doctor" column sponsored by Insource Urgent Care. We announced the column and then no questions came in, or so we thought. Their e-mail forwarding wasn't set up right so we didn't see the questions. We actually received about a dozen questions. Those questions have been forwarded to the professional staff of Insource Urgent Care and will be considered for next week's column and subsequent columns.

This column is by Dr. Magdi Credi and it answers the question, should I get a flu shot?

The influenza season is upon us.

Here at Insource Urgent Care the vaccine is being offered for those who are 4 years and older. Unbeknownst to many, influenza is still the most prevalent disease in the United States of all the vaccinated diseases.

About 200,000 persons in the United States will be hospitalized yearly due to influenza. Up to 49,000 deaths occur yearly on American soil due to the flu. Because of this, we here at Insource are doing our best to protect you.

The Center for Disease Control currently recommends all persons older than 6 months be vaccinated. The more persons vaccinated the less chance of the flu.

In particular, two groups are strongly encouraged to obtain the flu shot: those who are at high risk of complications (i.e. pneumonia) and those who care for others at high risk. This would include the following: Parents and caretakers of children less than 6 months of age, pregnant women, persons less than 5 years old or older than 65 years old, and persons with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, and COPD to name a few. This list is not all inclusive and can be checked out on the CDC’s Web site www.cdc.gov for more information.

If still unsure of your risk or need, please stop by our medical office for clarification. We are here to provide top medical care for you and to protect both you and your family.

This post is sponsored by Insource Urgent Care, 35 Batavia City Centre, Batavia, (585) 250-4201. To submit a question to Ask the Local Doctor, e-mail askthedoc@thebatavian.com.

Dear Friends; 
On May 19th, 2008 tragedy struck close to home for most of us when the Reis family lost their lives too soon. A memorial scholarship fund was set up in the family’s name for remembrance that is awarded to a graduating Byron-Bergen Student each year. Unfortunately funds have diminished and with this night we plan to contribute to the scholarship so their memory can live on and continue to impact future generations in the Byron-Bergen School District. 

Our 1st Annual Reis Memorial event will have guests enjoying each others company in remembrance and a unique and exciting casino experience. At the end of the evening each individual’s chips can be “cashed” in for tickets to our Chinese auction and a chance to win an assortment of valuable prizes. Space is limited and tickets will sell out quickly! 

You can make a difference. 
Your sponsorship of, or prize donation to this event, will help bring us one step closer to achieving our goal of ensuring that college scholarships will continue in remembrance of the Reis Family. If you would like more information about the event, please contact Brendan Lougheed, Event Coordinator at (585) 721-8955 or by e-mail at loughebf@gmail.com. 

Thank you for your support in keeping their memory alive by impacting the future Byron-Bergen scholarship recipient(s).

Don't miss the 54th annual Popcorn Ball starting at 6 p.m. this weekend at St. Joseph's School. Tickets will be available at the door. $60/couple.

John Dwyer will be honored at 54th Popcorn Ball with the theme of "Cork & Forks" focusing on food and wine pairings!

St. Joseph Catholic School is pleased to announce that John Dwyer will be recognized with the Outstanding Alumni Award at the 54th Popcorn Ball to be held on Oct. 26th.

This year’s theme will be “Corks & Forks” and will feature food provided by Alex’s Place of Batavia paired with wine from Heron Hill.

The menu will include a salad course, paired with dry Riesling, followed by Chicken Piccata paired with Heron Hill’s signature Eclipse White. Pork Tenderloin will be served with a Pinot Noir, followed by a flank steak complemented with a Cabernet Franc. A fruit and cream dessert served with a Late Harvest Vidal Blanc ice wine will finish the meal.

In addition to honoring Dwyer, the school will recognize Michael Falcone with the “Spirit of St. Joe’s Award,” and Tim and Wendy English will be named “Volunteers of the Year.”

John Dwyer is a 1946 graduate of St. Joseph’s School, a 1955 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, and a veteran of the Army. He is the former president of Thomas & Dwyer Shoe Stores and the former chairman and later, the executive director of the Genesee County Industrial Development Agency. Mr. Dwyer has chaired dozens of boards and advisory committees, including, the Genesee United Way, the Notre Dame H.S. Board of Trustees, founder and president Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, and four foundation boards including Children’s Home, Genesee Community College, St. Jerome Hospital, and the Notre Dame HS Educational Foundation. He has been a staunch supporter of Catholic Education and the Church, supporting not only St. Joseph’s School, but Notre Dame HS and Genesee Community College. Mr. Dwyer served as a trustee of the Diocesan Catholic Charities Board for nearly 30 years. He has been a trustee and finance chair for both St. Joseph’s and Resurrection Parish. Mr. Dwyer was awarded the 2012 Outstanding Regional Director by the University of Notre Dame Alumni Association for his leadership on the UND Senior Alumni National Board of Directors.

Michael Falcone is a 1930 graduate of St. Joseph School and operated Falcone’s Electric in Batavia for more than 60 years before retiring at the age of 92. Mr. Falcone learned the value of hard work at an early age and after graduating from Batavia High he starting working with his mother to transport farm workers. He would start his route at 6:30 a.m. with his last stop wrapping up around 11 p.m. Mr. Falcone has been a strong supporter of the Church, St. Joseph School, Notre Dame High School, Genesee Community College and Christ the King Seminary.

Tim and Wendy English are co-owners of the local Subway franchise and have donated hundreds of hours to the school. Wendy has served on SOS or Supporters of St. Joe’s and has worked on the Walk for Education and the Penny Carnival. Tim has spent many hours assisting with the Mammoth Sale, making numerous pick-ups on the weekends for the fundraiser. The couple has three children, Emily (SJS Class of 2014), Aaron (SJS Class of 2017), and 2-year-old Avery.

The 54th Annual Popcorn Ball will be held on Oct. 26 starting at 6 p.m. at the school. Tickets can be purchased at the school or at Alex’s Place and are $35/person or $60/couple. A table of 10 can be purchased for $250. Ticket prices include food, wine, beer, soda and coffee. There will be a $500 cash raffle, Chinese Auction, and 50/50 drawings.

For more information call 343-6154 or visit www.sjsbatavia.org.

Do you know me? Amy Whitmore McClellan of Hot Heads Salon 25 West Main St., LeRoy. I would like to invite you to visit me and be my guest at Hot Heads Salon. I have been in the beauty industry for 23 years.

In addition to owning Hot Heads Salon, I also am an Artistic Team member of KMS California! What does this mean? I travel the country educating other stylists on the latest trends and intensive KMS cutting and styling programs. I am required to go through intense training myself to be prepared to instruct others. I am committed to being current and even setting trends in the hair industry.

I've been able to work with some hairdressing superstars throughout the years and truly enjoy the challenge of stage work. As much as I enjoy the travel, my roots are firmly in Genesee County where my children have been raised. I am completely committed to using all my skill and knowledge to make you your most beautiful!

I use all my own photo shoot work in our ads, Web site, Facebook and in-salon material, check out my work! Visit us on Facebook - Hotheads Leroy or Web site www.hotheadsleroynewyork.com

Use the PayPal button below for your purchase. Limit one per household. Remember, the gift certificate must be redeemed during lunchtime -- 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and redeemed within 30 days, and one per table. There are a total of 10 gift certificates available sold on a first-click, first-sold basis. We're calling this a half-price lunch deal, but it should be obvious that only applies if your lunch costs $20. If you spend more, there's no additional discount.

SOLD OUT!

When Karen Reisdorf began meditating 15 years ago. The local yoga instructor studied Transcendental Meditation (TM) with a teacher from Rochester but found the process lacking, particularly the follow-up and sense of community. “There was no support,” she said, “I felt like I’d been left to figure out the rest on my own,” until she met Michael DeFrancisco and experienced his Blessing Meditation technique. Now the Batavia resident and owner of Blue Pearl Yoga is collaborating with DeFrancisco to bring “Blessing Meditation” to Western New York in a series of skype workshops in October and an in-person visit in November.

Meditation can be found throughout history. In fact, some of the earliest written records of meditation date to around 3000 BC while cave paintings depicting meditative rituals go back as far as 15,000 years ago. It became a phenomenon that caught the eye of Westerners in the mid-1960’s when The Beatles traveled to India to study with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. (Fun Fact: DeFrancisco studied with the Maharishi Mahesh for six months in 1975.) While meditation became the darling of rock-n-roll royalty and movie stars, it felt largely unavailable to the rest of us. “Many meditation programs require some sort intellectual understanding or academic background,” says DeFrancisco. And he should know. He’s taught nearly 30,000 people to find their bliss for 38 years – first at a meditation center in Philadelphia, PA and later as a private teacher in LaJolla, CA.  Because standard meditation techniques, as well as some wellness methods like acupuncture, chiropractic, and special diets, do not teach any way to effortlessly access inner peace the results are often temporary. Blessing Meditation offers a simple approach to build a contemplative routine.

More after the jump (click on the headline):

The benefits of a consistent meditation practice are well documented. Studies suggest that those who spend as little as 20 minutes a day meditating can enjoy lower blood pressure, decreased stress, anxiety, and depression and improved cognitive function. The rub, according to DeFrancisco, is that “although our society is more technologically advanced than ever before, we’re stuck with the same old vulnerable psycho-emotional system.” Simply put, we might be able to give voice commands to our iPhones but our “fight-or-flight” mechanism has us positioned – emotionally anyway – squarely in the jungle. That guy that cut you off in traffic this morning? He might as well be a Wooly Mammoth and its dinnertime. “People are stressed and overwhelmed. They may have reached a high level of achievement but feel very little fulfillment.” Blessing Meditation can move us out of the 21st century jungle and into a state of inner peace that already exists, “we just need to uncover it,” he says.

Learning to meditate is easy. Easier, according to DeFrancisco, than Raja Yoga, which he began practicing in 1971. “It was difficult and required rigorous concentration.” By 1974 he jumped on the Transcendental Meditation movement that was sweeping the country and experienced immediate benefits. DeFrancisco’s brand of Blessing Meditation is “effortless and requires no concentration or difficult positions or postures. It’s not yoga and it’s not a religion,” he says. “In fact, I’ve taught priests and ministers.” Meditation is a practical tool that can be used in the daily routine to bring about spontaneous happiness. The benefits too are spontaneous…and cumulative. Many people report an increased sense of calm and relaxation that deepens as they continue their meditative practice. And, this technique is endlessly transportable. “It can be done anywhere,” says DeFrancisco. Indeed, he has taught, attended courses, or led workshops and retreats in Pennsylvania, California, North Carolina, Texas, Iowa, New York, Canada, India, Germany, Switzerland, and France. Students hail from such far-flung locales as Brazil, Australia, South Africa, and Europe. And participants get an added bonus when they study with Michael – the support that Reisdorf was searching for is abundantly available; Monthly skype visits are organized at Blue Pearl Yoga where students gather to “check in” and fine-tune their practice. This personal component “is more than support,” Reisdorf says, “it creates a real sense of community.”

Blessing Meditation can most accurately be defined as a transfer of grace – a charming gift of the divine. Blessings are used in many cultures, from the ancient shamans of Siberia to First Nation medicine men and women. “My first experience with blessings occurred in 1992 with a spontaneous, innocent movement of my hands to my head and face,” DeFrancisco states. An inner vision – or God – moved my hands during meditation and suddenly the light of love - the light of God – descended on me in a magnificent display of blissful love that is impossible to capture and express in words.” DeFrancisco will regularly give blessings to the people he meditates with, either in person or during one of his popular skype sessions, prompting him to admit “technology is often a very good thing!” He considers his blessings “a charming gift from the divine that awakens the recipients own divine nature.”

Anyone interested in learning more about Blessing Meditation may register for a Skype workshop, “Everyday Meditation with Michael DeFrancisco” on October 10 at 1 p.m. at Blue Pearl Yoga, 200 East Main Street, Batavia or on October 19 at 7 p.m. at Harvester 56 Theatre, 56 Harvester Avenue, Batavia. He will be in Batavia at Blue Pearl Yoga on November 7 to meet with prospective students. Workshops are free but space is limited so pre-registration is strongly suggested. For additional information visit www.bp-yoga.com or call 585.230.5430.

Tickets can be purchased at:

• UMMC, 127 North St., Cashier’s Office Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.;
• Jerome Center Gift Shop, 16 Bank St., Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon;
• The Foundation Office, 123 North St., Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.;
• Or calling by (585) 344-5300.

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce has developed a new statewide paranormal trail that includes hauntings and ghostly events in Genesee County, along with 12 additional counties across the state. 

From Rolling Hills Asylum in Genesee County, to Wing’s Castle in the Hudson Valley, follow the legends, hauntings, and spooky heritage of the Empire State's most historic sites.

“Paranormal tourism has become quite popular over the last few years, and our Chamber needed a platform to promote our haunted asset (Rolling Hills) to that niche audience. This summer, we did an outreach to statewide tourism agencies to see who might be interested in a collaborative program. We were pleasantly surprised that 12 other counties wanted to be a part of our new program, and we expect more to join in 2014,” said Kelly Rapone, tourism marketing director for the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce.”  

Enter to Win a "Night of Fright" in the Finger Lakes, discover the ghostly happenings, stay in haunted hotels, and watch the night sky for a UFO. Explore by region or by experience. Forge your own path or join in eerie events and ghoulish guided tours going on now throughout the state. Explore the hauntings at www.HauntedHistoryTrail.com.

From the macabre to the mysterious -- join us this fall on the Haunted History Trail of New York State and check out the full line-up of events for spooky fun!

Great location for this 3 bedroom 3 bath ranch located across the street from Centennial Park. This home includes 3 large bedrooms, two with attached baths. Beautiful living room with wood burning fireplace and formal dining room. Convenient first floor laundry and attached garage are among the great features of this home. Large deck overlooking Centennial Park which you can enjoy all year long without the hassle of upkeeping.

List Price: $104,900
Address: 14 Park Ave., Batavia, NY 14020

For more information about this listing, please contact Mike Sisson, Sales Agent, Mancuso Real Estate at 585-409-4172 or email mike@mancusoproperties.com. Visit us online to view all of our current listings: www.mancusoRE.com

The Yngodess Shop shows off the building facelift and new sign!  We're gearing up for the Wine Walk next weekend. Stop in a see us! Stay update on what's happening at The Yngodess, located at 73 Main St., in the City of Batavia. Visit us on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/TheYngodessShop

Visit Genesee County’s Alpaca Farms year-round but also especially on National Alpaca Farm Days! By Lindsay Hawkins

Recently, the tourism staff of the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce spent some time with Jake, Florence, Oliver, Stella, Alita and Al. If you’ve never visited one of the County’s six alpaca farms, those names might not mean much to you, but friends were made (human and fleece-y) at Alpaca Odyssey, Northwoods Alpacas, Triple B’s Alpaca Farm, and Enchanted Forest Alpacas.

At every farm, we learned something different about alpacas. We learned that alpaca fleece wicks away moisture, females carry their babies (crias) for 11 to 13 months, they spit when they’re mad (at you or one another), and that alpaca farms draw international visitors! 

These farms are open to visitors year-round, but the industry celebrates its craft with National Alpaca Farm Days each September. This year the event will be Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 28-29. Several of our farms are participating and welcome your visit!

More details after the jump (click the headline to view more):

Alpaca Delights

10311 Bethany Center Road, East Bethany, NY 14054 

(585) 344-2983

Made in America hand-spun yarn donated by their alpacas! Visit the alpacas and purchase yarn at their small store. 

How to visit this farm:

• Open by appointments on weekends.
• Participating in this year’s National Alpaca Farm Days (September 28 and 29) 

Alpaca Odyssey

8100 Marble Road, Akron, NY 14001

(585) 542-3939

www.AlpacaOdyssey.com

Alpaca Odyssey & Mercantile of Akron has only been open for four years, but they have quite the collection of alpacas from this hobby-turned-business – twenty-five (and one llama) to be exact. Owners Cathy Marble & Michael Margarucci say they have mostly Huacaya alpacas (the fluffy ones) but they do have several Suris (longer, curly hair, more rare and expensive), as well. Their large, flat property is great for groups and is handicapped accessible. Wide-open land lends itself to petting, feeding, and walking the alpacas.  Be sure to browse the store shared with Triple B’s and pick up some homemade alpaca crafts!

How to visit this farm:

• Groups and families can bring a picnic lunch and watch the alpacas roam the grounds. Visiting the farm is free, however there is a suggested donation of $2 per person for a tour, feeding, and /or walking experience with the alpacas.  
• For groups of 10 or more, the farm will offer a tour, 30-minute fiber-spinning demonstration, and the opportunity to create a simple alpaca fiber craft.  Advance registration is required for this group experience and there is a suggested donation of $4 per person.  
• Participating in this year’s National Alpaca Farm Days (September 28 and 29) 

Alpaca Play Pen, LLC

10869 Bowen Road, Attica, NY 14011

(585) 591-2520

www.AlpacaPlayPen.com

Handmade alpaca items and custom orders are their specialty! From the pasture to you -- purchase goods such as socks, hats, sweaters and scarves made from the soft and warm fiber of an alpaca! The folks at the Alpaca Playpen farm enjoy raising these charming animals and creating useful garments. 

How to visit this farm:

• Farm visit by appointment.

• Products and alpacas are available for requested local events. 

Here’s where you’ll find Alpaca Playpen next:

9/21 -- Alpacas and products onsite at Sweet Jenny's on Main Street in Williamsville  

9/22 -- Alpacas and products onsite at Johnny Bears Restaurant in Darien  

9/28-29 -- Products for sale at the AppleUmpkin Festival in Wyoming, NY 

10/5-6 -- Attending the Agricultural Fair at the Genesee Country Village & Museum  

Enchanted Forest Alpacas

7477 Selden Road, Le Roy, NY 14482

(585) 768-7219

Enchanted Forest Alpacas in LeRoy was the smallest of the four farms visited (in size – not spirit!), with 11 alpacas. Owner Martha McCutchen grew up on the farm in the house out front, where she used to care for her family’s horses and livestock. Martha is a strong advocate that alpacas are fiber animals – NOT meat animals. She is a member of a fiber guild and Alpaca Breeders of WNY and has alpaca products for sale at the Hobby Horse in Le Roy. 

How to visit this farm:

• Perfect for small groups who want a hands-on experience. Visitors will need to call ahead for the whole package -- a tour, feeding, watching an alpaca video, and creating a felt ball craft. 
• Participating in this year’s National Alpaca Farm Days (September 28 and 29) 

Northwoods Alpacas

6499 North Lake Road, Bergen, NY 14416

(585) 494-1371

www.NorthwoodsAlpacas.com

Northwoods Alpacas in Bergen has 24 alpacas – none of whom like the rain. Apparently, they’ll stand outside in the middle of winter, but even though the moisture can’t reach their skin, they ran for cover when it started sprinkling! Several pregnant alpacas are due in the fall, bringing their total occupancy close to 30. Owners Bob and Belinda Grant aren’t worried. They have plenty of land on their farm for everyone to roam. 

How to visit this farm:

• Northwoods’ can accommodate parking for a bus, as well as larger group tours -- which include petting, feeding, and walking the alpacas. There is a suggested donation of $2 per person and groups get a discount at the onsite store! 
• The upscale store is a cool breath of fresh air from the summer humidity (or a warm spot in the winter!) Sweaters, scarves, hats, blankets, a wall full of socks and yarn, and golf attire fill the stocked space. 
• Participating in this year’s National Alpaca Farm Days (September 28 and 29) 

Triple B’s Alpaca Farm

1892 Sharrick Road, Darien Center, NY 14040

(585) 547-9271

It’s not every day that one gets to see an hour-old newborn alpaca! It was like a scene from “Bambi” – the shaky legs trying to walk, nuzzling close to his mother, and falling into to the grass. That brings the count to 23 alpacas for Triple B’s, with five more due to deliver soon. Since opening in Darien Center in 2006, the Burgess family has been breeding alpacas and caring for them like they do their cats and dogs. 

How to visit this farm:

• The alpacas are visible from the road, roaming the fields that are dedicated just to them. Visits to the Burgess’ are encouraged in all seasons, though spring and summer lend the most accessible conditions. 
• Feeding, walking, and (if you come at the right time of year) watching the alpacas being sheared. A suggested donation of $2 a person helps support a local family farm!

Visit Genesee County Tourism for a complete list of agritourism businesses, or to request the Genesee County Agritourism brochure.