Morning News Brief

It’s that time of year when people are out looking for that perfect gift or the perfect tree to place in their homes for the holiday season.  But just like the prices in the stores, prices on the tree lots have had to increase too.  A study shows across the country people are expected to pay on average $86 for a real Christmas tree this holiday season, that’s an increase of nearly 13 percent from 2021.  According to the latest data from the National Christmas Tree Association, over a quarter of Americans say they got their hands dirty last year by choosing and cutting down a real Christmas tree to celebrate the holiday season, down from 32% the previous year.

Thanks to a drop in gas prices, Batavia drivers are handing over less of their hard-earned money when it comes time to fill up their vehicles. According to Triple A, the average cost for a gallon of regular fuel is now three-76. That’s down four cents in the past week but is also five cents higher than this time one month ago. Currently, the state average is three-79 a gallon and nationally it’s three-55.

Stop into GO ART! after the Christmas parade to get a drink made by one of the new publishers of Batavia!  Tom Turnbull, former publisher of the Batavia Daily News and Howard Owens, Publisher/Executive Editor of the Batavian, will be making drinks at GO ART!s Tavern 2.o.1 from 6:30 to 9:30 on Saturday December 3rd.  The contenders have plenty of experience in journalism, but how will they fare behind a bar?  Serving a selection of locally made or sourced beer, wines, meads, and ciders, the pair will be in competition to earn the most tips, bragging rights and title of Ultimate Celebrity Bartender. All proceeds go to support GO ART!’s many public programs.  The event is open to the public.

The Pembroke Dragons are State Champions after beating Groton on Friday 38 to 18 at the Union Ellicott High School.  The Dragons 8 man team made history for the school being the first team to make states and now proving that they are the best in the state.  Coach Brandon Ricci had lots of gratitude for the superintendent, the Board of Education, Administration, Teachers, fire and police and fans and families for all the support through the season.  

First Presbyterian Church is hosting their 26th annual Service of Remembrance on December 7th at 7pm in collaboration with HE Turner, Bohm-Calarco-Smith and Burdett and Sanford Funeral homes.  The ecumenical service will combine music, prayer, scripture reading, reading of the names of loved ones, the tolling of the bell in remembrance, and a message of hope by Reverend Dr. Roula Alkhouri.  Anyone who has registered as having lost a loved one in the past year will receive a candle.  If you haven’t registered you can call HE Turner Funeral Home at 585 344 4295 or visit bataviafuneralhomes.com.  The service will also be livestreamed. 

3 Churches right near each other are tackling downtown Batavia’s hunger problems by providing food.  First Presbyterian and St James Episcopal church have little free pantries and blessing boxes located outside the church that people can walk up to at any time in the day and get food to make at home.  First Presbyterian also has a refrigerator with fresh produce, homemade dishes and frozen foods outside the church.  First Baptist Church has free home cooked meals provided through Lydia’s Kitchen.  Pastor Tim Young and his wife Lydia of Living Waters Apostolic Ministries host, cook and serve hot meals 5 days a week from 10 to noon.  To help keep these three important services available to our neighbors, there is going to be a big food drive on Sunday, Dec. 4, from noon to 3 p.m at Resurrection Parish and St Paul’s Episcopal in Stafford. 

Genesee Society of Model Engineers are having their 20th annual Holiday Open House on the 3rd at 50 Main Street in LeRoy from 10 am to 3 pm.  The event is free and features operating O, HO and N gauge sets with club members on hand to answer any model railway questions.  This year’s Open House will be one of the many events featured as part of Oakfield’s Christmas in the Village celebration.

The Buffalo Sabres will be back on their home ice as they try and avoid a second straight loss. The Sabres are hosting the defending Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning at KeyBank Center tonight. The Sabres last played on Friday when they fell to the New Jersey Devils three-to-one. Face-off for this evening’s contest is set for seven p-m.